Manic33 Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 Hey there, i'm a 19 year old guy who has been clinically depressed for about 8 years. I've always been a very low key person who enjoys having time to relax and think things over.... well a few years ago, maybe three now, I began having minor troubles sleeping, and being a hypochondriac, and worried about school I asked my doctor if it would be plausable for me to use a sleeping medication, Imovane (AKA Zopliclone) just as a temporary solution to what I initially thought was a small problem. (My mom had also been taking the medication for a few years citing that it did help her) Well, just that quickly I began using it at bedtime to calm me down. Trouble is, I felt its effect far too much and to be honest, even enjoyed the feeling it gave me. As depressed as I was, suicidal, lonely a lot of the time, I felt like this med was some kind of release for me, and I guess at that point it sort of was. Now its a few years later, i've since graduated highschool and am now reeling from the loss of many of my friends, no steady job, and very little time outside my house. Knowing that it is all my fault doesn't help me much... but now more than ever i'm psychologically addicted to these Imovane pills that I still use every day.. keep in mind that Imovane is intended to only be used VERY temporarily... but for whatever reason my doctors never told me that. I had to look it up a few months ago myself, out of curiousity. But now, as the topic title indicates, I am addicted to them... It brings me to tears sometimes because they cause major behavioral changes in me, sometimes im happy, sometimes i'm angry to a point of rage for the smallest things. Adding to the trouble, I'm also on another sleeping medication called Mertazipine, which I'm not addicted to at all, and antidepressants, which I don't think do much of anything for me. I'm usually craving Imovane though, and have even sometimes stooped to using them during the day time to calm me down when im doing something that makes me nervous (Ie. on a date) I know its not normal, healthy, or excusable to live this way, but I have tried to get off them before, but it makes me shake violently when I actually begin to think of my life without them... I get cramps and a nervous digestive tract as well... So, yea i'm in a bit of a bind... I feel like I need help but I dont think I have the strength to beat this addiction after relying on these pills for so long now.. Any advice is GREATLY appreciated... thanks for reading. Link to post Share on other sites
BlueEyedGirl Posted February 13, 2009 Share Posted February 13, 2009 I am not much help but I do have a similar problem. How many of the tablets do you take in a 24 hour period? Link to post Share on other sites
era Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 I've suffered from insomnia all my life. I found Imovane to be extremely weak..1 or 2 pills did nothing. I needed to take a minimum of 3 pills to fall asleep. I recommend you ask your physician to prescribe Trazodone...it's non-addicting and causes drowsiness. It works for me (and I've tried every sleep medication). When you stop taking Imovane you will experience extreme withdrawal symtoms. It's going to be really bad, and you will not be able to sleep or function normally for about a week, (but then you probably know all this already). Google Trazodone for more info...oh, and I also combine it with a melatonin tablet (found at drugstores & healthfood stores). I hope you will soon aquire good quality zzzzzz's without having to feel like some drug addict. Link to post Share on other sites
D-Lish Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 I've been using Immovane for a couple years now- Trazadone gave me horrible restless leg syndrome and Seroquel worked great but I couldn't wake up in the morning. I have bad insomnia- but Immovane works well- and Highly addictive? I've never found it to be- and according the the psychiatrist that prescribed it- it's not supposed to be addictive. I've never experienced withdrawl symptoms either. Are you taking Immovane during the day???? Clonozepam is addictive. Link to post Share on other sites
Author Manic33 Posted February 18, 2009 Author Share Posted February 18, 2009 Hi, thanks alot for your reply.. One of my major issues is that I do indeed take Imovane during the day time (therefor not for its prescribed use of making you sleepy) I do feel that it is weak in making me drowzy; it just gives me a really relaxed feeling, wherein I seem to drop my inhibitions and just say or do things that I normally wouldnt have thwe confidence to do.. of course, the even bigger problem is that I use it at times just for the heck of it as a recreational drug.. and I do feel like a good for nothing addict... prolly am one :/ Link to post Share on other sites
