Zoplicone

[StormsDontLastForever]

Hi, has anyone been prescribed ziplicone by their gp? I've had trouble sleeping for months and gp has prescribed zoplicone 7.5mg but can be doubled if required.

I have a dd (6) so don't want to be in too much of a deep sleep at night or very groggy in the morning.

Just wondering if anyone could share their experiences.

Thanks

I've taken it for short periods for severe insomnia. Same dosage as you. My experience is that it's effective, more effective than any of the over-the-counter options - but it doesn't knock you out so badly that you wouldn't wake up in an emergency, couldn't be roused etc. And it didn't give me a morning "hangover" as long as I'd had enough hours of sleep.

Sadly my GP won't give me zopiclone any more, he sees it as a last resort.

It works.

I don't remember feeling groggy the next day - but on the other hand it didn't feel like real sleep? But I took it when I had a run of no sleep at all, and was grateful for it.

I took it for a month and welcomed the down time.

But it didn't feel.like real sleep and I was never so far under I couldn't be woken by an unexpected noise.

I'd take it again for a short time if I had the same levels of insomnia.

Pretty sure 15mg is above BNF limit, I’d stick to 7.5mg especially as you haven’t used night sedation before.

Google ‘sleep hygiene’ (apologies if you’ve done this already - but there’s loads of advice available out there and sedation isn’t a long term solution, as you know already I’m sure )

I was the same, prescribed 7.5 and told to double it. It worked but made me groggy the next day. GP gave me I think a weeks worth and that was it as it’s addictive, so back to square one when it ran out

I've had it before at a low dose, I find it fairly effective, I find it helps you fall asleep rather than knocking you out completely like some of the stronger sedatives do (I certainly would have woken in an emergency or if I was disturbed much as I would have in 'normal' sleep), and it certainly didn't leave me feeling groggy or hungover the next day.

Like others my GP doesn't see it as a long term solution and won't routinely prescribe it on an ongoing basis, only as a short term quick fix, but as that I find it pretty good...

I loved it when I took it years ago.Probably loved it too much tbh

Thanks all for advice. Yes she has only given me 14 tablets and made it clear she wouldn't be prescribing anymore than that. Might try 1 tonight and hope it helps me get some sleep

Ive been prescribed it twice, 3.75mg and then 7.5mg. I found that both dosages only keep me asleep for about 3-4 hours, and i ping awake again. Sometimes I was able to get back to sleep but sometimes not (better than no sleep at all though!!). The 7.5mg dose knocked me out hard and i dont think i had any REM sleep on it as when i woke up i actually didnt think i had slept at all,until i checked the time! Im surprised your doctor has said you can have higher than 7.5,i had to really persuade mine to give me higher than 3.75! Its good stuff,i wish you could take it long term.

Take half a tablet the first night. 3.75 knocks me right out and I'm no featherweight.

I would definitely do what MorrisZapp advised - take half of your 7.5mg tablet the first time to see how you get on. I take 3.75mg occasionally and it knocks me out.

It probably keeps me asleep for at least 6 hours. The full 7.5mg would make it difficult to get up on time.

I was prescribed 7.5 and halved it to 3.25mg. Worked a treat still. Possibly had a bit of a dry mouth after taking but slept. They work but would suggest a half dose first you see how you get on.

Didn't feel groggy next day, and was able to get up to manage kids if they needed me.

Thanks everyone, will be trying half a tablet the first night. Haven't taken one yet, just having a quick bath then will maybe take half of 1, or have I left it too late tonight?

If you can have it, maybe ask for Amitriptyline? It's an old antidepressant that is used in very low doses as a sleep aid. 10mg usually. You can still be woken easily enough but it's better at keeping you asleep than Zopiclone if the problem is that you keep waking up.

Thats a high dose. I take 3.75mg occasionally and it works well.
Try half a tablet

@nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut

If you can have it, maybe ask for Amitriptyline? It's an old antidepressant that is used in very low doses as a sleep aid. 10mg usually. You can still be woken easily enough but it's better at keeping you asleep than Zopiclone if the problem is that you keep waking up.

I found amytriptyline put me into a very deep sleep but the side effects weren’t worth it. I was a zombie for most of the rest of the day, my mornings were basically a write off. Also gave me an extremely dry mouth but I wouldn’t mind that if not for the hangover effect

It'll probably work but it isn't much different to a benzodiazepine and does have tolerance and dependence issues in long term use. When you stop taking it you are back to square 1. As such it's better suited to a short term issue that will resolve eg post a bereavement or trauma than a chronic problem.
CBT for insomnia is probably the best treatment but obviously requires a lot more effort than taking a pill.

I had the same worry about waking for children but you do wake for noise etc, I bloody love zopiclone

I think it's wonderful stuff and would pay a lot of money to have it again

I only took half the tablet they gave me though and that was enough for 7 hours quality sleep. I would not take more.

I can and have woken up if i hear a noise while taking it.

A pp mentioned amitrytaline. Everyone is different but that was awful for me, no more sleep and just a hangover till about 3pm.

Works a treat. The ONLY thing that works on my insomnia. But our whazzock GP won't prescribe it all. I only took 3.5mg.

How did it go for you last night OP? Hope you got some sleep.

@rawalpindithelabrador

Works a treat. The ONLY thing that works on my insomnia. But our whazzock GP won't prescribe it all. I only took 3.5mg.

I debated seeing a private GP but then I thought, I could just be £80 down and still get told no.

My nanna took it most days for years, back in the day when it was possible to get.

I see a private psychiatrist, Luna. I highly recommend it. I know people who've been on it for years, have been on 3.5mg for decades and no ill effects. But this is the UK, gotta be nannied to fuck here.

I take it occasionally,, just half a tablet when I need it. I get quite anxious