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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 41 to 65 of 191. Go back in thread:
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.
Posted by shadows721 on December 18, 2003, at 19:03:54
In reply to Re: Sorry I posted » shadows721, posted by 13beans on December 14, 2003, at 18:25:21
It took me 3 yrs to get off Klonopin. I am going to give you a brief trial and error of years on and off Klonopin.
I had every symptom your mother had and then some. I tried to get off this drug 3x. The first time was in the hospital by a physican. No klonopin and lets see what happens game. Within 3 days, the painful knife convulsions game started. I jumped like crazy with every sound that I heard. I hallucinated ants. When I closed my eyes, I was talking to people I didn't know. All that stopped with another administration of the klonopin. It scared the Hell out of me.
The 2nd time a doc tried to get me off the Klonopin, it was switch Klonopin for tranxene game. I saw the ants again, itched like bugs all over me. I heard loud voices in my ears. Doc said you will be clear of Klonopin withdrawals in 6 weeks. Not so!!! My hands shook uncontrollable. I couldn't feed myself. I was paranoid. Finally, I emotionally and physically crashed 2 weeks into the 6 weeks. I got uncontrollably homicidal and suicidal in very violent ways. I literally saw everything in a dark cloud. I felt like 15 pounds were sitting on my head. I was praying to die. I was losing reality of what was really going on. I checked myself into a hospital and they just put me back on klonopin right away.
After I got out of the psych hospital, I decided I am not going to be a prisoner to a benzo. I decided to fight for my body and mind back. I was not going to thru live feeling the numbed out feeling that I had on Klonopin. Yes, it helped me stop shaking (for which I was originally prescribed), but I paid a HIGH price. It felt like a deal with the devil. I started to deal with the real issues behind the anxiety and depression. They were very ugly. Sadistic Sexual abuse and life threatening beatings long time ago came up out of no where. Klonopin covered it all up very well. I never had any memories on Klonopin, because Klonopin suppressed them. In the beginning, I slept for 10 hrs a night when I was on it. I had the beauty of a drug that got rid of my unfounded anxiety. Wow, isn't that wonderful. But, there was a very ugly truth that I didn't know. I was a total slave to the drug and I didn't even know it. When I tried over and over again to get off this drug, I did feel totally dependent on it.
When I found that out, I researched all I could on anxiety/depression and benzo's. As you can imagine, I went thru several docs to get me off this stuff. None of them helped me. My body was the ultimate boss. It said it doesn't take 1 day or 6 weeks. It takes 3 long years. None of the docs I saw were qualified to get me off of this highly physically dependent drug. I was telling one doc all the troubles I was having getting off this stuff and he said, "I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT KLONOPIN IS CAUSING ALL THESE SYMPTOMS. KLONOPIN IS SAFER THAN BAYER ASPIRIN." With that ignorance in mind, I did the taper with a pill cutter and bottles of Kava Kava. I had years of pain and I found out my will to live free of this med.
For any of those who are experiencing the likes of what I went thru, educate yourself like a chemist on this med. Don't listen to people who don't understand or give you support. This drug is very serious stuff. Perhaps, I was in the minority of those who get physically dependent on the drug very quickly. I sure hope so. I don't want anyone to go thru what I did. My head hurt so bad that I thought it was going to explode.
I don't in anyway think this med is bad. I think it has a place in medicine. It is very useful. I had a horrible experience, but I learned a lesson. I couldn't trust what a doc told me as law. I had to become very educated on any med that I took. I had to know myself and listen to what the body said no matter what.
Klonopin quit working for me at a certain dosage and the dosage kept climbing up. I could have stayed at the initial dosage but I wasn't having that artifical wonderful world anymore of no anxiety. Sometimes, in my case, the fear was leading me to the truth about my history and self. It was a lesson not many really want to go to. It was so easy to just take a pill and think all is well. It wasn't my ultimate truth. I found out that I was far more than I even understood. I ultimately discovered who I really was. I was person in a great deal of pain for damn good reasons.
I have determined everyone has very different experiences with their meds. Some don't go thru what I did. Praise be it for them. But those that do suffer - REMEMBER, YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS BATTLE. KEEP SEEKING THE TRUTH AND DO WHAT YOUR BODY SAYS. IT IS THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY.
