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zopiclone

Sas210319 profile image
47 Replies

Hello all,

Has anyone at all found that when they take zopiclone they are practically pain free for the few hours it works and then come morning it's all back again?..

I've mentioned this to my doctor that this is a medication that worked like magic and he didn't seem to understand how it woukd have got rid of my pains, I know it's not a medication they can prescribe long term unfortunately but I do wonder if a muscle relaxer it's self - not a sleeping aid relaxer would help?? Very curious !..I'm just struggling to get it through to my gp that this sort of medication worked for me it was like I was me again alsoultely pain free & they seemed like they didn't understand and said there is no such thing as just a muscle relaxer which isn't a sleeping aid well I do wonder because I've searched and checked online and baclofen is ment to he a relaxer if anyone has tried this abs has had any benefits from taknig it please do let me know 💜

I so wish zopiclone was something they could give long term personally form me as it really was something that helped me completely.... the (time I was given 5days worth) and from the very first time taking one 7.5mg tablet it was a god send)

take care everyone x

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47 Replies
RWilliamson profile image
RWilliamson

It could be because you are hitting full REM sleep that you're feeling less pains maybe? They are very stingy with zopiclone as it is super addictive, it can cause side effects when taken for a long time such a personality changes and looses its effect. A friend of mine used to be addicted and it wasn't pretty at all! I remember seeing baclofen when I worked in pharmacy, it just seems like nothing is approved for fibromyalgia so they're unlikely to prescribe (so frustrating as surely anything is worth a try!). Maybe you could try over the counter sleep aids and see if they have the same effect? You can get nytol and sominex etc x

Sas210319 profile image
Sas210319 in reply to RWilliamson

I wasn't asleep when I discovered they got rid of my pains, I was getting my kids to sleep wuen I had taken one as I would have gone to bed straight after, my oldest child wouldn't sleep properly that very first day me taking one so I was awake over the hour of taking... I felt so myself pain free etc went to sleep happy about how good it worked for me!.. I agree with baclofen I don't think they will prescribe me it even though I've fought so hard to explain just how must an ingredient in the zopiclone had worked for me they were just so much saying NO and I've had to just accept that, I have ordered some called promethazine (antiistamines) to seenif they help, see if don't need help as such with the sleep it's the pains u suffer eith severely on a day to day basis I never get a break from it, I flared up mid January and I'm still suffering now not as BAD but still a lot of problems/pain daily x thank you so much for replying to me x

Simba-Nala98 profile image
Simba-Nala98 in reply to Sas210319

Hi hun, I am in the middle of getting my diagnosis and I do take promethazine on top of my zopiclone but I would say try it because honestly I’ve had times where the annoying pain had subsided … it really is worth try, I’m one that doesn’t get a pain free day anywhere which it why they are trying to see if it is inflammatory arthritis first… but I wouldn’t homest advise them, but you can get them over the counter or form a doctor for lack of sleep also, hope this has helped and good luck! Xx

Sas210319 profile image
Sas210319 in reply to Simba-Nala98

Thank you so much do the promethazine hekpbwoth the pain as its more the pain for me daily all the time, I'm the same I don't ever get a day where I'm pain free it's just all the time. They do say I don't have arthritis though 😑 thank you for your reply xxx

Daz2u profile image
Daz2u

Hi Sas you really need to consider not taking zopiclone i was on it for over 2 years and eventually had trouble sleeping properly and it became addictive, i managed to get weaned off them but it did me more harm than good, i would try a more natural approach if possible.

Sas210319 profile image
Sas210319 in reply to Daz2u

Hi daz2u I wasn't on them as such as I was only prescribed them for 5 days, I took them one every two nights and they worked wonders honestly... I didn't even see much affect on sleep apart from I woke up feeling better refreshed etc but what I did notice was the pain had gone, I was putting my kids to sleep one night of taking one and within a hour of taking it I was unbelievably pain free... I questioned my doctor about this and he didn't see how it would have helped helped my pain and told me it's not something they will or can prescribe me again really so I'm not on them u was just curious as to if anyone has discovered the same as me while taking a couple if their pain had subsided x thank you for your reply, I'm going to give promethazine (antiistamine) a go to see if that helps with pain as I don't so much as suffer with sleep, I get bouts of sleep problems but thats on and off so I really just wanted some for the relief of my daily severe pain but I understand they can't give me them long term x thank you for your reply and take care x

Hi, yes I take zoplicone 7.5, but very sparingly, it is highly addictive, and doctor’s are right to be cautious.My surgery absolutely refused to give me it, and only because the pain clinic wrote to the doctor, was I allowed it when I am desperate for sleep.

