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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by mattye on December 27, 2006, at 14:53:53
I know this has been discussed before, but I had a few unanswered questions about benzos after searching the archives.
I just went to a different pdoc who gave me a 30 day supply of klonopin to help me get through the holidays. I told him that none of the SSRIs were fully controlling my anxiety / panic.
In short, the klonopin has been a godsend. I don't even feel like I am on anything, my panics just don't flare up like they used to.
Furthermore, I feel no desire to abuse this drug. I have taken benzos in excess once before, and all I did was sleep for a long time. They do not get me "high". I personally think the abuse potential of this drug is grossly overstated.
Has anyone here been on Klonopin for a long time? Did you have problems getting off of it? Did your anxiety worsen after getting off of it?
Posted by Phillipa on December 27, 2006, at 16:35:51
In reply to Long term Klonopin?, posted by mattye on December 27, 2006, at 14:53:53
Mattye I totally agree with you. I've been on klonopin and all the other benzos. And have no intention of going off them unless someone can come up with something better for my life long anxiety which started as panic when I was 24 now some 30 years later still on a benzo. And I just switched from one to another no withdrawal at all or change. Hope you do well. Love Phillipa
Posted by jimmygold70 on December 27, 2006, at 17:24:35
In reply to Long term Klonopin?, posted by mattye on December 27, 2006, at 14:53:53
Great to hear you respond that well!
Been on and off Klonopin for the last 11 years. It's a pain to get off but I did it several times. After the withdrawal symptoms go away, anxiety gets back to its former level, But why would one consider stopping problems when there is such a great response?!
Posted by Phillipa on December 27, 2006, at 19:00:45
In reply to Re: Long term Klonopin? » mattye, posted by jimmygold70 on December 27, 2006, at 17:24:35
Why do you think so many of us have this forever anxiety? My Mother, Father, Sister, my Daughters, Son, my Sisters kids too. And now I'm in a position that I'm developing tolerance and I don't want an antipsychotic. Any suggestions? The SSRI"S and SSNRI's make it worse. I can tolerate 25mg of luvox. Should I try and raise the dose? Love Phillipa
Posted by fires on December 27, 2006, at 21:07:29
In reply to Long term Klonopin?, posted by mattye on December 27, 2006, at 14:53:53
2mg at bedtime for 14 years. No "withdrawal" when I stopped it.
Posted by Phillipa on December 27, 2006, at 21:10:05
In reply to Re: Long term Klonopin? » mattye, posted by fires on December 27, 2006, at 21:07:29
Fires how come you chose to stop your klonopin? Love Phillipa
Posted by UgottaHaveHope on December 28, 2006, at 0:01:47
In reply to Long term Klonopin?, posted by mattye on December 27, 2006, at 14:53:53
I am taking less Klonopin now (2mg) than when I began in 1997.
The dangers of Klonopin and benzos are so, so overrated. They are wonderful drugs for those who use them for medicinal purposes only.
Posted by crazy777girl on December 28, 2006, at 5:45:32
In reply to Long term Klonopin?, posted by mattye on December 27, 2006, at 14:53:53
In short, everything you say is true. My pdoc gave me the same med, for the same reason, and no, it would never have occurred to me to abuse it, either. The one time I thought I needed more I called him, and he increased the dose to 1.5mg bid.
It worked. I just wish someone would have told me that there might have come a day when I'd like to try and manage anxiety without the benzos. That I'd actually be checking into a psychiatric facility to detox from my cocktail of psych meds under medical supervision, and come out weeks later w/ a hopefully better regime. BUT THAT I'D STILL BE withdrawing from the klonipin.
This stuff stays with you for a long time. Yes, you will have problems getting off of it. And the 'discomfort' increases as you go lower and lower.
I was only on 1mg am and pm when I entered the hospital. I thought things were bad when they knocked me down to .50 am & pm. (1/2 my dose twice daily) Then I got thru that, and felt I'd taken the biggest step, only to hear the next increment down was even more jarring.
Just to be specific; you shake like a drug addict, have chills, ache all over, tremble from the inside out, have body aches, GI problems, stomach cramps, can't eat, and just generally crawl up in the fetal position in your bed while shaking.
I'm not done yet. I'm still on .25 at 9am, 1pm and 9pm. Why the 1pm dose? Because I couldn't make it thru the day before the withdrawl would knock me down & have me stuttering like an idiot. All in all, I did nothing wrong. I took a prescribed med, for a good reason, given by my trusted physician.
Would I make the same decision if I could see myself shaking and trembling over half a .50 pill at this point? Can't say, but it would likely have me asking quite a few more questions, and would probably scare the bejesus out of me, at least enough to use them prn only, as opposed to daily. But that's me. And when I needed them -- I needed them. In fact -- I likely still do need them, I've just had to make some tough decisions about drugs and my body, since my treatment requires so many of them.
