Hooked on 'Herbal' Sleep Pills? The Shocking Truth Behind My Amazon Find!

Fiona Cameron, a fiction writer from Castle Douglas in Dumfries and Galloway, has struggled with insomnia for most of her adult life. Despite trying various medications from pharmacies, nothing seemed to help her get a good night's sleep. On a typical night, Fiona would only manage four to five hours of rest, and sometimes even less. Her doctor once offered her a short-term prescription for Zopiclone, a medicine used to treat sleep problems, but Fiona decided not to take it and continued to search for other solutions.

In January last year, Fiona discovered a product called Hypno by Bhang on Amazon. The product was advertised as a 'herbal sleep aid supplement' and listed minerals like magnesium as its main ingredients. Fiona thought it was a safe, natural option and decided to give it a try. To her surprise, the pills worked very well, helping her sleep much better than before. She was so pleased with the results that she set up a subscription and bought extra packets, spending around £1,100 in total. Fiona later realized that she had become dependent on the pills, always making sure she had enough because they were often out of stock.

After a year of using Hypno by Bhang, Fiona came across some worrying reviews on Amazon. Some customers warned that the pills were actually prescription drugs, not herbal supplements. Fiona was shocked and decided to send an unopened packet to WEDINOS, a drug-testing agency funded by Public Health Wales. The results confirmed her fears: the pills contained 100% Zopiclone. Fiona immediately contacted her doctor, who offered her alternative treatments, but none worked as well as Zopiclone. She experienced severe withdrawal symptoms, including 'hyperinsomnia,' where she felt unable to sleep and was 'wired' all day. Fiona believes she lost a year of productivity because she was so tired and unable to focus on her writing.

Fiona was disappointed with Amazon's response to her complaint. Instead of apologizing, Amazon referred her to a third-party company called Sedgwick and said they were not responsible. Amazon stated that they take customer safety seriously and had removed the product from their store. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulation Agency is also investigating the case. Fiona bought the pills from three companies using Amazon's platform, but none responded to questions from the BBC. Experts say Zopiclone should only be used for a week and can cause dependence and withdrawal symptoms if taken for too long. Fiona hopes her experience will encourage others to be cautious when buying medicines online and to check the ingredients carefully.