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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by shadows721 on September 5, 2003, at 22:44:12
In reply to Re: After shocks of trauma » shadows721, posted by Larry Hoover on September 5, 2003, at 8:41:28
Hi there Larry
Yes, you are so right about this condition. I did not know about the vitamins helping hyperviligance. Which ones help? Currently, I take B's, calcium, magnesium, and C.
I did try EMDR. Most I have spoken to got their memories with this. I did not. I got a look at the parts of self that felt shattered. At 1st, I did not understand the visuals I was given, but now I am really starting to understand. The pieces are hard to put together. It seems like it has taken me years to piece things together.
Now, I am talking to a specialist about trying EEG biofeedback. Have you tried this treatment? Haven't spoken to anyone that has benefited from it.
The other therapist that I went to were experts in the field of DID and PTSD. I do not know why I just did not work with them well at all. I have never figured it out. Perhaps, it was a personality issue.
Buspar is helping me now. I was in horrible shape. I was shaking and feel electricity going thru my limbs from nerves. The buspar was hard to adjust to. It made me very dizzy and almost felt pressure in my head. The neurontin works well with it.
I never thought I was depressed - just anxious. But, I did feel like I was literally going to die, because I felt so bad - felt like weights hung all over me. I did not realize that my depression was really affecting my vision among other things. Now, everything is crystal clear. The buspar has not made me have the typical SSRI symptoms either. It took about 6 weeks to really start helping me. I am on the max dose 60 mg. My family can tell when I haven't taken my medication. They tell me, "Oh, by the way, did you take your medication?"
Thanks for writting.
Shadows.
Posted by Larry Hoover on September 6, 2003, at 9:04:27
In reply to Re: After shocks of trauma, posted by shadows721 on September 5, 2003, at 22:44:12
> Hi there Larry
>
> Yes, you are so right about this condition. I did not know about the vitamins helping hyperviligance. Which ones help? Currently, I take B's, calcium, magnesium, and C.How much magnesium? You may need substantial supplementation of mag, as prolonged stress causes magnesium to be dumped into urine. You need D3, to ensure uptake.
The B's are certainly important, but they may be of limited effect without concurrent mineral supps, particularly zinc(40 mg/day) and selenium (200 mcg/day). Both are hammered hard by chronic stress. And, niacinamide (the amide of nicotinic acid, B3), has calming effects all on its own.
One of the outcomes of the chronic stress condition is oxidative stress, which has substantial adverse effects. Vitamin C helps, but it's water soluble (2,000 mg/day). You need some vitamin E (800 IU/day) for fat-soluble protection, and alphalipoic acid (protects both lipids and aqueous environments, and helps extend the useful lifetime of both C and E).
The targets of oxidative stress include membrane phospholipids, and their fatty acid adducts. There are four major phospholipids, and three of them are found in good quantities in soya lecithin. I just eat soya lecithin granules by the spoonful. The missing one, phosphatidylserine, is the most critical one, as it is not only a membrane constituent, it is also a modulator of HPA activity. The supplemental form is man-made from soya lecithin, so it's substantially more expensive than the others, but it really helps with the startle thingie.
The other thing is the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. They are bound to the phospholipids, so supplying them at the same time will probably encourage their incorporation into membranes. DHA, one of those omega-3's, helps dampen adrenal stimulation, quite apart from its actions in membranes.
Methyl donors may also have long-term calming capacity. That would be B-12, and TMG (trimethylglycine).
It may sound like a lot, but I have normalized my own startle response. I have a vulnerability (when I get stressed, I can feel it sneeking back in), but hitting the supps gets me back on track. I'm lazy with my supp intake some times, but that's probably because I'm doing so much better (I was totally disabled) that I get too busy, and I forget.
The supps may provide some immediate relief, but more likely, over the long term, your stress tolerance and reactivity will tend to normalize.
There are also herbs that directly downregulate the hyper-reactive HPA axis. Siberian ginseng, Ginkgo biloba. Licorice root tricks the hypothalamus into thinking the adrenals are working up to capacity, and can allow them to rest. St. John's wort can be helpful. I'm not suggesting you try these with the drugs. I'm saying there are options.
