Coming off Zopiclone

[dlou84]

I want to get off this drug.. I was given it from the docs because I didnt sleep for nearly two weeks..

Its been great and helped me sleep I've taken it for 9 days in a row though and dont want to get addicted..

I've tried to sleep without it and find its 3 am and still no sleep...

As soon as I take one (3.75mg) I'm out..

I really dont want to get dependant (If I'm not already!)

I would like to come off it.. any ideas on the best route?

Having only taken it for little over a week I'm hoping I can come off it easily..

and I've only ever taken then lowest dose.. But still find it very difficult to get off to sleep without it.

I would like to switch to say nytol or something similiar but dont know if I can just simply switch..

Dan

[jo61]

I'd seek the doc's advice Dan. I came off it no problem a few years ago having taken it for 2 weeks. I also take Nytol when I need it - not the herbal one, the antihistamine one.

[dlou84]

I spoke to him and he said to take the zopiclone every 3rd day if needed.

But it was 3am this morning no sleep so I took one and went straight off..

He said I have to not have slept for 2 days before I take it again..

I think I'm going to lock the pills in the garage tonight..

[Adz84]

Hello, i took it for pretty much a month every night and just stopped no problem with no withdrawels. I just started falling asleep on my own and didn't feel the need for them anymore and still don't. I just have them there on an as and when basis. I used it for anxiety and panic attacks but meds are different for everyone if you're worried try ease off or even split one and see if that helps?

[dlou84]

Hey I just got back from the docs got another week of zopiclone and its not the same one i got before..

Before it was a box of Zopiclone made by "generic"

and this is called zimovane LS

is it the same stuff??

[milly jones]

sorry dont know about generic version.

i was on zopliclone for nearly 2 months whilst changing meds. i had no difficulty going to sleep, but couldnt sleep thru the night, only got about 2-3 hours a night.

gthey changed my meds from lofepramine to citalopram and i rarely have sleep problems.

i had no difficulty coming off the zopiclone once i had faith in the ad calming down enough to avert anx at night.

i was taking 1-2 each night, but did get a pill chopper to make smaller doses into 1/2s and 1/4s so that i wasnt becoming dependant.

id take nothing for a couple of nights, then 1, then 1/2, then 1, then see how i felt. i took them when i got absolutely knackered, not each night. i was very warey about work each morning and driving so tried my best to limit the doses. at weekends i felt i could take a full dose cos i didnt have to drive the next day.

milly xx

[dlou84]

Blast from the past, over three years on and guess what.

I'm still taking Zop every night 3.75mg every night

Found a black spot on my cheek yesterday which gave me my first dose of panic in years thanks to Escatalapram 20mg

I'm almost sane, but now I'm stopping Zopiclone for good!

I'm scared of the long term damage this drug is doing to me.

So I've taken 4100mg over the past 3 years - now searching for another method for sleep the doc provided me with Atarax which I haven't tried yet

I'm hoping some relaxation and some hypnosis will do the trick

[Geoff2301]

Hard to believe they kept prescribing it........why not try taking half a tablet and gradually reducing that way?

[dlou84]

That's what I have done, they give me 7.5 I take half a night

I'm locking them in the car tonight so I can't take one and I'll just have to ride it out

[haz]

I got myself down from Zopiclone 7.5mg nightly to 3.72mg nightly and now I take 3.75mg about 3/4 nights a week. Why don't you try one every second night for a week or two and then every third night...etc. and see how you get on? My doctor advised me to take one every other night etc.

Good Luck. x

---------- Post added at 18:55 ---------- Previous post was at 18:54 ----------

I meant 3.75mg. I got the doc to change my prescription rather than halving a 7.5mg.

[HretchenGillet]

I came off it no problem a few years ago having taken it for 2 weekshttp://www.schoolwithin.net/jh3.jpghttp://www.schoolwithin.net/uk.jpg

[jogPLC]

Hello All,

I have bouts of insomnia two to three times a year ranging from a month to several months where I'm awake more nights than I sleep and when I do sleep it's a hour or two. Tried zopiclone and it did more damage than good (massive bouts of emotional drama followed by a couple of hours of unconciousness), tried several sleepy AD's such as dolesuplin, mirtazipine and Amityptline with no luck or side effects that I couldn't live with. Last year my specialist proscribed me Promethazine which is a sleepy antihistamine, works everytime without side effects or grogginess in the morning, absolutely fantastic.

Best part, they're not addictive, I can take them for a couple of months and then come off no problems. I'd honestly think about speaking to your doctor and giving them a go before taking anymore of the heavy duty ones.

P

[dlou84]

Five years later, Still on zopiclone, massively addicted 7.5mg every night

Dam this drug!!!!

[dlou84]

3 years since my last post and gone up from 7.5mg to 15/22.5mg not good!