Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 253823

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Re: withdrawl from Klonopin

Posted by MSTROU1 on March 6, 2004, at 18:31:13

In reply to Re: withdrawl from Klonopin, posted by ryan123 on March 6, 2004, at 17:48:54

> To take benzos or not. Tough question.
>
> I went through 7 weeks of klonopin withdrawals. I decided to quit paxil at this time as well and went through about 3-4 weeks of SSRI withdrawals. I took oxazepam (benzo) the whole time and still felt like death.
>
> I thought possibly I would feel like a new man after I got off klonopin.
>
> When the doctor told me to get off of klonopin, I was on paxil and trazodone too.
>
> Now I am on paxil, trazodone, serequel, tegretol, propanalol, and oxazepam. I feel much worse than when I was taking klonopin, trazodone, and paxil. Stupid doctors think they did me good but I'm more screwed up than ever.


Why are you on propanolol (sp?)?

 

Re: withdrawl from Klonopin » MSTROU1

Posted by Dave1 on March 6, 2004, at 18:46:17

In reply to Re: withdrawl from Klonopin, posted by MSTROU1 on March 6, 2004, at 12:27:32

Carter,

I've been trying find something good to help me sleep (other than a BZ). How well does Neurontin help? Does it make you signicantly sleepy and drowsy?

Thanks,

Dave

 

Re: withdrawl from Klonopin » ryan123

Posted by Dave1 on March 6, 2004, at 18:48:39

In reply to Re: withdrawl from Klonopin, posted by ryan123 on March 6, 2004, at 17:48:54

Six drugs at times seems quite excessive. Maybe you should consider consulting another doctor.

Dave

 

Re: withdrawl from Klonopin

Posted by ryan123 on March 6, 2004, at 22:11:46

In reply to Re: withdrawl from Klonopin » ryan123, posted by Dave1 on March 6, 2004, at 18:48:39

My last psych had me on five drugs. The most recent one added tegretol.

Propanalol was given to me to help my body make it through klonopin withdrawals. Without it (during withdrawals) my heart rate and blood pressure were high into stroke zone (up to 150 bpm and 150 over 100).

 

Re: withdrawl from Klonopin

Posted by MSTROU1 on March 7, 2004, at 6:50:41

In reply to Re: withdrawl from Klonopin, posted by ryan123 on March 6, 2004, at 22:11:46

> My last psych had me on five drugs. The most recent one added tegretol.
>
> Propanalol was given to me to help my body make it through klonopin withdrawals. Without it (during withdrawals) my heart rate and blood pressure were high into stroke zone (up to 150 bpm and 150 over 100).

Do you still need the Proppanalol now?

 

Re: withdrawl from Klonopin

Posted by Dave1 on March 7, 2004, at 8:49:55

In reply to Re: withdrawl from Klonopin, posted by ryan123 on March 6, 2004, at 22:11:46

You know when you take alot of meds. at high doses, it fires up your liver enzymes and you metabolize your drugs faster.

Bye

Dave

 

Re: withdrawl from Klonopin

Posted by David Greenberg on March 19, 2004, at 18:17:34

In reply to Re: withdrawl from Klonopin » awatts, posted by Dave1 on March 5, 2004, at 16:36:42

This is generally true. It took me three years to switch from 3mg of klonopin to just under 1mg. Although I didn't suffer severely for more than a few days at a time, the withdrawal symptoms (mostly anxiety and insomnia) are both periodic and persistent.