> I did try EMDR. Most I have spoken to got their memories with this. I did not. I got a look at the parts of self that felt shattered. At 1st, I did not understand the visuals I was given, but now I am really starting to understand. The pieces are hard to put together. It seems like it has taken me years to piece things together.
I understand that "putting the pieces together" thingie. It was "too much to take" back then, and I stored bits and pieces of the memories all over the place. Maybe you'll find EMDR more useful in the future, if you can start to bring together some memories via other means.
> Now, I am talking to a specialist about trying EEG biofeedback. Have you tried this treatment? Haven't spoken to anyone that has benefited from it.No, I haven't tried it. The only one I ever knew who used it was able to control chronic neuropathic pain with it. It can be a powerful tool. I'd certainly be interested in hearing about how it works for you (or not).
> The other therapist that I went to were experts in the field of DID and PTSD. I do not know why I just did not work with them well at all. I have never figured it out. Perhaps, it was a personality issue.That's always a critical factor. It's all about set and setting. That's mindset and environment during the sessions. How these therapists work might not have been right for you.
> Buspar is helping me now. I was in horrible shape. I was shaking and feel electricity going thru my limbs from nerves. The buspar was hard to adjust to. It made me very dizzy and almost felt pressure in my head. The neurontin works well with it.
> I never thought I was depressed - just anxious. But, I did feel like I was literally going to die, because I felt so bad - felt like weights hung all over me.I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome long before I grasped the idea that I had PTSD. One of the critical supplements for me, with respect to both PTSD and CFS, has been NADH. It's a metabolite of niacin, but the synthesis of it may be hugely disrupted in both conditions. The result is abnormal energy production in mitochondria, throughout the body. Everythings affected. It has been a miraculous supplement for me. Enada NADH. Enada is an Austrian corporation that produces the stabilized NADH, but it is marketed by a variety of companies. It's all the same stuff.
> I did not realize that my depression was really affecting my vision among other things. Now, everything is crystal clear. The buspar has not made me have the typical SSRI symptoms either. It took about 6 weeks to really start helping me. I am on the max dose 60 mg. My family can tell when I haven't taken my medication. They tell me, "Oh, by the way, did you take your medication?"
Feedback helps. I take support wherever I can find it.
> Thanks for writting.
>
> Shadows.
Posted by shadows721 on September 6, 2003, at 11:38:45
In reply to Re: After shocks of trauma » shadows721, posted by Larry Hoover on September 6, 2003, at 9:04:27
Wow! You are so informative. I had no idea about the supplements. Thank so much.
I hope you are doing okay with the chronic fatigue syndrome. I have often wondered if I had it or was it the depression. Sometimes, I feel like my mind is shutting down. Someone told me it was the system and it worked well in the past, but now it's being taken apart to heal. Oh, this healing process is really hard on my life.
Wish you well.
shadows
Posted by Larry Hoover on September 7, 2003, at 11:05:37
In reply to to larry, posted by shadows721 on September 6, 2003, at 11:38:45
> Wow! You are so informative. I had no idea about the supplements. Thank so much.
You're welcome.
Your body can get locked into negative-feedback loops, which is another way of saying that it's lost the ability to restore homeostasis. One example is insulin resistance. If you can figure out what to feed your body, you can nudge it back towards homeostasis. Often, that requires dosing that is "off the charts" with respect to concepts like RDA. We're not talking physiological dose any more, we're into therapeutic dosing.
At least in part, PTSD involves the amygdala, part of the primitive, subconscious stimulus-processing brain region. Phobias probably arise there. When you have PTSD, you have a psychological reaction to a physiological process. You can learn how to intervene.
> I hope you are doing okay with the chronic fatigue syndrome.
Reasonably well, thanks. I'm not well, but I'm certainly much better. I am absolutely thrilled with what I can accomplish now. The problem is, it is so easy to get distracted, and forget about my self-care.
