![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 20 of 20. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Maxime on June 14, 2005, at 10:59:38
Hi.
Not a great start to the day today. I was up late working last and went to bed and didn't take my Trileptal and Klonopin. I barely slept but that is not unusual for me. But when I did get out of bed I felt "off". I did feel like I was going to have a seizure. A hour later I feel to the ground and a small one. I don't remember a thing. But everything hurts.
I can't believe that would happen just from not taking my meds one night? Maybe it was the combo of that and the stress I am under right now. Or maybe there is no connection at all.
Maxime
Posted by ed_uk on June 14, 2005, at 14:26:03
In reply to Forgot meds ... had a small seizure, posted by Maxime on June 14, 2005, at 10:59:38
Dear Maxi,
(((((Maxi)))))
Perhaps it was a withdrawal seizure from clonazepam. How are you now? I think you should go to your doctor and get checked out.
Love,
Ed xxx
Posted by Maxime on June 14, 2005, at 16:47:19
In reply to Re: Forgot meds ... had a small seizure » Maxime, posted by ed_uk on June 14, 2005, at 14:26:03
Hi Ed :-)
I'm just really tired. I still can't imagine that missing one dose (of two meds) would do that. Although I do take 4 mg of clonazapam. There is no point in getting checked out. I will just wait hours for nothing. I need to work very late again tonight, but I will put the meds on my pillow so I don't forget. I have a BIG deadling for Thursday. I can't screw up.
Thanks for the hugs.
xxxx
Maxi> Dear Maxi,
>
> (((((Maxi)))))
>
> Perhaps it was a withdrawal seizure from clonazepam. How are you now? I think you should go to your doctor and get checked out.
>
> Love,
> Ed xxx
Posted by ed_uk on June 14, 2005, at 17:21:28
In reply to Re: Forgot meds ... had a small seizure » ed_uk, posted by Maxime on June 14, 2005, at 16:47:19
Hi Maxi :-)
>I'm just really tired.
I think I remember reading that sleep deprivation can lower the seizure threshold.
>I still can't imagine that missing one dose (of two meds) would do that. Although I do take 4 mg of clonazapam.
Well........4mg is quite a bit. Your blood level would have dropped quite considerably if you missed a dose.
>I will put the meds on my pillow so I don't forget.
:-)
Love,
Ed xxx
Posted by Phillipa on June 14, 2005, at 18:52:05
In reply to Re: Forgot meds ... had a small seizure » Maxime, posted by ed_uk on June 14, 2005, at 17:21:28
I wouldn't think one night of missing your meds would cause one either. Could it be something else. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Mildred on June 14, 2005, at 21:54:10
In reply to Re: Forgot meds ... had a small seizure, posted by Phillipa on June 14, 2005, at 18:52:05
I am currently in the process of withdrawing from klonopin. At first I tried too quickly - one night cut my dose in half (from .5 mg to .25 mg) per my pdoc's instructions, and the next night I had a bunch of mini seizures. When I took the klonopin again, they stopped. With advice from a fellow pbabbler (thanks, electricstorm!), I am now tapering down much more slowly with no ill effects. I thik that skipping that one night could definitely have caused the seizure, Maxime.
Also, lack of sleep definitely does lower the seizure threshhold.
Good luck, Maxime. I hope things settle down for you soon -
Mildred
Posted by Maxime on June 14, 2005, at 22:09:55
In reply to Re: Forgot meds ... had a small seizure, posted by Mildred on June 14, 2005, at 21:54:10
Thanks Mildred. I guess it was a combo of lack of sleep (many nights) and one night no Klonopin and (no trileptal).
I wonder how long my muscles with hurt for?
Maxime
> I am currently in the process of withdrawing from klonopin. At first I tried too quickly - one night cut my dose in half (from .5 mg to .25 mg) per my pdoc's instructions, and the next night I had a bunch of mini seizures. When I took the klonopin again, they stopped. With advice from a fellow pbabbler (thanks, electricstorm!), I am now tapering down much more slowly with no ill effects. I thik that skipping that one night could definitely have caused the seizure, Maxime.
>
> Also, lack of sleep definitely does lower the seizure threshhold.
>
> Good luck, Maxime. I hope things settle down for you soon -
>
> Mildred
Posted by Mildred on June 14, 2005, at 23:19:40
In reply to Re: Forgot meds ... had a small seizure » Mildred, posted by Maxime on June 14, 2005, at 22:09:55
> I wonder how long my muscles with hurt for?