It can’t be taken long term, but I understand where you are coming from, but it’s not exactly relaxing the muscles, it’s aiding sleep so you feel more relaxed.

Be very careful on these.

Sas210319 profile image
Sas210319 in reply to

I've been waiting on the pains clinic since February this year its not even promising that I will be seen next year the way things are whereniblive in the UK so I don't don't have anyone to fight my corner with the GPS at the moment x I disagree there with the muscles because I was getting my children to sleep the very first time me taking my first zop... my eldest child didn't sleep well for me usually they're off within half an hour and I go to bed too but she took over a hour to go to bed.. there fore it was over a hour me taking the zoo where as I felt the effects *awake* and I tell you it was unbelievable u was pain free completely, I ended up going to bed within 2 hours of taking it and I went to bed happy for a change I've tried arguing out out my doctor as to how they helped me specifically and they wouldn't listen really so I'm still suffering but atleast i was honest with telling them how much they'd helped me as a fibromyalgia sufferer and it's the only tablet out of a LOT I've tried thats worked. I'm aware they can't prescribe aswell but it woukd be so so good if they could from my experience with only taking my first ever zopiclone! My addiction would have been painless if they did prescribe me but wishes don't come true lol.

I've opted to try something called promethazine (antiistamine) seeni don't really need help with sleep as I can sleep and only sometimes I'll suffer for a good night's sleep but it's not all too often it's more the pain I suffer with severely daily.. I'll see if they help in anyway x thank you for taking the time to reply to me x

in reply to Sas210319

It’s such a shame when you find something that helps you, and you can’t have it, but it wouldn’t work long term, and would only cause you more problems.I hope you get to see some one at the clinic soon, and the new meds help you.

Good luck.

Loobielu profile image
Loobielu

Apart from that random metallic taste it leaves in your mouth, it's a pretty good sleep aid but sadly it has to be used sparingly so probably not going to give long term relief. I will take one very occasionally for a much needed decent night sleep. I also find the occasional phenegan night tablet works better for me (1/2 tablet can be enough) and here in the UK I can get them without prescription online 👍. Sadly without a decent night's sleep, we are never going to feel well 😞

Sas210319 profile image
Sas210319 in reply to Loobielu

I have just ordered some promethazine (phenegan antiistamines) as I also read uo they're good for sleep, but I don't know if they will work for the pain side of things. It's worth a go .. what do you think of them ? Thank you for your reply x

fibropatient profile image
fibropatient in reply to Sas210319

Hi, I've tried Valerian root tablets which seemed to work for some nights (but they smell awful). I then managed to get Valerian Root capsules and found the smell wasn't so strong, but they still only gave me 3-4 nights sleep. I then tried Inulin which had no effect for me. I now take Gabapentin 150mgs 3 x day with great effect on sleep and even greater for my fibro as the pain has gone!

Loobielu profile image
Loobielu in reply to Sas210319

I find the phenegan night time work really well for sleep but not necessarily a pain killer but I think a decent night sleep helps with pain indirectly. Don't know the difference between night ones or any others I've attached photo of the box for you to compare dosage etc X

Purple box
Sas210319 profile image
Sas210319 in reply to Loobielu

Thats great thank you so very much loobielou xx wish you well and take care xx

fredsmummy profile image
fredsmummy in reply to Loobielu

Phenergan and promethazine are the Same, just one is branded. I would personally say it’s a good substitute for zopiclone too

Sas210319 profile image
Sas210319 in reply to fredsmummy

Thank you very much x 😊

Hellbell59 profile image
Hellbell59

Hi, I’ve been on zop for ages. I had a long discussion with my GP about my meds, (retired nurse) and explained I had a combination of meds that at night I depend on to get respite from pain and discomfort to allow me to get a nights sleep. I won’t say what they are as what works for me might be irresponsible of me. Suffice to say I fought my corner and she understood finally as we are the experts of our own bodies. I’m also autistic so we react differently to meds.I still have the odd painful nights and up and down like a yo-yo, due to bi lateral rotator cuff tears, but mostly not bad.

I would agree zop does have a edge with pain for some reason, I suspect it as it induces relaxation therefore helps the body to relax for sleeping it would make sense it would help with tension the pain induces.

Sleep is so important for us, restorative sleep, as it can make the difference how we are next day as we know.

Sas210319 profile image
Sas210319 in reply to Hellbell59

Thank you so much for your reply and honesty I'm glad you feel the same that the zops do help with pain too, but as you say it's only a relief from it all on the night time and not every night as we can't take them all the time, I was only prescribed a weeks worth and I took them every 2 nights but they deffinately worked their magic for me xI am going to give promethazine (antihistamine) a try see if they help in anyway some what the same :)

Hellbell59 profile image
Hellbell59 in reply to Sas210319

I have other conditions as well, digestive, bad shoulders and worn out hip that can wake me up.