Posted by shadows721 on December 18, 2003, at 20:36:51
In reply to Re: Sorry I posted » shadows721, posted by 13beans on December 14, 2003, at 18:25:21
I still am off the Klonopin. I take a 5 mg of Lexapro, 60 mg of buspar and occasionally neurontin. I am still in therapy and still having flashbacks from my childhood. I have the shakes still and working with a new neurologist.
I am so sorry your Mom is going thru a really hard time. It takes time to to get off of Klonopin and the depression can worsen when you are getting of it too fast. I know it did for me. There was no getting off quick method for me. Her body will determine how slow to go.
Posted by shadows721 on December 18, 2003, at 21:31:46
In reply to Re: Sorry I posted-currently, posted by shadows721 on December 18, 2003, at 20:36:51
I took the pill cutter and cut a 1mg pill into quarters. I wouldn't take off any more than a quarter off at a time. This went on for several months for me, because it was how I could tolerate it. Eventually, I worked it up to every other day. Essentually, I worked off only 1 quarter off a pill for several months. If the anxiety rebounded too much I would increase that quarter or take Kava Kava. I never had any bad effects with Kava Kava. It really took that edge off. Don't take Kava Kava if you have liver problems and don't take extreme dosages. Take a very low dose and see how you tolerate it. Personally, I always have benadryl handy for any symptom of allergic reactions (itching, rashes, severe headache, difficulty breathing). I have a history of being allergic to many medications.
It seemed like the last half of a pill was the worst and I don't know why. I literally set a schedule for myself to the tapering. There was no fast way for me. When I didn't meet the goal,I didn't beat myself up. I would have to bounce up by a quarter of 1mg pill to help on the worst days.
I didn't suffer from the ill effects from the previous ill fated attempts to get off like hallucinations, pains, convulsions, nausea, ringing in the ears, seeing ants, feeling worms crawling on my skin and suicide dreams as I did the docs ways. My body said it was going to fast when my gums hurt, horrible headaches, and increasing anxiety/depression. I always cut down by 1 quarter of a pill. For example:
Time length: A month
One quarter off a pill down on Mondays.
Tues, Wed, Thurs, and Friday (full dose).
================
Time length: Couple of months (As tolerated)
One quarter off a pill down on Monday and Friday.
Tues, Wed, Thurs, Sat & Sunday (full dose).
=================
Time length: Couple of months (As tolerated)
One quarter off a pill down on Monday, Wed, and Friday
Tues, Thurs, Sat, and Sunday (full dose).
=================
Time length: Couple of months (As tolerated)
One quarter off a pill down on Monday, Wed, Friday and Sun
Full dose on Tues, Thurs, and Sat
=================
Time length: Couple of months (As tolerated)
One quarter off a pill down on Monday, Tues, Wed,Friday, and Sunday
Full dose on Thurs and SatEventually, I got to where I was taking 1 quarter off a pill the whole week. Then, I started again with half a pill on so on. It may seem extremely slow to some, but this is how I safely got off of Klonopin. Your cue is how you tolerate the tapering. If you are getting more uncomfortable symptoms, slow down. There may be better ways than mine, but this worked for me. An antidepressant can help ease the pain of tapering too. My policy: There are no awards here on Earth for needless suffering.
Posted by nobodyz on January 5, 2004, at 1:34:35
In reply to After shocks of trauma, posted by shadows721 on September 4, 2003, at 23:29:03
"I see things move in the corner of my sight all the time. I find I tend to self rock a lot too when under great stress. I am extremely jumpy with sounds or touch. Just can not handle watching much of what is on tv either. These are just some of the aftermath of trauma for me."
I just want to say I have Complex PTSD and am currently off Klonopin for 3 months. I am having a very hard time dealing with things with no medication and am ready to throw in the towel and go back on. Despite the difficult posts with misunderstandings re: "addiction" etc, the entire thread proved extremely consoling to me as this is exactly what I am experiencing. And the clincher was reading the above quoted post; I now know at least one other person has the "things moving in the corner of their sight" going on and it is quite possible that is due to my PTSD being in an agitated state (well, that would be it's natural state, wouldn't it? LOL) Thank you all, so much for writing.
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