I'VE BEEN TAKING ZOPILCONE FOR 15 YEARS.

I'VE BEEN ON ZOPILCONE FOR 15 YEARS. I TRYED TO STOP TAKING THEM WITHOUT ANY MEDICAL HELP. THE SIDE EFFECTS ARE VERY BAD. I HAD FAST HEART RATE, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, SWEATS, THE JERKS AND BREATHING PROBLEMS. I WAS TAKING 5 TO 6, 7.5MG PER NIGHT IN THE END. I'M GETTING HELP TO COME OFF THEM. I AM MENT TO BE TAKING 3.75MG AT 3 ONE NIGHT THEN 2 THE NIGHT AFTER, AND SO ON. THE PROBLEM IS IS THAT I'M GIVEN 45 PILLS EVERY TWO WEEKS. THATS JUST LIKE GIVING AN HEROINE ADDICT HEROINE AND SAYING TAKE ONE LINE A NIGHT. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO STOP OR WHERE TO GET THE HELP I NEED. THIS STUFF IS SO UNDERESTIMATED BY GP'S AND THEY DON'T MONITOR YOU AND STOP YOU AFTER THE RECOMMENDED TIME STATED MY MANUFACTURES.r

i have been on zopiclone 4 4 years.i hate takin them but can not stop them.i would like 2 hear from anyone with a sucsess story,as it plays a major part in my night life.im sure the feelings i get r what makes the addiction worse.i take 7.5mg every night about 5pm,by 9pm they start 2 work.i get a sence of bein happy n not worrying about a thing.then i get a bitter taste in my throat n get tearfull.im lucky if i get 6solid hours on the tablet.i was put on amytriptaline 150mg also 2 help with weaning off but i am ammune 2 all tablets.i really need help 2 get off them without going cold turkey.

i was on zopiclone for over 5 yrs and ws addicted to it couldnt imagine my life without them. have now managed to come off them but there was no easy way. in the end i was taking 3 or 4 7.5 mg a night and was taking them earlier and earlier and couldn't wait to take them. i had to go cold turkey and feel more alive and aware in all areas of life whereas before i think i was in an odd sleep state even when i was awake good luck try and find a gp or counsellor you can talk to as many don't seem that educated in drugs such as zopicolne

After 15 months (some in hospital) on Zopiclone, and having reduced from 7.5 mg to 3.75 mg, I went my first night without one eight weeks ago. I lay awake all night. The following night I slept, woke up two or three times and slept again. I usually fall asleep OK but am still waking earlier in the morning than I would like and have black rings under my eyes. My consultant advised against stopping by switching to diazepam, said it's best just to reduce the quantity or frequency. Believe me, it's really great to be free of those pills at last but you need patience.

My entire world stopped yesterday. My wife wants a divorce and it all to do with Zopiclone. I take up to 35 tabs each day usually mixed with alcohol. I p*ss blood and am slowly killing myself. I am extremely bad tempered and my wife's has had enough.

To the the outside world everyone thinks I have it all. Two beutiful children, a loving wife good house good car well over average pay.

But it's all a shame. I can't get out of te house in the morning without taking the pills so I get up at least an hour before I need to to pace out the 8 pills I need to get out the door.

I suffer from the most dark depression and diabetes, OCD as well as the kidney problems caused by the Zopiclone.

I have now told my wife now and I just don't think she could take it in.

I phoned the Samaritans a couple of hours ago and woman on phone simply could not beleive that I ingest 35 tabs a day and that I am still alive and holding down a job/marriage/kids.

I had a horrible abusive childhood (not sexual) a very diifcult teenage and early 20's and now the woman that saved me has broken my heart.

I would seriously advise anyone with Mental Heath dissorders or Depression to stay away from Zopiclone

The worst thing is that tomorrow, I'll have to tell the rest of the world and I really don't know how. I'll lose my job for sure just to everything else.

I am gust a regular guy - this could easily happen to you please don't take it.

Print this out and show it to your Doctor to help you get off it.

You would not want to be where I am right now -it's a very dark scary and lonely place.

I came on here because I have just been given 5 Zopiclone and am amazed at how many others are given. My gp said that she is only allowed to give me 6 per month at the most.

I am now wondering seriously if I should take even one of them.

Stephen I am in tears over what you are going through - your gp needs to know about this and ween you off the amount you are taking.

Please see your doctor and get the help you need to keep your family intact and keep yourself alive.

Hi Irenee

Don't worry about taking the zopiclone. Your doctor is obviously very sensible.

My GP provides me with 7 zopiclone every couple of months. I can't have them on repeat though - I have to go in and see him personally for the prescription.

I have been taking zopiclone on and off since about March last year. I don't have any side effects from not taking them (other than struggling to get to and stay asleep) but that is why I have them anyway :roll:

Your GP obviously thinks you would benefit from a few nights sleep so gofor it and enjoy the rest.

