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Sleep problems after taking sleeping pills

(19 Posts)
Crocus5 Sat 18-Jan-25 17:55:50

Thank you Thistlelass. Can I ask if you have tried Daridorexant and also how you deal with your sleepless nights.

Thistlelass Tue 14-Jan-25 00:36:05

Daridorexant is the latest drug approved for long term insommnia. Also best practice as per NICE would be referral to a sleep clinic or neurology. I know this because I have many nights with no sleep.

Mt61 Mon 23-Dec-24 00:03:20

crazyH

P.S. Have a word with your pharmacist

They are getting so super hard to get hold of here

crazyH Sun 22-Dec-24 23:45:05

P.S. Have a word with your pharmacist

crazyH Sun 22-Dec-24 23:43:25

I have taken Zopiclone for over 10 years. Tbh, at my age addiction is not a problem, sleeplessness is. For those who do not wish to rely on sleeping tablets,, try antihistamines. You can get it off the counter. A bit expensive but worth a try, if your GP will not prescribe sleeping tablets

Mt61 Sun 22-Dec-24 23:32:32

Bridie22

I agree it's a last resort medication when all else fails, I have tried all the recommended sleep hygiene, meditation, all of the gizmos never worked for me.

Me too.

Bridie22 Sun 22-Dec-24 23:15:41

I agree it's a last resort medication when all else fails, I have tried all the recommended sleep hygiene, meditation, all of the gizmos never worked for me.

Mt61 Sun 22-Dec-24 22:25:21

Farzanah

I wasn’t aware that zopiclone was licensed for long term use. It’s dreadful if you suffer from insomnia but I think other help and support should be offered apart from drugs.
To my knowledge some sleeping medications are definitely addictive and should never be stopped abruptly without support.

Yes you are completely right, it shouldn’t be prescribed long term! Waiting to get some help to come off this drug- said to my gp if I was a drug addict the help would be there, he did agree with me.

Farzanah Sun 22-Dec-24 21:18:07

I wasn’t aware that zopiclone was licensed for long term use. It’s dreadful if you suffer from insomnia but I think other help and support should be offered apart from drugs.
To my knowledge some sleeping medications are definitely addictive and should never be stopped abruptly without support.

Mt61 Sun 22-Dec-24 21:15:03

Bridie22

It is prescribed monthly no problems, only when needing to adjust the strength.
Mine isn't zopiclone, it is a stronger medication.

Allowed to ask what it is?
I would say to anyone having sleep problems is try & explore other options-
Sleep hygiene! No phones/iPads at night (says me) try not to go down the sleeping drug route

Bridie22 Sun 22-Dec-24 21:09:53

It is prescribed monthly no problems, only when needing to adjust the strength.
Mine isn't zopiclone, it is a stronger medication.

Mt61 Sun 22-Dec-24 20:50:34

Crocus5

Thank you so much for your replies. I didn’t mind taking the zopiclone but one night it didn’t work and I felt really awful the next day- more than just a sleepless night. The G P said that it was because I was taking it too often.Have either of you had any problems with it? And do your G Ps prescribe it regularly?

Yes I get it regularly. Nearly knocked off it by a locum GP -my own gp promptly put me back on it due to the horrendous withdrawal effects. I wish I had never touched it with a barge pole tbh

Crocus5 Sun 22-Dec-24 20:47:28

Thank you so much for your replies. I didn’t mind taking the zopiclone but one night it didn’t work and I felt really awful the next day- more than just a sleepless night. The G P said that it was because I was taking it too often.Have either of you had any problems with it? And do your G Ps prescribe it regularly?

Mt61 Sun 22-Dec-24 20:37:56

Bridie22

If you suffer from insomnia it's an illness, look on the zopiclone as you would other medication, it is needed to solve a medical problem.
I suffer from chronic insomnia all my life and have taken medication for this problem most of my adult life, I look on it as a need and don't worry about addiction.

That’s ok but the problem starts when you try to come off, the withdrawal is brutal.

Mt61 Sun 22-Dec-24 20:36:12

I’ve taken zopiclone for 25 yrs, struggling to stop myself- sleep problems started when I did nights. I asked the gp if it’s addictive but he poo-pooed it & stated it wasn’t addictive.

Bridie22 Sun 22-Dec-24 20:21:03

If you suffer from insomnia it's an illness, look on the zopiclone as you would other medication, it is needed to solve a medical problem.
I suffer from chronic insomnia all my life and have taken medication for this problem most of my adult life, I look on it as a need and don't worry about addiction.

Crocus5 Sun 22-Dec-24 20:16:37

I was taking zopiclone on and off for about 10 years but last year I was taking them more often.

Mt61 Sun 22-Dec-24 20:11:12

How long were on zopiclone for?

Crocus5 Sun 22-Dec-24 19:29:04

Has anyone been unable to sleep after stopping sleeping pills and how did you manage it? I was taking zopiclone and when that failed the GP prescribedMirtazapine without telling me it could have the same effect. After about 3 months I had awful insomnia. I was then prescribed melatonin and that became ineffective after about 3 months.A different GP has prescribed zopiclone again which I’m reluctant to take but cannot sleep.So I’m whether my system has become dependent on taking pills and what can I do?