Posted by theconfusedone on June 9, 2010, at 1:54:32
In reply to Re: Zopiclone addiction!!, posted by humanPDR on June 8, 2010, at 9:44:23
> Zopiclone, one of the Z-drugs, can absolutely cause physical dependence. It is a GABA-A agonist that actually binds to the benzodiazepine binding site just like valium et al. Add to that the short half-life of roughly 6 hours, and prolonged use will absolutely produce physical dependence, which is the cause of your daytime anxiety and inability to sleep without it. During the day, you are actually experiencing withdrawal symptoms, b/c the drug is metabolized so quickly, unlike valium which has a very long half-life.
>
> If you detox cold-turkey, you will likely have TERRIBLE insomnia and possibly even full-blown benzo-type withdrawal symptoms. Find some reputable online sources describing physical dependence to zopiclone and show your doc (who seems like an absolute MORON). Ideally you should be given valium (diazepam) as a replacement for sleep and then slowly decrease the dose over 1-2 months and you should experience little to no withdrawal symptoms. Open a pharmacology textbook and you will see that zopiclone binds to the SAME GABA-A receptor site as all benzos, so it can definitely produce physical dependence.
>
> EDUCATE YOUR DOC!!!
>
> HOW TO DETOX:
> DO NOT detox cold-turkey or you will be in agony--get at least 1 month supply of 5-10 mg valium anyway you can (go to 10 docs if need be).
> Use the MINIMAL dose at bedtime that lets you sleep and alleviates daytime anxiety (it has a very long half-life). If possible, only dose at bedtime. Then each 1-2 weeks decrease dose by 1-2mg until you are only taking like .5 then continue on that until you run out.
>
> hope this helps--also there are some good online sources detailing how to taper from benzos. Those might give you some more insight/info as well.
>
>
> A doc who doesn't know the pharmacology of what he is prescribing deserves to have his licence revoked.
>Thank you so much for the the info HumanPDR, I agree with you he is a moran and is retiring very soon.. I will have a chat with him about this and try and get something else although I haven't touched one in a week now.. I have used other meds instead but I dont have any more now only Sleepeeze.. My sleep is bad but anxiety is so much better now.
poster:theconfusedone
thread:949107
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100604/msgs/950433.html