Sometimes it only takes a few nights of help in getting to sleep to get your body back into the habit of sleeping at night.

I'd suggest you take the tablet at the same time every night (just before you go to bed)

Also try and get into the habit of going to sleep at the same time every night and getting up at the same time every morning. (not too late)

It is good to read of other peoples experiences on here and it helps us to learn how dangerous and destroying such tablets can be.

You are now aware of how addictive zopiclone is, so I doubt very much you will go down that road.

You need to be taking zopiclone for a few weeks every night before addiction would set in. Try taking one a week, when you have reached the point that you know you really need a good nights sleep.

Melbi x

im replying to steve i read your s and cryed i have being taken them for 17 yrs i buy of net get of doctor my life revolves around them . they mess with your head my husband left me the most ive taken in one day is 30 but the most i take now is 7

i have had bad life too lost leg daughter died husband left me dad died cancer i feel zoplicone are the only thing i have left please if you need to talk email me

After 15 months (some in hospital) on Zopiclone, and having reduced from 7.5 mg to 3.75 mg, I went my first night without one three months ago. I lay awake all night. The following night I slept, woke up two or three times and slept again.

I usually fall asleep OK but am still waking earlier in the morning than I would like but I have quite a few issues on my plate at the moment and find this acceptable as I am gradually sleeping longer and longer.

My consultant advised against stopping by switching to diazepam, said it's best just to reduce the quantity or frequency. Believe me, it's really great to be free of those pills at last and I had no cold sweats, no hallucinations.

Believe me, you too can kick the habit.

I HAVE TAKEN JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING FOR MY INSOMNIA OVER THE PAST 18 YEARS

THE BEST WAS NITRAZAPAM BUT UNFORTUNATELY MY GP ONLY WOULD GIVE ME 3 WEEKS SUPPY OF IT.

SO FAR I HAVE MANAGED TO STAY ON THE 7.5MG (MORE THROUGH FEAR) BUT IT DOESNT PUT ME TO SLEEP JUST RELAXES ME.

I AM TERRIFIED TO TAKE ANY MORE WITH MY OTHER MEDS BUT WOULD KILL FOR A GREAT NIGHTS SLEEP.

WHAT HAVE OTHERS FELT LIKE THE NEXT DAY AFTER TAKING MORE THAN THE 7.5MG?

I HAVE A FAIR DRIVE TO WORK IN THE MORN AND NEED MY WITS ABOUT ME FOR DRIVING. LAST THING I NEED TO TO LOSE CONCENTRATION AND WRAP MYSELF AROUND A TREE.

SO HOW BAD IS IT? :?

Stephen's story is really upsetting. Can I plead with you to get help? No matter what means by which you are getting your zopiclone, I can't believe any caring doctor out there worth their salt would turn you away... this is ruining your life! Taking that many z's a day plus alchohol is really bad news. And you recognise yourself what it's doing to your family let alone your body.

There may be somewhere you can go to do some kind of detox programme?

Wishing you all the best, take it a step at a time I believe you can get there if you want it badly enough

star x

well wow some of these stories are harsh and just wow, i am recovering crack addict (been battling it for 3-5 years now) and they gave me zopiclone 7.5mg to sleep at night, cause i couldnt sleep after i was clean for some reason...lol but anyways i have only taken 2 of the tablets one night cause i couldnt sleep, now i am on depression meds for about 5 months now wellbutrin and trazidone to help with the depression and sleeping , anyways so i am taking 100mg of trazadone and one zopiclone at night and have been for the last 5 months or so, but recently i have been feeling i think hung over or i am still detoxing or something or i am in withdrawls from the zopiclone or something as i havent been feeling right lately, and i know it has to be something i am taking, i get the twitches once in a while and not sure what thats from and i am smoking pot once in a while too when i get really bad crack cravings and it helps me relax and sleep better too and i get really ripped off it but i am scared to take more then 7.5mg of zopiclone, you would think i would being an addict right and i am worried about drinking while on all these meds so i havent drank in prob 2 years just not into it i am \"retired\" now . in reality i have been off and on zopiclone for 3-4 years and i know its addictive properties but it honestly does make me sleep thru the night in 20 mins of taking trazidone and the zopiclone i am out cold and if i fight it i blackout and do shit i dont remeber before i pass out lol so as a joke now i just tell people t-minus 20 mins and they know what i am talking about, anyways i would like to ween myself off them eventually and am thinking on trying half a tab at night and see what thats like but i dont wanna fuck up my sleep patern now so just confused, maybe i should cut down on the trazadone, not really sure , any ideas or advice? i have quit the zopiclone in the past sorta ok with minimul side affects i just have too much going on in my life right now to mess up the rythem would put me back a few weeks and cant deal with that right now

Just about (today) gonna take my first zopicone .....i am a bit f****d up cos my son died 6 months ago........i cannot sleep .....well i can , but stupid times of day !