>I have often wondered if I had it or was it the depression.
Although diagnostic definitions are useful, I prefer to think in clusters of associated disorders. Within the cluster, the lines blur.
For example, I have had diagnoses of acute PTSD, chronic PTSD, chronic fatigue, major depression, dysthymia (my "normal", in the absence of depression), irritable bowel syndrome, gastro-esophageal reflux disorder, insomnia, and a joint disorder (not specified, but involving serious arthralgia). In my mind, they're all manifestations of one broad disorder (the cluster). I don't much care what it's called, ya know? A large number of my symptoms, cutting across the various diagnoses, vary in intensity together. Not all symptoms, but many of them.
> Sometimes, I feel like my mind is shutting down. Someone told me it was the system and it worked well in the past, but now it's being taken apart to heal.
That's a useful metaphor. I've let go of a number of what I used to think of as traits (defined as uncheangeable aspects of character, but obviously not unchangeable). I've kept what is useful to me, and I'm amazed at what I left behind.
> Oh, this healing process is really hard on my life.
Oh, yeah.
> Wish you well.
>
> shadowsYou, too.
Lar
Posted by CarterS on October 18, 2003, at 14:59:21
In reply to withdrawl from Klonopin, posted by sheebies on August 25, 2003, at 8:54:49
Hey I'm scared of withdrawal from Klonopin. I've been on so many drugs, Prozac, Paxil, Neurontin, etc. Right now I'm taking Lexa-Pro, Klonopin, Gabitril, and Buspar. I want to get off of the Klonopin and want to know what will happen and why.
Posted by lamajama on October 30, 2003, at 11:09:46
In reply to Re: withdrawl from Klonopin » shadows721, posted by HIBA on August 27, 2003, at 0:07:02
Hi all. I am new here. I have been taking Klonopin for over 7 years now. I have never gone over 2mg. Over the years I have tried to go off this drug. I went cold turkey the first time and thought I was going to die. Last week I cut my dosage in 1/2. I am not sleeping as well and I am very moody. My doc gave me Xanax to help with the withdrawls. Why give me another addictive drug? I would like to have a baby and I have to go off this medication. I am a bit discouraged because what I have read from everyone is wean yourself slowly. I am just grateful that I have found this site where I can be with other people with the same symptoms as myself.
Posted by cubbybear on October 30, 2003, at 23:12:29
In reply to New here and sharing a bit, posted by lamajama on October 30, 2003, at 11:09:46
> Hi all. I am new here. I have been taking Klonopin for over 7 years now. I have never gone over 2mg. Over the years I have tried to go off this drug. I went cold turkey the first time and thought I was going to die. Last week I cut my dosage in 1/2. I am not sleeping as well and I am very moody. My doc gave me Xanax to help with the withdrawls. Why give me another addictive drug? I would like to have a baby and I have to go off this medication. I am a bit discouraged because what I have read from everyone is wean yourself slowly. I am just grateful that I have found this site where I can be with other people with the same symptoms as myself.
I am presently weaning myself off from a high of 4 mg. Klonopin last year. Am currently down to .75 mg. and it has taken several months to do it, because I've learned that you must decrease ever so slowly. For me, it's something like decreases of only .125 mg. every 10-14 days. If you try to go faster than your body can tolerate, you'll definitely get withdrawal symptoms, like insomnia, anxiety, and irritability. You should never quit a benzo drug cold turkey.
As far as the Xanax goes, I question why your doctor has put you on a more powerful drug to help with the weaning off process. This sounds completely wrong. The only other benzo that is recommended to help with the Klonopin tapering is Valium.
I suggest you mention this to your doctor. If he/she balks, then get yourself another doctor to help you establish a good tapering schedule.