> This is what I have been trying to say, but no one believes me. I think I have the figured the whole thing -
>
> Short acting BZs (Xanax,Ativan) hit you faster and harder, but they also leave your body faster.
> Long acting BZs (Klonopin) hit your body more gradually, and thus not as hard, But they leave your body slower.
>
> When you are trying to get off a fast acting BZ, the withdrawal effects will be stronger because the BZ hits you harder/faster, but the withdrawal effects won't last as long because the BZ leaves your body faster.
>
> When you are trying to get off a long acting BZ, the withdrawal effect will be weaker because it hits you more gradually/slower, but the withdrawal effects will last longer because the BZ leaves your body slower.
>
> So you have to decide between
>
> Fast acting BZ = Harder, but faster withdrawal
>
> Slow acting BZ = Easier, but slower withdrawal
>
> P.S. I am done posting on this subject.
>
> Bye,
> Dave
>
>
> > > Today's my first day of no Klonopin and so far so good; I feel fine. Of course, my next step will be getting off of Xanax...
> > >
> > WRONG! Get off the Xanax FIRST. The maintenance of Klonopin will make it easier.
> >
> > If you feel that you must stop all benzos, choose Klonopin as the last one to go.
> >
>
>

 

Re: withdrawl from Klonopin

Posted by David Greenberg on March 22, 2004, at 20:53:53

In reply to withdrawl from Klonopin, posted by sheebies on August 25, 2003, at 8:54:49

Withdrawal from klonopin can take a while, but there's no need to become panicked about it.

The best course is to be patient and resolute, and draw up a long-term plan for withdrawal that mimics the amount of time (and dose) that you were taking prior to that.

For example, I took klonopin, up to 3mg/day, for three years, when I decided to begin withdrawing and lowering my dose. Actually, I wasn't entirely convinced of the need to get off the drug completely, only to keep the dose as low as possible.

After 4 more years, I was able to return to a relatively low dose of 1mg/day. This period involved some low-points, with lost sleep and reverse-insomnia (early morning anxiety), but that was about the worst of it. Usually, acute withdrawal wouldn't last for more than a few days. I took trazodone irregularity when my sleep was really difficult, but I haven't used it for a while.

I'm happy to give you some more suggestions, if you'd like. Just send me an email to davidg_888@yahoo.com.

Warmly,
David

> Help please. I have been taking klonopin (.5mg taking one to two at bedtime) for almost a year. I started taking after a bad withdrawl from Metabolife (yes, I know very stupid). I also had really bad insomnia and diagnosed with having an anxiety disorder. Any way all of the sudden one day, my klonopin stopped working. I totally went through 4 days of hell - heart palps, huge insomnia, panic attacks (still taking the klonopin). I remembered that my doctor had said that you can get addicted, you will start needing more and it will stop working. That is what happened. I started taking 3 (.5mg each) at night to get to sleep. And my insomnia got worse. So I went to my Doc and told him I wanted to get off of them. After describing my huge panic, heart palps and mood swings during those 4 days. He perscribed Seroquel. When I asked him why he wanted be to take that - he said that he thought I might be starting to be bi-polor. This freaked me out and I didn't take them. I thought that those feeling might just be related to the klonopin, so I just started tapering off (.5 a night), then after a week or 10 days, I totally stopped. My insomnia got worse. I totally freaked out and had huge, huge anxiety/panic and depression feelings. I called him and said that I wanted to go off of the Klonopin and did'nt want to start taking the Seroquel, so he gave me xanax xr .5mg and told me to take 2 at night to help me sleep. Completely blowing off the idea about me trying to get off of every thing. So, thinking that xanax would be milder than the klonopin, and needing to get one night of sleep - I have been taking 2 (.5mgs) of xanax for the last 2 nights. Yes I am sleeping, but I dont' know what to do know.
>
> My question is....has anyone been successful in getting off of klonopin and how long do the horrifing withdrawls last. Do you feel normal again? Or at least how you felt before starting it. I am wondering if I need an AD to help with the withdrawl? Any way I am going to my thearpist today to see what she thinks about his bi-polar comment and to get a name or a psych. for a 2nd opinion.
>
> THanks.

 

Re: withdrawl from Klonopin

Posted by ryan123 on March 23, 2004, at 14:51:48

In reply to Re: withdrawl from Klonopin, posted by David Greenberg on March 22, 2004, at 20:53:53

I was on klonopin for over three years at 3mg/day. It took me 7 weeks to get off it. I know others that got off with 3 weeks.

