Zopiclone

[Uk1984]

I'm not sure this is the right place for this thread, I'm still getting used to the site.
I've been prescribed zopiclone for the past 7 yrs, is anyone else having their scripts ended and if do what are you being prescribed as an alternative? My dr is very vague as to why they've been stopped but it seems everyone or at least a lot of people have.

 

[Uk1984]

I've always used on top with benzos but my source has dried up for a while! Which is really annoying but the zopiclone has always been a nightly thing. I did speak to him a few yrs ago and he said he'd stop them if I wanted, it didn't make sense then to give me the option and I've never been offered cbt or any form of counciling. I'm seeing him again on thurs and was wondering what to ask him?

 

[Uk1984]

No I've had Amitriptyline before left me far to groggy the next day and can't say I got a good nights sleep from it! I'm not sure I'm even bothered about thinking about a long term solution. Zopiclone has done the trick for long enough. Just wondering what people are being prescribed as an alternative

 

[steewith2ees]

Theres no real alternative. Other medicines might be used off label, such as Mirtazapine - another antidepressant, or doctors have occasionally prescribed small doses of antipsychotics or strong antihistamines, such as promthazine (this one is also available otc if you ask nicely as a pharmacy supervised sale.) Although the 'z drugs' (zopiclone, zolpidem) used in sleeping tablets are chemically different to benzos, they work in a very similar way with sharing their effect profile and tolerance. The sedation however occours at a much smaller dose leve than the other effects, for this reason, they can be given at generally lower equivalences than the hypnotic benzos. Average doses prescribed for zopiclone etc. seem to be worth between 2 -5mg diazepam at the current exchange rate so hopefully sudden cessation shouldnt be too much of a problem unless you have been using them at high doses. Stopping any amount of z drug or benzodiazepine after 7 years is still medically reckless - take inflourecenses advise and arm yourself with as much information about all this as possible before you go back to your doctors - they should have swapped your zopiclone for an equivalent dose of diazepam and tapered it down rather than simply stop your prescription.

 

[5StarSquatHotel]

They have had me back on it for 2 years but want me off, I don't care anyway -the shit on works the first 2 nights. I told them this and they carried on banging them out anyway...