Advice

Hi. I am 26 years old.

Male.

I used to take SSRI medicines as anxiety treatment, but they did not help. I tried a few varieties.

When I take Zopiclon, however, I feel immediately much better. Even when I take one quarter of a 3.5 tablet - my condition is immediately improved, and very strongly so. I feel more secure with people, and less anxious in general. Even when I try to read something - my mind wanders less.

But zopiclon is not intended as a long-term treatment. So what should I do?

(Besides - There is some specific job, I am interested in. The job requires a commitment for a year. I know that I will manage if I take zopiclon daily; and doubt that I will manage it otherwise. So I feel lost while thinking of making this choice. )

Thanks!

I bounce up and back between ativan which stays in your system longer, and xanax which is my anxiety med of choice.

Never heard of the one you are on. I used to be on buspar but it made me feel high. didnt like that. Have you ever tried xanax?

Hope this helps

Colleen

Hi, mrhide, welcome to PsychCentral. Did you ask your doctor who prescribed it? It's mostly for sleep so I wouldn't want to take it during the day. Have you tried taking it at different times of the day?

It causes both tolerance and dependence so you'd end up in a mess over long term I think:

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100002841.html

Ask your doctor about how it works and if there are other drugs that one can switch out with so one doesn't become tolerant or dependent. Too, are you in therapy? My anxiety was "fixed" for the long term with therapy and I don't take any meds. Maybe a combination would help so you didn't have to take the Zopiclon so often?

I take zopiclone at night for sleep. It works well but I haven't taken it every night. I'm about to ask the doctor for a refill though..... I also take temazepam, diazepam and an SSRI, they all help with my anxiety... also depression and insomnia.. Alternating zopiclone with a benzodiazepine is helpful, say alternate days, in my opinion. Over here (UK) only the SSRI's are supposed to be used for long term help for anxiety (out of the meds I've listed)

As SSRI's don't work for you, hopefully you can get your medical team to prescribe anti anxiety meds for you longer term. Also, are you in therapy?

Keep us updated!

xanax is a life saver!

i have been taking 7.5 mg of zopiclon for years. i was talking 15 mg at one point but new law calls that an overdose and my pharmacy wouldnt fill the scrip anymore.
i know i have an addiction (i had some bad withdrawl when going back to 7.5 mg). it is not very effective but i feel like it helps a little and im not afraid of it.
what i am afraid of is weaning off. which is what i should do seeing as the drug isnt very effective for its intended use. sigh.

ambien is another z-drug but i dont react to that one much. temazepam doesnt even make me mellow. i was taking hospital strength dormicum (midazolam) but it wasnt helping much and i was worried about putting that much drugs in my system. its a first stage anesthetic for people going under general anesthisia!
it is very hard to find sleep meds and or benzos that affect me

ive also taken nosinan which was the most helpful ,edication i have ever used for sleep but sadly i lose all motor coordination for about 16 hours after use... cant walk cant brush my teeth. fell of the toilet and couldnt get my feet back under me. it was awful.