Zopiclone & Marijuana Withdrawal?

[zopiclone]

Just been browsing through this site and there seems to be a lot of support going on! My main problem is insomnia, from a young age (10) I've been on various medications to help with this. Up until a year ago I was on a number of anti-depressants which weren't helping, so I decided to take myself off them and try to learn to be more positive. One year on and apart from some dark days that has been great but still the marijuana and zopiclone remain.

I've been cycling between the two for a number of years, if I don't have one I'll have the other to help me sleep. I'm currently trying to stop the marijuana, which has been over a week so far after smoking daily for quite a few months, I'm having the usual symptoms of negative thoughts, restlessness and physical pain which is hard.

I'm now getting to the point where the zopiclone at my usual dose (15mg) isn't proving very effective, and really I don't want to end up with a worse zopiclone addition in replacement of my marijuana issue. This is usually where I give up but I've got to the point where I really want to give both the kick but don't really have many people who understand how difficult this all is.

Anyway, any advice and support anyone can give would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Zedpenguin]

Thanks 'Zopiclone and Madtram'.

I've recently decide that I need to stop my marjuana and zopiclone addiction too. I've read Dr Ashtons chart an like the look of it. I'm only prescribed 7.5 milligrams but have unfortunately gained a tolerance for it and have just started taking two at a time. Sometimes 3 when I really can't sleep. It's getting a bit out of control and I'm not even prescribed that much.

I don't want you to get out the violons and have a sob but it all started when I was assaulted and had my head smashed off of a brick wall. I have permanent neuralgia in my occipital nerve in the back of my head and the neuropathic pain burns electric down the bottom half of my left arm and the back of my left leg. It's horrible and strikes at any time. The doctor prescibes my Lyrica for the pain but it doesn't do much, hence becoming a total pot head. I never really smoked it before, maybe a bit when I was wrong, now I smoke around a gram every dayIt really helped with th pain and the boredom of being off work but I'm getting sick of it because I don't want to be so foggy in the mind all the time. The zopilone too I think is something I don't want to be addicted to, so any advice or sharing of experience would be greatly appreciated

[madtram]

I think that giving zopliclone the kick at this stage is a very good plan.  Many people find that these meds have the same tolerance problem as opiates.

  Zopiclone is very benzo like in its effects so it's important to have a good taper plan.  Some doctors still seem to think it can be stopped cold turkey but if necessary you can refer your md to Dr Ashton's site which has a tested schedule for zopiclone tapering with minimal withdrawals:-

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

If the meds are being prescribed by your md, you could also discuss with your doctor prescribing trazadone or similar while you taper as it could take some time for your body to stabilise on the reduced dose if you are already finding your current dose ineffective.

With any luck, you will find that by following a taper you are less likely to feel a need for the mj to make up for the sedation you are no longer getting from the zopiclone.

Getting off will be challenging but very doable if you take the slow & steady approach.