Can anyone help me

[sueo205]

Hello There,
I've been on Zopiclone 3.75 mg 3 a night now for way over 17 years, I'm now trying to come off them and this last few weeks cut them down by 2 a night, but after about 2 hours I 'm awake and cant get back to sleep, then in the day I want to sleep but also getting very very tearful and down, saw my GP yesterday told her every thing now she put me on new Tablets, called Promethazine 25 mg one a night, and to stop taking the Zopiclone, well what did I do after getting the new Tablets I read up on them and the side effects really worried me, so I ended up taking my Zopiclone, again No sleep all night, can someone please Help me on this,
Many Thanks
sueo

[madtram]

Sue, as the others have said promethazine is only an antihistamine which is much safer than the zopiclone which acts on some of the same receptors as benzos.

That said, I have a lot of sympathy for your position given that you have been on the zopiclone for 17 years.  Dr Ashton from Newcastle University in your country believes that you need to taper of the 'z' drugs, including zopiclone in the same way that you taper from benzos like xanax.  You need to find a doctor who is familiar with Dr Ashton's work so you can get a realistic schedule for a slow taper.

Here's the link for Dr Ashton's taper for zopiclone:

http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/bzsched.htm

I understand you wanting to cling to the zopiclone but it was not designed for & has never been tested as safe for such long term use.

Ring around & find an understanding doctor & you can taper off in a controlled way & stop worrying.

[sueo205]

Hi There,
Thanks for ur post, as I said to vicki, I'm so worried about the side effects cuzz I know if I take it then I will panic, this is just so hard for me, and I'm so sorry for being a pain,
Many Thanks to you
sueo

[sueo205]

Hi
please believe me, there is nothing missing here, and there is No more for me to add, I've not hiding nothing from my new doctor, it is as I say it is, I've been on Zoplicne for over 17 years, and I find it so hard to come off it, or to cut it down, having the 2 a night is doing me no good at all, cant sleep, and I really do feel so low & tearful all the time, and why I'm not taking the new 1 is after reading the side effects worries me, I really do Thank you for all ur help you have given me, and I'm sorry about keep going on about this,
Many Thanks again to you,
sueo

[Devonlee]

Why wont you try the promethazine? It does help u sleep makes u very tired and is a relatively safe drug. In fact, it was prescribed for me during my pregnancy. If ur dr has prescribed it might be good to at least try it. If you are unsatisfied with your dr then maybe find another one.

[vicki595]

Something seems to be missing here. Obviously,there's more to your story and the doctor knows. Quite frankly,the drug to be concerned about is the Zoplicne. The promethazine
will help you,it's been around a very long time,and you need to trust your doctor. I really doubt she would suggest anything that would hurt you.

Just do as she asked and call her if you feel any problems are arising.

[sueo205]

Hi well I've been back to see the Doc, told her all what I'm going through, and I've not started the new Tablet which she was not happy about, she also told me that they will not give me any more Zoplicone as I should have not been on them for all these years,, just don't know what to do now, I did take the 2 Zoplicone last night only had a hour sleep, today all I've done is cry and feel very low
ohh cant see another Doctor down there as she told me she was putting it on my notes, where do I go from here,
and Thanks to you both for answering my post
sueo

[LeaAnn807]

Hi!  I would get an opinion from another doctor.  You don't need to stop that medicine cold turkey.  Promethazine is a completely different med, and can't be used to replace the one you are on until it's tapered properly.  You could get really sick from stopping it suddenly, ok?  Talk to her again tomorrow, but she really needs to taper you off of it!

Good luck!

[sueo205]

ohh ok yes I will call her Tomorrow, but I know I can't take this new one as it would worry me, so it's back to the 2 Zoplicone tonight so it looks like another long night for me, but if she tells me Tomorrow I have to keep to the news ones, and she wont give me know more Zoplicone, don't know how I will cope with that,
Thanks again
sueo

[vicki595]

Okay. I'm not sure I know why she told you to stop completely so I can't speak to that. Maybe you could clarify with her.

The promethazine is a completely different drug,it's been around for years and years.

Give her a call--

[sueo205]

Hi There,
yes I have read up on the Zoplicone as I said I've been on them over 17 years,
now the reason why I had to cut them down from 3/ to 2 a night is I moved house so it meant having new doctors, and after me going to see the new Doctor, she told me that I could not stay on them, and she was going to cut me down too!! 2 a night for a month then too 1 a night for another month, so I 've been trying on 2 a night and after falling asleep for about 2 hours, I wake up can't get back to sleep then start to panic,
so I went back to see the Doctor told her how things are, thats when she said she was putting me on some new meds,
which is the promethazine 25mg and to stop the Zoplicone as these new ones would help me to sleep,
but I 'm so worried about just stopping the Zoplicone, and going on these new ones as all the side a effects it has,

Many Thanks
again vicki595
sueo

[vicki595]

I'm not sure what you're asking here but have you read up on Zoplicone?  I hope so...
The promethazine is not much more than an antihistamine and anti nausea medicine.

I think you need to call the doctor back and ask this question. Also, did she tell you to just STOP the zoplicone??