Zopiclone Taper/Withdrawal

I’ve been on Zopiclone for about 4 years now and have slowly upped the dose because they were becoming less effective. I’m currently on 60 mg a night, sometimes I wake in the night and top it up with 2 to 3 7.5mg tablets. I’m always fine the next day but I know they’re not good for me. I was thinking may start by not having the middle-of-the-night top up. I will be very tired the next day but that may mean I will sleep better the next night. I have no idea at what rate to taper - I tried once before but it was so awful I eventually ended up on more than when I started the taper. Any advice, any help, tips, coping strategies will be so very much appreciated. Thank you

[mombasa74]

I am surprised you have been on zopiclone for 4 years.

I was prescribed this med (only 3.75mg) by my doctor for 3 months and then stopped issuing as they are no good in the long run. Instead doctors now prescribe amitriptyline. It does work for me.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE STOP TAKING HIGH DOSE ZOPICLONE NOW. You are sitting on a time bomb.

[handofhelp]

I don't think a doctor would prescribe that so I'm wondering if you've got them another way but I concur with the other person here. I've been taking zopiclone for years but I've kept it down to the lowest possible level of 3.75mg from GP. This means I'm monitored but there's a risk of death even I think with any dose and you wouldn't get any warning you just wouldn't wake up. It can also cause things like cognitive decline when you're older. The drug is addictive for some but the reason it stops working isn't the measure of the dose it's to do with other aspects to do with the body in my experience. For example, I had very low iron and once that was regulated the efficacy of this drug worked again. I had hair analysis done but also lots of blood done by GP to monitor the iron levels. Shouldn't be below 22 level of ferritin but it can go up to between 100 and 200 to be healthy. Need good GP. It's so complicated though I recommend reading a book by Patrick Holford called The Optimum Nutrition Bible. I don't agree with all of it but a lot of it isn't even on the internet now and there's a great deal of nutritional and overall health wisdom in it. Not much had moved on and it simply isn't taught anymore. Even talks about acidity levels. Then there's EMF levels to consider too etc. Please look at your overall health and anyone else reading this so that you can be well and learn to look after your body so you can live life to the full, blessings.

[Kelzlsd in reply to handofhelp]

I have never seen such a high dose been taken, it cant be right surely, i never even knew they done such high dose tablets, I have been taking Zopiclone for 15 years now and even though the Dr telks me they stop working after a while, with me they still work, i take 7.5mg every night, maybe the effect is psychological after such a long time but they do get me to sleep, My Gp trys every few months to get me off them, but i honestly can't sleep without them. The high dose you are taking cant be good for you and i fear it could d even be dangerous and interfere with your breathing, surely any Dr worth his salt woukd not prescribe such dangerous doses, and if you are buying them off the Internet be very u careful as you dont know what you are getting. Hope things work out for you. Take care of yourself

[Sleep-Seeker in reply to Kelzlsd]

That is a very high dosage, be very careful, be kind to yourself and wean yourself off slowly; ie, 7.5 mg less per week. I take 7.5 mg at bedtime; the half life effect is 2.9 hours so I occasionally take a second one if I wake too early. Dependency can become a problem and long term reduces its effectiveness, leading to higher dosages required for sleep. With high dosages, breathing might become very slow as well as a dangerously low heart rate, which will result in a more serious situation. Consult with your doctor about trying a hypnotic type sleeping pill to replace your zopiclone and decrease your dependency; perhaps alternate between medications so not to become dependent on any one sleep aid; 60 mg every night is definitely dangerous and could be fatal in the long term.

[handofhelp]

I suspect this post is either fake or someone is getting their medication mixed up especially without any replies.

[Jadeen]

It was extremely difficult for me to get off zopiclone after four years. This is suppose to be a short term med. I am now on silenor 3 mg. It works fine. Took a few weeks to get used to it. Yes. I lost days of sleep. Thank God I am retired and can lay around in the mornings.

I am fine now. Silenor is not addictive like Zopocline.

Good Luck to you. I will pray for your sleep health 🙏🏼