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

[[Ev...]]

I forgot to ask, what did you dissolve the tablet in?

[[Ag...]]

it feels like my blood is on fire running through my body. Every once in awhile I will get an intense deep itch. It itches like crazy but the source is so deep that I can't dig deep enough to get to it.

10mg Ambien since 2007. Personal reasons ran out of meds and got hit by total surprise of this Withdrawl. My intro post says the history. It is the only other thing I have posted. 

What is this? Why is this happening? What to do?

[[Va...]]

it feels like my blood is on fire running through my body. Every once in awhile I will get an intense deep itch. It itches like crazy but the source is so deep that I can't dig deep enough to get to it.

10mg Ambien since 2007. Personal reasons ran out of meds and got hit by total surprise of this Withdrawl. My intro post says the history. It is the only other thing I have posted. 

What is this? Why is this happening? What to do?

 

Hi Agape,

 

What you call "it feels like my blood is on fire running through my body" has something to do with your CNS. It feels if you are burned, f.i. your legs. My GP prescribed Propranolol and that helps me really. I have read that it won't help everybody but to some it does. It is a beta blocker and under normal circumstances it is prescribed in order to regulate your heart beat and lower your blood presssure. In my case, used Zopiclon, it helps me to prevent sensations in arms and legs, tremor and anxiety as anxiety comes along when your heart beat is rising up. It is not curing the symptoms but helping you out, minimizing the symptoms.  It does not reduce the overall incidence of withdrawal symptoms. Prof. Heather Ashton wrote about it in her Manual. See: http://www.benzo.org.uk/ashtbd.htm

 

I can't say anything about ambien as I never used it. I hope some other members of this supportgroup can help you.

VN

[[ca...]]

Hi JJ - good to see you   How are you ?

I was also wondering about your Zoplicone tapper- (am on Zop and not on Ambien - need to change my syg)

I hope to soon finally be off K after a very long tapper. I am thrilled about this

Yet- I was prescribed the K with the Zoplicone about 7 years ago. Once off the K- I will start thinking about getting of the Z- while I may take a break between tappers. I was wondering how you experienced the tapper fro Zoplicone in comparison to stopping the Diazepam.

Did you stop the Diazepam first? How far apart did you stop both ?

I would also really appreciate it if you could write how your symptoms are/ were from the Zop tapper (If you can distinguish which symptoms were associated with Zop)

I do hope that the Z tapper will be on the whole easier then the K ! One thing that is working for me is that I never took it during the day- and I think that may make a difference.

Thanks so much!!

Carem

 

[[Be...]]

Hi Carem,

 

You are doing so well with your K taper! You and Clona and Ninja are at same place. I am dragging along behind you. Just can't go faster.

 

While Ive been tapering K, my husband has been tapering Ambien. It's been a long, slow process for him. And honestly, his intention was never to go off completely but to find the lowest possible effective dose, when he felt he absolutely needed it. Knowing him as I do, I think he just didn't want to commit to going off and failing. This is second hand info, so I'll just share it once and be done with it: He gradually reduced 10% every 3-4 days from 5 mg. He found 2.5 mg effective and has been at that dose for several months—with progressively longer stretches of nights of taking nothing. He's now at eight days without sleep aid for the first time in 15 years. The morning after he takes it, he feels drugged and headachy, but no chemically induced depression. His cognition is noticeably better. I am grateful, he is grateful.

 

Good luck with the remaking K taper, Carem. And your upcoming zopiclone taper.

 

Best,

Bennie

[[Sa...]]

Hi, is this the right place to post a thread on Zopiclone?

Thank you

[[ca...]]

Hi Bennie

 

Thanks so much for your post! Can you believe we are both under the 0.25  mark on K? We are both close- but we do need our patience. We both know really well to listen to our bodies.  I am so thrilled though to see these numbers

 

Thanks so much for the information on your hubby. Could you elaborate a bit on the sx he had when tapering? Am I right to assume that it wasn't as bad as what most of us are going through with K? - Also - how did he cut? Did he shave his pills-? switched to liquid ?

If anyone else can give advice on how to cut the Z pill I would appreciate it. Have become quite an expert on shaving my K pills but need to learn how to work with these small Z pills. Thanks!

 

I am not really ready to start the Z tapper- I will let my brain some time to heal from the K- but I am trying not to be discouraged by the fact that after such a long K tapper I still have a significant way to go,  The fact that I am already on this board is a good sign that am starting to slowly  face the z addiction. I have a feeling that once of the Z I will feel great!  Did I mention we need patience in this process?