Don't be discouraged - but you asked a question - you deserve an answer, an honest answer, and it doesn't get any fresher than this. BTW, I was in the top psychiatric facility in the country for adult affective disorders, and EVERYONE was withdrawing from klonipin. Not sure what that tells you. Best of luck,
a
> I know this has been discussed before, but I had a few unanswered questions about benzos after searching the archives.
>
> I just went to a different pdoc who gave me a 30 day supply of klonopin to help me get through the holidays. I told him that none of the SSRIs were fully controlling my anxiety / panic.
>
> In short, the klonopin has been a godsend. I don't even feel like I am on anything, my panics just don't flare up like they used to.
>
> Furthermore, I feel no desire to abuse this drug. I have taken benzos in excess once before, and all I did was sleep for a long time. They do not get me "high". I personally think the abuse potential of this drug is grossly overstated.
>
> Has anyone here been on Klonopin for a long time? Did you have problems getting off of it? Did your anxiety worsen after getting off of it?
Posted by Quintal on December 28, 2006, at 12:05:35
In reply to Long term Klonopin?, posted by mattye on December 27, 2006, at 14:53:53
I was taking benzos for five years, mostly Klonopin. Like most people, when I began taking Klonopin I had no intention of abusing it and had no history of substance misuse. That soon changed when the miraculous effects began to fade as I developed tolerance - so I raised the dose and felt much better. The relief was so good I felt almost euphoric for a while. Tolerance set in again so I raised the dose, and this pattern continued for about two years until I was being prescribed 8mg daily along with other benzos and hypnotics such as zolpidem and zopiclone - I was still couldn't sleep at night. Eventually my old pdoc had a breakdown and his replacement coerced me into withdrawing from the Klonopin.
The withdrawals were bad and no antidepressant could seem to touch the anxiety, and the insomnia was ridiculous. I was sleeping less than an hour a night and starting to hallucinate. It was at that time I was seduced by those emails from online pharmacies and ordered Klonopin. From then on I still took my usual dose of about 4mg daily, but for some reason I started to abuse it around this time last year taking a whole blister strip of ten 2mg tablets (20mg) every day when I woke up.
I withdrew from Klonopin many times, but the final time was in July this year and I've not touched a sleeping tablet or benzo since. The benzo withdrawal was worse than opiates for me - main problems were nausea, loss of appetite, weight loss, sweating, tremors, headaches, insomnia, panic, feelings of doom and terror, severe depression........... the list goes on and on and includes some bizarre sensations that we don't have words for.
Also, for me benzos seem to have been a 'gateway' drug because I went on to abuse *many* other substances while I was taking them. They were a gateway drug in two ways - they fuelled my desire to get 'high' and gave me the confidence to go out and get them. Before I started taking benzos I was a hermit and pretty much housebound and would certainly never have had the confidence to approach a drug dealer.
I'm not benzophobic or anti-benzo in any way, but I'm no longer pro-benzo either.
Q
Posted by laima on December 28, 2006, at 14:02:45
In reply to Re: Long term Klonopin? » mattye, posted by Quintal on December 28, 2006, at 12:05:35
I agree- I highly doubt anyone with a brand new klonopin prescription starts out with any intention of abusing it. I think the trouble starts after a long while on it, when the prescribed amounts cease to be effective, and there is a natural desire to regain that effectiveness. Not to mention that the horrible rebound anxiety is a powerful motivater...
If that doesn't happen for everyone- those people are very lucky. I also wonder if alcohol or other prescriptions might not be playing a part then? Is there anyone out there who has been ONLY on klonopin, no alcohol or other meds of any sort, who has not developed ANY tolerance after a few years?
Posted by Phillipa on December 28, 2006, at 18:32:52
In reply to Re: Long term Klonopin? » mattye, posted by crazy777girl on December 28, 2006, at 5:45:32
You know that makes me feel angry as the docs all like klonopin and treat the others like the plague. What facility were you in? If you don't want to post it babblemail me please. I always pictured a serene withdrawal. This just makes me all the more determined to stay off ad's and others and just stick with the benzos. Love Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on December 28, 2006, at 18:40:40
In reply to Re: Long term Klonopin?, posted by laima on December 28, 2006, at 14:02:45
I was on benzos all of them at one time or another for over 30years and during that time when stress was low was med free for a while no withdrawals just didn't need them. Until my thyroid went I was on .l25mg of xanax. I've never abused them. They now valium and xanax just don't relax me like they did. Love Phillipa ps sometimes I also drank beer or wine other times none. None for the last ll years.Actually my pdocs always said a benzo is a benzo and cause I belived him no problems ever switching usually at my request
This is the end of the thread.
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