Everyday my vitals were in the stroke zone (my doc gave me propanalol to help this). My anxiety and depression were through the roof and beyond (my doc gave me seroquel for this and it helped).

Even with the added meds though, the pain was so intense. Every minute seemed like an hour. I am a recovering alkie, so I am used to feeling alcohol withdrawals everyday, but this made alcohol withdrawals seem like a walk in the park. Pure torture.

But then again for others, it isn't so tough to get off the drug. Everyone's different I guess.

How am I now? I still have a hard time leaving the house and cry during sportcenter, but hey, I wasn't the picture of perfect mental health before all this. I only worked 8 weeks last year.

I could be better I think if I just applied more mental energy at my probs with anxiety and depression, but I'm not in a real hurry, and am kinda taking a mental energy vacation after getting off the klonopin.

Rough stuff. I dunno what else to say. Good luck.

 

Re: withdrawl from Klonopin » David Greenberg

Posted by Mr. Scott on March 24, 2004, at 21:42:38

In reply to Re: withdrawl from Klonopin, posted by David Greenberg on March 22, 2004, at 20:53:53

Hello David,

Have you had to put anything in it's place (The Klonopin)? I am trying to get off of benzo's too, but I'm such a mental case on it I can only imagine I must need something lest I jump out a window!

Scott

 

Why do people want to quit Klonopin?

Posted by Viridis on March 25, 2004, at 2:33:55

In reply to Re: withdrawl from Klonopin » David Greenberg, posted by Mr. Scott on March 24, 2004, at 21:42:38

I'm really just curious, but what's the reason that so many people want to get off benzos like Klonopin? I realize that many of us would prefer not to be dependent on meds, but if they improve your quality of life, why stop? Have all of the discontinuers who suffer so much with withdrawal found other ways to deal with anxiety?

This is not a sarcastic post; I just want to know. My life has improved immeasurably with benzos and I don't think I'd feel better without them. I have no doubt that I'm dependent on Klonopin, but I've had no problems with it, haven't had to increase the dose (1 mg/day) despite almost three years of use, and have no side effects whatsoever.

I'd like to be off meds, but what's the alternative for a sane, anxiety-free life?

 

Re: Why do people want to quit Klonopin?

Posted by Sad Panda on March 25, 2004, at 8:34:16

In reply to Why do people want to quit Klonopin?, posted by Viridis on March 25, 2004, at 2:33:55

> I'm really just curious, but what's the reason that so many people want to get off benzos like Klonopin? I realize that many of us would prefer not to be dependent on meds, but if they improve your quality of life, why stop? Have all of the discontinuers who suffer so much with withdrawal found other ways to deal with anxiety?
>
> This is not a sarcastic post; I just want to know. My life has improved immeasurably with benzos and I don't think I'd feel better without them. I have no doubt that I'm dependent on Klonopin, but I've had no problems with it, haven't had to increase the dose (1 mg/day) despite almost three years of use, and have no side effects whatsoever.
>
> I'd like to be off meds, but what's the alternative for a sane, anxiety-free life?
>
>

Effexor+Remeron is giving me relief from some of my mild anxieties. A lot of docs seem to be steering towards AD's & going away from Benzos (probably drug company steered) & I really doubt that AD's are actually any safer than Benzos, but they may be for some.

Cheers,
Panda.


 

Re: Why do people want to quit Klonopin?

Posted by awatts on March 25, 2004, at 11:56:21

In reply to Re: Why do people want to quit Klonopin?, posted by Sad Panda on March 25, 2004, at 8:34:16

> Effexor+Remeron is giving me relief from some of my mild anxieties. A lot of docs seem to be steering towards AD's & going away from Benzos (probably drug company steered) & I really doubt that AD's are actually any safer than Benzos, but they may be for some.
>
> Cheers,
> Panda.
>
I'd guess that you are correct, Panda. Using AD's for anxiety is driven by drug company greed. ADs sure don't work as well for anxiety.

