Zopiclone

Oh Alie, anxiety and tension is completely understandable, sorry, no experience of that particular drug, hope someone comes along who can help.

Of course the most obvious answer it to see your GP.

I've been prescribed it in the past but never took more than half a tablet - no problems at all with afternoon anxiety.

Are you sure it's down to the tablets Alie? With what you've gone through recently it's not surprising you're experiencing such feelings.

alie I've not used them, but I do know that some people, not all, do have withdrawal symptoms from zopiclone (or the "Z drugs". I'll see if I can find the reference.

But it doesn't sound as though you're having withdrawal symptoms if you're still taking them, Alie. Do you mean side effects?

I think that if it starts to 'wear off' in the afternoon you could experience withdrawal even if still taking them. You need to ask your doc of course.

But this is from the NICE website: "Zopiclone ... has an elimination half-life of 3.5–6.5 hours. It is licensed for "the short-term treatment of insomnia (including difficulties in falling asleep, nocturnal awakening and early awakening, transient, situational or chronic insomnia, and insomnia secondary to psychiatric disturbances) in situations where the insomnia is debilitating or is causing severe distress for the patient". The SPC states that long-term continuous use is not recommended, that a course of treatment should employ the lowest effective dose, and a single period of treatment should not exceed 4 weeks including any tapering off. The SPC also states that the duration of treatment should be 2–5 days for transient insomnia and 2–3 weeks for short-term insomnia.

The sedative effects of the Z-drugs may persist into the next day. The SPCs for all three Z-drugs carry warnings about their potential to cause tolerance, dependence and withdrawal symptoms".

Grannyknot that is exactly what I mean. Recent stress had made me put the dose up a little....after tomorrow I will work out how to get off this stuff, starting with reducing the dose!

I have been on them for far too long!
Think I have got my body in a mess.

Take care though and speak to your doctor.

.

Alie - I wonder whether you should discuss the situation with your GP, who I presume prescribed them.

You could discuss with him/her whether what is happening to you is a side effect and what it might be best to do. If you decide to go off the drug, then you could get advice from the GP as to the best way to do it. I am sure that they have had an important role in helping you through a difficult time, and you need proper advice as to when and how to withdraw them.

Please do not worry too much about it. My OH has been on a sleeping pill for many years because he cannot rest at night with his PD and because his heart rhythm is unstable at night and stops him sleeping. There are lots of different drugs for insomnia; and you need proper advice from your GP as to what should happen next. I do not think you should make a decision to increase or decrease the dose without some medical advice.

I do hope that you are able to sort this out, and start to feel better.

The dose increase was ok'd....think I can go back to the original this w/e myself, but am due to see doctor anyway soon.

How do I say to the doctor that I've been allowed to stay on it far too long?!!

I'll PM you.

If your doctor's been prescribing it since your daughter died, it isn't far too long Alie.

Everyone's situation varies and although zopiclone's only supposed to be used short-term for temporary insomnia, in cases such as yours I'm sure longer-term is not unusual.

Worrying about it will only make things worse, but good idea to see your GP as soon as possible to express your concerns.

You could perhaps say that you are concerned about being on it for this length of time and would like to discuss it. You do not need to say that you think you have been allowed to stay in it too long, just that you need to understand the best way forward with this drug.

Good posts mishap.

But... just one thing, if alie feels that she is taking more or more often than prescribed or recommended (e.g.in the afternoon) it is good that she has the awareness and insight and she should be asking questions.

DH has tried zopiclone once or twice but they affected him so badly he refused to take any more. And this is a man who gets very few side effects from most drugs.

I've suffered from restless legs syndrome 24/7 for 30+ years, medication helps. The condition brings with it an element of hyper alertness and for this I use zopiclone and have been on it for several years, having tried other types of sleeping medication.l
I'm thankfully unaware of any side effects whatsoever.

A chat with your doctor to air your thoughts sounds good.

They're sleeping tablets and shouldn't be taken during the day, especially if the person's going to drive.

Anxiety can be controlled by other medication in the short term.

Re-reading AlieO's post- she does not say she has been taking some during the day- but that she is getting withdrawal symptoms in the afternoon, after taking 1 at night.

AllieO, I am so sorry you've been having such a sad and tough time, no wonder you needed help sleeping. Zopiclone is known to be highly addictive- but at the same time to really help some people. A friend of mine had the same issue, had been on half a tablet for years- and was so worried that she had panick attacks and couldn't sleep at all if she tried not to take one (well, half)- but the doctor told her not to worry, as long as she doesn't increase the dose and takes more and more- and it helps her sleep and get on with life during the day, then it was the lesser evil and not to worry.

Really, you shoud go and discuss this with your doctor, or ask to be referred to a sleep clinic, or another specialist. Don't 'accuse' the doctor of letting you be on them for too long, but tell him you are concerned- and about the anxiety attacks, which may well have nothing to do with the Zopiclone. It's good to be able to talk to others on GN, but for such medical issues, it is perhaps not a good idea.

go and ask for help, you deserve it- and take care.

I agree with Ana that you haven't been on them for too long Alie. You have simply accepted help when you needed it. If you feel ready then certainly start to cut down gradually. But don't worry about the (short) length of time you have been on them. Worrying will just make worse the natural anxiety and unhappiness you are feeling at this awful time. Try to trust your doctor. A little bit of help sleeping will not be harmful in the long run.

We only ever gave them to people for short term use [eg 2-3 days at a time]; I had no idea that they could be used for longer periods. Agree that you need to speak to your doctor about it.I was always under the impression that they are very powerful tablets, even in the lower doses and need to be taken very carefully, so you need to be very honest with your doctor about how many you take and when and he/she must understand that you need help that goes beyond just writing out a prescription .

When I was in hospital two years ago the night staff were handing zopiclone out like smarties! You didn't need to have been on any sleeping medication before, they'd just ask you if you wanted any...

It seems to be only recently that its addictive and habit-forming drawbacks have been realised (at least in my area).

Where does Alie say for how long she has been on the Zopiclone?

She doesn't say, admittedly, but there is mention on the thread about Alie's daughter that she's worried that she's been on them for too long.

I think on the whole, doctors know what they are doing. They know about the drugs than we do.