Posted by cubbybear on October 30, 2003, at 23:12:59
In reply to New here and sharing a bit, posted by lamajama on October 30, 2003, at 11:09:46
> Hi all. I am new here. I have been taking Klonopin for over 7 years now. I have never gone over 2mg. Over the years I have tried to go off this drug. I went cold turkey the first time and thought I was going to die. Last week I cut my dosage in 1/2. I am not sleeping as well and I am very moody. My doc gave me Xanax to help with the withdrawls. Why give me another addictive drug? I would like to have a baby and I have to go off this medication. I am a bit discouraged because what I have read from everyone is wean yourself slowly. I am just grateful that I have found this site where I can be with other people with the same symptoms as myself.
I am presently weaning myself off from a high of 4 mg. Klonopin last year. Am currently down to .75 mg. and it has taken several months to do it, because I've learned that you must decrease ever so slowly. For me, it's something like decreases of only .125 mg. every 10-14 days. If you try to go faster than your body can tolerate, you'll definitely get withdrawal symptoms, like insomnia, anxiety, and irritability. You should never quit a benzo drug cold turkey.
As far as the Xanax goes, I question why your doctor has put you on a more powerful drug to help with the weaning off process. This sounds completely wrong. The only other benzo that is recommended to help with the Klonopin tapering is Valium.
I suggest you mention this to your doctor. If he/she balks, then get yourself another doctor to help you establish a good tapering schedule.
Posted by lamajama on October 31, 2003, at 22:03:21
In reply to Re: New here and sharing a bit » lamajama, posted by cubbybear on October 30, 2003, at 23:12:59
> > Hi all. I am new here. I have been taking Klonopin for over 7 years now. I have never gone over 2mg. Over the years I have tried to go off this drug. I went cold turkey the first time and thought I was going to die. Last week I cut my dosage in 1/2. I am not sleeping as well and I am very moody. My doc gave me Xanax to help with the withdrawls. Why give me another addictive drug? I would like to have a baby and I have to go off this medication. I am a bit discouraged because what I have read from everyone is wean yourself slowly. I am just grateful that I have found this site where I can be with other people with the same symptoms as myself.
>
> I am presently weaning myself off from a high of 4 mg. Klonopin last year. Am currently down to .75 mg. and it has taken several months to do it, because I've learned that you must decrease ever so slowly. For me, it's something like decreases of only .125 mg. every 10-14 days. If you try to go faster than your body can tolerate, you'll definitely get withdrawal symptoms, like insomnia, anxiety, and irritability. You should never quit a benzo drug cold turkey.
>
> As far as the Xanax goes, I question why your doctor has put you on a more powerful drug to help with the weaning off process. This sounds completely wrong. The only other benzo that is recommended to help with the Klonopin tapering is Valium.
> I suggest you mention this to your doctor. If he/she balks, then get yourself another doctor to help you establish a good tapering schedule.
>Thanks for the imput. I will talk to my doctor about the Xanaz. I haven't taken the Xanax to help with my side-effects. I did however talk to my doctor about cutting my Klonopin dosage in half. It has been too hard on me. I am now taking 1.5mg. It is so troublesome to me that this drug has such a hold on me. I have been trying for a long time to wean off it. I sometimes wonder if I will even be able to cope without it. It is just very frustrating at times. Thanks again for listening. I really do appreciate it.
Posted by RT on November 3, 2003, at 20:02:29
In reply to Re: New here and sharing a bit » lamajama, posted by lamajama on October 31, 2003, at 22:03:21
> > > Hi all. I am new here. I have been taking Klonopin for over 7 years now. I have never gone over 2mg. Over the years I have tried to go off this drug. I went cold turkey the first time and thought I was going to die. Last week I cut my dosage in 1/2. I am not sleeping as well and I am very moody. My doc gave me Xanax to help with the withdrawls. Why give me another addictive drug? I would like to have a baby and I have to go off this medication. I am a bit discouraged because what I have read from everyone is wean yourself slowly. I am just grateful that I have found this site where I can be with other people with the same symptoms as myself.
> >
> > I am presently weaning myself off from a high of 4 mg. Klonopin last year. Am currently down to .75 mg. and it has taken several months to do it, because I've learned that you must decrease ever so slowly. For me, it's something like decreases of only .125 mg. every 10-14 days. If you try to go faster than your body can tolerate, you'll definitely get withdrawal symptoms, like insomnia, anxiety, and irritability. You should never quit a benzo drug cold turkey.