 

Thanks so much

 

 

Carem

 

 

[[ca...]]

Sally, Hi, yes its the right place!

[[Ca...]]

Some people dissolve them in liquid and then dose accordingly.  I crushed them to powder and then divided up as be the I could. Not a good way. I basically cut it down daily and was done the 21+ mg in 3 weeks. It was hell and I am still not totally healed. Although I can sleep again.

Carol

[[Be...]]

Thanks so much for the information on your hubby. Could you elaborate a bit on the sx he had when tapering? Am I right to assume that it wasn't as bad as what most of us are going through with K? - Also - how did he cut? Did he shave his pills-? switched to liquid ?

If anyone else can give advice on how to cut the Z pill I would appreciate it. Have become quite an expert on shaving my K pills but need to learn how to work with these small Z pills. Thanks!

 

Hiya Carem!

 

Yes, we are getting there! I don't feel so hot, but at least I'm getting off the poison.

 

Ok, about my husband. I bought a new scale and he got my old one. He crushed his pills, divided them into piles then weighed the powder on top of a piece of waxed paper. Did the whole mg to grams conversion. Then he put that into empty gel caps. Honestly, seems like too much work. I would have just cut the same way I do with micro taper—using a single blade razor to make pieces the right amount. Oh, but I remember now, those pills are small. I don't think you necessarily need to do the small cuts as you have been. His symptoms have been headaches mostly, and fatigue, adjusting to sleeping naturally. None of the other weird body stuff we are used to! He has lived a non-tortured life during the taper. In fact, improvements in cognition and temperament were immediately apparent.

 

So, when your time comes, I am rooting for you!

Take good care.

Bennie

 

 

[[ca...]]

Bennie

Thanks for the information. It is a bit reassuring. I was sorry so read on the K thread that you are going through a rough patch. I am better then before- not wonderful but better. The big change for me is psychological. Getting to the lower numbers gives me hope and improves my mood.

Great to know you will be rooting me when I tapper the Z - It will take me time to get there but this too shall happen.

Be well my friend.

CaremIN

[[Sa...]]

I'm about to go into zopiclone withdrawal- only 2 left and 5 Valium to last til Wednesday. Doc completely unsympathetic and rude. What to do?

[[Va...]]

I'm about to go into zopiclone withdrawal- only 2 left and 5 Valium to last til Wednesday. Doc completely unsympathetic and rude. What to do?

 

Change Doc. or try to bring understanding to him/her by presenting the Ashton Manual and to draw his/her attention to this bulletin board. I did the same towards my GP and some specialists as they told me I could do CT on Zopiclon. But if your doc. is completely unsympathetic and rude I would look for another doc!

 

VN

[[Ch...]]

I'm about to go into zopiclone withdrawal- only 2 left and 5 Valium to last til Wednesday. Doc completely unsympathetic and rude. What to do?

 

Sally,

 

I got your PM and am going to answer here.  How are you doing so far? 

Have you talked to your sons about what's going on right now?  Will they help

out, maybe take you to the ER if things get too tough?

 

Challis

[[...]]

I'm on zopiclone have been for 8 years, started on 3.75mg and took that for a few years then up to 7.5 every night for about 5 years and I'm currently taking 15mg for the past 2 months and trying to get down to 7.5mg again...

 

 

[[...]]

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

 

Been on it 8 years too, can you tell me more about your withdrawl method

[[Lu...]]

Has anyone had a MASSIVE recurrence of symptoms after being healed or nearly healed for three-four months? I cannto undertsnad what is happening to me.

[[Lu...]]

Is this a Lunesta thing?

[[Sa...]]

I'm about to go into zopiclone withdrawal- only 2 left and 5 Valium to last til Wednesday. Doc completely unsympathetic and rude. What to do?

 

Sally,

 

I got your PM and am going to answer here.  How are you doing so far? 

Have you talked to your sons about what's going on right now?  Will they help

out, maybe take you to the ER if things get too tough?

 

Challis

hi Challis, yes my adult sons could take me to the er, or accident and emergency as it's called in the UK, but the health system here is terrible, and I've been turned down many times in the past. They won't take into account the stuff I've bought online. I have quite a record with them - think I'm black-listed

 

[[Ch...]]

I'm about to go into zopiclone withdrawal- only 2 left and 5 Valium to last til Wednesday. Doc completely unsympathetic and rude. What to do?

 

Sally,

 

I got your PM and am going to answer here.  How are you doing so far? 

