hi i am at the gps this afternoon and want to taper off zopiclone! can the gp just stop my zopiclone or do they have to allow me to taper off the right way. what are my rights..help xx
I don't think they can do that. They will put you on gradual withdrawal
thank you david x
Hey Julie. I can understand you being stressed about the possibility of your zopiclone being stopped.You could copy down Keith's links to either print but if not enough ink write it down and show it to your GP. The last link I put on MidnightLadys page gave details of an agency who could also help. You are definetly right - it should be done slowly. You could bring a friend or an advocate too. I am going to be posting some information about sleep hygiene too soon so that may be good for people to read. You are great caring and supporting others - and I am so glad this website is here for those withdrawing from zopiclone. You could always google your rights as part of the Health and Disabilities Act in the UK. Take care and here is hoping for kind treatment. I will pray for you. 
Hi Julie am at my gps today aswell so nervous about it but av got to do this, just hope he listens and understands but got a feeling am going to get no help. Good luck we can do this lets get r lives bk xxx
thanks jennifer im at gps soon have to go alone , i dont have a printer . what could i say to the doctor? xx
vicky they have to help its a duty of care hunxx
Am just thinking cos they have helped me b4 they might say no we have done enough. Am seeing 1 of the head doctors and always had respect 4 him n got along with him. I just want to b me again, I don't socialise at all with anybody am in my own world and need out. What time is ur app xxx
hi vicky just dont some research on tapering off zopiclone, one of the know drugs for helping is diazepam and should take about 4 weeks! you can ask for a referal to somone who can help you taper off, we have rights my appoints at 3ish. . when are ya at docs hun xx
You could say you have been on a large reputable UK website that strongly advocates slow withdrawal. Also you could write down the links for the doctor to look up. Look up your rights in the Health and Disabilities Act over there too and write it down and the website it is from. It sounds awful they have been so unkind with that there in NZ there is not talk of strict cuts. Tell her also about what I was advised - to cut down by a half or quarter ideally of a 7.5mg tablet every second night. On one of Keith's links from MidnightLady it suggests a helpline and the last link I put on MidnightLady's also did. Try them. I really hope it goes well I can totally understand and sympathesise as I have had a lot of stress coming off it too. Take care and look after yourself. Be kind to yourself and do some nice things - you deserve nice things without a doubt. xo
He I tried b4 with diazepam only lasted 2 nights but think at the time I wasn't ready to come of the zs but am in a different place now,if I ask for a referral would doc still be able to help me today? Mines 12.45 guna leave soon xxx
hi jennifer. i have writen down everything i can, should i hand them the paper work i have written? thank you xxx
hi vicky. mension diazepam and how they will help you taper off zopiclone! you have the right for a refer . doctor have to its your right..goodluck and come back and tell me what they say..ill be here xxxx
hi jennifer, have just been trying to find the health and disabilities act uk with out look, do u have a link sorry to mither you! if i insist the gp forwards me onto someone who will help with the tapering do they have to do that hun? have i a right to taper off and not just have it stopped. confused xxxx
Hi Julie knew it would be hopeless seeing the doc I wrote some things down n was so honest and open to him n he bascially just dismissed me am so angry and upset, he then said he will have a think about all I said to him but he hasn't got time to write a programme down n tht il have to do myself n come bk thu with it n he would have a think about what av said I feel so worthless he told me he wouldn't b given me any zs today n tht cops av been getting them elsewhere then I should go bk to doing so I told him there's nowhere else I could get any from which is true but he said oh well ul find a way n how funny is it tht now u carnt none all of a sudden he said there was no point me speaking anymore as he wernt giving me anything I even said about the diazepam and he said not a chance just manage like u have been. So am bk to square 1 sorry I went now but really needed the help and was refused I rang the cita and they were lovely and so understanding they gave me a few options of what I can do, anyway hope all goes well 4 xx
Hi Julie
Really sorry to hear about your GP's reaction. I noticed when I was planning and researching that the CITA website also has a copy of a letter to your doctor to give, explaining the programme using the diazepam crossover method. I wonder if you can get to a printer and then preferably to a different doctor? Im three weeks into that programme, with my GP prescribing me two weeks' diazepam at a time. I'm using 9 mg as a crossover from having used 11 mg Zopiclone. I am sleeping so far (also using 5HTP which I ordered as a supplement) and though I do feel a bit more drowsy in the day, I still feel better than I did on zopiclone so far. I' m starting a 1 mg reduction tonight and will stick to one mg every two weeks - slow, but don't want to rush it.
Wish you luck...
hi vicky.im so sorry i understand what ur going through its so wrong!! i have just come back from the doctors they have given me diazepam! u must go back on thursday see another doctor. do u have enuff to get u through till thursday xxxxxx
hi jaygee. the gp i seen was ok thank god he gave me diazepam for 2 weeks then to ring them and they will give me some more to taper off zopiclone, i have never taken diazepam how are they bit worried xxx
seem ok to me. I take the 9 mg around and a half before I go to bed and dont really feel any effects, still just watch tv, read etc after I've taken them. nothing worrying. I am sleeping quite quickly (also using a relaxation cd in bed) and getting around 6 hours, then some more snooze later. Do feel a bit more drowsy in the day because of their longer effects (which is why they work well for minimising any zopiclone withdrawal effects, along with the fact that they come in 2 mg pills so the tapering can be done in much smaller amounts.) but again, that's fine. I'm having more vivid dreams than usual but ok. I still feel better than on the zops.
x thanks for reply. i have been given 9mg i have to take 2mg four a night seems alot! so i should take them an hour and half before bed ? do they help you sleep? its great that there better than zopiclone how long will the give you diazepam for? sorry loads of question bit worrying going onto something else x