So I'm looking for an alternative to Zopiclone and I have come across Etizalam. It's apparently used for insomnia in India and Japan and has been for years. It is not a controlled drug in the UK and easy to get hold. Has anyone heard of it? Tried it? Would love to here your thought as I'm tempted to try it.
hi i know its a benz drug
Interesting, not heard of it before. It's not even licensed for animal testing in the UK though.
The half-life is rather short (3.5 hours, Zopiclone's is about 6 hours) and it attaches to the same binding site as the benzodiazepines and the Z-drugs so it's not likely to become much of an alternative in our doctors' eyes in that respect. Their comments on its reverse tolerance would be interesting.
tizolam (Depas, Etilaam, Etizola, Sedekopan) is a benzodiazepine analogue. It works in a very similar way to benzodiazepines although it actually has a slightly different chemical structure as it has a thiophene ring (it is a thienodiazepine drug) instead of a benzene ring. It is an anticonvulsant and muscle relaxant and has a variety of different applications that it might be prescribed for. It is also an anxiolytic (reduces anxiety) and hypnotic (sleep inducing) drug.
hmm. "Etizolam is a drug of potential abuse." according to Wikipedia. So out of the frying pan and into the fire?
"although it actually has a slightly different chemical structure as it has a thiophene ring"
Wow. I'm impressed. Not many people outside chemists would know what a thiophene ring was.
That's the thing. I'm not sure how to handle it hence why I have been researching it for a lil while now. It's not something the Doctors in the UK prescribe. However they have been using it forever in India and Japan. I've spoken to people who have used it any they love it. It comes in 0.5mg or 1mg sizes, I'm some cases even 2mg and apparently 1mg is the equivalent of 10mg Valium. I may ask my GP about this on Tuesday when I see him and see what he says. Probably will completely disregard it. As far as the abuse thing goes I think that applies to pretty much everything. I think if you treat all with respect then you should be okay. As I say I am tempted and a lot of people say it's the second best thing to Zopi. I have come across many brands but I think the Intas Etilaam looks by far the most trustworthy and it's a generic so I'm going to give it a shot if my GP doesn't give me Zopiclone.
It's not available on prescription in the UK at all. I think my doctor would completely disregard it but I am going to ask him about it on Tuesday. I am definitely addicted to Zopiclone I just can't sleep without them and now UP no longer supply them I need an alternative.
Probably not if it's not licensed here. Doubtless doctors will know about it here though. You may know that Zopiclone was, and is, not available on prescription in the United States.
If you cannot sleep without Zopiclone or one of the drugs acting on the BNZ receptor, I think you should fully impress the fact upon your doctor.
"Etizolam has an anxiolytic action about 6 times greater than that of diazepam." Very interesting.
How's it going with the diazepam?
on 2mg now robin . not had any zopiclone now for over 2 months :-)
Well done!
thank you robert
I find it strange that they give it out in India and Japan though, I mean the human body is the human body after all. Yes I know the don't have it in the STates, they use Lunesta (Ambien) and also something called Eszopiclone.
I have told him so many times he just doesn't get it, he gives me like a 14 day supply when I scream and shout about it. He given me Citalopram for my so called Depression/panic attacks and Anxiety but he fails to understand I suffer from these conditions because I cannot sleep, they seem to be directly related to my lack of sleep. I therefore started self medicating on 1 7.5mg Zopiclone at night for the past 4 years and I had never felt better but now UP can no longer supply them because of changes in UK law so I'm back to square one. If my doctor would understand that all he needs to do is treat my insomnia then all would be well. Instead he just continues to give me Citalopram which does absolutely nothing but give me a whole load of unpleasant side effects and seems to make my sleep even more irrational.
That's great. I seem to love Zopiclone though it actually makes me happy. Probably because I manage to sleep with it. How is diazepam working for you? May have to discuss that with my GP.
hi its the ashton plan discuss it with your gp! its a great plan i have been on zopiclone for 11 years and the plan as worked
Thanks. I shall have a long discussion with him on Tuesday and hopefully not just be fobbed off after 5 mins and a prescription for Citalopram.
no demand the ashton plan
Citalopram? I was thinking you must have seen the dangers of taking Etizolam with other drugs.
If he can "fob you off" with a drug that's licensed for long-term use he will. You must make him understand that you cannot sleep without sleep medication.
He given me Citalopram for my so called Depression/panic attacks and Anxiety but he fails to understand I suffer from these conditions because I cannot sleep, they seem to be directly related to my lack of sleep. Oh I wouldn't take Etizolam with anything else. I seem to be fine in the day when I've had a good nights sleep the night before. I guess I have to find a way of making my GP understand this