zopiclone

[littlethyroid1]

need advice I have been in zopiclone ten years as when I try to come off I’ve gone weeks no sleep and sleep didn’t come so I had to go back on

Now I have had 9 nights straight no sleep and I am TAKING zop so how come I’m getting zero sleep on them I don’t want to up them I’m on 7.5

I want to come off them but if I’m alreday 9 days no sleep and then taper off it will be months of no sleep which I won’t survive

Any advice please

[Hidden]

I take Trazadone for insomnia , ask your Doctor and see what he says, it’s an antidepressant but has helped me sleep so much better

[littlethyroid1 in reply to Hidden]

thanks Annie I have tried that but I had such bad nightmares from it does it give you nightmares

[Jadeen]

Hi. I am tapering off Zopocline. First I cut the pills in half for a month. Now I am cutting down to a quarter pill a night for a month. Then I will be off it. I did always take an antidepressant with the zopiclone. I am staying on the antidepressant. I need it since Covid started.

Please do it slowly with talking with your doctor as I am doing it with help. Take care. I wish you the very best.

[littlethyroid1 in reply to Jadeen]

thanks so much for your reply

I can’t sleep when cutting them down thast my big problem am I able to ask what antidepressant helps you sleep please

[Jadeen]

Hi. I am taking two of teva-sertraline (25mg each.)at bedtime only

I was on Amitriptyline for a year and that helped tremendously with the depression.

[FreddieFaulenze]

I was taking 50mg of Trazodone and 300mg of Gabapentin. I was getitng good sleep and then I realized that I had been taking a 300mg tab plus from another bottle 3 - 100mg tabs for a total of 600mg. I stopped immediately and coldn't get to sleep for 4 nights. Yup back to 600mg of Gabapentin with doctor appt on Tuesday. I was happy in Thailand just taking 10mg of Valium but the docs in Germany said I could become addicted (I'm 82). Go figure.

[Kels999 in reply to FreddieFaulenze]

I know that feeling when the Drs say that, but like you say in your later years I would just stick with what gets you through the days hun x

[mombasa74]

No sleep for so many days is not good for health.

It seems that your body has got used to zop after so many years and now 7.5mg is no longer effective. It happens with many medicines and generally people have no choice but to up the dosage. I understand you want to come off zop completely, and I admire you for that, but it is never easy.

However, anything above 7.5mg zop is not advisable.

If I was in your predicament I would look for other medication that works for me. There are several alternatives.

Good luck.

[littlethyroid1 in reply to mombasa74]

Thanku for your reply

[Janet80]

I am almost the same, littlethyroid1. I take the same amount as you and have been doing so over 9 years now. It was after an incident where I felt trapped by the thought of no escape from a long misogynistic relationship. I underwent what I can only describe as almost a mini-stroke, but without it’s worst effects. I actually felt 2 distinct light taps inside my head at temple level on left hand side and also confusion and unsteadiness, but kept on my feet.

Since the evening of that incident I have been unable to get back my previous good sleeping pattern. I was 72 then, now I am 81 and sometimes wonder about the purpose of it all. Absolutely unable to ever get off to sleep so Have to take 7.5 zopiclone - also still have anti-depressants prescribed for me, which I know I don’t need. Doctors have failed to understand at all. I have tried acupuncture, cbt; cbd oil. You name it - I’ve bought it.

Just keep going littlethyroid1 - you are not alone.

[littlethyroid1 in reply to Janet80]

Thanku so much

Janet if you try magnesium citrate and magnesium glucinate together this relaxes the muscles and mind and has worked for many many people who have been able to half meds of zopiclone with the magnesium and then taker off

It works for 50 perc of people please try magnesium mixed two forms is a miracle for some

It doesn’t work for me because I battle anxiety too

Please try you can buy combination magnesium or separately

[Janet80 in reply to littlethyroid1]

Yes, I do take the bigylicinate form of magnesia but not the citrate form. I’ll have to get some.

Thank you for your reply littlethyroid1 and Best Wishes to you.

[Kels999]

you are not alone 😢

Unfortunately I have been on them for 20 years+ now first started when I initially was diagnosed with cancer, my anxiety was uncontrollable and insomnia was through the roof.

Zopiclone was the only medication I tried that completely relaxed my body and mind into a zen like state enough to get a good nights sleep,

And unfortunately over time your body does get used to them, so you don’t get that lovely relief feeling anymore, so you up your dose then you’re in a worse situation than you started!