Thats why i have been perscribed i suppose , im also on anti depressants , so i guess im screwed !

I've taken zoplicone 7.5mg on and off to help sleep as it relaxes me . I am also on mess for high BP, so to be able to relax is a big thing for me. I usually don't take more than 1 but somehow 3 nights ago I took 1 more (with a very cloudy head, while taking the 2nd). I was more stressed than usual n after 1 could not get to sleep still . The past few days were a blur, I had a fair bit of memory loss . I could not figure out why I was feeling poorly as it never crossed my mind it was the zoplicone until I researched today. I thought my BP is high again and I hv to see my doc again , with high anxiety, stress , breathing problems and nausea + dizziness. I am now pretty certain I had accidentally overdosed myself with 2x7.5mg. It's been 3 days and its still not out of my system.

I have the same problem with zopiclone 7.5mg , I have took them for some years sometimes 3 a day to get some sleep and when i try to stop i feel ill with rising pulse rate and low blood pressure.I tried to replace it with alcohol but that just makes matters worse.Then i end up with high blood pressure and another addiction i can do without.All the Doctor says is try to reduce over time, but its very difficult.Managed to kick the alcohol, Also have tried using diazapam 10mg as a substitute to try to break cycle ,but this has to be used with caution as you end up hooked on that. i wish i could be more helpfull,but why ,why is the drug over prescribed in the first place.Slowly stopping the drug is the only answer but its not easy.I was originally put on the drug as i have bi polar disorder and used to stay awake for up to three days at a time.

Hi all and sorry to hear about your run in's with zopiclone. It is devious, patient and progressive.

I started taking it from the age of 16, I'm now 40. It's got worse through the years I'm in aa and have been sober for 7 years. Only thing is I substituted alcohol for zopliclone.

1 is never enough and 28 just about does the trick. I'm on a detox programme. They gave me 7 and i took them all. I was only meant to have one a night. I can't just take 1. When I,m not taking them, I'm thinking about them. My doctors don't understand addiction and the power it has over you.

It was easier giving up alcohol as I had a whole network of people surrounding me that I could identify with the obsession went. Unfortunately there are no groups for us. Which I think would really help.

I've been to aa, na dra, daa, treatment centres, pychatritst and cbt and a mental hospital but everyone is powerless over this including me.

I have good intentions to stop but they don't last.

I just don't see a way out. I need to meet up with groups that I can identify with for support but I can't leave my 2 year old girl and go to rehab. Evenings would be great.

Anyone want to start a group?

With fellowship love xxx

I would not be able to sleep if i dint have my zopiclone, im on 7.5mg a night , but some times i cheat, i know that isnt the answer but i can stay awake on them too, if i didnt have zopiclone i would be awake all night , probly could stay awake 2 days without sleep., i suffer with mental health , stres and anziety disorder and social phobia aso you can imagine what my life is like, the only thing i feel ive got right is my 5 children. im on other meds too, mirtazapine, pregabaline, simvastatin and diazapan .

Hi all this is my first post on this site so bear with me.

Im 23 and currently addicted the the evil Zopiclone. My Dr classes it as a benzo as the withdrawals from it are the same. At the moment i have to pick up daily perscriptions of 15mg. This is the does they initially started me on. Im trying to wean off it but hell its not fun. at so stages before i was on daily prescriptions i was taking god knows how much. it would be id take them....still not asleep....take some more ....... still not asleep. it just got completely out of control. Has anyone found a reduction regime that works and is tolerable regarding the side effects?

Big LOVE! Stay STRONG! Keep PEACE!

After taking a lot of zopiclone for 35 years I had to go cold turkey in the end. Reason...I was taking them in the day too because of their addictive nature. As mentioned above severe memory loss was awful and destroying my personality.

This is my experience and I'm not a doctor but I went from taking a lot and reducing it down by 7.5 mg every night. When I got to my final 7.5 mg the following night I didn't take anything. I'm not going to lie I didn't want to come off them as I was frightened I'd never be able to sleep again. The first week was hard. I hardly slept so I made sure I did it over the holiday period as I was exhausted through the day. The following week I started sleeping better and it got better and better and 3 months on I'm sleeping really well without being a slave to zopiclone.

I never thought I could do it but I'm sleeping much better now and feeling refreshed in the morning and not hungover.

There is light at the end of the tunnel.

Xxx

I have been taking Zopiclone since 2000 maybe earlier,I forget.I was told when I started that they were

Not addictive.How wrong that was.trying to come off them is horrific.hallucinations,nightmares palpitations.

I managed to come off them for a while,but started to take them again .I take either 3.75 or 7.50every night,but they are now not really working and so I find myself taking an extra 3.75 if I wake up really early.I now get

dizzy spells and feel dreadful during the day so even though I know the withdrawal symptoms will be awful I MUST try to stop this habit as it is ruining my life..

Zopiclone are fine to take for a short period but from my experience,are terrible in the long term.