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

[[al...]]

Trudie,

 

It is kind of a long complicated story, but I probably would have been a lot better off had I brought my complaints to one doctor who knew something about Ambien and Ambien withdrawal. Instead I saw a few different doctors and therapists who really did not know much about what I was going through. I ended up just picking and choosing advice (much of it poor) that seemed to make sense to me and planned my own taper of only 15 days. I'm not doing too bad today considering that it only has been 4 months off, but perhaps things could have gone smoother under the care of a single knowing doctor. I sometimes have a hard time surrender control to others.

[[Tr...]]

I am interested in your story if you are willing to share the details bc I struggle with the same issue of surrendering control to others! I'm sticking with one doc but always doubt his expertise!

[[al...]]

Trudie,

Sticking with one doc is probably the way to go provided that the doc has experience with psyc meds and withdrawal. A psychiatrist may be a good idea, but you should ask about his or her experience with situations similar to yours. I had a psychiatrist giving me informal advice. He said that I could get off of my Ambien in no more than a week's time without long term sleep problems. When I told him that I wanted off the drugs as soon as possible due to anxiety and depression (possible inter-dose withdrawal symptoms) he did not mention a switch to a longer acting benzo followed by a gradual taper. He was semi-retired and old school, so I guess that this topic was sort of new to him.

 

It is possible that since I was using too much Ambien for only a few months and not a few years, I was not in as much danger as I thought. The max recommended dose for a male is 10 mg. for no more than 3 weeks, but I was taking 20 mg. so who knows what was really going on with me.

[[Tr...]]

Thank you. I'm seeing an addiction specialist Doctor (not psychiatrist). He is a specialist in addiction , however, has never heard of anyone addicted to Sonata especially at my dose. However, he has detoxed people addicted to Ambien and other sedative hypnotics at really high doses so that helps and he has been doing this for a long time and is flexible with me based on my symptoms.

[[Se...]]

Trudie,

 

You are in my prayers tonight.  I am here for you as are the rest of the buddies here.  I too am so glad that you've finally reached out for help.  None of us know what our withdrawals will bring when we first start out but this board was a lifesaver for me.  There is much kindness, experience and wisdom here.

 

I remember reading Carol's posts in the months after I started tapering.  I was too ill to post but came here a lot to read the success stories and give myself hope.

 

My best friend is tapering zopiclone right now, she was on it for 20 years (!) and was on 15 mg/night plus sometimes ativan too.  She has seen my struggle firsthand and she decided about 10 months ago to start slowly tapering.  She is just now going down to 3.75 mg this coming week.  She is doing o.k. and interestingly, like me, her sleep started to actually improve once she started her taper.  She was also in tolerance withdrawal like me as the 15 mg she was on wasn't working, her sleep was atrocious like mine was.  I am confident that she will be able to come off this in the next 6 months I think.

 

My Mom also was on zopiclone, put on the same time as I was in November 2008 when my late husband died from suicide.  She was also on it for 4 years but not in tolerance withdrawal like I was and was on ony 7.5 mg.  She started her taper just after mine and she came off around the same time, she had no issues at all and no withdrawal.  She was 82 when she started her taper.  So some people are able to come off slowly with no issues at all.

 

You won't know until you wade into this but I am very hopeful that you can do this by taking it very slowly and having expert help.

 

Well, I'm off to sleep but I wanted to write before I turn in and tell you that I'm thinking of you.

 

 

Ali

[[Te...]]

Trudie,

  If it isn't a whole lot of trouble, would you mind keeping a log of your cuts, times, amounts, and symptoms? This would be invaluable for others who might have wandered onto the same path as yours...we will all be following your story with support and concern...

[[Tr...]]

Sweet Dreams and I appreciate your prayers and posts more than I can say...it keeps me going thoroughout the day!

[[...]]

Anyone have rashes? I've had rashes all over my body for 5 years and nailed it down to Zopiclone use..

[[Se...]]

Anyone have rashes? I've had rashes all over my body for 5 years and nailed it down to Zopiclone use..

 

Not rashes per se but I used to have burning skin - very, very painful.  Too painful to touch.  Large swaths of skin that felt "hot" to the touch.

