Hi all
i have been taking these every 3 nites when I'm so tired I can't stand it anymore. 4 wks ago I had a 5hr back op so I'm in a lot of pain all the time dispite being on Tramdol for that.
my doctor is being really stingy, else I'd have one every nite he is very reluctant for me to have them.
I'm just concerned there's something awful about them I don't know , although my friends gran has been on em for years with no probs
any advice out there??
Hi, Dawnylou, that sounds rough for you, would have thought you would have had the zopiclone every night and some Oralmorph for the pain, sounds like you are not managing on the tramadol too well.
Really hope your pain goes soon or you get bette medication.......good luck
I don't know that Zopiclone helps much with pain. Is it definitely just the pain keeping you awake? Has your doctor considered Gabapentin/Pregabalin or have you asked him about it?
Zopiclones are purely a sleep medication, they are addictive so your doctor will not let you take them every night. Have you tried Amitriptaline? I got off Zop and now take an Ami 1.5 hours before bed, mix them with a drink and they work really well (not advised but works for me).
My doc gives me a pack of Zops every 3 months so its 14 pills over 90 nights which works for me, I only take them before big work days etc or if my sleep pattern gets interrupted.
Best of luck 
Hello Dawn
You are right to be concerned about Zopiclone, if used regularly for more than a few weeks it can become addictive and cause withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop taking them. It sounds like you need a stronger pain killer until your back settles down, but I'd steer clear of Zopiclone.
Hey Dawnylou. Sorry to hear about your back pain - hope you find an effective medication for that. I think your doctor is only being careful as he knows they are so addictive and can be harmful long-term. I really would not advise an increase with them for these reasons. There are other ways to help with sleep like Rescue Remedy losenges that are natural and fine to use, warm milk drinks, eating healthily and doing an hour of exercise that I all find tires me out so I sleep and some nights if I do not I know I will the next night when the tiredness catches up with me. I can understand the pain would make it hard to sleep maybe you should keep trying different pain medications instead. I find Nurofene for migraines sometimes effective. But, if all paid medications do not take away the pain and ofcourse you do need to sleep stay on the recommended dose. Lucky you on such a low dose that will be much easier to get off. I am on 15mg every night and have been for years but will just slowly reduce them when I am less busy and it is the right time. Be kind to yourself you have had an awful ordeal with pain and not sleeping. You are probably quite fragile so look after yourself and do some nice things for yourself like a trip to the Gardens, a park for lunch, go to a movie with a friend, have a favourite lunch or meal and pamper yourself. Take care and hang in there. Keep posting - people will support you on here.
I think the tricyclics are very good for nerve pain too and the added anxiety reducing property also helps in such situations, but I don't know that one of them is licensed for use in that way. The side-effects with the tricyclics, though unpleasant, may not be so restricting as those with gabapentin. There are spatial judgement problems with the latter and you may not fully realize you're under their spell. Driving without several months experience of taking gabapentin I think should be prohibited.
I'm not at all convinced about all this addiction attributed to Zopiclone and it's quite a clean drug in terms of clearing the system, but if it's not the drug best suited to the medical condition...
Hi Robin
the pain is becoming more manageable now, still on Tramadol.
i find the nites I don't have a tab I really can't sleep, legs seem to want to b on the go( wish they'd take themselves off out lols)
Hi Robert
it helps me sleep through the pain, had lovely sleep last nite but had a tablet. Prev 2 nite were horrible, twitchy legs pain etc
Thank you no one has ever mentioned that tablet to me. I am on citalopram for anxiety n depression too, do that may be why
Hello there
thanks for that, it makes sense then why he giving me rations.
for now I am going to continue coz of the pain, but only every 3rd nite so I can at least get a decent sleep lols
Hi Jennifer
thanks so much for your reply. I'm now into my 5th week following the op so pain is getting easier .
thanks for the advice I'm going to stick to ev 3rd nite so I get some decent sleep and hopefully decrease as I get better😁👍
Twitchy legs RLS? I read taking citalopram and coming off tramadol can aggravate it. I've never taken either but I know mirtazapine often causes it. Maybe it's a different problem entirely in your case though.