> >
> > As far as the Xanax goes, I question why your doctor has put you on a more powerful drug to help with the weaning off process. This sounds completely wrong. The only other benzo that is recommended to help with the Klonopin tapering is Valium.
> > I suggest you mention this to your doctor. If he/she balks, then get yourself another doctor to help you establish a good tapering schedule.
> >
>
> Thanks for the imput. I will talk to my doctor about the Xanaz. I haven't taken the Xanax to help with my side-effects. I did however talk to my doctor about cutting my Klonopin dosage in half. It has been too hard on me. I am now taking 1.5mg. It is so troublesome to me that this drug has such a hold on me. I have been trying for a long time to wean off it. I sometimes wonder if I will even be able to cope without it. It is just very frustrating at times. Thanks again for listening. I really do appreciate it.
>
>
I have been on both xanax and klonopin over the years and neither one is easy to get off of to me. I think your doctor is wrong in giving you the xanax to get off the klonopin though. I was given just the opposite. I had always heard xanax was the worst to get off of and the klonopin was used to get off the xanax. you can do it though it may seem like you cant do without them , but it just takes time to ease your way off and the uncomfortable side effects will eventuallly go away , just hang in there.
Posted by lamajama on November 3, 2003, at 20:22:03
In reply to Re: New here and sharing a bit, posted by RT on November 3, 2003, at 20:02:29
> > > > Hi all. I am new here. I have been taking Klonopin for over 7 years now. I have never gone over 2mg. Over the years I have tried to go off this drug. I went cold turkey the first time and thought I was going to die. Last week I cut my dosage in 1/2. I am not sleeping as well and I am very moody. My doc gave me Xanax to help with the withdrawls. Why give me another addictive drug? I would like to have a baby and I have to go off this medication. I am a bit discouraged because what I have read from everyone is wean yourself slowly. I am just grateful that I have found this site where I can be with other people with the same symptoms as myself.
> > >
> > > I am presently weaning myself off from a high of 4 mg. Klonopin last year. Am currently down to .75 mg. and it has taken several months to do it, because I've learned that you must decrease ever so slowly. For me, it's something like decreases of only .125 mg. every 10-14 days. If you try to go faster than your body can tolerate, you'll definitely get withdrawal symptoms, like insomnia, anxiety, and irritability. You should never quit a benzo drug cold turkey.
> > >
> > > As far as the Xanax goes, I question why your doctor has put you on a more powerful drug to help with the weaning off process. This sounds completely wrong. The only other benzo that is recommended to help with the Klonopin tapering is Valium.
> > > I suggest you mention this to your doctor. If he/she balks, then get yourself another doctor to help you establish a good tapering schedule.
> > >
> >
> > Thanks for the imput. I will talk to my doctor about the Xanaz. I haven't taken the Xanax to help with my side-effects. I did however talk to my doctor about cutting my Klonopin dosage in half. It has been too hard on me. I am now taking 1.5mg. It is so troublesome to me that this drug has such a hold on me. I have been trying for a long time to wean off it. I sometimes wonder if I will even be able to cope without it. It is just very frustrating at times. Thanks again for listening. I really do appreciate it.
> >
> >
> I have been on both xanax and klonopin over the years and neither one is easy to get off of to me. I think your doctor is wrong in giving you the xanax to get off the klonopin though. I was given just the opposite. I had always heard xanax was the worst to get off of and the klonopin was used to get off the xanax. you can do it though it may seem like you cant do without them , but it just takes time to ease your way off and the uncomfortable side effects will eventuallly go away , just hang in there.Thanks for the support. I am struggling with the decrease of the Klonopin. I want so badly to increase my dosage back to 2 mg. I want so badly to get off this medication, but the nervousness I feel is so uncomfortable. The insomnia is starting to affect me as well. I am not going to take the Xanax. The thought of getting addicted to another drug scares me to death. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can do to get through these withdrawal symtoms?
