Is it my hormones or Zopiclone

[nh_user_1067433]

Hi All...

Feel like i am getting worse and struggling day by day... but i am not sure it is my hormone levels or the zopiclone tablets.

I had a full hysterectomy 12 years ago at the age of 39, both ovaried removed. Went on HRT patch for 3 yrs...wasn't too bad.. but had funny turns... GP's couldn't shed any light so i came of the patches for 9 yrs.

Last year started having problems, UTI , which led to insomnia , anxiety....

Overtime this got worse with flushes and depression, sweat hands and feet... and numerous menopause symptoms...

Long story fast forward... have been on numerous HRT since then ... been sky high... been deficient and not found the answer

Currently on 30 mg Progest transdermal cream and 0.75 mg Estriol...

But struggling with bad bouts of anxiety, crying, being scared thinking stuck like this, no ethusiam in things, sweaty hand and feet, head tension...

On top of all this i take Zopiclone at night to get to sleep 7.5 mg along with 3 mg melatonine.... sometimes get a full night sleep, sometimes not...wouldn't say it is a refreshing sleep. Been on these at night for 12 months...

The only way i get rest bite from the anxiety during the day is 1/2 a zopilcone tablet....sometimes they work, sometimes only for a short while or can be ok for rest of night...

I seem to go downhill and anxiety gets worse in afternoon/evening ...some days take 2 half tablets during the day....

Is anxiety and other symptoms my hormonal imbalance... or is it my body/mind wanting the Zopiclone tablets ??

Anyone been in the same boat ? how did you sort ?

I cannot see a way out of this madness.... and not sure how much more i can take.

Big Hugs

Yx

[nh_user_1066427]

Hi!

Sorry you feel so bad.  I know it is frustrating and scary and the anxiety feeds on itself.  I am not familiar with Zopiclone, but I am familiar with anxiety and those menopause symptoms.  And if you had a hysterectomy, which I did at 34, I have been told there is no need for the progesterone.  

I did the same thing with the patches first, and then when those kept coming off (and I couldn't afford to buy them so often and insurance won't pay for early refills), the pills, and then nothing when the scare about cancer came about, and it was really terrible for a long long time.  Like I have not felt like myself for over 15 years.  Miserable, can't sleep, joint pain, sweating, all of it.  Oh, ya, they tried anti-depressants, too, and nothing ggod happened.  

So the last week I got the pellet implants of bio-identical HRT and I don't notice any difference yet (except that I feel better that I am doing something about my health), but they said it takes a couple weeks for it to be noticeable.  We will see.  

I would research all your meds, and find out what some of the side effects are, and then ask around for a good doctor who takes an interest in his/her patients and is really read up on stuff.  So many are totally ignorant about hormones, and totally don't care about learning anything about them.  It is a crying shame women are still treated like we are.

Oh, and you might check into the melatonin, because I had tried it years ago to help me sleep, and it made me have really vivid dreams, and I couldn't stay asleep, so it really made problems more worse than better.  

Hope you get some relief.  Take care of yourself, and be sure and report back, because it seems that of all the problems people talk about on this site, there always seems to be someone else who has the same thing going on and some of them have really good answers because they have already been through it.

Hope you feel better soon....

[nh_user_1066427]

This is what I found out about this stuff, questions & answers:

How long will I need to take zopiclone for?

You and your doctor should talk about how long you need to take zopiclone.

Usually zopiclone is not taken for more than two to four weeks.

Some people take zopiclone for a very short time (2-5 days).

Zopiclone should help you get you into a new sleep routine.

You will get the effects within a few hours of taking it.

People can become dependent on the effects of zopiclone if they take it for more than a month, and then when they stop they are more likely to get withdrawal symptoms (see information below).

Stopping zopiclone quickly may cause withdrawal or rebound symptoms

You can stop taking it safely with your doctor’s help.

Zopiclone is not likely to give you withdrawal symptoms if you have been taking it for less than 4 weeks, but some people have had withdrawal symptoms.

You might get any of the following symptoms:

rebound sleeplessness

muscle pain or aches or cramps

feeling anxious

shaking

sweating

feeling agitated or confused or panicky or irritable

headache

fast heartbeat

feeling strange, or having nightmares or hallucinations (sensing things that are not really there)

uncomfortable feelings in your stomach and gut

In serious cases you could also get the following:

feeling unreal in yourself

feeling apart from who you really are

feeling very sensitive to certain sounds

numbness and tingling of fingers and toes

being very sensitive to light, noise and physical contact

having hallucinations

having fits

Your doctor will help you to reduce zopiclone slowly over a few days at the end of your treatment.

Even when you do this, you may get some ‘rebound’ symptoms:

Your original sleeplessness may return

You might feel mood changes

You might feel anxious

You might feel restless

If you suffer from any of these symptoms, go back to your doctor for advice.

Hope this helps.

[nh_user_900866]

Looking at the NHS site on this drug, depression can be a side effect and if you feel that way, you shold see your doctor straigh away.  You should not be taking these tablets long-term or exceeding the dose - you may be coming dependant.  Get this sorted first and then see about the hormone issues.  Take care and good luck!

[nh_user_1044734]

Hi,I had severe anxiety hot sweats, i am post menopause now thats when my symptoms got worse. I was On HRT! I went to see my GP & my HRT was changed, after a good few weeks i felt great, I had to come off of my HRT earlier in the year due to having an aneasthetic. After 6 weeks all the hot sweats & anxiety came back, i was able to go back on them after my results came back fine, I know people worry about the risks of HRT but the quality of my life since being on them has impoved so much. Not the answer for eveyone. but  its best for me, I do have regular checks. Good luck.

[nh_user_900866]

I meant the Zopiclone, of course.  No sleeping pill should be prescribed long-term and you should never exceed the dose.