 

In the last 2 years I was on zopiclone, I had severe inter-dose withdrawal.  Every day, like clockwork as the afternoon wore on, my body temperature would start to "run up" and I'd feel very hot, skin hot to the touch (especially head and neck).  When I "flushed" like that, I'd feel very flu like and ill - it would yoyo up and down getting more severe as I neared my bedtime dose.  I just felt sh*tty, every single day.  Got worse over time.

 

I know cindys had issues with real physical manifestations of z-drug while she was on it, she even had an operation (gall bladder?, trying to remember) that was unnecessary.  She was very, very sick before she figured it out.

 

This is the "devils" drug for me and for many others.  I would not be surprised that people go to their doctors with very strange physical symptoms and illnesses not making the connection that they are on Ambien, Zopiclone, Lunesta etc. and the drug is actually causing the problem, particularly inter-dose withdrawal.  So strange.  I was so sick for the last 2 years I was on this stuff.  I am SO glad I figured it out and took steps to come off.

 

It has taken me a long time to get better, still not 100% but so much better.  It has surprised me that once I started to have windows at 22 months, I RAPIDLY started to get better.  All at once.  Prior to that, I was really ill - bed bound and couch bound.  And so much physical pain, that is one thing that is still affecting me when I have waves, severe right side pain (shoulder, neck, back and it can spread to the whole right side of my body when it flares up).  And then, boom, it just goes away and I'm pain free.  The whole of the past month I've been in severe pain most days, for days and weeks at a time.  It really sucks, I'm just laid low by it, struggle to do anything while I'm in such pain.  It sucks the joy out of my wellness.  The only thing that touches it is Tylenol 3 with codeine and I use it sparingly - it doesn't really take away the pain, I just care less about it.

 

 

Alison

[[...]]

So you're two years off? That's good...

 

I want to get down to 3.75mg

[[Se...]]

So you're two years off? That's good...

 

I want to get down to 3.75mg

 

Zuko,

 

You'll get there.  Just draw a line in the sand, start doing your taper and promise yourself under no circumstances will you ever INCREASE your dose, only decrease slowly over time.  Keep plugging away at it.

 

There are so many of us that have been in your shoes.  This is a very nasty, nasty drug that can cause so many problems if kept on it over the long term.  Work towards coming off it completely - we were never meant to be on this for longer than a few weeks, a month at most.  My sleep IMPROVED once I started tapering I was so sick due to tolerance withdrawal and couldn't figure out why I couldn't sleep.  Such a mess.

 

So glad you are working towards coming off.  These medications can cause falls, contribute to cognitive decline and Alzheimers, increase risk of death from all causes - NO ONE should be on these drugs more than a few weeks in my estimation, no one.

 

I'm getting my life back, now 28 months off and starting to feel well again.  Such a nightmare.

 

 

SS

[[Tr...]]

Trudie,

  If it isn't a whole lot of trouble, would you mind keeping a log of your cuts, times, amounts, and symptoms? This would be invaluable for others who might have wandered onto the same path as yours...we will all be following your story with support and concern...

 

I will do my best ...been feeling pretty nauseous since I started the crossover to V. In a fog. The V is kicking my but and I can only to 20mg at night ...where should I do this log?

[[Tr...]]

Anyone have rashes? I've had rashes all over my body for 5 years and nailed it down to Zopiclone use..

 

I developed eczema and inverse psoriasis and had rashes on sonata! Horrible! I read on the Internet but sonata I can cause rashes but I'm not familiar with your Z drug.

[[Ca...]]

Yes carol , I typed my dose correctly . I started taking sonata 5 years ago for my chronic insomnia and started at 10mg per night. That did not work after a few months and my doc increased it to 15mg then 20mg. I became addicted to it and over the course of these past give years worked up to take 40 10 mg sonata a day , spread out throughout the day.

 

Read my signature.  I was also using zopiclone every 3 hours every day.  Such horrible stuff.

 

Carol

[[Ca...]]

Anyone have rashes? I've had rashes all over my body for 5 years and nailed it down to Zopiclone use..

 

Yes,  I was covered in thousands of red bumps. They started on my torso and worked there way to my legs as well.

They required months of cortisone cream. Going in the tub really aggravated them too.

I never kept a log but I believe that I had them for at least 6 months maybe longer.

I still get the odd single one when under more stress.

 

Carol

[[Te...]]

Trudie,

  If it isn't a whole lot of trouble, would you mind keeping a log of your cuts, times, amounts, and symptoms? This would be invaluable for others who might have wandered onto the same path as yours...we will all be following your story with support and concern...

