Have decided to wean myself off Z ( with support from doctor ) ..has anyone done this successfully ....I've been using them for about 4 years
Hi, there is something called the Ashton protocol and people seem to have followed it successfully. I dropped all Z almost 3 weeks ago not following any protocols. Been on them for 20 years, but never on a high dose and used them mostly for sleep. After discovering that I only took one mg I decided to go off totally. So far so good. I am not a doctor and I am not giving any advice, just telling that it obviously can be done. My head is clearer and my sleep is not as good as with the Z, but I fall asleep very quickly, wake up more times per night than before, but that’s all so far.
good luck! It’s worth it!
Yes, google the Ashton plan and show it to doctor.
its the most tried and trusted method.
its no good just reducing dosage, that doesn't work,
hopefully your doc isn't doing that.
Hi again, I have a correction, I was on Valium, not on Zopiclone. When I mentioned “Z” I meant benZo. Sorry if I caused confusion.
Hi Yes I have heard of lots of people weaning off the z's some had been taking them for twenty five years!
Four years is nothing!
Have you heard of Ashton's Manual. It is written by a dr , a professor Ashton and gives very detailed information about the z drugs and the harm they do and advice on weaning off them. It has to be very slowly but it is definitely achievable and worthwhile as people's health I'm[proves as time goes on when withdrawing.
Take care and keep at it.
Well done. Mind my asking you the dose you were originally put on and how it was reduced to 1 mgm.
Thank you.
Hi again, I was on Valium, 2 or 5 mg. I very seldom took 10 mg per day, most of the time maybe 2.5. I never considered myself as addicted, but must have been. I mean, I took the pills during so many years. I reduced the dose myself. 5 mg in the evening became 4, then 2.5 then 2 and finally 1.
Sometimes I took 1 mg during the day when’s stressed. Even twice per day. I always tried to keep the dose very low. And then I just decided to quit.
Hi again Thank you for your reply.
It sounds as though you have been very careful in handling this situation and have a lot of knowledge about it.
I do not know what you do next in order to reduce the dose etc. However it sounds as though you know what to do.
I don't think most people realise what horrible drugs these benzos and opiates are but hopefully are becoming more and more enlightened and seeking alternatives such as counselling, psychotherapy, meditation, mindfulness, yoga etc.
Thanks once again.
Hi again to gail, conta et al
I have just been reading about the effectiveness of drinking banana skin tea in anxiety, depression, insomnia.
I saw it in the Mailonline. for 15 minutes. ALlow to cool then drink a mugful at bedtime!!
Apparently you boil washed banana skin for 15 minutes allow to cool then drink a mugful at bedtime.
sent previous posting before editing.
Hi again
I hope you do not mind my asking u but I was wondering about the support from your dr and in what form it took.
Did he provide a weaning off regime ?
Thanks
I was on zopiclone for 25 years and decided I was going to stop them, I took advice from different doctors and decided I was just going to STOP, which I did with no withdrawal symptons at all. I was on 7.5 , but the last month I cut down to 3.75mg, then just stopped.
I infact sleep better than I ever and I decided if I could stop zopiclone I would also be able to stop smoking , which I also did last year, so I stopped zopiclone last March 2017 and stopped smoking in August 2017.
Try it and see if you can, my days are clearer and I remember things better.
I have got into habit of taking 5mg at night to help sleep. I usually need 1 or 2mg in day before i go out. You have done a great job tapering. I would like to try same. Did you have any help or just do it alone. I am also almost off anti depressant but i feel so,scared of things, cant do what i used to like and generally not great. I am concerned that some say the diazepam causes this, do you think thats true?
any help on cutting regime would help.
thank you
sorry to butt in. Yes the benzos can make you feel like this. They act on the receptors in the brain causing people to become addicted unknowingly and demotivated. They suppress dopamine and endorphins and that is why people do not feel like doing anything .
They are terrible drugs. Just terrible. Any withdrawal has to be done very slowly as it is dangerous to go cold turkey.
I did it by my own. I was not even consciously trying to taper. I just wanted to have less and less and when I finally just had one mg I decided to get off.
So far I have no idea what or which of my problems are caused by diazepam. My memory got really bad and I hope it will get better. I was scared when I heard that diazepam could cause dementia. Now they don’t say that anymore, it was never truly verified.
Twelve years ago I was diagnosed with a very bad burnt-out syndrome. Somehow I like to think that it could have been even worse if I had not had the diazepam, it helped me a lot. My burnt-out syndrome has left me with an easily trigged anxiety and brain fog and many physical symptoms.
I dont take any anti depressants anymore, even if I sometimes feel that I need them. But I have decided to try to totally avoid any brain medication.
Again, I’m not a doctor and can’t give any real advice. The Ashton protocol is said to be reliable. I browsed through it and it looks like to be more helpful for people who have been on higher dosage.
Thanks so much.
yes i agree Ashton seems its more for higher dosage drops.
i am going to try to get off this if i can, im just scared. Today im feeling bad and just dont know if i can get through all this
Hi Yes you can get through this. Lots of people have so why not you.
Try to keep positive and think how much better you are going to feel off this stuff .
Exerccise helps because it stimulates the production of endorphins which are the bodys natural pain killers and anti depressants.
Focusing on small tasks such as washing the dishes but slowly is not onlt a distraction but alters your mindset as it gives the brain something to focus on and dispel negative thoughts. If you go for a walk then walk slowly for the same reason. Breathing exerises are another means of re focusing and changing ones mindset.
Take care .
Been on zopiclone for 10 years. Currently on 7.5mg but upto 15mg started originally on 3.75mg
Thats fantastic...im on 3.75mg but often find i need to take 2 to get me through the night ...so fed up with it all ...All my gp has advised is that i try and cut out on one night a week at the moment...
Hi again Do you have a pill cutter?