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

[[Ca...]]

Jumping Judy

 

Sorry about your situation. You could try reading through this thread from the beginning. The are a lot of us that have been here for a while and a lot ideas for getting off.

 

Love Carol

[[Ju...]]

how is everyone doing??? I am in interdose w/d due to the lunesta. I too am getting the inner tremblings, the tinitus, and electrical jolts in feet and hands.

Have been off of klono for 9 months and my biggest symptom is insomnia...so, this is why the z drug.

I am also on trazadone and it is garbage!! I need to taper off of this too!

HOW IS EVERYONE DOING WITH THE SLEEP???

THank you Carol for starting this thread and your helpful posts. I do hope we can support each other here as i feel as if i am losing my mind.

Judy

[[Te...]]

JJ,  IF I get 4 hours of sleep in a night without waking, i'm now happy with that...i have noticed i am getting more sleep over the long haul...had eight hours and change a couple of nights or so ago...IT. WAS. WONDERFUL.    I TOOK 1 1/2 mg of melatonin, and 1 mg of minipress, and in all honesty had only had about 6 hours total in the preceding 72 hours, but the long sleep left me logey and fogged...i will take logey and fogged for awhile just to renew! Insomnia is apparently going to be with me for awhile longer...it was the reason i started ambien to begin with...yay!!!another sucker promoting good health through chemicals!!! I think i'm all GABAGLUTES or GLUTAGABS, but it is getting better, and i'm hoping those little guys at the synapses decide to separate and start living in harmony again...

Today, I had food on my table(and actually ate some of it!)...tonight, i have a roof over my head(and i hope I notice it!)...i am fortunate that i live in a society where a complaint about lines in a supermarket is common...

[[Ma...]]

Hi Worried Dad, I'm new but over the course of a few days I've been back reading the posts. Frankly I'm terrified by the horror stories. I'm unable to go foward now due to this.

 

This past week, I went to my PC and let him know I wanted off of Ambien ER 12.5 mg that psychiatrist had put me on 6-7 yrs earlier. PC agreed that it's terrible to be on and moreso for that long. He gave me a script for plain Ambien 5mg (no ER) and Amytriptyline 10mg ( instead of the Valium). He finds that Valium is addictive too and Amytriptyline ( Elavil ) is not, but it will help me sleep while tapering off Ambien.

 

I am confused beyond belief! I don't know what to do at this point with all of the conflicting stories and tapering methods across the net. TERRIFIED & STUCK! Frankly, I would prefer to not have to add on any other med to help me taper off.

 

I could also use some help in the lingo used, Interdose; hold ect.....I have no idea what those terms mean when people describe their own personal tapering schedule. I guess it's the polar opposite tapering methods that have my head spinning. I don't know where to or how to start because of this......Can you help me with any suggestions?

 

Thank You Much!

[[Se...]]

I cut Ambien...and mixed with water. You want to go slowly and cut 5-10% per 1-2 weeks from your 12mg. 

I did it just with Ambien and did not cross over. I would try to cut without it and cross over only if really needed. Valium can cause all sorts of issues like depression and insomnia.

 

The easiest way to cut is to get a syringe and make 12mg/ml of water and approximately 12.5 mg of your 5mg pills (2 and half pills). Mix it and then discard 10% of it using the syringe and drink the rest. I cut from 10mg so just used 10mg of water and kept removing the percentage.

 

Hope this helps!

[[Ma...]]

Thank You! I currently still take the 12.5 ER, but will be switching to the 5mg non-ER the Dr. gave me this wk. Do you think that was to drastic of a cut he did?

 

Just wondering if I'll be okay going immediately from 12.5 extended release directly to 5 non extended.

 

The water method that you used is matching the amount of water to the milligrams you're on at that specific time?.......e.g 2.5 mg water w 2.5 mg Ambien , then get rid of 10% at each cut?

 

Thanks Much! 

[[Se...]]

Well dropping from 12.5 to 10 is a 20% cut so that's huge, way more than the 5-10% recommended. Most docs just tell you to cut drugs by 25% or 50% and be done in a week or 2. You can always speed up but if you have a drastic cut reaction right at the start, it could get and stay ugly.

 

I would do 2.5 pills and do 12.5 liquid to start, then cut by 10% so you would drink 11.25 mg.

2nd cut when you are ready in a week or 2 do the same thing with 2.5 pills in 12 ml water. But drink 10.1 and that's your 2nd 10% cut.

 

From there the easiest thing for the rest of the taper is to put 2 pills into 10ml of water. You"ll just take 10% less, so the first cut is 9, then 8.1, then take 7.3 etc.

 

There are way more complicated ways to do it, the the taper boards will help you make a better custom plan. This worked for me and I even micro cuts dropping down by the tiny little lines based on how I felt.

[[Va...]]

Hello,

 

Being new here I follow this thread for some time wondering how one knows the differences of WD-effects while using (many) other benzo's.

 

I used Zopiclon (Dutch brandmark - I am Dutch) for two decades. Now I can concluded thanks to this board that I had for some years the effects of tolerance. For me that was a reason to taper and to jump last month, April 15th. It would be all the same.

