Long term zopiclone use

[CupsofTea]

So silly me went to another country and forgot to bring my prescription of zopiclone (zimovane / imovane) and I began to feel absolutely terrible to put it simply. My friend suggested that I may be going through a bit of withdrawal especially if I had been taking them every night for 4ish months...

Research revealed that it is only meant for short term use (up to 4 weeks max) and that it should be used with caution in those with a personality disorder. Cue loads of other scary stuff about how withdrawal symptoms can last for years and is very much like benzodiazepine withdrawal and I'm freaking out here! Why would my doctor keep on giving it to me (on and off since spring last year but continuously taken for the past 4 months due to bereavement) if it is only meant for a short period of time? I need to make an appointment to see him and will ask him the question but, I don't know, just feeling a bit paranoid and anxious.

When I returned from the holiday I began to take it again at half dose but yet my nightmares, dip in mood, irrational thoughts, unpleasant physical symptoms haven't much decreased. I literally cannot sleep without it and even then it's still not restful. I kinda feel like this situation is a double edged sword!

Does anybody have any experiences with long term use / withdrawal? Any advice would be appreciated until appointment with the doctor comes along....

[random.swirls]

It really should be used sparingly but some drs don't seem to be aware of the risks of it.

Do talk to your dr about it as I know one of the reasons for it is that you build tolerance meaning you need to take more to sleep.

Eventually it should wear off and sleep should come but this will take time?

Do you practice sleep hygeine

[I am a cat]

Ive been taking zopiclone for 6 years straight, I am dreading ever having to withdraw from that!

[MissAnonymous]

The thing is, these are guidelines. I have been on Temazepam for years at a time, taking it almost every night. I came off it without too much problem, yeah the first few weeks were horrible, but it didnt do me any harm.

I was then prescribed zopiclone and when I was poorly with anorexia I took it every night or I would not sleep. Now I use it sparingly, sometimes I take it every day for a week and sometimes I dont need it for weeks, maybe a month or more. You will feel terrible without it if you are used to it, its like the body not be able to sleep and sleep is as vital as eating and drinking.

I think the important thing is to only be on it if you need to be. So my advice is work with your GP in trying to reduce its use, but if it helps and your GP will prescribe it, then from my own experiance its not a big deal.

I now only use the zopiclone in bad patches, but I was once on sleeping pills every night. I think the key to making a good decision is making an informed one, try other things, sleep hygiene or if you are on an anti-depressant, consider switching to a sedating one in the evening. But if this is what works and nothing else does, don't feel you are doing the wrong thing.

[lozza]

When I was first put on zopiclone my body built up a tolerance to it quite fast and so I had to keep uping my doasage. After a while though I tried to only take it a few times in a week and made sure I had some nights where I didnt take it. I couldnt sleep without it but I didnt want to have to keep taking more and more either. I used to plan ahead and make sure I took it on the nights I needed a good nights sleep (i.e. the day before a long drive)

I am now off zopiclone and have been put on phenergan which my body doesnt build up a tolerance for so I find phenergan a lot better for me:)

talk to your dr about it though when you next see him/her and see what they say.

[sherlock holmes]

The issue with taking benzos long term is that quickly your body builds a tolerance, and so higher and higher doses are needed to achieve the same effect. Also, withdrawal can be awful and on occasion life threatening (though I'm sure this is mainly for people abusing the drug severely).

Often instead of prescribing benzos for longer than a couple of weeks GPs and psychs look at prescribing sedating antidepressants or other types of meds like antipsychotics which will help greatly with sleep issues and these can be taken long term. I take trazodone and I'm out like a light.

Might it be worth seeing your GP as soon as possible and raising your concerns about your long term usage, worries about withdrawal, and seeing if you can switch to something that is safe for long term use?

[Crazy Cat Lady]

Hi,

I've been prescribed 14 3.75mg Zopiclone every 2/3 weeks for the last 3 months. I've been made aware that it's not a long term solution but my GP practice agree for the moment, I'm able to have it although my Psychiatrist is going to look at a safer longer term sleep aid.

All the best x