Author Manic33 Posted February 18, 2009 Author Share Posted February 18, 2009 I am not much help but I do have a similar problem. How many of the tablets do you take in a 24 hour period? One or two per day I used to take as many as 6 in a day O.O although I was not prescribed any more than one at any given time. Link to post Share on other sites
Author Manic33 Posted February 18, 2009 Author Share Posted February 18, 2009 I've suffered from insomnia all my life. I found Imovane to be extremely weak..1 or 2 pills did nothing. I needed to take a minimum of 3 pills to fall asleep. I recommend you ask your physician to prescribe Trazodone...it's non-addicting and causes drowsiness. It works for me (and I've tried every sleep medication). When you stop taking Imovane you will experience extreme withdrawal symtoms. It's going to be really bad, and you will not be able to sleep or function normally for about a week, (but then you probably know all this already). Google Trazodone for more info...oh, and I also combine it with a melatonin tablet (found at drugstores & healthfood stores). I hope you will soon aquire good quality zzzzzz's without having to feel like some drug addict. Thank you for your reply, I appreciate it. I find that my Mertazapine (or Remaron -SP?-) pill usually makes me drowzy enough to atleast turn my mind off and get some sleep... its just that without atleast one Imovane a day I feel pretty ill, which I guess you've probably experienced judging from your post. I have however, been able to get through very short times without Imovane (perhaps mostly because I only get a certain amount per month - one pill for every day) Thing is I tend to throw caution to the wind and use a couple instead of one in a day, so I do atleast try to hone up to my actions (when the pills are gone for the week, theyre gone, for example) Anyway thanks again I am definately going to try to get off imovane totally as soon as possible... I think the thing thats stopping me for the most part is just my anxiety about how I will feel without them.. Hope I don't seem too strange... i will look up Trazodone and ask my doctor about it. Link to post Share on other sites
era Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 Hope I don't seem too strange... You don't seem too strange at all ....I don't care what anyone may say - Imovane IS addictive. Link to post Share on other sites
janellbertiee Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Hi Manic, I feel you need some treatment program. Your problem is serious and of course not good! You should call up a counselor and get professional help. God bless take care! Link to post Share on other sites
jessicarabbit Posted March 22, 2009 Share Posted March 22, 2009 Hello, it sounds like to me that you are suffering from severe depression and anxiety. The sucidal thoughts are going to be increased from the anti-depressants, mixing any type of "downer" with the anti-depressant will also intensify these feelings. I know how it feels to be addicted to sleeping pills, I was addicted to Ambien 2 years ago. Also was diagnosed with depression, and I felt the constant need to take the anti-depressants all the time and the sleeping pills at night. It became a routine, and it became an addiction. My body started to become ammune to the sleeping pills because I was taking so many every night, and one night I stopped breathing..luckly for me my ex boyfriend was right beside me and rushed me to the emergency room. I had no choice but to come off them cold turkey, I was terrified to ever touch them again. I had with drawls for 3 days, cold sweats, shakes, fever, throwing up...it was awful but you know what when it was over it was OVER I have not touched a sleeping pill since then. What I would suggest to you is to consult with your doctor or pshychiatrist and admit your addiction so they can start treating it, what they will do it keep you on sleeping aids, but much less strong ones until you can gradually ween yourself off of them and transfer over to natural sleeping aids like Melatonenin (natural herb) and your doctor will most likley prescribe you a form of xanx for the anxious feelings you may get when you stop taking your sleeping pills. Trust me, I have been down this road, like any other addiction it is not easy but it can be treated. You need to start telling anyone you can that you need help and they will help you, you can do it, just takes one day at a time. Link to post Share on other sites
The Collector Posted March 23, 2009 Share Posted March 23, 2009 I'm addicted to Zopiclone too. Insomniac all my life, got prescribed them at 30, still on them at 40, will happily take them forever unless a better solution to my sleeping problem appears (and I've tried everything else). Don't be embarrassed, or feel guilty about it. They are ace and half the world is addicted to something or other. Taking them during the day, especially if you're feeling depressed, can be tempting but problematic. Try to set a limit like none before 10-30 or something. Best wishes my Zop-brother. Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts