zopiclone

[hurryup]

after a month on citalopram my sleep is still shocking, I drop off finally at about 3 and wake at 6. My gp has given me 3.75mg zopiclone and said take one or two. Is anyone else on it and how much do you take? I'm a bit worried as have children in house so don't want to be unconcious?

Start on the lower dose and see how you go.

I know what you mean about not wanting to be knocked out, however it's worth bearing in mind that sleep deprivation is also prone to causing parenting mishaps... I have blurred memories of dd rolling off the bed and I'm sure I can't be the only one to 'safely' put dd's carseat (with her in it) on the frigging cooker hob. Not that I'm suggesting you have ever done the same...

Hope you manage to get some kip!

I was recently prescribed this for a v bad bout of insomnia and had the same worries. Unfortunately it did not work, had a metallic taste in my mouth but didn't sleep!

GP did say a few people are resistant and that maybe I was too anxious or stressed for them to work properly. I hope they work for you, just try one to start with but my advice after my research is take it and then go to bed and try and relax straightaway.

Hope you get some rest, I sympathise.

Hi there hurryup I agree with the others, start on the lower dose and see how you get on. They can be quite strong, but I found my insomnia was so bad I very quickly resorted to the 7.5mg.

They are not a magic bullet. It's very important that you still wind down in the evenings and try your best to relax, otherwise they don't work (voice of bitter experience). I actually used to stay up for half an hour or so after I'd taken one and wait till I felt really sleepy before getting into bed.

Do you have a DP / DH in the house who could get up with the kids if necessary? However, I never found they knocked me out so much that I couldn't wake if I needed to.

Hope you get some much needed sleep. Remember to use them sparingly - whatever you do, don't get into the habit of having one every night. They lose their effectiveness once your body gets used to them.

Take care

I take 7.5mg when I need to - not very often at all now but when I was taking citalopram maybe twice a week. They don't make me unconscious - I'm always awakened by my dd if needed (better if I'm not though as always feel more 'spacey' the next day if woken during the night and/or sometimes find it hard to get back to sleep). Incidentally when do you take your citalopram?

Zopiclone are one of the sedatives GP's are prescribing in place of benzodiazepines (Diazepam, Nitrazepam, Temazepam etc) They are not reckoned to be as habit forming and they are unlikely to knock you out to that extent. As others have said, start with the low dose and avoid drink. If you feel a bit hungover in the morning, be careful driving.
They leave a really vile taste in your mouth that is difficult to get rid off.

No partner - H left 3 months ago after years of physical and emotional abuse. I take citalopram in the morning and at night my mind just races all the time with the mess that my life is in.

agree would stick with the 3.75 mg and avoid drink..hope it helps

I use zopiclone and have done on and off for years. They give me no side effects at all. If I take it when I go to bed I use 7.5mg but most of my insomnia happens when I wake at 3 or 4 and can't get back to sleep in which case i just take half a tablet. my GP is very happy for me to have them on repeat prescription.

Are you getting any counselling etc? You say your life is in a mess - do you think it would help to talk through that? Are you trying to sort the mess out or is it on hold? I only ask because as a single mum myself, trying to sort out messes when not in the right emotional state (depressed, over-tired etc) causes more problems. One tactic I have is to attempt to completely ignore everything that is not absolutely essential at that moment in time. Obviously long-term this isn't ideal but sometimes we need to give ourselves a chance to recouperate even just a bit. Hope you manage to get some improved sleep soon.

Well i slept better having taken 1 tablet but not great, I've just started counselling but sort of feel all I want is to have some sleep and get on with my life etc. Looking forward to another night of sleep tonight hopefully especially as X is taking the children so I may take 2.

hurryup it might be worth having another talk with your doctor about your sleep. I was on citalapram for 6 weeks and found it made me feel as if I'd been overdoing the coffee. I was also waking too early and not able to go back to sleep again. There are sedating ADs out there which will help with sleep. I take dosulepin in the evening which helps with my depression and anxiety and has the added bonus of getting me to sleep aswell. It's horrible being awake with racing thoughts. I feel for you.

Try not to become to reliant on zopiclone. My doctor was very reluctant to prescribe it to me as it can affect your moods aswell. Hope things improve for you.

Glad you slept a bit better, sounds like you may need 2. See how you go.

Also have an unmumsnetty for going it alone without the abusive ex. That takes strength and courage, and while you might not be thinking 'blimey I feel courageous and strong today' I know that you have enough of both to keep going onwards and upwards.

Does anybody use Zolpiclone 7.5mg like myself or higher every 2nd night wondered if there is maybe something herbal works as efficiently as this prescribe drug by GP,s

@plv50 did you ever find a herbal option ? I’m having to take 7.5mg zopliclone every other night to get some sleep as my postnatal insomnia is through the roof

Saz I just wanted to reply, your post came up on my current threads. I am afraid I have nothing helpful to share about herbal remedies, but I too had awful postnatal insomnia. I wanted to offer you a huge virtual hug, and reassure you that this will absolutely pass, and sooner than you can imagine. Are you taking anything more general to lift your mood? I found a low dose of sertraline helped immensely, and carried me through until my daughter was about 18 months.

Unfortunately zoplicone doesn’t work for me anymore but I’ve found 50mg of phenergan works well for me instead. You can buy it over the counter but I get mine prescribed by the GP (after advice from my psychiatrist).

@Saz231 Just to jump in here, I had horrific postnatal insomnia from when my son was 3 months old and sleeping through. I went to the doctor about 2 months after (having had small amounts of zopiclone) and they prescribed me amitriptyline 10mg. They helped somewhat, and my sleep had gotten much better by the time he was 10 months. I’m largely fine now, but if I wake up overnight I never look at the time. Hope it gets sorted soon for you, PM me if you like x

Hi ladies sorry not been online for a while . Since I posted my doctor prescribed me 15mg mirtazapene which I have been taking for a month and it’s helped me sleep as I didn’t want to get addicted to zopliclone . @Pinkandpurplehairedlady thanks for that recommendation I’ll try the phenergan . @Jangirl03 thanks for the lovely comment did you stay on the amitriptyline? I’m just worried I stay on the mirtazapene for 6 months but I become reliant on it and then don’t sleep again it’s such a vicious cycle . I’ve never had sleep problems . My DS never slept and I managed on little sleep never developed insomnia whereas this time I just can’t seem to cope if I don’t sleep xx

@Saz231 I was on it for 4 months, just 10mg. I weaned off in 3 or 4 weeks by starting a tablet every other night. Then made longer gaps and came off them fine. I did have a couple of nights with v little sleep but then was fine xx

@Jangirl03 that’s great to hear thanks 😊 I was was worried taking something to help me sleep might psychologically make me rely on it as I’m getting anxious about it . Well done and glad to hear your sleep is ok now xx

@Saz231 I hope it works out for you, happy to offer any help I can if you need to PM me in future xx

With amitriptyline you can take it as and when you need. I take 5 of the 10mg tablets at night when I can tell I’m going to struggle. Need to take them by 8pm though otherwise I’m a zombie the next morning. It’s not addictive and you don’t need to wean off it.

i have been put on zopiclone 7.5mg, I feel really spaced out, is this a normal?

i keep walking into things after I have took it!!

I found I could only take the smaller dose when I wasn't on my own with DS as I felt so wiped out the next day.
So I have only been able to take them now and again.
I did find it helped reset my sleep, which was good.