 

After one week the WD-effects started; not knowing them I contacted my GP and he didn't knew it too but thought it had something to do with my heart. He called for an ambulance and in a rush I was in the ER of a hospital. There too they didn't know anything about WD even I told them I stopped using Zopiclon.

 

Tomorrow it will be 6 weeks ago that I stopped and in the meantime I had to deal (and still) with the WD-effects. Using Propranolol twice a day a tablet of 40 mg it seems the WD-effects are kept down, leaving minor sensations in the arms and legs. Tinnitus went also down after using Propranolol. It is a Beta-blocker. That is to say, that it is keeping it down untill I forgot one day to take 1 tablet and the WD effects came back again, not in their full extend. After taking Propranolol again the effects went down. The effect of Propranolol is also mentioned in the Ashton Manual. Before stopping I just use 1/2 a tablet of Propranolol. (It made the difference!)

 

I had also some trouble with my immune system, making it hyper sensitive and got 'hay fever'. But that too is gone in the past 4, 5 days. Other symptoms are choking feeling, anxiety (read about it to understand the mechanism), sensation in my face, stif neck, swollen tongue, difficulties when swallowing. All seems to go down to a very low level. Except insomnia.

 

I use graphics to visualize the progress as one cannot remember what went on each day in the last 5, 6 weeks, neither do I. Each symptome gets one point. All together I have 11 symptoms. I put the information in de graphics zo I (and others) can see in relation to my logbook why certain changes appeared.

 

About insomnia, I sleep 3 to 4 hours a night and I learned myself to do something about an hour or so and start to sleep again for 2 to 3 hours. It helps!

 

I consulted also an allergist and a cardiologist as my GP thought about the possibility being allergic to food or some heart problems. Certain food I ate caused a reaction while swallowing. And my heart beat increased to much higher levels.

 

Besides Propranolol I use Desloratidine, a antihistamine, before I had the WD effects (it doesn't take hay fever away but reduce it). Due to chronic pain as a result of a car accident I use Fentanyl (Actiq - 4 x 400 mcg or ug) and morphine 3 x 10 mg. The last one is 1/10th of what I used to take, but that too I tapered it down just to keep this level for maintenance.

 

I know that I have to face maybe a long and bumpy road... and that's why I called in some troops to help me. It is an organization that helps people like me with WD effects.

 

And ofcourse, al chances of amount and so on about medicines is after consultation with my GP.

 

Hope to contribute to this board and to learn from you!

 

 

VanNelle

 

[[ci...]]

VanNelle, I am 14 months CT from zolipidem (z-drug/ambien). I have had all the WD sxs you have mentioned and more. My EKGs were abnormal, hearts palps, alot of neurological sxs and mental sxs. But the good news is they all lessened over time, as long as you stay off the z-drugs, you will heal. You will be OK. Get your support here at BB. Your doctors will probably not understand or recognize z=drug WD. I even had my gallbladder removed before I discovered I was in tolerance WD from z-drug. I went to numerous specialists and doctors , 8 in all NONE of them believed in z-drug WD. I was unable to work for a year, and now I am back at work, and mostly 80-85% healed.

 

PM me anytime if you need me.

 

Always, Cindy

[[Va...]]

PM me anytime if you need me.

 

I admire you for what you have to endure!

 

Thank you very much, Cindy, I do appreciate that!

 

VN

[[Ca...]]

PM me anytime if you need me.

 

I admire you for what you have to endure!

 

Thank you very much, Cindy, I do appreciate that!

 

VN

 

I am here too,  if you have questions.  The medical community somehow thinks that zopiclone is little more than candy.

You are probably going to have a lot of family and friends think that you are emotionally unstable,  weak etc. Come here for support.

 

Love Carol

[[Va...]]

PM me anytime if you need me.

I am here too,  if you have questions.  The medical community somehow thinks that zopiclone is little more than candy. You are probably going to have a lot of family and friends think that you are emotionally unstable,  weak etc. Come here for support.

Love Carol

 

Thanks, Carol, it is good to know to have support!

VN

[[ci...]]

Carol, I recently read on the Una Corbett site, that zopiclone has a history of causing more severe problems than other z-drugs.....don't really know what that means, but I think they are all Poison!

[[Ca...]]

Carol, I recently read on the Una Corbett site, that zopiclone has a history of causing more severe problems than other z-drugs.....don't really know what that means, but I think they are all Poison!

 

I thought that all z drugs were th same one with different names and strength.

They are all evil!

 

Love Carol

[[Va...]]

I thought that all z drugs were th same one with different names and strength.

They are all evil!

Love Carol

 

I think it's about the problems of toleranc and dependence:

 

"Their is a suggesting that zopiclone may have even more significant problems of tolerance and dependence than the benzodiazepines."

 

But mentioning 'zopiclon' it's representing the entire group of 'Z'-drugs according to me.

Battle against Tranquillisers: http://www.bataid.org/services.aspx

 

VN

[[Ca...]]

I thought that all z drugs were th same one with different names and strength.