Cat00 profile image
Cat00

Because I get only 1 tablet a month I only take it when I'm really stressed. So it rarely makes me feel less pain bc I'm already in a heightened sensitized state. Plus it really doesn't work if you take it too often, your body just gets used to it.

Sas210319 profile image
Sas210319 in reply to Cat00

I was only prescribed a weeks worth and never again, I took one every 2 nights and they did work for the pain and sleep but due to how severe I suffer with pain that's what I noticed the most (the pains had gone!) But as you say its not something they allow you to have long term for addiction etc x thank you for your reply x

Cat00 profile image
Cat00 in reply to Sas210319

It's funny I don't find it addictive but I also have never found morphine addictive. I was given oramorph when pregnant and it just had no effect on me so I gave it back to them.

It is my understanding that people with fibromyalgia often have fewer cannabinoid receptors and opioid receptors and that's why painkillers often don't help. This is certainly true for my experience of painkillers, they just have no effect.

Sas210319 profile image
Sas210319 in reply to Cat00

From my research I agree with you on the fewer cannabinoid receptors and opioid as I've tried sorts and ended up up tramdol which still does not help. Also I find I too do not get addicted to things as you've also said oramorph I was given this in hospital and that too didn't do a thing ! X take care and I hope you get some relief soon too x

Cat00 profile image
Cat00 in reply to Sas210319

I suspect I don't have any "alcohol" receptors too or whatever they're called, it just makes me ill! Had many a boring night at art school!😄

Sas210319 profile image
Sas210319 in reply to Cat00

Now I do find this funny because likewise also with the alcohol it doesn't seem to affect me in anyway its nothing good but it's very strange how it works like this with us 🤣 but same it does make me ill as in flare as stuff so I don't drink 😬🤣 x hope you are well soon xxx

fibropatient profile image
fibropatient

Hi, I was initially taking Amitriptyline (up to 100mgs at night) but after 20 or so years it failed to help me sleep nor did it reduce fibromyalgia pains. GP advised Gabapentin of which I have slowly increased to 150mgs 3 x day. I have found that if I take 2nd dose within 3-4 hours before the bed time dose I sleep very well for 7 -8 hours, which is great for someone who had great difficulty getting off to sleep. However more importantly my fibro pain has gone! So I would highly recommend this to anyone suffering with insomnia and fibro pain. I higher dose or even a lesser dose may be needed, so increase slowly, and hopefully it may work for you.

Sas210319 profile image
Sas210319 in reply to fibropatient

Thank you so much for your reply! The only thing I am scared of with gabapentin is weight gain, it was my second option of trial treatment when I was first diagnosed with fibro back in 2019 and i didn't see any effect but I was only given the smallest dose too... I might just give this another go but I'd love love know how to control the weight gain if I was to try again. Thank you so much for your honest reply.. so are you pain free now that your on that specific dose ? X

fibropatient profile image
fibropatient in reply to Sas210319

Yes I am pain free on that dosage, which really shocked me as I just hadn't realised exactly how much pain I had got used to. So now I'm enjoying life again, even the house work! As regarding weight gain, well I haven't noticed any yet. However I am cautious and am only eating smaller potions at mealtime and am not eating in between meals. The only treat I have is some chocolate ( 5 pieces from a bar) in the evenings.

Sas210319 profile image
Sas210319 in reply to fibropatient

Thank you so much and I hope you continue to be pain free 💗 x take care x

Cat00 profile image
Cat00 in reply to Sas210319

Gabapentin didn't help my sleep sadly although it did help my pain a bit but it wasn't worth the weight gain, that and Pregablin. Although I think I was on a much higher dose.

Blue-Moon profile image
Blue-Moon

I found the same with Zopiclone. I'm no longer taking it though, I'm now taking Baclofen which, as I understand, is a muscle relaxant. The Baclofen tablets do help me with muscle pain and it also stops muscle spasms which can be a massive problem for me, especially during the night.

Sas210319 profile image
Sas210319 in reply to Blue-Moon

How often do you take backofen is it daily? Sorry to ask I just need to know what exsactly I should be asking for when it comes to me asking my gp for muscle relaxant ... is backofwn a sleeping aid because if so they won't give me them :( finding no relief at all is a shame as to I found zopiclone such a help it was pure magic how I ended up miraculously pain free from taking my first ever tablet... I'd love to know if baclofen would have some what the same if not similar effect for me x thank you for taking your time to reply x

waylay profile image
waylay in reply to Blue-Moon

Ooh. I have horrendous spasms. Do yours last a long time, or are they quick?