We really don't know much about the long term effects of the newer ADs, but the benzos have been used and studied for years. I think the benzos are safer unless you are prone to drug abuse.

 

Re: withdrawl from Klonopin

Posted by ryan123 on March 25, 2004, at 15:56:39

In reply to Re: Why do people want to quit Klonopin?, posted by awatts on March 25, 2004, at 11:56:21

Mr. Scott: I took oxazepam (30mg once per day) to help me get off klonopin. It was not prescribed to me. It helped, but it was still hell.

I didn't initially want to get off klonopin myself. This was the third time of trying at the insistence of my doctor. I had just started feeling well, and I wanted to wait a bit before I quit klonopin. But then I figured, I want to get off them eventually, so why not now? I now have oxazepam prescribed to me. I don't see any difference between this and klonopin.

My wish was to get off of all benzos completely. Why? Severe lack of creativity. Benzos numb the mind.

I am a musician that can't write a song. I am a writer that can't even start a screenplay. I am a photographer in a three year rut. I have all these talents that have just fallen by the wayside.

Because of this "left brain freeze," I don't even feel like pursuing any of these....things. I am also a cunning linguist that just used the word "things."

Benzos don't make me a total zombie. Just a half zombie.

 

Re: withdrawl from Klonopin » ryan123

Posted by Viridis on March 26, 2004, at 3:02:09

In reply to Re: withdrawl from Klonopin, posted by ryan123 on March 25, 2004, at 15:56:39

As usual, we all react differently. With benzos, I finally can think clearly without anxiety getting in the way. No numbing -- just normal thought.

I'm a research scientist (university professor), and did without benzos throughout most of my career, with tremendous harm to my mental and physical health. When I discovered Klonopin, my life turned around (although it's still far from perfect). I wouldn't trade this med for anything, and I have tried the full gamut of SSRIs/SNRIs etc., which were uniformly awful for me.

The new meds are good for some, the old ones better for others. Rather than rejecting the older ones, I think that doctors should try the range of possibilities and see what works best for each patient. And, I think that this eagerness of some to get off benzos should be tempered by the realization that constant anxiety is much more detrimental than benzo use for most people...unless there's a better solution that I'm not aware of.

 

Re: withdrawl from Klonopin » ryan123

Posted by Sad Panda on March 26, 2004, at 3:39:10

In reply to Re: withdrawl from Klonopin, posted by ryan123 on March 25, 2004, at 15:56:39

> Mr. Scott: I took oxazepam (30mg once per day) to help me get off klonopin. It was not prescribed to me. It helped, but it was still hell.
>
> I didn't initially want to get off klonopin myself. This was the third time of trying at the insistence of my doctor. I had just started feeling well, and I wanted to wait a bit before I quit klonopin. But then I figured, I want to get off them eventually, so why not now? I now have oxazepam prescribed to me. I don't see any difference between this and klonopin.
>
> My wish was to get off of all benzos completely. Why? Severe lack of creativity. Benzos numb the mind.
>
> I am a musician that can't write a song. I am a writer that can't even start a screenplay. I am a photographer in a three year rut. I have all these talents that have just fallen by the wayside.
>
> Because of this "left brain freeze," I don't even feel like pursuing any of these....things. I am also a cunning linguist that just used the word "things."
>
> Benzos don't make me a total zombie. Just a half zombie.
>
>

Hi Ryan,

You are one of the people that should give up Benzos (Obviously! :)) AD's help with my soical anxieties, have you tried any? Use Valium to get off Oxazepam, Dr. Bob has equivalency tables in the tips section.

Cheers,
Panda.

