The withdrawal effects from zopiclone are terrible. They build up a dependency and I’d gone through quite a rough withdrawal period. Thomas’s doctor prescribed zopiclone but due to an error it went on a repeat prescription, and Thomas took them regularly for a period of time. Usually doctors will only prescribe a small supply at one time. Most people we spoke to were aware that it is easy to become dependent on sleeping tablets and said their doctors were cautious about prescribing them. Olivia Y took temazapam for a few weeks when a relationship broke down and she couldn’t sleep. Hannah was prescribed zopiclone for a short while whilst she was in hospital but after a couple of weeks was put on an antidepressant that had a sedative effect instead. People who were prescribed sleeping tablets more recently had usually only taken them for short periods, or occasionally when needed. ‘I realised later on the, the sleep disturbance is part of it is interesting though, I don’t remember her going through and asking other questions to look at the whole picture’. When Dina first went to see a doctor some years ago complaining of insomnia her doctor prescribed sleeping tablets but looking back she thinks it was a symptom of depression. ‘I won’t take a sleeping tablet because next thing I’ll get hooked on them’. Sometimes he has had trouble sleeping, but he avoids taking sleeping pills because he knows how addictive they can be. Michael is in his 70’s and has taken antidepressants for a most of his adult life. John who is now in his 80’s took a benzodiazepine medicine (Mogadon) for many years and he said they were prescribed freely when he was younger. Some older people said they had been prescribed sleeping tablets over prolonged periods in the past. However there is no firm evidence of differences in their effects and all three Z-drugs carry warnings about their potential to cause tolerance, dependence and withdrawal symptoms. There are two main groups of sleeping medicines, Benzodiazepines which include temazepam and loprazolam, and non- benzodiazepine hypnotics (also commonly known as Z drugs) which include zopliclone, zolpidem and zaleplon. Sleeping tablets can cause side effects such as feeling ‘hungover’ or drowsiness during the day (see 'Telling the difference between depression symptoms and antidepressant side effects'). In some cases, the GP may advise only taking the medicine two or three nights a week, rather than every night.
Doctors guidelines recommend prescribing the smallest effective dose possible for the shortest length of time necessary (for no longer than a week). People diagnosed with depression who are experiencing problems with sleep may be given an antidepressant which has drowsiness or sleepiness as a side effect but sometimes doctors may prescribe sleeping tablets for a short time to help establish a sleep routine. They only help to initiate sleep and don't treat the cause of insomnia. Doctors are cautious about prescribing sleeping tablets. Sleeping tablets (hypnotics) may sometimes be prescribed to help ease short-term insomnia. Caroline’s depression is triggered ‘by not being able to sleep properly therefore not being able to cope very well’ while Sonia attributed her insomnia to the effects of fluoxetine. It can be difficult to know sometimes whether difficulty sleeping is a side effect of antidepressant medicines, or a symptom of depression. These included sleeping tablets, medicines to alleviate anxiety, antipsychotics, and mood stabilisers. Some of the people we interviewed had been prescribed other medicines alongside an antidepressant, or in place of one. Antidepressants: Messages for health professionalsĪntidepressants Taking other medicines with antidepressant: sleeping tablets, medicines for anxiety, antipsychotics, mood stabilisers, and over-the-counter remedies.Antidepressants: The Community Mental Health Team (CMHT).Other strategies for managing depression.Antidepressant use and recovery from depression.Antidepressants: talking to family and friends.Antidepressants: feelings about using medication for depression.Taking an antidepressant with medicines for other illnesses.Taking other medicines with antidepressant: sleeping tablets, medicines for anxiety, antipsychotics, mood stabilisers, and over-the-counter remedies.Telling the difference between depression symptoms and antidepressant side effects.Coping with antidepressant side effects.Using an antidepressant: SNRIs, Mirtazapine & MAOIs.Using an antidepressant – tricyclics (TCAs).Using an antidepressant -SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor).Antidepressants - Patient Information Leaflets.Expectations about taking antidepressants.Starting to take an antidepressant for the first time.
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