Zopiclone

[basten]

I've been on Zopiclone for about 2 yrs plus other meds. Has anyone tried stopping it and if so did they have panic attacks or seizures and was awake all night. I only missed one night didnt sleep. By midday in the restaurant with my daughter I suddenly coukdnt eat my meal. Everything became soo loud and my eyes were bulging. I felt panicky sat in car. By evening I told my daughter I've got to go bed....I was holding my head as if it was about to explode. It went as soon as I had a Z . Anyone please??;

[welly10]

You need to speak to your doctor and taper off them and use the best sleep strategies you've got.i used sleepstation this is a doctors referral online course.i was on zopiclone for 6 weeks every night then after my 7 week online course my sleep hygiene is much better and I'm not on zopiclone only use as a last resort.good luck.

[basten in reply to welly10]

Thankyou

[Peroxideblader in reply to basten]

I've been on quarter of a dose for 4 years as when I cut down and stopped over 4 weeks even from low dose I had a melt down..massive panic attacks couldn't breathe palpitations and just awful so I went back on a quarter of a pill just to keep from withdrawals. doctors are useless they said stop dead with such a low dose or give me diazepam which i don't want as then I'd have to come off that too..😣

[basten in reply to Peroxideblader]

Yes withdrawals for me on 7.5 after 2 years will be same. And I have the added worry of already being on Diazepam. I'm 71 and worry about what I'll have to go through constantly. My psychiatrist last week said we wont taper just yet.

[Peroxideblader in reply to basten]

I wouldn't rush it at all...sometimes coming off these drugs causes much more harm than staying on them. Have you been tokd you have to stop them because if they're not causing you any problems why bother

[basten in reply to Peroxideblader]

So nice to talk to someone about this thankyou. No psych in hospital last year didnt stop them just said we blame your GP for letting you have them so long (2 yrs now). New psych said last week you know we dont like long term use of benzos and sleepers but we wont reduce yet. Yes sometimes coming off is so bad and although I feel ok and sleep well they do flatten my mood. Which she said they can. I said what happens if i dont want to stop them. She said that we would have to discuss with me and your GP. I'm 71 and already had a horrendous time last September in hospital when they cut some ct and I just dont think I could go through it again despite the fact I hate the damn drugs and harm theyve caused. Thankyou

[basten in reply to Peroxideblader]

Just to say I was on benzos and anti depressants and missed just one night of Zopiclone. I was awake all night. Went out for lunch with daughter next day. Suddenly overwhelmed everything loud panic. Got home . By 8.30 pm I told my daughter I had to go to bed as I suddenly felt my head was going to explode....until I took a Zopiclone. The doctors did this to me. I live with this every day . I know what you went through I'm so sorry

[Peroxideblader in reply to basten]

so sorry to hear that it's so scary the Z stuff...i have refused to quarter of one 3.75mg nightly so it doesn't help slerp it's just to stop the withdrawals. you should not be thinking of coming off them yet at 71 you've got enough to deal with and st least you're still getting your sleep. my health both mentally and physically has hit rock bottom since I got chronic insomnia i have been on reduced dose for around 5 years so no sleep but still zopiclone in my system every bright albeit at a tiny dose. I already suffer anxiety depression and ptsd and now menopause so I'm not planning on coming off my small dose for some time. my body couldn't take it right now....saying that if its making your mood very low then thsts different because it's affecting your everyday life and outlook on it. sending love to you x

[basten in reply to Peroxideblader]

Oh bless you. No they dont do anything for sleep. It's so awful for you too having to take to stop withdrawals. And like me depression and anxiety. I was on Clonazepam 0.5 so she switched me to Diazepam 4g which is easier to taper. I also take Mirtazepine so yes I sleep!! Menopause is tough I know.

Yes will have to wait and see what they say October. And yes they do flatten my mood and I never find anything funny and weight gain on top from Mirtazapine ugh!! You're the first person that I've been able to talk to re Z who understands. I wish they could help you too....damn professionals !!

[Peroxideblader in reply to basten]

it's lovely to talk to someone too there's only my partner who knows about my zopiclone in fact nobody even knows I'm on antidepressants.. I'm not close to my family and they are very nasty about mental illness they believe it's made up and just being selfish... the menopause has been really bad for me it's caused my anxiety and low mood to plummet even further and I just can't face cutting out the Z . my mood is so low so I wouldn't notice if it affected mine...dont worry about stopping it yet until the time is right don't be pressurised

[basten in reply to Peroxideblader]

I'm sorry your family have that attitude re mental health. Its caused by imbalance either in brain or trauma from past. Menopause I suffered years too. No harm in trying Starflower oil and B6 for that. Hormones are awful things and my mother used to say I'm coming back a man!!! I used to suffer terrible pmt too all my life.