Thanks
>
Posted by cubbybear on November 4, 2003, at 1:56:20
In reply to Re: New here and sharing a bit, posted by lamajama on November 3, 2003, at 20:22:03
> Thanks for the support. I am struggling with the decrease of the Klonopin. I want so badly to increase my dosage back to 2 mg. I want so badly to get off this medication, but the nervousness I feel is so uncomfortable. The insomnia is starting to affect me as well. I am not going to take the Xanax. The thought of getting addicted to another drug scares me to death. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can do to get through these withdrawal symtoms?
> ThanksI really feel for what you're going through. Some people have a miserable time quitting these meds, while others do not. You made a wise decision not to take the Xanax. If you're determined to succeed, you will. I suggest that you treat yourself kindly and go back to the 2 mg. dose, wait about 1-2 weeks to readjust, then start your taper. Go very slowly. . get a pill cutter and decrease at the rate of about .125 mg. every couple of weeks or so. From 2.0, go to 1.875, then 1.75, then 1.625, etc. As you get toward the end of your taper, to the very low numbers, you can extend the time between decreases. This is the way I've been doing it, after I started getting withdrawal anxiety in the early stages of tapering. Don't be in a hurry to get off. Accept the fact that you'll need to make very small cuts and stay on each new dose for 1-2 weeks or more. There are plenty of postings in the Psychobabble archives from earlier this year from various people. This is where I found Psychobabble to be incredibly useful--in helping me to devise my own tapering schedule rather than go with the doctors, who were either reckless and wanted to rush me through the tapering or didn't give me any reinforcement, support, or pat on the back for doing well with the decreases. This guy would have thought nothing of keeping me on the Klonopin after I stated emphatically that I wanted to get off it. Sometimes it's best to take matters into your own hands, even if you have to backtrack a little at first.
> >
>
>
Posted by lamajama on November 4, 2003, at 12:23:19
In reply to Re: New here and sharing a bit » lamajama, posted by cubbybear on November 4, 2003, at 1:56:20
Thanks for your advice. I talked to my doctor and she suggested putting me on Clonodin (blood pressure med) to help curb the withdrawals. I think she is nuts. It is time to find another doctor. I have been trying to go off the Klonopin for years now. The end result was going back to the 2 mg. I had found that I would do alright for awhile, then I would start feeling anxious. I feel like a total failure. I feel like I am just setting myself up for another failed attempt to go off Klonopin. Wrong attitude I know. It just gets so draining. Thanks for listening.
Posted by RT on November 4, 2003, at 19:59:04
In reply to Re: New here and sharing a bit » lamajama, posted by lamajama on November 4, 2003, at 12:23:19
> Thanks for your advice. I talked to my doctor and she suggested putting me on Clonodin (blood pressure med) to help curb the withdrawals. I think she is nuts. It is time to find another doctor. I have been trying to go off the Klonopin for years now. The end result was going back to the 2 mg. I had found that I would do alright for awhile, then I would start feeling anxious. I feel like a total failure. I feel like I am just setting myself up for another failed attempt to go off Klonopin. Wrong attitude I know. It just gets so draining. Thanks for listening.
Clonidine is a blood pressure medication, I think its an alpha adrenergic blocker , I have also taken this medication and I wouldnt suggest you start on it. I had a hard time coming off it also. it can cause rebound hypertesion, it caused me to have heart palpatations, it would be something you would have to ween off of again. Maybe neurontin might work its very sedating to me and I think its not addicting , I had no trouble getting off it. An antidepressant would work for your anxiety or maybe buspar might be worth checking out. Good luck and hang in there
Posted by maximum on November 14, 2003, at 19:17:03
In reply to Re: New here and sharing a bit, posted by RT on November 4, 2003, at 19:59:04
Quick question for anyone out there... I've been taking Klonopin for about 3 or 4 months and I'm scared to death of becoming dependent on it. Do you all think that I'm in danger of withdrawal after this short amount of time?