Have you used ice or heat? Ice is good for swelling. Heat feels really good if there is no swelling. You probably know everything to try already . . .Mildred
Posted by sleepygirl on June 15, 2005, at 1:00:49
In reply to Forgot meds ... had a small seizure, posted by Maxime on June 14, 2005, at 10:59:38
I'm sorry to hear that happened to you but I wasn't suprised because I take klonopin. I only take .5mgs daily, but if I skip it I want to jump out of my skin. I can't imagine it'd be a far trip to a seizure. I imagine 4 mgs is really hard to skip. The stress of course never helps. Doesn't it suck to be so sensitive? Feel better and take care.
-sleepy
Posted by Zena on June 15, 2005, at 22:29:03
In reply to Re: Forgot meds ... had a small seizure, posted by Mildred on June 14, 2005, at 21:54:10
> I am currently in the process of withdrawing from klonopin. At first I tried too quickly - one night cut my dose in half (from .5 mg to .25 mg) per my pdoc's instructions, and the next night I had a bunch of mini seizures. When I took the klonopin again, they stopped. With advice from a fellow pbabbler (thanks, electricstorm!), I am now tapering down much more slowly with no ill effects. I thik that skipping that one night could definitely have caused the seizure, Maxime.
>
> Also, lack of sleep definitely does lower the seizure threshhold.
>
> Good luck, Maxime. I hope things settle down for you soon -
>
> MildredHi Mildred,
I am also withdrawing from klonopin & was interested in knowing how your doing it. Please post on the withdrawl board.
Zena
Posted by 4WD on June 15, 2005, at 23:22:36
In reply to Forgot meds ... had a small seizure, posted by Maxime on June 14, 2005, at 10:59:38
> Hi.
>
> Not a great start to the day today. I was up late working last and went to bed and didn't take my Trileptal and Klonopin. I barely slept but that is not unusual for me. But when I did get out of bed I felt "off". I did feel like I was going to have a seizure. A hour later I feel to the ground and a small one. I don't remember a thing. But everything hurts.
>
> I can't believe that would happen just from not taking my meds one night? Maybe it was the combo of that and the stress I am under right now. Or maybe there is no connection at all.
>
> MaximeThat's scary, Maxime. I know that lack of sleep can lower the seizure threshold and also apparently having an ED can make you more prone to seizures (like people with EDs arent'supposed to take WEllbutrin).
I hope ;you're okay now.
Marsha
>
>
Posted by Chairman_MAO on June 17, 2005, at 15:08:06
In reply to Forgot meds ... had a small seizure, posted by Maxime on June 14, 2005, at 10:59:38
It is unlikely that you had a seizure from missing one dose of either of those meds. The half-life of clonazepam is way too long for that to happen, and with your dose of Trileptal, you probably still had a significant amount in your system.
Are you sure that this seizure was not "conversion disorder", i.e. physiologically manifested mental stress? There are people who pass for totally blind, epileptic, etc. until the appropriate tests are run and everything checks out as normal. When put on the right psych meds and/or when the stressful situation is no more, these people return to a healthy state. I personally witnessed this while hospitalized in another patient. It looked by all outward appearances that she was having seizures, but her EEG was totally normal.
Posted by Chairman_MAO on June 17, 2005, at 15:10:20
In reply to Re: Forgot meds ... had a small seizure » Maxime, posted by ed_uk on June 14, 2005, at 17:21:28
Clonazepam's half-life in most people is 20+ hours. At 4mg per day, skipping one dose simply is not "withdrawal". Unless there is an underlying seizure disorder, I cannot imagine a seizure happening in this scenario unless it is either a) conversion reaction or b) some idiosyncratic thingy.
Posted by missamor on June 17, 2005, at 15:20:52
In reply to Re: Forgot meds ... had a small seizure » ed_uk, posted by Chairman_MAO on June 17, 2005, at 15:10:20
what if you take klonopin once a day, is it less safe. dr said i have "low threshold" for seizures, is that entirely due to medicine or are certain ppl prone to seizures? i have felt very weird and sick after missing a dose once it was 36-48 hours from the last dosing. even much past my 24 hour regular dosing time, i have felt really bad. i dont want to have a seizure, i know nobody does. does it kill brain cells?