Blue-Moon profile image
Blue-Moon in reply to waylay

When I have them really badly, probably no more than 20 minutes, but the intensity of the pain is so great that I scream the house down. Other times it's less intense and more annoying than painful but keeps me awake all night if I don't take a Baclofen tablet.

waylay profile image
waylay in reply to Blue-Moon

Thanks!! Mine can last anywhere from 10min to 9 days.

Blue-Moon profile image
Blue-Moon in reply to waylay

Hugs.

Blue-Moon profile image
Blue-Moon

The doctor prescribed up to 3 tablets a day but left it up to me to decide if I need it every day and if I need it 3 times or fewer. Because my problems seem to be worse at night I only take one tablet with my supper. It's best to take with food otherwise it causes nausea. I find it takes two hours before it's really fully working on me. It's only on rare occasions that I ever need to take another tablet at another time. I think they make me a little bit drowsy. Nothing like taking a sleeping tablet. So, if I have to take one during the day, I avoid driving. I was prescribed for muscle spasms rather than muscle pain. I think if you don't have any history of muscle spasms, just pain, they probably prescribe codeine or tramadol.

Lemonyblue profile image
Lemonyblue

Not sure if zops are any good for the pain but they are the only tablets that have helped me to sleep. I was only given 5.If anybody has any luck with other tablets to help them sleep I would be very grateful.

Take care

damag profile image
damag

i thought zopiclone was a sleeping tablet

Sas210319 profile image
Sas210319 in reply to damag

It is but it doesn't send you to sleeo it helps you have a more relaxed sleep, in my case I noticed it helped woth pain as it is a muscle relaxer so it relaxes your body hence why it's worked for me with my pains/spasms.. I only noticed this due to my child not going to bed very well one night when I took it before hand as I usually go to bed straight after them and I was awake after taking it for over a hour and I felt like myself again pain free. Very strange I thought too but it was something that miraculously worked for 'me' just unfotunely it's not given as a pain killer so they won't prescribe it. I was seeing if anyone else had experienced the same as me while taking them not only as to help with sleep but if they noticed their pains had dimmed

uggycat profile image
uggycat

I think you are going to a very dangerous and frightening place when talking about benzadines and i do not think anyone on here should be recommending different meds whether over the counter or prescribed. There is no pain medication for long term pain

Sas210319 profile image
Sas210319 in reply to uggycat

I'm not thinking about it I'm no danger to myself it's not something I'm wanting to take continously. I'm specifically stating they worked for me as in they got rid of my pain after I took one and was awake for over a hour so I felt the effects which wasn't drowsy etc it was my bodily pains had GONE. I was just curious as to if this has happened to anyone else who suffers from fibromyalgia not asking as in wanting the medication just curious as to how it worked in that way! :)

uggycat profile image
uggycat in reply to Sas210319

I attend an addiction centre daily and myself and other clients are living daily nightmares due to drugs prescribed by doctors. There will be a few that do not make it. Zopiclone is one of the prescribed meds that has caused awful misery, and terror to attendees . l myself am coming off prescribed opoids and antidepressants amongst a few others. some days it is like a living nightmare, l am in almost unbearable pain but would rather have my brain back and tolerate the pain. l have a replaced shoulder and wrist am waiting for a new knee. severe arthritus . amongst other things. Also these meds poison your body long term and the pain gets worse. your body looses its ability to tolerate any pain naturally.

Sas210319 profile image
Sas210319 in reply to uggycat

Your doing very well ! I know what you mean as my dad too suffered with severe addiction to tramadol alcohol etc I've seen what these things do to people. I wish you all the very best in your recovery from this as the pain it's self is very hard to accept and your in constant fear (I am on a daily basis waking up wondering if I'm going to survive this) never mind addiction too.. your a survivor take care but there was no way I was intending on wanting more I was just curious as to if this had happened to anyone else if they also experienced lesser pain due to this drug x

uggycat profile image
uggycat in reply to Sas210319

Thanks Sas

Ahsoka101 profile image
Ahsoka101

My gp has tried me with so many meds that have had terrible side effects (I seem to be very sensitive).But zopiclone is the only thing that helps me sleep and, in turn, allows me to function the next day. I'm not pain free but it's ok and at least I've had 8 hours sleep ( I tend to take half a tab when I wake up around 2am). My argument is they put you on super addictive meds but then argue about zopiclone and I find that ridiculous.

Sas210319 profile image
Sas210319 in reply to Ahsoka101

Very questionable I have tried to ask GPS this also as to antidepressants for instance and they can not give me an answer.. hope your well ❤️

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