They are all evil!

Love Carol

 

I think it's about the problems of toleranc and dependence:

 

"Their is a suggesting that zopiclone may have even more significant problems of tolerance and dependence than the benzodiazepines."

 

But mentioning 'zopiclon' it's representing the entire group of 'Z'-drugs according to me.

Battle against Tranquillisers: http://www.bataid.org/services.aspx

 

VN

 

Oh your quote made more sense. More Tolerance and dependence than other benzos. Who knows,  but my hell started 5 years ago and I am still battling it. I didn't even know that it was the problem for a year and a half. Now 3 and a half years off and not yet healed.

Carol

[[Ev...]]

Hi everyone.

I'm on ambien was taking 12.5mg and having so many problems that I didn't relate to ambien until last week. An ER visit sent me into withdrawl...started having bad tremors and it didn't dawn on me until then..."stupid, it's the ambien."

 

Next day I started again adding 1.25mg until symptoms stopped at 8.25mg. Did the same thing the following day and ended up at 6.25mg where I've been holding for a week now.

 

I like you was dosing with the ambien during the day. Each dose I now take is like poison to my body. It sends my heart palpating and anxiety. Has been a rough week. I know I need off but the effects are bad with it.

 

My doctor gave me 5 ativan 1 mg for the anxiety so I took one 1.25mg to see if I can get off the daytime dose. I was trying to do it just by making cuts with the ambien. The ativan seems to help, I just need to deal with the daytime dosing.

 

How did you guys do it...it's so hard.

[[Va...]]

Hi everyone.

How did you guys do it...it's so hard.

 

Hello Evangeline,

 

Did you read the 'Ashton Manual' about Ambien? Prof. Heather Ashton wrote an extensive report about Z-drugs, including Ambien: http://www.benzo.org.uk/ashsupp11.htm

 

I didn't use Ambien, so I can't tell you how to deal with it. I hope one or more of the other members familiar with Ambien will go into your questions.

 

VN

[[ci...]]

Evangeline, check in with seriouslydone or seekingsanity they both tapered off z-drugs, and could give you some guidance. And do reference the Ashton Manual, even though you are in tolerance WD, it is still important to taper and not CT. I am a CT and I would never recommend a CT! Good Luck to you.

 

Always, cindy

[[Ca...]]

Evangaline

 

I was dosing every 3 and half hours! I had every symptom in the book. Very sick.

I tried to get a doctor to do a cross over to long acting Valium but the doctor I saw was mistrustful of my motives. I then decided to crush the tablets and divide them as iinto 6 doses a day. I cut it down everyday and got off in 3 weeks.  It was definitely Not the way to do this. I mistakenly thought that quickly off would mean quicker healing.

If I had the chance again,  I would definitely go onto something with a long half life.

What I did was hell. I never dreamed that after 3 and a half years I would still not be totally healed.

I was non functional for well over a year because of that. Now I am functional but with a very shaky CNS.

Love Carol

[[Ev...]]

Thank you all for your advice. I bought some oraplus and syringes to taper with. My plan is to mix my 10mg into 100cc solution and make cuts using that method. It's the daytime dosing that's really causing problems. The ativan helped and I didn't have to take the 1.25mg of ambien until 6pm.

 

I read some of Ashtons manual regarding z drugs but right now not much is registering.

 

I feel bad now but I also felt bad while taking the ambien, so getting off is the only option. I'm having so many symtoms but having been thru this with xanax, which I didn't know any better, rehab basically cold turkeyed me,I know healing occurs. Took over a year of my life and here I am again.

 

Thank you all for letting me vent. No one understands unless they've been thru it. Will keep updating

[[Ji...]]

Hi Evangeline,

 

How are you doing?

 

I tappered off of zopiclone using a syringe. I think my brain was actually used to the taste of the damn things. It took about two weeks for my sleep to become relatively stable. It wasn't great but being on it wasn't either.

 

I think I definitely had a better quality of sleep off of them than on. Also, no ringing in the ears when waking now.

 

Good luck hun

 

J x

[[Ev...]]

Hi Jiggly,

I was wondering if you wouldn't mind sharing your tapering schedule. It might give me a better idea as to proceed.

Thanks for responding to my post.

[[Ji...]]

Hey,

 

I wish I'd been more organised. i just reduced the pills a little each night. It really wasn't measured properly (much to the dismay of my partner who told me to measure it!) However, When I got to 3.75, I reduced by a quarter until I was only taking 1/4 of 3.75mgs (whatever that is..cant do the math right now) I then used a syringe, switched over to liquid for about 1 month (took  while to adjust to liquid form) but then reduced slightly every night over a period of about a week (sorry so vague)

 

I would say that I just kept reducing a bit each night at this stage and it wasn't too brutal. The jump from it was and for the first three nights I didn't sleep a wink, after that it started to settle down.

 

Sorry i can't be more helpful than this. I have never been one for accuracy!

 

I hope it goes smoothly

 

JJ x

[[Ev...]]

The ringing in my ears is brutal, I'm can't wait for it to go away. How long did it take for you to taper?