zopiclone 3.75mg Not suiting me.

[Mike-tyson]

Have just finished three weeks on Zopiclone. After taking Zolpidem for ten days. Which gave me a rough time next day. I was on Amerodian heavy dose for A/F which stays in your system for a long time and can give you sleep disturbance my Dr tells me. The Zopiclone helps me sleep very well but do not feel well next day with tiredness strange feeling when going to sleep and is making me depressed. Should I come off Zopiclone slowly by taking half my normal dose or should I just stop taking it. I am concerned as before taking it I was waking at 4 or 5am and could not get back to sleep again. I am 78 years old and these medication can effect older people more than younger people. Any advice would be much appreciated

Regards

Mike Tyson.

[Rupert_Bear]

You should not adjust your medication by yourself, always go with the advice from your GP. If you feel that your current medication is not suitable for you then revisit your GP

[Mike-tyson in reply to Rupert_Bear]

My Dr has just agreed to wean me off Zopiclone 3.75 per day as felt like a zombie on it. She has suggested taking Circadin 2mg which is slow release Melatonin. She is happy for me to reduce Zopiclone to half a 3.75mg tablet. Or take a full one every other night. Has anyone had experience of the slow release Melatonin which is now supplied and authorised by the NHS. Any advice would be much appreciated. As I did as she said but still woke up at 4am. Know this is going to be hard so would appreciate any advice.

[joella]

It's not a good idea to just stop taking zopiclone, What you could do is ask the doc if you could have some mirtazapine and then take them half and half (i.e. half the zopiclone and half the mirtazapine) together. Then gradually substitute the zopiclone for mirtazapine which I have found to be a much kinder drug.

[Mike-tyson in reply to joella]

My Dr has just agreed to wean me off Zopiclone 3.75 per day as felt like a zombie on it. She has suggested taking Circadin 2mg which is slow release Melatonin. She is happy for me to reduce Zopiclone to half a 3.75mg tablet. Or take a full one every other night. Has anyone had experience of the slow release Melatonin which is now supplied and authorised by the NHS. Any advice would be much appreciated. As I did as she said but still woke up at 4am. Know this is going to be hard so would appreciate any advice. Doc was not keen on Mirtazapine as said I was not depressed just sleep deprived also I have A/F and on Atenolol for that which was another reason. Mike.