I don't want to be taking Zopiclone

Don't go to bed too early. Make sure you are physically and mentally tired - walking and reading are good for this.

And I find that a personal radio with earphones works for me when I wake up in the smallish hours. Must be speech though. Music doesn't do it for me, so World Service or R4Extra.

Mind you, I doubt if the half tablet does you any harm at all.

I have been prescribed zopiclone too. I rarely take it. It's addictive, as I'm sure you know, so not a good idea to take it more than 3 nights consecutively.

I went through a phase of sleeping badly and I sympathise: it's horrible. I have recently been prescribed Lyrica for anxiety which I take at night and that seems to help a lot. I'm on a low dose at 75mg and don't want to raise it because weight gain is a side effect.

Have you tried other meds such as promethazine? Some people find that helps, and it's not addictive. Other than that I'd agree with jinglbells' advice.

I use a Magnesium oil spray that I buy from Boots to aid sleep I mostly sleep well maybe because I use it regularly , never thought of that till now. Before anyone pooh-poohs it, magnesium works on the GABA receptors, as does certain medications for anxiety e.g. gabapentin. Anyway here's an article that explains it:

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/marek-doyle/help-me-sleep-magnesium-secret-to-sleep-problems_b_3311795.html

Good luck, there's little worse than not sleeping properly.

This is the one I buy (found it in Amazon). It's a bit pricey but lasts for ages. It stings a bit when you apply it:

www.amazon.co.uk/Better-You-Magnesium-Goodnight-Spray/dp/B002VPDX56

I use zopiclone very rarely. I always know when I am going to have a phase of insomnia so take half a tablet. It says to take 20 minutes before retiring - I find it's better to take it a good hour before! The Doc is loathe to prescribe these but usually gives me 2 weeks worth which lasts for some months. I have a friend who has taken them for about 12 years which is not good news. I read an article recently which indicated that it is more than likely that the chemicals contained in these sleeping tablets lead to symptoms of alzheimers. I don't know what the alternative is : nothing more frustrating or tear-inducing than not being able to sleep and then finally sleeping and waking up late feeling like death . You have my sympathies AlieOxon

Your link says you need take 400-500mg of magnesium before you go to bed, grannyknot, tablets or soluble. I don't understand how spraying oil on would work - is it absorbed through the skin?

I take zopiclone as and when and find it invaluable, but as people have said, GPs are reluctant to prescribe more than 14 days' supply.

I'd love to find a reliable alternative but none of the over the counter 'sleep aids' work for me and some make me feel dreadful in the morning.

Good luck to everyone suffering from sleep problems - it's no joke!

I'm not sure I'd believe anything I read in that Huffington Post.

Interesting post Grannyknot. A friend said magnesium deficiency is sometimes the cause of anxiety and I found it helped me with Restless Leg Syndrome. It makes sense that it could also be the reason in some cases of insomnia. Magnesium is found in green leafy vegetables, avocados, nuts and seeds, bananas, fish, beans and lentils, whole grains, dark chocolate etc.

Apparently a deficiency in magnesium can lead to muscle spasms, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety disorders, migraines, osteoporosis and cerebral infarction.

I would continue to take the prescribed dose of zopiclone. It has the effect of sending you off to sleep. The effects wear off after about four hours. It is used to get your body back into a proper sleeping pattern and not meant for long term use. In the Nursing Home I used to work in, several of the Residents used zopiclone to very good effect and they were all in various stages of Alzheimers disease. Another plus is that zopiclone is much less addictive than Temazepam.

I don't sleep very well. During the summer, there were some nights when I didn't get to sleep until the birds were singing. I think it has to do with the menopause and I'm just waiting to see.

Ana yes it is absorbed through the skin and perhaps there is an a cumulative effect ...?

jings there are loads of website s and articles, I just picked the first one. Here's another one:
www.growyouthful.com/remedy/magnesium-oil.php

When my husband had a heart attack, the ambulance crew were chatting to me and they said if someone has low magnesium levels and they have to use the paddles for resus, "the patient won't hold the charge". Whether they were just making light conversation to take our minds off what was going on, I don't know. My husband didn't need the paddles BTW. They did praise me to high heaven for being so calm "You did a fine job" they said "it's our turn now". All I did was stay calm and follow instructions .

Re the sleeping, I also drink Sleepy Time tea. Knocks me out ...

Ooh, haven't tried that - will have to give it a go. Thanks!

growyouthful.com?

No. You'll have to do better than that!

Oh dear, I can't stop laughing, what with this and the Bearded Lady thread!

That herbal tea will give you bad dreams. [nodsheadknowingly]

Sorry I didn't come back yesterday jings
Thanks all.
I managed to sleep ok last night on the half tablet in the night.
- but I was tired from the night before!

I can't sleep the whole night whatever I do, but I have to get up to the loo anyway, so I have a snack and a half cuppa and a read, and then try again.
...seems all my worries some back then, as soon as I have had some sleep, and I usually wake up about 3am.

I was on temazepam, half tablet in the same way, never needed any more and it worked on the anxiety too, which I don't find the zopiclone does.

I may have to take two halves tonight as I have to deal with a meeting at my house on Thursday! Which I know i will cope with fine - but it makes me tense!

jings re growyouthful.com you don't know how good I look on it the proof, as they say ...

I rest my case.

grannyknot the Huffington Post article recommends taking a magnesium supplement orally. Now I'm a bit confused. Why do you use a spray rather than a supplement? And how do you use the spray? I mean, whereabouts on your body and how much?

I've had irregular sleep patterns for a few years now, and my doctor won't give me anything for it.
Usually it's some ache or pain that keeps me awake - my feet, with corns or recently, arthritis. indigestion, brain working overtime, ETC.
I usually have one bad night, followed by a good night, got used to it.
I tried melatonin for a while, but I seemed to build up a tolerance to it. Now it sometimes helps to take a 500mg paracetamol with a piriton .

Rowan you can take the spray orally as well I think (but I don't). I just like the spray, it's a personal preference because I always forget to take supplements. And I keep the spray on my bedside table, nice and convenient. I spray it on my love handles ! Jokes side, I think you can spray it anywhere where you have skin, I just squirt twice on each hip. Obviously not near the eyes.

I don't use it every night, only when I remember.

Hi again rowan I just checked and it promotes oral health too, so yes you can spray it directly into your mouth.

alie congrats on your new grandson

Allie - insomnia - poor you, especially as it is an ongoing problem for you.
Never heard of the magnesium idea for insomnia - hope that, or something else, will help.

I assume you have tried all the herby tablets like herbal Nytol - and camomile tea.

I had this problem for years I find not getting into bed too earlyhelps but also not doing too much for a few hours before if i watch tv till right before i go up my brain won't shut down properly. I have a lavender oil bath, warm milk with nutmeg (through a tea strainer before drinking though) and honey then read for an hour before i get into bed and half and hour after. I have come off zopliclone now ......Horrible stuff hated the spacey feeling and yucky taste the next day.

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