Z-Drug Support Group (Lunesta, Imovane, Zimovane, Ambien, Sonata, Zopiclone)

[[Buddie]]

Thought I'd start this group because zopiclone has a very short half life compared with most benzos and likely presents different challenges in terms of tapering and withdrawal.

My personal experience is that I started to feel [...] as soon as I started tapering. The interdose withdrawal was far worse than tapering. For this reason I believe people should taper off zopiclone more quickly than other benzos. The process took me one month (from 7.5mg). I'm now one month free of this poison and muscle twitches are the only significant remaining side effect. I do have some fatigue and brain fog but not nearly as bad as it was.

Zopiclone information is a bit scarce here since it isn't a true benzo. Hopefully we can compile some useful user stories here that will help people stuck on this brutal drug.

[[Buddie]]

Sure . I will contribute info on my story.
I am not up to it now but just do you know that your post isn't in the twilight zone.

See my signature
Carol

[[Buddie]]

Hi:

Does this support group include Ambien? [...]

[[Buddie]]

Isn't it the same thing?
Carol

[[Buddie]]

Hi:

Does this support group include Ambien? [...]

Hi [...], I've added Zolpidem to the title of the thread. So it does now

[[Buddie]]

Isn't it the same thing?
Carol

Zopiclone and Zolpidem are similar but have several distinct characteristics. Zolpidem has a 2-3 hour half life. Zopiclone has a 4-6 hour half life.

[[Buddie]]

Worried Dad

Take a Look at my signature. Since we live in the same City maybe we had the same doctors
Carol

[[Buddie]]

Worried Dad

Take a Look at my signature. Since we live in the same City maybe we had the same doctors
Carol

When I prescribed zopiclone I was in a family practice so I bounced around from doctor to doctor. So I didn't have a personal connection with any of them. I'm guessing that might have made them less cautious about prescribing these things.

I've since settled on a single doctor. He generally does what I ask (e.g. it was my idea to start on trazodone and I suggested remeron which he prescribed but I never took). My current doctor spends a lot of time with he. He genuinely seems to care. Unfortunately, he spends a lot of time with everyone so I often end up waiting an 1.5 hours in the waiting room.

P.S. We do have a similar history.

[[Buddie]]

Isn't it the same thing?
Carol

Zopiclone and Zolpidem are similar but have several distinct characteristics. Zolpidem has a 2-3 hour half life. Zopiclone has a 4-6 hour half life.

Hi:

I was taking the ambien CR, which has a shortly longer half life. For those who don't yet about my previous thread, my doc and I had a very bad session this week and he demanded that I get off the 12.5 mg of Ambien CR C/T, which I had been on for six weeks. I know I should have not been on it but he offered it to me because I just wasn't getting any sleep at all. No lectures here; I regret taking it and should have said no thank you. But I was desperate and my mind took control in an insane spur of the moment.

I knew that it was suppposed to be tapered off slowly, but he said no. I had no pills left and no refills and he wouldn't give me a script of regular ambien to taper. He was so angry with me, point blank told me he didn't like me as a patient and was punishing me. I called the manufacturer and spoke with a doctor there and he said the company had new guidelines and it was definitely NOT to be stopped abruptly, that it could cause severe withdrawal symtpoms, including but not limited to hallucinations, severe anxiety, insomnia, hostility, etc. The abrupt stoppage was similar to dropping a large dose of benzos, he said.

So here I am into my 3rd day of ambien detox and it's not going well. I lie there awake at nights wishing I had a vodoo doll and could stick pins into its head. Ugh! I hate that man! [...]

[[Buddie]]

Betzy. I no how you feel.it will get [...] .
Somehow because these are not labeled as a benzo people consider them less potent.
In actuality they are extremely strong being made to knock you right out.
I ended up doing a 3 week taper.(I know my sig says 4 but I made a mistake on it)

I was Crushing the pills to a powder and trying to divide it up.
I was taking a huge amount every 3 hours or so . It was unbelievably hard.

I am guessing you are not getting any sleep at all.
I used unisom and valerian and melatonin all together and still it barely touched me:(
I am here if you need to talk.
Love Carol