Posted by cubbybear on November 15, 2003, at 0:05:13
In reply to Re: New here and sharing a bit, posted by maximum on November 14, 2003, at 19:17:03
> Quick question for anyone out there... I've been taking Klonopin for about 3 or 4 months and I'm scared to death of becoming dependent on it. Do you all think that I'm in danger of withdrawal after this short amount of time?
Physical and/or psychological dependency on benzodiazepines can develop after as little as 2 weeks. That's just the way it is. Don't worry about this, since when it is time for you to quit, you will reduce your dosage gradually and that should minimize any discomfort from the decrease. I'm curious about what your dosage is right now anyway.
Posted by maximum on November 16, 2003, at 17:42:13
In reply to Re: New here and sharing a bit » maximum, posted by cubbybear on November 15, 2003, at 0:05:13
Hey, my current dosage is 1mg. three times a day. Is that a normal sounding prescription to you?
Posted by cubbybear on November 17, 2003, at 0:31:18
In reply to Re: New here and sharing a bit » maximum, posted by maximum on November 16, 2003, at 17:42:13
> Hey, my current dosage is 1mg. three times a day. Is that a normal sounding prescription to you?
It might be a little on the high side, but is definitely not excessive. My maintenance dose for a while was 4 mg.
Posted by lamajama on November 17, 2003, at 23:13:45
In reply to Re: New here and sharing a bit » maximum, posted by cubbybear on November 15, 2003, at 0:05:13
Knowing what I know now about Klonopin I would have never gone on the drug. I can't get off of it. I wouldn't recommend anyone taking it. I take 2 mg. Every time I try to decrease, my body really feels the slightest bit of the change in dosage. I am very sensetive to drugs, so I am sure other people will react differently. Good luck.
Posted by cubbybear on November 18, 2003, at 1:21:48
In reply to Re: New here and sharing a bit » maximum, posted by lamajama on November 17, 2003, at 23:13:45
> Knowing what I know now about Klonopin I would have never gone on the drug. I can't get off of it. I wouldn't recommend anyone taking it. I take 2 mg. Every time I try to decrease, my body really feels the slightest bit of the change in dosage. I am very sensetive to drugs, so I am sure other people will react differently. Good luck.
Now, hang in there, let's make sure we're talking on the same wavelength. What you say is the "slightest bit" might actually be a significant amount. I remember, as an Eastern transplant to L.A., I used to get a rise out of hearing a co-worker say that it had cooled off outside when the temperature went down to a high of 88 from a high of 90 the day before.
What is the "slightest amount" for you? Are you using a pill cutter with .5 mg tabs and splitting them into quarters, so you get .125 mg. pieces? Or are you simply breaking the 2 mg. piece in half to get a 1 mg. piece. If it's the latter, you're going to get a nasty reaction. But if you are taking the .5 mg tabs, try cutting the way I mentioned and see what happens. If you're still experiencing painful withdrawal this way, a good pdoc should be able to make a recommendation. I've read on this board that there might be a liquid form of Klonopin that would enable you to make infinitesimal reductions. Try checking this out. I hope all works out better for you.
Posted by lamajama on November 20, 2003, at 20:03:59
In reply to Re: New here and sharing a bit » lamajama, posted by cubbybear on November 18, 2003, at 1:21:48
> > Knowing what I know now about Klonopin I would have never gone on the drug. I can't get off of it. I wouldn't recommend anyone taking it. I take 2 mg. Every time I try to decrease, my body really feels the slightest bit of the change in dosage. I am very sensetive to drugs, so I am sure other people will react differently. Good luck.
>
> Now, hang in there, let's make sure we're talking on the same wavelength. What you say is the "slightest bit" might actually be a significant amount. I remember, as an Eastern transplant to L.A., I used to get a rise out of hearing a co-worker say that it had cooled off outside when the temperature went down to a high of 88 from a high of 90 the day before.