I cant help it though thinking each day when I take the meds how much I hate them and how frightened I feel at the slightest hint they will at some point want to stop reduce. But my son and daughter has told the psych that they want me in hospital if they ever do under supervision. Once I didnt sleep for a whole week was in pain and took an overdose ....just to sleep!! Any time I'm here if you want to talk . Thankyou for listening

[Peroxideblader in reply to basten]

it's lovely your children are looking out for you...with their help you're get through this...and thank you for listening too it's been lovely x

[basten in reply to Peroxideblader]

How are you? I was reading our posts. I'm switched from Clonazepam to diazepam reduced 8 weeks ago. Still on Zopiclone and Mirtazapine. Since cutting diaz sleep bad and now pre diabetic from over eating constant hunger weight gain from Mirtazapine. Physically not good as in awful pain when I eat so bad that meds still knock me out but not so quick now or not for hours since reduced diaz with a view to stopping. But I'm shit scared of chronic insomnia and sleep still gives me respite from acid pain. Just wondered how you doing and if you are still on meds ?

[Boyshape]

Hi, sorry I'm new to this community... How are you doing with the zopiclone? I'm in a very similar position I'm trying to stop taking them and am at the end of a rapid taper and feeling really terrible. I know tonight I'm going to try taking nothing at all.. IV barely slept in nights and know I have a few nights if rebound insomnia and real anxiety to look foward too...zopiclone is a real double edged sword.. It can cure insomnia and cause it... Why did you decide to start comming off it? I was finding I had started getting side effects during the day. I hope you've been having better luck?

[basten in reply to Boyshape]

Hi I only read your post re Zopiclone. I'm still on it plus diaz and Mirtazapine. Cos psych said we wont change anything else at mo. Own it's own it doesnt work but with combo I get off to sleep eventually but wake on off all night. As Peroxidebladder said at my age 71 maybe I should stay on it as after nearly 2 plus years withdrawals will be awful as they are a bit similar to benzos . Are you still on them? If not how was withdrawals??

[vballgirl]

Hi! Sorry to hear you're having a hard time. I recently was taken off of zopiclone. I had one panic attack so far. Thankfully I seem to be lucky. I am not able to fall asleep at night though. I'm usually up all night, and am able to fall asleep around 9 am. Then I can sleep until about 4 pm. So right now my struggle is to get my sleeping to happen at night time instead of during the day. Which isn't too bad considering I could be not sleeping at all. I haven't noticed any changes in my mood thankfully. My doctor actually took me off of zopiclone and codeine at the same time (thanks doc *sarcasm*). He also only tapered me from 7.5 mg to 5mg (zopiclone) for about 2 months and then cut me right off without tapering any further. He prescribed me trazadone but I don't like the way it makes me feel, and it also caused some sexual side effects that are not desirable. So my pain management doctor recommended I try melatonin for sleep. I had some appointments during the day yesterday so I stayed up all day instead of sleeping from 9 am to 4 pm. I took a 3mg melatonin and was able to fall asleep and slept until around 6 am. Here is hoping that it will continue. I had been taking 7.5 mg of zopiclone for 3 years. Actually for a while I was even taking 2 pills, so 15 mg per night. I'm also trying to come off my acid reflux medication pantoprazole. I'm down to 10mg per day. (from 80 mg per day). Hope some of this helps.

[basten in reply to vballgirl]

Oh my how lucky you were to suffer not many panics but it's awful not sleeping. Yes I may have to reduce but I have Diazepam to come off. I think I had a bad reaction due to being on a benzo. No idea. Well. I am soooo pleased the Melatonin worked wonderful to hear. I can get it prescribed here UK but only 2mg tabs which before one made no difference. I am in such pain yes with acid . I'm on 40 mg oesomaprazole twice day and H2 blocker Femitidine once day and Gaviscon. Doesnt help. Had a scope Juky and have bile induced gastritis hh sliding and oesophagitis 5 yrs now. Gi man didnt even ring me after my scope and GP written again 8 weeks ago but nothing aand COVID has put pressure on NHS so I'm not expecting him to call.

I think some meds can make acid worse.

Thanjyou for replying. I take Zopiclone mirtazapine diaz and still wake up. It's a tough call for me coming off benzos sleepers but hopefully I'll get better. Thankyou. Stay well