 

Re: withdrawl from Klonopin

Posted by ryan123 on March 26, 2004, at 13:56:22

In reply to Re: withdrawl from Klonopin » ryan123, posted by Sad Panda on March 26, 2004, at 3:39:10

Viridis,

I'm glad you qualified my standpoint. I didn't mean to scare away people from klonopin that really need it.

Sad Panda,

What's an AD? I really want to get off benzos altogether, but my anxiety and depression is unmanagable without them.

 

Re: withdrawl from Klonopin » ryan123

Posted by Fred23 on March 26, 2004, at 18:59:40

In reply to Re: withdrawl from Klonopin, posted by ryan123 on March 25, 2004, at 15:56:39

> Benzos don't make me a total zombie. Just a half zombie.

This is what happened to Stevie Nicks, but it may be that Xanax is less of a zombifier than Klonopin.

 

Re: withdrawl from Klonopin » ryan123

Posted by Sad Panda on March 27, 2004, at 12:11:51

In reply to Re: withdrawl from Klonopin, posted by ryan123 on March 26, 2004, at 13:56:22

AD is Antidepressant. The AD's I am taking are helping me with my social anxiety. Doctors favour using AD's for treating Anxiety these days & for some people this is good. For others, Benzos are choice & some people use a combination of both.

Cheers,
Panda.

 

Re: withdrawl from Klonopin

Posted by awatts on March 27, 2004, at 12:39:33

In reply to Re: withdrawl from Klonopin » ryan123, posted by Sad Panda on March 27, 2004, at 12:11:51

> AD is Antidepressant. The AD's I am taking are helping me with my social anxiety. Doctors favour using AD's for treating Anxiety these days & for some people this is good. For others, Benzos are choice & some people use a combination of both.
>
> Cheers,
> Panda.
>
For some reason, British doctors, especially, are reluctant to prescribe benzos for SAD, even though they are usually safer and almost always more effective for anxiety. The exception (and it's a big one) is if you are prone to drug abuse.

 

Re: withdrawl from Klonopin

Posted by MSTROU1 on March 27, 2004, at 16:48:46

In reply to Re: withdrawl from Klonopin, posted by awatts on March 27, 2004, at 12:39:33

I'm prescribed Buspar, Lexa-Pro (an AD), Klonopin (benzo), Neurontin, and Abilify. So far the combo's working and I don't want to get off of Klonopin either. If anything, I'd like to drop the Abilify.

 

Re: withdrawl from Klonopin

Posted by ryan123 on March 28, 2004, at 0:13:55

In reply to Re: withdrawl from Klonopin, posted by MSTROU1 on March 27, 2004, at 16:48:46

Oh. Anti-depressant. Yeah. I'm on a couple of those.

The reason the doc wanted me off klonopin in the first place is because I'm a recovering alcoholic, therefore I have substance abuse issues (even though I never took extra tranqs to get high).

My best combo of drugs was paxil, trazodone, and klonopin. I had a great summer in 2002 with that mixture.

Right now I'm on paxil, trazodone, oxazepam, seroquel, propanalol, and tegretol. If you think I'm taking too many pills, I agree, but my shrink doesn't.

I have been through with klonopin withdrawals since the beginning of February, but I feel worse than I did before quitting it.

My brain functions at a lower level with benzos in my system. My creativity is worse, my memory is worse, my reasoning is worse, and I'm worse at Jeopardy. But damnit all, I feel so much better with klonopin.

After going through 7 weeks of withdrawals, I feel stupid for thinking of getting back on it.

The insane thing about everything is that at night, I've been drinking one to five shots of vodka. I'm a recovering alcoholic, so I shouldn't be doing this, but I am more energetic the next day and my brain functions at a higher level.

In fact, when I was a constant drinker five to seven years ago, I got straight A's as an applied math major at a respected college. Since I've been taking benzos, I'm flunking out of classes wherein the math level is predominantly lower than it was in the math major at a class such as Calc III.