> What is the "slightest amount" for you? Are you using a pill cutter with .5 mg tabs and splitting them into quarters, so you get .125 mg. pieces? Or are you simply breaking the 2 mg. piece in half to get a 1 mg. piece. If it's the latter, you're going to get a nasty reaction. But if you are taking the .5 mg tabs, try cutting the way I mentioned and see what happens. If you're still experiencing painful withdrawal this way, a good pdoc should be able to make a recommendation. I've read on this board that there might be a liquid form of Klonopin that would enable you to make infinitesimal reductions. Try checking this out. I hope all works out better for you.
>
>
Well, I tried cutting back from 2mg. to 1 1/2 mg. I was alright for the first couple of weeks, but found myself getting more and more irritable. I know it was because I wasn't sleeping as well and I was also feeling some withdrawals. I am back up to 2 mg. and will try to cut down to 1.75mg. My doc gave me 2 mg. tabs and it is impossible right now to cut it the way I need it. I just wonder what life would be like without Klonopin! Thanks for the advice.
Posted by cubbybear on November 20, 2003, at 23:28:34
In reply to Re: New here and sharing a bit » lamajama, posted by lamajama on November 20, 2003, at 20:03:59
> >
> Well, I tried cutting back from 2mg. to 1 1/2 mg. I was alright for the first couple of weeks, but found myself getting more and more irritable. I know it was because I wasn't sleeping as well and I was also feeling some withdrawals. I am back up to 2 mg. and will try to cut down to 1.75mg. My doc gave me 2 mg. tabs and it is impossible right now to cut it the way I need it. I just wonder what life would be like without Klonopin! Thanks for the advice.Yes, you made too drastic a decrease--from 2 mg. to 1.50. If you run into problems at 1.75, you'll have to make even smaller cuts, as I said before. Those white 2 mg. pills can never be cut to yield the fractions you'll need. You've got to convert to 1 mg. pills or better yet, work with the .5 mg size.
>
Posted by 13beans on December 14, 2003, at 18:25:21
In reply to Sorry I posted, posted by shadows721 on September 3, 2003, at 2:09:24
I just jumped in here today, I know your original post was a long time ago, but I have been scouring the entire net trying to find someone that could help me in my search for others going through terrible withdrawals from klonopin. I myself suffered from a few I read in one of your posts, including the hallucinations...wow, how horrible!! I am now trying to help my mother who recently tried to commit SUICIDE from the physical pain she is suffering from. (She has POTS, which most is just now starting to be acknowledged by a handful of physicians and is a degenerative disease.) The trouble is that now that she is trying to get off of the klonopin which no longer works for her and affects her heart rate and blood pressure (a bad thing for people with "P.O.T.S."...I am very worried about her now because of her history. Her pain is even worse (she has terrible muscle pain in her legs that have almost sent her to the e/r. ...) now that she is tapering off of the klonopin. She is now having a lot of problems with her vision including blurry of vision and high sensitivity to light, dizziness and ringing in her ears and severe panic attacks. If you happen to get this, could you please reply and let me know what your withdrawals were like and if they included anything I mentioned? I hope you are doing better now. The message you posted was beautiful and well put. I really hope to hear from you.
Posted by Girl1969 on December 15, 2003, at 13:14:45
In reply to Re: Sorry I posted » shadows721, posted by 13beans on December 14, 2003, at 18:25:21
Just wanted to wish you and your mother well. I, too, suffered tremendous withdrawal after coming off of klonopin and my heart goes out to you. It took me 6 months to feel normal again, but I hope it takes less time for your mother.
Best wishes...
Posted by 13beans on December 15, 2003, at 14:07:21
In reply to Re: Sorry I posted, posted by Girl1969 on December 15, 2003, at 13:14:45
Thank you for responding, glad to hear that you are doing better. The experience, while going through it can only be compared to a horror movie or novel. I can't believe that so many doctors are so willing to keep doling them out, without telling you the risks involved. It's not like they "don't know"!! (Gee, there wouldn't be any money issues involved would there??) BIG BUSINESS, pharmaceuticals!! There as bad as the tobacco industry if you ask me. Sorry, I know I will offend many people here, but something needs to be done about this. I've lived it and it's just plain WRONG that something like this can happen to someone with no warning!! Take care all.
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