 

I will do my best ...been feeling pretty nauseous since I started the crossover to V. In a fog. The V is kicking my but and I can only to 20mg at night ...where should I do this log?

 

Hey Trudie,

  You could start a blog, or if y don't want to have to respond to a lot of posts, you could start a personal log...both can be done on this forums.tex

[[Tr...]]

What do you recommend? And I can do both on this community board? How do I do that? Still feeling pretty foggy...

[[Te...]]

Trudie,

  Here is a copy/paste of where to find the access to progress log and blog threads...both are under the HOME screen

QUOTE"

Hi,

 

Logs are intended for you to chart your progress. You should note changes to your taper plan, symptoms, diet, life stresses, and any other information you think might be useful. You might also add some personal thoughts, but remember, this board is not the place for feedback.

 

If you would like a more interactive space to provide moral support during your withdrawal, start a Buddie Blog: http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?board=88.0

 

If you would like a personal thread for chit-chat, and non-benzo issues, start a thread on the Buddies Space board: http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?board=63.0

 

It is recommended that you keep a log (Journal), either here or in the real world, and many people benefit from keeping a Buddie Blog too.

"UNQUOTE

Hope that helps you

[[Tr...]]

Thank you ! I think I'll go with the blog....I'm getting ready for bed soon so I'll start it tomorrow!

[[Tr...]]

Texas: any input if I should take 30 mg V or 25 V tonight before I go to bed?

I've been taking 20 mg but need to up the dose.

[[Te...]]

TRUDIE,

  I AM UNFAMILIAR WITH SONATA, AND DON'T KNOW ABOUT A C/O TO V...NOR DO I KNOW HOW LONG YOU HAVE BEEN LOADING WITH V...SINCE V HAS A LONGER 1/2 LIFE, IT TAKES AWHILE FOR THE LEVEL TO BUILD IN YOUR BLOOD, JUST AS IT TAKES AWHILE FOR IT TO LOWER WHEN YOU GET ON IT...IF IT WAS ME, AND I WAS HAVING RESTLESSNESS, I WOULD OPT FOR 30, THEN BACK OFF SLOWLY...REMEMBER YOU NEED TO DO THE C/O GRADUALLY, STABILIZE, THEN BEGIN A TAPER AT 5-10%...DON'T BE IMPATIENT, AND HOLD IF IT GETS REALLY ROUGH...IT IS NOT A RACE...LISTEN TO YOUR BODY, NOT YOUR MIND...AND RUN YOUR IDEAS PAST YOUR DOC...HE NEEDS TO KNOW WHAT YOU ARE THINKING AND DOING IF HE IS GOING TO HELP YOU. YOU ARE LUCKY TO HAVE A DOC THAT WILL FLEX WITH YOU...tex

[[Tr...]]

Thank you.

[[...]]

Just got my refill 28 7.5mg zopiclone, they don't even do anything anymore, need to break the psychological addiction!

[[Ca...]]

Just got my refill 28 7.5mg zopiclone, they don't even do anything anymore, need to break the psychological addiction!

 

It is probably not just a psychological addiction. You know that they have down regulated your own bodies gaba receptors which you need to naturally fall asleep. It is the beginning of the vicious cycle that I was in. Increasing the dose will cause more problems. Better to taper off as they are not working for sleep anymore.

Wish you welll

Carol

[[Se...]]

Just got my refill 28 7.5mg zopiclone, they don't even do anything anymore, need to break the psychological addiction!

 

It is probably not just a psychological addiction. You know that they have down regulated your own bodies gaba receptors which you need to naturally fall asleep. It is the beginning of the vicious cycle that I was in. Increasing the dose will cause more problems. Better to taper off as they are not working for sleep anymore.

Wish you welll

Carol

 

This is such good and sage advice Carol.  The ONLY way out of this is to start tapering.  Once you hit tolerance and the z-drugs are no longer working, it will only get worse.  Increasing your dose only brings you further into the nightmare and sets you up for more and more symptoms and in my case less and less sleep.  As soon as I started tapering, my sleep improved.  Prior to that, I'd gone over 2 years of ever WORSENING sleep.  I was beginning to despair.  I couldn't see how I would ever get back to work or have a life if I couldn't sleep for large portions of every night.  I was the living dead.

 

Tapering immediately started me on the road to better sleep.  It only improved from there.

 

 

SS