I wish everything was more cut and dry in deciding which path to take. If I was a horse, I would've been shot by now. No decision.

 

Re: withdrawl from Klonopin » Viridis

Posted by Pluto on March 28, 2004, at 0:21:44

In reply to Re: withdrawl from Klonopin » ryan123, posted by Viridis on March 26, 2004, at 3:02:09

Dear Viridis,

I have been following your threads most of the times here in this board. I would say you have a very level headed approach to those extremely sensitive things like benzo vs SSRIs. Meanwhile I am just curious how long have you been taking klonopin and what is the strength? I have been taking Rivotril (Klonopin in U.S) for the past six years and now am on a self induced free period from this stuff. My dosage was somewhere between 1.5 to 2mg a day. Tapering took only fifteen days and even after a month of off Rivotril, it really wonders me I am not experiencing any withdrawal symptoms other than a slight return of the anxiety that first led me to Rivotril. But this time the anxiety is not so severe because I think my living environment has changed a lot and stress at work is more manageable now. Still I think if anxiety is getting uncontrollable I will surely fill the prescription which is left with me. The horror stories of short term memory loss and other blabberings really amaze me, because my memory was quite sharp while I was on klonopin and interestingly I am experiencing some forgetfulness now on this off period. I think my diagnosis should have been CFIDS rather than social phobia. In CFIDS patients, rivotril has shown to improve cognitive performance.
Just curious here. Can you answer the first couple of questions I asked?
Percy. LS

 

Re: withdrawl from Klonopin » ryan123

Posted by Pluto on March 28, 2004, at 0:32:31

In reply to Re: withdrawl from Klonopin, posted by ryan123 on March 28, 2004, at 0:13:55

Dear Ryan,

It is very difficult to distinguish which drug is zombifying you since you are taking a lot of drugs. Trazodone is notorious for drugged feeling. Regarding klonopin, it depends on the dosage and how you take them. It is long acting and if you take your full quota at night, the chances it will have any detrimental effect on your congnitive function next day is less. But every patient is different. I can take most of my klonopin in the morning and paradoxically it improves my cognitive function.
Percy.LS

 

Re: withdrawl from Klonopin » Pluto

Posted by Viridis on March 28, 2004, at 1:47:16

In reply to Re: withdrawl from Klonopin » Viridis, posted by Pluto on March 28, 2004, at 0:21:44

Hi Pluto,

Thanks for the supportive comments! I take 1 mg clonazepam/day and have for almost 3 years. After the first couple of weeks, I had no side effects whatsoever. Now it just allows me to think more clearly, without the recurring anxiety -- definitely not a "dumbing" med for me (it seems to sharpen my mental acuity). It was a bit sedating at first, but that stopped quickly.

Interesting that you call it Rivottril -- are you Canadian? I am, but have lived in the U.S. for years

Regardless, I find Klonopin (= Rivotril = clonazepam) very helpful. If I go without it though, I experience severe anxiety after a day or so, so I assume that I've become dependent on it . However, when my pdoc asked whether the "withdrawal" anxiety was any worse than the anxiety and panic attacks that I experienced before taking it, I had to say (quite honestly), probably not.

As I just posted in another thread here, I suspect that some of us could reduce or eliminate the meds if we just adjusted our lifestyles to fit our personalities. But this is extremely difficult for many of us, including me.. In the meantiime (while I'm sorting out my life) I rely on the meds and have a great psychiatrist who understands my situation.

The following sort of relates to your post too: I always carry Xanax (alprazolam) with me (usually in my pocket) in case of severe anxiety. Yet I only take it a couple of times a month. Probably 1/3 of it (at least) winds up going through the wash etc. and being lost. But it sure is nice to have it, just in case. It sounds like you might respond well by just taking clonazepam with you in case of a bad situation However, of all the benzos, it seems the safest to take daily, and if a gradual taper is necessary to discontinue it, so be it.

All the best,

Viridis


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