What are peoples experience of Zopiclone please

[MsLavender]

I've had months of insomnia that is progressively getting worse, I think linked to perimenopause but don't have that diagnosed, I've had blood tests for that today although I know that's not really an effective way of diagnosing.

I've been on antihistamine for insomnia but it's not working, Dr has told me to increase my dose of that first but if it doesn't work we can try zopiclone for a couple of weeks.

I can't get melatonin due to my age, apparently he can't prescribe it to under 55 yrs old and from what I've read that does appear to be the case.

I've always been adverse to any sleeping tablet due to me associating them with addicts I know who buy them off people. It really, really puts me off taking them. I know they're addictive long term but that's not my concern as I definitely don't want to take them long term, I won't entertain the idea. My main concern is how it will make me feel, I'm frightened they'll make me feel "high" or not with it somehow, the thought of it terrifies. At this point though I haven't slept since I woke up at 9am yesterday morning and I don't feel tired so I am desperate.

Can anyone share their experiences of zopiclone so I can decide if I should try it or not please? I'd be so grateful and don't worry about putting me off if you've had a bad experience because I'd rather know what to expect.

I was fine. Had one last night. Slept like a baby and woke up feeling fine. Just felt tired really so went to sleep. Slept like the dead, it was amazing

Hi there. Firstly sorry to hear you aren't sleeping. It's absolute torture and I've been there. I've had zopiclone on and off for years and iif you do decide to take it then I'd say take 3.75mg not the adult dose on 7.5mg.

I have to say it sends me to sleep but can make me feel less tolerant the next day. Thing is everyone is different and you won't know until you try it. I don't take it anymore, I now buy melatonin gummies online from the states

I've had a couple of bouts of insomnia, zopiclone helped both times - both to get me off to sleep but also to help keep me asleep rather than waking at 3am.
A few days worth(?) was all that was needed in my case so no chance of being reliant on them.
Aside from the metallic taste the next morning I don't recall any side effects.
I hope you find a resolution soon.

I take them from time to time. Never more than a couple of days at a time. They don't have a huge impact on me - I could still function if I needed to and have had to get up in the night with my son. It doesn't make me feel anything particularly, just a bit more relaxed. I usually take them and put a podcast or the TV on and just drift away.

They just make you feel sleepy and settled.. make sure you have everything done and are tucked up cosy in bed before you take it so it gets best chance to work… I take them intermittently when I need them… no ill effects

I’ve taken them. Just knocked me out. Great sleep when I desperately needed it. Had a metallic taste in my mouth the next morning which is common, wore off fine.

Thanks everyone, will definitely ask about getting a low dose. This is all reassuring so far, I'm so glad I asked because I've been so hesitant to ever try them! As my sleep is all over the place at the minute (when I'm getting it) I'm hoping a couple of nights taking them will somehow reboot my system a bit and get my body/mind back into a routine.

I did see "melatonin" gummys on Amazon but don't think they actually have melatonin in (on the UK site), I'll definitely look into getting them from abroad if zopiclone doesn't sort me out quickly because I don't want to end up stuck on it even if it is good.

I have zopiclone to use as required
it works well, don’t feel anything but sleepy and wake up feeling normal but better as had a good nights sleep
If I use it for more than ten days consecutively I find I get a bit of a headache when I stop as withdrawal but nothing more than mild
I have never felt addicted and have no problem stopping and not wanting to use it
Suits me fine

https://www.biovea.com/uk/product/detail/15526/melatonin-gummies-10mg--mixed-berry---120-Gummies/?deptid=22&cid=23699&mid=0&kw=www.biovea.com/uk/product/detail/15526/melatonin-gummies-10mg--mixed-berry---120-Gummies/?deptid=22&cid=23699&mid=0&kw=

So these just help me fall asleep now I'm in a better routine but would not have touched me in my serious bouts of insomnia.

You can easily buy melatonin from the US, it’s not illegal. I get it from a website called Muscle & Strength, it’s cheap and quick shipping.

Zopiclone was good for me for the short term but I started to feel weird in the day after a couple of weeks. Also had a strange taste in my mouth.

Now I take magnesium which seems to be doing the trick!

I used to take one before an early start as could never sleep if I knew I was up
Early and it was getting dangerous.

