I’m a mid-50’s male living in the UK and have discovered this wonderful forum today.
Around five years ago, I began experiencing significant health issues, the most disruptive being poor sleep and persistent mental fatigue. During this time, I was diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), which is now very well controlled with CPAP therapy (AHI reduced from approximately 80 to 2–3, sometimes lower). Three years ago, I underwent an overnight inpatient sleep study at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, where I was also diagnosed with Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD). Blood tests showed low ferritin levels at that time, which have since been corrected with supplementation, although I suspect the PLMD may still be present.
Over the past five years, I’ve had numerous investigations, scans, and assessments, resulting in diagnoses of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), and suspected Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).
Due to difficulty falling asleep, I was prescribed 7.5 mg of zopiclone. Three and a half years later, I am still taking it. I would like to taper off—ideally discontinue it completely—but I’m encountering resistance from my GP. She will not prescribe a liquid formulation due to cost concerns and believes that a slow taper (5–10% reductions), particularly at lower doses, is unnecessary or impractical. I disagree, and although I have referenced NICE guidance on benzodiazepine and Z-drug tapering—especially in the context of autistic individuals—she remains unwilling to reconsider. I have contacted my sleep neurologist for support and am also awaiting a comprehensive medication review with a psychiatrist.
I usually take my medication around 9:00 p.m. and go to bed at approximately 10:30 p.m. Thanks to the zopiclone, I typically fall asleep within 10 minutes and sleep between 7½ and 9 hours each night. However, I wake most mornings feeling unrefreshed and mentally foggy, and it often takes 30 to 90 minutes before I’m able to get out of bed and function properly.
I wear my Apple Watch in bed and always check my sleep score / stats the following day. One thing that jumps out at me is despite having plenty of sleep, only a fraction is categorised as Deep Sleep – typically between 30 and 40 minutes. I appreciate that the watch isn’t a clinically accurate medical device, but at least it gives some indication.
I am currently trying a few things to see if I can increase deep sleep, such as 1 pillow instead of 2, wearing an eye mask with low profile speakers playing meditation tracks, adjusting my night time supplements (eg stopped Magnesium and Ashwagandha).
Cheers,
Gary