I can’t begin to tell you how much this evil little pill has ruled and Ruined my life, I literally cannot physically or mentally function without them,

My doctor put me on MIRTAZAPINE which is an anti depressant but with slight sedative properties, I’m definitely sleeping better on these, it’s been a month now - but still on 2 x 7.5mg Zops a night - and I’m being completely honest to the point where I am now having to accept the fact that I will probably be on them for the rest of my days x

I really hope you are not in such a bad situation yourself, please please get and fight for as much help and support as you need my friend it is out there for you

I wish you so much luck 🍀

[littlethyroid1 in reply to Kels999]

Thankyou for your reply

Have you tried amitriptyline which is similar to mitrazapine and is used to help people taper off zopiclone I have spoken to people who have used this aswell as using magnesium high dose and have got off zopiclone

I agree this nasty little pill takes our life over but I have heard of people just like us who get off it using other meds to help with the withdrawal and rebound insomnia

Please look into magnesium glycinate and citrate for this too

[LarnieKay22 in reply to Kels999]

Be careful with mirtazipine hun I was on it for 3 years and I tripled in weight it was first made as an appetite stimulant so really makes you eat. Once I came off I lost 6 stone in 11 months. Not saying come off it just saying keep in mind the effects abd try to combat the hunger. Good luck friend from merry old England

[Kels999 in reply to LarnieKay22]

hey 👋

OMG! I knew that it had I’ve lost so much weight through ill health the last few years and nothing would put weight on me, since I’ve been on the MIRTAZAPINE I’ve already put on a stone over one month! You are so right I feel constantly hungry even after a big main meal, thanks so much for your advice I am definitely going to stock up on some low fat healthy snacks I think, I’m ok at the moment I look a bit healthier than what I did but I definitely don’t want to get any bigger x

[Greg1968 in reply to Kels999]

I'm in a similar situation but trying to come off is a massive constant nightmare that doesn't rest so I can't really function as I'm like a mad man all day and night so I was positive but now thinking maybe I need to just have a bit to function as I'm 54 with 2 cancers and not enjoying life. Have you tried tapering yourself?

[Kels999]

Hi

thank you I will definitely look into the magnesium thing as that is probably the only thing I haven’t tried,

Thank you

Take care

[LarnieKay22]

Hey from your name do you have hypothyroidism too? You sound so similar to me cant sleep, but no energy I'm also anemic. I too suffer with anxiety that's the issue I feel the Dr's give antidepressants a lot but if you're actually dealing with crippling anxiety a drug to bring you up like a stimulant might just make it worse. At least with depression you can normally sleep the clock round. On my bad days I cant sleep can't eat, can't sit, just walking and crying. I feel your pain hun interesting that we have similar conditions and mental health. Maybe there's a link somewhere? I take pregabalin for my anxiety and fluoxetine for depression and then my thyroid and iron meds. Pregabalin saved my life I genuinely tried to overdose 9 years back and it changed my world. You take care hun from merry old England 🙃

[Kels999 in reply to LarnieKay22]

oh you poor soul, I also feel your pain hun Anxiety has crippled me for years you just feel like your in a big black hole and nobody can ever understand how you feel or if you will get better,

I also take Levothyroxine 75mg just had a blood test to make sure I’m on the right amount as a Dr once told me that high levels can cause palpitations etc x

But I think every person is different when it comes to medication, one will work wonders for one person yet do absolutely nothing for another person, I think it’s unfortunately a case of trial and error every flipping time 😢

I definitely don’t feel as Low now I’m on MIRTAZAPINE still have really bad days but nothing like I was, where I also came close to ending it all,

Luckily for me I have an amazing supportive daughter who has helped me get through so so much she’s my absolute Rock she’s got such a beautiful soul, lost my mum last year which made everything ten times worse but at least my daughter and I have each other x

I really hope you have someone close to you in your life that you can open up to?

Sometimes it really helps to open up although I know sometimes you just don’t want to

Please look after yourself x

[benmaise]

Have you tried Hypnosis? I can often have problems with lack of sleep. I have taken Zopiclone in the past so I know how dependent it can make you. I did get some Hypnosis CD' S from Amazon.They have helped me sometimes.. The one I like is by Glen Harold. Well worth a try. Play it every night and see how it goes good luck.