After years of insomnia (problems getting to sleep rather than staying asleep), my GP has finally prescribed something which knocks me out and gives me a full refreshing night's sleep (Zopiclone).
However he has refused to give me more than a month's worth, and now I've run out things are back to normal, i.e. lying awake for hours despite being exhausted. 
This seems to make such a big difference to my condition- with a good night's sleep I feel almost normal, without I'm a zombie who can barely function.
I must point out at this stage that I have tried many other sleep meds and supplements (melatonin, amitriptyline, mirtazipine, trazodone, 5htp, valerian, nytol, etc), plus meditation, hypnosis, sleep hygiene, hot milk, horlicks.... Nothing has helped apart from Zopiclone, but apparently it can be habit-forming and cause rebound insomnia (how would this be worse than what I already have?), so most doctors won't prescribe long-term.
I would like to know if anyone is on long-term sleep meds, particularly Zopiclone, what the pros and cons are, and whether the benefits outweigh the risks? And also how did you manage to persuade your doctor to prescribe long term?
This seems to make such a big difference to my condition- with a good night's sleep I feel almost normal, without I'm a zombie who can barely function.
I must point out at this stage that I have tried many other sleep meds and supplements (melatonin, amitriptyline, mirtazipine, trazodone, 5htp, valerian, nytol, etc), plus meditation, hypnosis, sleep hygiene, hot milk, horlicks.... Nothing has helped apart from Zopiclone, but apparently it can be habit-forming and cause rebound insomnia (how would this be worse than what I already have?), so most doctors won't prescribe long-term.
I would like to know if anyone is on long-term sleep meds, particularly Zopiclone, what the pros and cons are, and whether the benefits outweigh the risks? And also how did you manage to persuade your doctor to prescribe long term?