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Hi Advice Please On Drug Combos. Have Fibromyalgia Osophogitis. Am
Question: Hi
Advice please on drug combos. Have fibromyalgia osophogitis. Am on 7.5mg zopiclone, 300mg gabapentin at night,50 mg nortryptolene 25 mg at night, 25 in am. Omeprozole 20mg at night.
Am having very poor memory finding it difficult to hold social functions and forget basic names all the time.
Seems to be worse since increase in gabapentin.
Any advice? Scared of pain returning if just stop
Advice please on drug combos. Have fibromyalgia osophogitis. Am on 7.5mg zopiclone, 300mg gabapentin at night,50 mg nortryptolene 25 mg at night, 25 in am. Omeprozole 20mg at night.
Am having very poor memory finding it difficult to hold social functions and forget basic names all the time.
Seems to be worse since increase in gabapentin.
Any advice? Scared of pain returning if just stop
Brief Answer:
Would consider reducing/interrupting Zopiclone.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
The dosages of the medications you are taking are not high, in particular gabapentin may go much higher than that. However there are 3 drugs all acting on central nervous system so the combination of all of them (rather than only the one) may contribute to your cognitive problems.
If I were to try reducing one of of those drugs I would try reducing or interrupting Zopiclone. It doesn't help with fibromyalgia so shouldn't affect pain reappearance. Its aim as you must know is to facilitate sleep, but both gabapentin and nortryptiline promote sleep as well, so they might be enough to sleep without the aid of zopiclone.
I would also speak with your doctor about Omeprazole. There have been some studies in recent years indicating it might be a risk factor for dementia with long term use. While more studies are needed and short term use shouldn't cause any harm (don't think it's related to current issue) it might not be as benign as once thought and its use should be limited when possible.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Would consider reducing/interrupting Zopiclone.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
The dosages of the medications you are taking are not high, in particular gabapentin may go much higher than that. However there are 3 drugs all acting on central nervous system so the combination of all of them (rather than only the one) may contribute to your cognitive problems.
If I were to try reducing one of of those drugs I would try reducing or interrupting Zopiclone. It doesn't help with fibromyalgia so shouldn't affect pain reappearance. Its aim as you must know is to facilitate sleep, but both gabapentin and nortryptiline promote sleep as well, so they might be enough to sleep without the aid of zopiclone.
I would also speak with your doctor about Omeprazole. There have been some studies in recent years indicating it might be a risk factor for dementia with long term use. While more studies are needed and short term use shouldn't cause any harm (don't think it's related to current issue) it might not be as benign as once thought and its use should be limited when possible.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Brief Answer:
Read below
Detailed Answer:
Hello again and my apologies for answering late.
The principle of stopping drugs acting on the central nervous system is the same, to lower the dose gradually. That applies to Zopiclone aswell as to gabapentin or nortriptyline should they be reduced/interrupted. There is no perfect formula, it is not easy (for any of those three drugs), many patients report withdrawal symptoms or symptoms resurfacing, but the slower it is done the less risk for that.
So the first step would be to try a lower dose. In the market there are 3.5 mg tablets apart from the 7.5 mg ones you are currently on. So it can be first attempted to use that dose for at least a couple of weeks before considering interruption. If insomnia reappears with that dose reduction then an even slower reduction should be tried by using 3.5 mg tablets and going first with 2 tablets a day (7 mg), then reducing by half a tablet every two weeks.
Let me know if I can further assist you
Read below
Detailed Answer:
Hello again and my apologies for answering late.
The principle of stopping drugs acting on the central nervous system is the same, to lower the dose gradually. That applies to Zopiclone aswell as to gabapentin or nortriptyline should they be reduced/interrupted. There is no perfect formula, it is not easy (for any of those three drugs), many patients report withdrawal symptoms or symptoms resurfacing, but the slower it is done the less risk for that.
So the first step would be to try a lower dose. In the market there are 3.5 mg tablets apart from the 7.5 mg ones you are currently on. So it can be first attempted to use that dose for at least a couple of weeks before considering interruption. If insomnia reappears with that dose reduction then an even slower reduction should be tried by using 3.5 mg tablets and going first with 2 tablets a day (7 mg), then reducing by half a tablet every two weeks.
Let me know if I can further assist you
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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