Slept like a log . Loved them

I’ve just had a 10 day course of zopilclone as wasn’t sleeping and was in such a low mood and tearful all the time. They were fantastic! I had such good nights sleep while taking them and, while my sleeping isn’t back to how I’d like it be, it’s a lot better than it was.

They are the only medication for insomnia that seems to work for me without nightmares or waking up in the night, that said, they have a strong addictive potential and I think the right way to use them is for a short period to get over the worst of a crisis. I have not found it hard to stop using them, although they are quite a seductive insomnia drug as they do definitely work! I know someone who bought melatonin which is very easy to obtain online and used that for a while, but felt a bit tired the next day so gave up regular use.

I definitely would use something to break the cycle. I think there's a new drug out but I don't know it's name, it was in the news last week for those who have tried the sleep CBT and it still hasn't worked.

I was prescribed a 7 day course, had the first one and hated it so much I didn't take the rest. It gave me a horrible taste in my mouth and sent pictures spinning and flashing through my mind before I went to sleep. It made me feel really uncomfortable.

I’ve used both and would x100 prefer to use melatonin than zopiclone.
Zopiclone is addictive and it’s easy to become dependent. It is a sleeping pill and has a “knock out” type effect compared with melatonin.
Melatonin can be bought safely from the US (Biovea).

I really REALLY look forward to taking a zopiclon. I only have one about every other month or so but my god they're a treat. You very quickly drift off in to a sleep of the dead. That said, in an emergency, you'd still wake up e.g., if the fire alarm went off. I've never once felt any kind of high from them.

Zopiclone is my happy place. I love it. It makes me feel safe and happy, then I fall into blissful sleep.

The doctor is really tight about prescribing them so I have a stash I bought online. They're exactly the same as my prescribed ones.

The only 'downside' for me is they make snack food taste AMAZING and extremely moreish, so I don't take them when I'm still up and about or else I'll raid the biscuits.

I take the 3.75 dose. I tried the 7gm once but I woke up the next day with no memory of having gone to bed.

I never take them two nights in a row.

Not sure why my response has been hidden, I was only asking what dose of melatonin people suggest. Thanks everyone anyway, it's given me some hope that there will be a solution to my sleep problems and I won't be stuck like this for years (hopefully)!

I've been taking Zopiclone on and off for years. Maybe 5 a year. I get bad bouts of insomnia. They work really well, I get a good nights sleep, no bad side effects other than a metallic taste the next morning. They do make me hungry though, like a PP has said, snack food tastes really good after taking one 😂

I was prescribed it very short-term a few years back during a terrible phase of insomnia to break the cycle and it really worked for me. I was in an awful pattern of most nights not only being unable to fall asleep for hours but waking almost immediately once I did fall asleep and this carrying on most of the night.

The zopiclone was lovely — drifted nicely off to sleep but didn’t feel drugged or weird, slept right through and felt refreshed the next day for the first time in months and months. It was such a relief to have a break from the insomnia! It’s not of course a cure and I’ve had bouts of it since then but it definitely re-set me and meant I could establish new sleep patterns. (And it really helped for a while to know I had a few left over that I could use if it got that bad again, which hand on heart it never has so far!)

@MsLavender melatonin dose is from 1mg to 10mg depending on the individual.
I’d suggest you buy 2mg and maybe 3mg sustained release, then you can experiment with combinations from 2mg-10mg to see what suits you.
First few mornings you may feel a little groggy as your sleep patterns readjust. After that if you feel groggy the dose may be too high.

It’s recommended to take daily as it’s replicating the natural hormonally driven circadian rhythm, maybe 10/15 mins before lights out.

Sustained release or timed release versions work better at helping you stay asleep.

Immediate/standard release (or the sustained release ones) help you get to sleep.
Unlike higher dose zopiclone they can’t “make” you sleep so good sleep hygiene will also help.
They are also non addictive (except perhaps in our imagination ie becoming psychologically dependent).

Ive used the same dose daily for 18 months and they are working just the same.

@Playfulpups thanks so much for all of that info, I'll definitely be giving them a try. Another late night last night even though I upped the dose of antihistamine like my GP, I don't think it helped at all. I've only just woken up though so at least I've had sleep I suppose.

@MsLavender when you take the zopiclone do take it a hour before sleep...would be my advice.

Hi, I’ve been prescribed zopiclone to help with anxiety related insomnia. Would you advise just taking them a couple of nights then trying a night without them?