Zopiclone - Side Effects And Lowering Dose

[Baby_Sham]

Hi. I have been taking Zopiclone (7.5mg) for the past few weeks, and although it's helped massively with my sleep, I generally feel like *** all through the next day. My anxiety has increased and has been awful this past week, and I constantly feel sick and light headed.... both I assume are 'normal' side effects?

Anyway, I have six left and would like to come off them as soon as possible, but am a little anxious about just stopping them straight away (although please correct me if this is perfectly safe to do??)

Would I be ok to halve the tablets and just take half each night until they have gone?

Would very much appreciate some advice on this. Did try to get an appointment with my GP this morning but no luck.

Thanks :-)

[Prudie]

Hi B_S, obviously check with your GP but I had these years back when I ashamedly couldn't deal with a break-up. After a while I started to just take a half tablet and then a quarter which still enabled me to drop off but wake up alert enough to go to work with no-one the wiser. Then I stopped them alltogether.

[anneasquith]

pru. I think you are being a bit hard on yourself,,

[black_cat51]

whats to be ashamed about not dealing with a breakup?
if you've only been taking it for a few weeks, your plan sounds ok to me

[RATTER15]

You really need to talk to your GP before doing anything, could you just ask to talk to your GP on the phone, they are usually quite obliging with the phone.

[Prudie]

Well that's for another thread, I didn't mean it to cloud Baby-Sham's query - lots of people have to go through break-ups but in this particular case I fell apart.

[Sqad]

Seems that you have two choices
a) halving your dose for a week and then stopping.
b) going " cold turkey."

That is your personal choice.

Me?........I would go cold turkey.........

[Baby_Sham]

Thanks for the suggestions. I did ask if my doctor could call me, but he's not in until Monday and, as stupid as it sounds, I didn't want to have to explain everything to someone new.

To those that have had experience with this medication, are these 'side effects' normal?
It's difficult to tell what's 'real' and what's anxiety/panic attack, but I am literally sweating buckets right now and my heart is racing :-/

[jno]

the only side effect I've had is a superdry mouth. However, here's a list

http://www.nhs.uk/medicine-guides/pages/MedicineSideEffects.aspx?condition=Insomnia&medicine=zopiclone&preparation=

[jno]

so one side effect of a sleeping tablet is sleepiness? Who'd have thought it.

But yours seem to be on the list too.

[Brenden]

I was taking zopiclone for about six months then just stopped taking them, Doctor seemed pleased I had come off them. I have a few in reserve - just in case.

[Peter Pedant]

side effects:

http://www.nhs.uk/medicine-guides/pages/MedicineSideEffects.aspx?condition=Insomnia&medicine=zopiclone&preparation=

yours come in at 1:1000

wiki says it is not like Valium and then later says it is !

I would advise halving and then quartering, having read both articles.

The two people I went to Luxor with ( think flames and civil unrest, yes there) cleaned out a pharmacy with zopiclone and still have some left after a years so they are obviously using it sparingly

[Prudie]

Personally I'd put all those symptoms down to anxiety rather than a direct side effect of zopiclone - although the foggy feeling on waking would kick start me worrying about why I feel awful which would in turn make me anxious blah blah so it could be an indirect catalyst.

[Peter Pedant]

Ihave checked with the luqsori hoarders

yes it is addictive DESPITE being marketed as not
yes you should tail off

and since it is so similar to Valium et al why was it marketed /
Money apparently....

[Baby_Sham]

Thanks for the responses.
I decided not to take my usual pill on Friday night and, after a rather crappy few days, I am now feeling much much better.

Thanks again. Much appreciated :-)

[NICA]

A few yrs ago i was prescribed them and like urself had awful side effects i went bk 2 docs and had 2 b weaned off them and that was by taking half the amount 4 a few dayp and half again 4 remainder if that help gd luck

[Baby_Sham]

Thanks NICA. I probably should have halved them, but I was feeling so awful I just wanted through with them.
Am back to feeling 'normal' now. Thanks.

[NICA]

Wel im glad u fl beta and gd luck 4 the future