Hi smog
I did a serch for the drug "Zimovane" and although it effects the Gaba levels in the brain it is not really in the same family as the benzo drugs. Here is what I found about it.
"Zopiclone (apparently another name of Zimovane) belongs to a group of medications called "cyclopyrrolones". It acts on receptors in the brain (GABA receptors) causing the release of a chemical called GABA (gamma amino butyric acid). GABA is a major inhibitory chemical in the brain involved in inducing sleepiness and control of anxiety and fits."
Why do you want to discontinue it? Is it no longer working?
While I do agree with Dakota in the sense that if one can get by without drugs, drugs of any sort that is likely the best way to go. But sometimes that is not always possible.
I have been taking Xanax for twenty years and it has continued to work well for me consistently in helping me sleep. And I don't notice any side effects at all.
Of course it is addictive and one may develope an increasing tolerance to it requiring larger and larger doses. But then again sometimes this isn't always the case and one finds a "maintenance level" where the dose becomes stableized and continues to be effective.
I never cared too much for Valium though because of it long life and morning grogginess as well a rapid tolerance development. And besides that I don't want to take a drug that stays in my system all the time, particularly if I am taking it primarily simply as a sleep aid. You might be better off taking a short acting benzo. Of course if you know you are of an addicitive temperment who may find yourslef becoming dependant upon it. But in my opinion the addictive concerns are often exaggerated.
If the choice was whether to take a potentially addicitive sleep aid or lie awake tossing and turning night after night I personally would take the drug as long as it was not harming me physically such as liver or kidney damage. Xanax has been around for more than twenty years now, and Valium even years longer than that so we have a pretty good idea of its potential long term effects, which is something we can not say regarding some of the newer meds being touted so vigorously by Pharmaceutical companies and many of their doctor stooges.
But again if you can find a way to get along wihtout these drugs, that is the best way to go without a doubt in my humble opinion.
Good luck to you
John
