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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by lawrence s. on May 26, 2001, at 0:31:24
> > > >I have stopped taking Klonopin after years of taking it. It seems that I dont enjoy life anymore even though I am on Prozac and Wellbutrin. Is this part of the withdrawl process? Will I ever be able to enjoy things like I used to? What non-benzodiazepine medication would be the best to replace klonopin? I have already tried Neurontin with bad results.
Posted by Paige on May 26, 2001, at 6:52:01
In reply to Is there life after Klonopin?, posted by lawrence s. on May 26, 2001, at 0:31:24
> > > > >I have stopped taking Klonopin after years of taking it. It seems that I dont enjoy life anymore even though I am on Prozac and Wellbutrin. Is this part of the withdrawl process? Will I ever be able to enjoy things like I used to? What non-benzodiazepine medication would be the best to replace klonopin? I have already tried Neurontin with bad results.
L-
Why were you taking Klonopin? Anxiety, insomnia?
i need to eventually stop it as well. How did
you get off it and how hard was it ? I have been
on for a year now, but I would like to get to prn stage.
Paige
Posted by kernel on May 26, 2001, at 8:14:10
In reply to Is there life after Klonopin?, posted by lawrence s. on May 26, 2001, at 0:31:24
Hi Paige and Lawrence,
Please know that Klonopin and any benzodiazepine can be VERY difficult to withdraw from. It is best to taper slowly if you can. I've been off 10 months and am still not to my pre-benzo days yet, but much better. I belong to a support group and it is common to take a long time to recover, but can be done with the right knowledge. Avoid stimulants,sugars and stress if possible. Visit my on line friends website @ www.benzo.org.uk and check out the information.
Good luck to you both, if you have any more questions feel free to write@ the4kerns@aol.com
Tom> > > > >I have stopped taking Klonopin after years of taking it. It seems that I dont enjoy life anymore even though I am on Prozac and Wellbutrin. Is this part of the withdrawl process? Will I ever be able to enjoy things like I used to? What non-benzodiazepine medication would be the best to replace klonopin? I have already tried Neurontin with bad results.
Posted by lawrence s. on May 26, 2001, at 12:23:24
In reply to Re: Is there life after Klonopin? » lawrence s., posted by Paige on May 26, 2001, at 6:52:01
> > > > > >I have stopped taking Klonopin after years of taking it. It seems that I dont enjoy life anymore even though I am on Prozac and Wellbutrin. Is this part of the withdrawl process? Will I ever be able to enjoy things like I used to? What non-benzodiazepine medication would be the best to replace klonopin? I have already tried Neurontin with bad results.
> L-
> Why were you taking Klonopin? Anxiety, insomnia?
> i need to eventually stop it as well. How did
> you get off it and how hard was it ? I have been
> on for a year now, but I would like to get to prn stage.
> Paige
>P-
> I took it for social anxiety mostly. I gradually tapered down on the dose to 1mg. a day and then took it only when needed at less than 1mg. a day at 1/4mg. doses. I wish I was only on it for a year! There should not be much physical dependence at that point.
Posted by JohnM on May 27, 2001, at 16:44:33
In reply to Re: Is there life after Klonopin? » lawrence s., posted by Paige on May 26, 2001, at 6:52:01
Lawrence and Paige:
Klonopin has never been known to have "anti-depressant" properties, to me at least. It has taken the "edge" off my anxiety, but it tends to flatten my emotions, which I've decided I don't want to tolerate anymore. I've tried other benzos but I like the longer duration of Klonopin. I just don't think benzos are a solution for the long run (say longer than 3 or 4 years).
You can get off Klonopin, but if you go too fast you will be left feeling neurotic. I believe the body has to be coaxed slowly into producing its own GABA (or whatever neurotransmitter it promotes) by backing off the dose VERY slowly.
I feel I have resolved most of my "issues" through cognitive (rational-emotive) therapy and I've learned to accept the limitations my life may have (social inhibition, etc.) Oh well, I can still lead a pretty good life--drug free.
I once stopped taking Klonopin when I had reached a dose of about 1/4 tablet of .5mg, 2 or 3 times a day.
IT DIDN'T WORK.
I hung in there for a year without returning to the Klonopin, waiting for my body to "adjust" and feel normal. IT DIDN'T HAPPEN. I was barely functional for work and felt quite "neurotic" the whole year.
Klonopin is a very potent medicine--it's really meant to control seizures.
At present I'm taking 1/32 of .5 tablet 3 or 4 times a day and I know I'm going to make it. I'm going reduce to zero pretty soon--I have a two week vacation coming up for the last step.
For some chance it doesn't work, I'm willing to look into "compounding" the Klonopin into liquid form (by way of a pharmacist) into perhaps 1/64th etc., but I don't think that will be necessary.
FYI - to cut Klonopin into 1/32: cut it into eighths with a pill splitter, bite the edge of the eighth off to give you 1/16th, take that piece and bite it in half again. Swallow. It'll be a crumb.
I would suggest taking your sweet time between dose reductions--I'm talking a month or more.
Additional advice: Come to peace with your life situation. Join a couple of clubs to meet people who might help you find that peace. SMART Recovery (a cognitive recovery group for dependency problems) would be one suggestion.
Good luck!
Posted by Paige on May 27, 2001, at 18:27:13
In reply to You CAN get off Klonopin, posted by JohnM on May 27, 2001, at 16:44:33
Thanks very much, John. Good Info
Paige
This is the end of the thread.
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