Combinations - Problems with Zopiclone and Methadone

[baron samedi]

SWIM has been taking Zopiclone most nights for well over a year now, as a replacement for his old sleeping aid of choice (cannabis). In January this year he went on a methadone maintenance programme, in order to kick his poppy pod addiction.
Up until this point SWIM was able to stick easily to 7.5mg Zopiclone at night (along with varying doses of Olanzapine). As well as pretty much always putting him to sleep and keeping him asleep, they also functioned very well in helping his night-time anxiety. Rather than putting him straight to sleep like it would most people, SWIM used to lie there for 2-3 hours, just enjoying the "buzz"/anxiolytic side-effects, enabling him to put a positive spin on whatever he was stressing or worrying about at the time. He knows that this is not how it is meant to be used but he liked it all the same. When he started doing poppies daily this side-effect seemed to be enhanced, reminding him of the buzz he used to get from combining opiates and cannabis at bed-time.
Things seemed to change however when he started his methadone treatment. He now finds it hard to get the same "buzz" from taking his Zopiclone at night, even though he has now doubled his dose to 15mg as a result. He was only on 30mg methadone for a couple of months, now increased to 45, but does not understand why changing from poppies to methadone would affect his zopiclone in this way. He knows that Zopiclone does lose efficacy over time anyway, but the effects he used to get from it seemed to change as soon as he switched to methadone. AnySWIY have an opinion on this. He also finds that if he has a meal some time soon before taking his zopiclone, its effects seem to diminish yet further, which has put him off eating any food in the evening at all.
Despite all this, he should state that they are still putting him to sleep and keeping him asleep, so he can't complain about this aspect. It just puzzles him why the mental effects of taking Zopi seem to have changed so much, even on double the dose he was on.

[tyranny4u]

the first thing that came into tt's mind was, that SWIU could be slightly
overdosed on methadone?
taking (a little) too much of an opiate / opioide can cause sleepless-
ness.

He knows that Zopiclone does lose efficacy over time anyway,

TT would say that SWIU has passed this moment for long, some months
ago he'd say...

Do they prescribe SWIU the Zopiclone in the Methadone clinic? Or do go
doctor shopping? Or do you have only one Doc prescribing you Zopiclone?
Does he know, that you are on Methadone now? And does the clinic
staff know about your habit?

If you don't care what you do the next months, you might end up in
a benzo-habit, then dependance.

BTW: SWIU can't compare the effects of Methadone and Poppies. The
"comes very, very near to an opium trip" you have from poppies has
many effects, because of the mix of alkaloids in the tea (or however
SWIU consumed).
Methadone is a simple substance that just will "obturate" your re-
ceptors, making you feel ok because of being a full agonist.

TT would have a talk with your doctors, as you obviuosly already have
built an multiple dependancy: Opioide and GABA full agonist. Man, take
the chance before ending like too many (including TT, struggling
against the benzos again...) methadone patients.

[baron samedi]

The doc prescribing SWIM zopiclone knows all about his opiate/opioid habit and seems happy for him to be on zopiclone long term. AFA SWIM knows they are not actually benzos, although they act very similarly, so do not produce a physical dependance, rather a psychological one.
In fact, it is not sleeplessness that is SWIM's problem (if anything he still sleeps too much on his current concoction). It's more that the euphoria he got from taking zopiclone at night for 11 months seemed to disappear when he commenced MMT. He knows that they're not designed to give patients euphoria, but for someone as "dysphoric" as SWIM (anhedonic really), the euphoria he got from them at night for 2 or 3 hours before dropping off to sleep came as a blessed relief. They're still doing what they're intended for i.e. putting SWIM to sleep, but in terms of euphoria 15mg is not doing what 7.5mg used to do before he started taking methadone. Strange really, and not something he can complain about to his doc either. Maybe changing to Zolpidem or Eszopiclone, or even a true benzo would work better in this regard.

[tyranny4u]

so do not produce a physical dependance, rather a psychological one.

that is wrong, definately. the only plus you have, you never show up
benzo positive when you're pee-tested.

taken from wikipedia:

Zopiclone, a benzodiazepine-like drug was introduced and initially promoted as having less dependence and withdrawal than traditional benzodiazepine drugs. However, zopiclone may have an even greater addictive potential than benzodiazepines and has been described as a "benzodiazepine in disguise".... Tolerance to the effects of zopiclone can develop after a few weeks. Long term use should be avoided. Abrupt withdrawal particularly with prolonged and high doses can in severe cases cause seizures and delirium

Publications in the British Medical Journal do not give any evidence to the claim that zopiclone has a low dependence potential. In fact, physical dependence and recreational abuse and withdrawal syndromes similar to those seen in benzodiazepine withdrawal are frequently encountered. Withdrawal symptoms included anxiety, tachycardia, tremor, sweats, flushes, palpitations, derealisation, and further insomnia.[79] Suspected withdrawal convulsions during detoxification from zopiclone has been reported, however the individual was a high dose zopiclone misuser.

source:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zopiclone