Posted by ed_uk on June 17, 2005, at 17:12:51
In reply to Re: Forgot meds ... had a small seizure » ed_uk, posted by Chairman_MAO on June 17, 2005, at 15:10:20
Hi Chairman,
>Clonazepam's half-life in most people is 20+ hours. At 4mg per day, skipping one dose simply is not "withdrawal".
I think Maxi takes clonazepam once daily, the blood level could have dropped quite a lot after missing a dose. She probably went about 36 hours without a dose. Some people are very sensitive to benzo withdrawal. I'm not saying that it *was* withdrawal though - just that it's a possibility.
>Unless there is an underlying seizure disorder....
Well....Maxi has MS, which can cause seizures in some cases.
Kind regards,
Ed.PS. Sorry Maxi, I hope you don't mind us all talking about you :-) xx
Posted by Maxime on June 18, 2005, at 21:10:47
In reply to Re: Forgot meds ... had a small seizure » Maxime, posted by Chairman_MAO on June 17, 2005, at 15:08:06
If the conditions are right, ANYONE can have a seizure. I had several going at on at once that probably contributed. But if I had been hooked up to an EEG, it still would have shown up as a seizure .... just no focal point.
Maxine
> It is unlikely that you had a seizure from missing one dose of either of those meds. The half-life of clonazepam is way too long for that to happen, and with your dose of Trileptal, you probably still had a significant amount in your system.
>
> Are you sure that this seizure was not "conversion disorder", i.e. physiologically manifested mental stress? There are people who pass for totally blind, epileptic, etc. until the appropriate tests are run and everything checks out as normal. When put on the right psych meds and/or when the stressful situation is no more, these people return to a healthy state. I personally witnessed this while hospitalized in another patient. It looked by all outward appearances that she was having seizures, but her EEG was totally normal.
Posted by Chairman_MAO on June 20, 2005, at 15:29:58
In reply to Re: Forgot meds ... had a small seizure » Chairman_MAO, posted by Maxime on June 18, 2005, at 21:10:47
If you're so vulnerable to seizures, why not take the clonazepam b.i.d.?
Posted by Maxime on June 21, 2005, at 23:59:28
In reply to Re: Forgot meds ... had a small seizure » Maxime, posted by Chairman_MAO on June 20, 2005, at 15:29:58
> If you're so vulnerable to seizures, why not take the clonazepam b.i.d.?
I'm not prone to them. I was just saying that at that time, there were a lot of factors going on that may have contributed to it.
Actually, I am going to be weaning off the clonazepam starting in a few weeks. It will take a full year for me to come off 4 mg.
Maxime
Posted by 4WD on June 22, 2005, at 22:36:01
In reply to Re: Forgot meds ... had a small seizure » Chairman_MAO, posted by Maxime on June 21, 2005, at 23:59:28
> > If you're so vulnerable to seizures, why not take the clonazepam b.i.d.?
>
> I'm not prone to them. I was just saying that at that time, there were a lot of factors going on that may have contributed to it.
>
> Actually, I am going to be weaning off the clonazepam starting in a few weeks. It will take a full year for me to come off 4 mg.
>
> Maxime
I think you'll feel better after you're off it and even just by reducing the dose. I find that Klonopin (as much of a life saver as it's been) has a depressant effect on me. I think you'll probably notice a difference in your depression pretty quickly. At least I hope so.
Marsha
Posted by Maxime on June 26, 2005, at 19:39:33
In reply to Re: Forgot meds ... had a small seizure » Maxime, posted by 4WD on June 22, 2005, at 22:36:01
> > > If you're so vulnerable to seizures, why not take the clonazepam b.i.d.?
> >
> > I'm not prone to them. I was just saying that at that time, there were a lot of factors going on that may have contributed to it.
> >
> > Actually, I am going to be weaning off the clonazepam starting in a few weeks. It will take a full year for me to come off 4 mg.
> >
> > Maxime
>
>
> I think you'll feel better after you're off it and even just by reducing the dose. I find that Klonopin (as much of a life saver as it's been) has a depressant effect on me. I think you'll probably notice a difference in your depression pretty quickly. At least I hope so.
>
>
> Marsha
We shall see. :-) Right now I haven't started to wean off it. There is time to do these things and time not to. I'm stressed to the max. Not a good time.Hugs,
Maxie
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.