Have you talked to your sons about what's going on right now?  Will they help

out, maybe take you to the ER if things get too tough?

 

Challis

hi Challis, yes my adult sons could take me to the er, or accident and emergency as it's called in the UK, but the health system here is terrible, and I've been turned down many times in the past. They won't take into account the stuff I've bought online. I have quite a record with them - think I'm black-listed

 

Oh, I'm sorry, Sally.  How are you doing so far?  How long since your last dose?

[[Sa...]]

A bit better since I got my weekly dose of Zopiclone and valium. But it's not strong enough to cope with the withdrawals. Stopped the wine, but unsympathetic doc wants to reduce me further, submit to drug testing and won't do slow taper as recommended in Ashton Manual.

[[Ca...]]

Sally. Maybe you could find another doctor?

I know in some places that is impossible though.

 

Carol

[[Sa...]]

I'm about to go into zopiclone withdrawal- only 2 left and 5 Valium to last til Wednesday. Doc completely unsympathetic and rude. What to do?

 

Sally,

 

I got your PM and am going to answer here.  How are you doing so far? 

Have you talked to your sons about what's going on right now?  Will they help

out, maybe take you to the ER if things get too tough?

 

Challis

hi Challis, yes my adult sons could take me to the er, or accident and emergency as it's called in the UK, but the health system here is terrible, and I've been turned down many times in the past. They won't take into account the stuff I've bought online. I have quite a record with them - think I'm black-listed

 

Oh, I'm sorry, Sally.  How are you doing so far?  How long since your last dose?

o

A bit better since I got my weekly dose of Zopiclone and valium. But it's not strong enough to cope with the withdrawals. Stopped the wine, but unsympathetic doc wants to reduce me further, submit to drug testing and won't do slow taper as recommended in Ashton Manual.

I'm about to go into zopiclone withdrawal- only 2 left and 5 Valium to last til Wednesday. Doc completely unsympathetic and rude. What to do?

 

Sally,

 

I got your PM and am going to answer here.  How are you doing so far? 

Have you talked to your sons about what's going on right now?  Will they help

out, maybe take you to the ER if things get too tough?

 

Challis

[[Wh...]]

it feels like my blood is on fire running through my body. Every once in awhile I will get an intense deep itch. It itches like crazy but the source is so deep that I can't dig deep enough to get to it.

10mg Ambien since 2007. Personal reasons ran out of meds and got hit by total surprise of this Withdrawl. My intro post says the history. It is the only other thing I have posted. 

What is this? Why is this happening? What to do?

 

Hi Agape

I'm about 99.9% sure that the itchy thing is an Ambien specialty since this differs from the burning sensation that is also common!  I am 14 months off and every couple of weeks, I still get this side effect! If it gets bad enough, I will take a Claritin and it seems to help! I unknowingly got thrown into withdrawal when my doctor cut my ambien in half per the FDA recommendations. Since then, I have been to hell, set up shop in hell, and have returned back from hell! I will be honest... occasionally I take a weekly trip back to visit ! But, It does get better!! It just takes time

[[He...]]

Hi,

 

I've been on Zopiclone for 5 (or 6 I can't remember) years. Really wanting to be off it now.

 

GP is being patient until mid Sept but thinks I can switch onto Mirtazapine/Rermeron and off the Zopiclone quite quickly (like a few days). I'm using the Mirtazapine in the smallest amounts possible (about 1mg) to avoid the nights of zero sleep and hope I don't have to take it too much.

 

I have had quite a number interdose withdrawal symptoms. The only one really bothering me at the moment is the higher than usual heart rate (80 bpm instead of my usual 65) and palpitations. I've been reading previous posts here and gather that sort of thing is fairly common. I'm using 10mr propranolol when needed to control this.

 

I feel terrible on no sleep at all (like everyone!) and have an ovarian cyst. I'm pretty sure Iodine helped reduce 2 other ovarian cysts I've had in the past year but it usually messes up my sleep even more. So I'm waiting until I'm off the zopiclone. Wondering if I should use the Mirtazapine more regularly for sleep to be bale to press son with coming off the zopiclone (then tackle the Mirtazapine reduction). I gather the Mirtazapine can be tricky to stop but easier than zopiclone.. and that it is less harmful than zopiclone. Is that generally true??

 

My current rate is reducing by around 0.1 of a tablet every week. Is that too fast? I'm on about .76 of a 3.75mg tablet at present (am using a scale and dry cutting)

 

(edited to make this shorter!) Thanks if anyone has any thoughts.