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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 mjrtude on April 22, 2007, at 17:53:16
Somebody tell me that what I am reading in "The Road Back" is just plan wrong! My wife is in agony! The withdrawal symptoms go from constant agony to unbearable!
a week ago she had her last Xanex, 12 days ago she had her last Klonopin (Xanex 1.5 mg daily and Klonopin 4 mg daily)
I am reading that there may be NO WAY to stop the withdrawal symptoms EVER?????? Even if she were to get back to the old dosage?
Somebody please tell us what we can do.. she is literally going crazy with the withdrawal and new symptoms everyday!
She can't sleep unless I give her a small piece of Ambien (3mg-5mg) I know that's not the right thing to do but she needs some sleep. SHe had to resort to taking Phrenilin for pain in her ears and head ache.. that's nearly gone and it hardly touches the pain.
She is so miserable she just wants OUT!
PLEASE HELP
Posted by willyee on April 22, 2007, at 18:06:30
In reply to HELP!!! I'm really scared!!!! Klonopin Cold Turkey, posted by mjrtude on April 22, 2007, at 17:53:16
Is there any specific reason she is not using a different approach to quitting klonopin?
The drug has a very long half life so it is difficult,as is any benzo to withdrawal from.
Also,im not sure why she was given any to begin with,but in general people get a benzo via complaints of anxiety,phobias,or paniac.Sometimes its hard to tell if its withdrawal from the benzo the person has,or just the orginal anxiety that brought them to using it to start,and even a combination of the two.
Good luck,id also keep an eye on alternative otc stuff such as l theanine or taurine.
> Somebody tell me that what I am reading in "The Road Back" is just plan wrong! My wife is in agony! The withdrawal symptoms go from constant agony to unbearable!
>
> a week ago she had her last Xanex, 12 days ago she had her last Klonopin (Xanex 1.5 mg daily and Klonopin 4 mg daily)
>
> I am reading that there may be NO WAY to stop the withdrawal symptoms EVER?????? Even if she were to get back to the old dosage?
>
> Somebody please tell us what we can do.. she is literally going crazy with the withdrawal and new symptoms everyday!
>
> She can't sleep unless I give her a small piece of Ambien (3mg-5mg) I know that's not the right thing to do but she needs some sleep. SHe had to resort to taking Phrenilin for pain in her ears and head ache.. that's nearly gone and it hardly touches the pain.
>
> She is so miserable she just wants OUT!
>
> PLEASE HELP
Posted by Quintal on April 22, 2007, at 18:15:33
In reply to HELP!!! I'm really scared!!!! Klonopin Cold Turkey, posted by mjrtude on April 22, 2007, at 17:53:16
I've quit Klonopin and other benzos cold turkey many times, once from 20mg Klonopin a day, but most often from 4mg. It's been nine months since I last took a benzo and all withdrawal symptoms have now gone, they certainly don't last forever (though it may feel like they will at the time).
You don't say why your wife has quit such high doses of Klonopin and Xanax cold turkey - this is never advised, but people who do so should really be in a detox untit as there is a danger of seizures. A gradual taper of Valium or even Klonopin is the best way to go about quitting benzos. I have more detailed info if you're interested, but my advice would be to go back on the Klonopin at such a dose that stops the withdrawal symptoms and start tapering down S-L-O-W-L-Y from there.
Q
Posted by Honore on April 22, 2007, at 19:19:55
In reply to HELP!!! I'm really scared!!!! Klonopin Cold Turkey, posted by mjrtude on April 22, 2007, at 17:53:16
Hi, KColdTurkey.
Could you say why your wife quit cold turkey? It's the hardest way to quit, and also not necessarily the safest.
I don't know the book you're referring to, but from personal experiences and also that of others here, I don't think its picture of her future is accurate.
Is anyone supervising her discontinuation?
Honore
Posted by Phillipa on April 22, 2007, at 20:10:39
In reply to Re: HELP!!! I'm really scared!!!! Klonopin Cold Tu, posted by Honore on April 22, 2007, at 19:19:55
I'd recomend a detox unit for a few days and why the benzos and two at that what is her diagnosis. I hope not seizures but the klonopin dose is low for seizures but not for severe withdrawal. I would think introducing back some of the xanax and klopopin would help for now. Then call the doctor or hospital ASAP. Love Phillipa
Posted by Maxime on April 22, 2007, at 21:00:52
In reply to HELP!!! I'm really scared!!!! Klonopin Cold Turkey, posted by mjrtude on April 22, 2007, at 17:53:16
It's dangerous to stop Klonopin or any benzo cold turkey. You can actually suffer brain damage.
Why cold turkey? Why not taper slowly?
Maxime
Posted by crenshaw387 on April 22, 2007, at 21:53:56
In reply to Re: HELP!!! I'm really scared!!!! Klonopin Cold Turkey, posted by Maxime on April 22, 2007, at 21:00:52
sudden benzo withdrawal can definately lead to seizures and even death and is not advised... a tapering off over a few months is generally the way to go about it safely and effectively... especially from such a high dose.
Posted by devunea on April 22, 2007, at 23:17:52
In reply to Re: HELP!!! I'm really scared!!!! Klonopin Cold Turkey, posted by crenshaw387 on April 22, 2007, at 21:53:56
i take 2mg or less of klonopin daily. i have not taken my medicine (by accident) and wanted to die. i felt so bad. i cant imagine how she feels. it was only 48 hrs and i felt so sick. i would look into a proper way to detox or something from the meds without taking them away completely. it may not be the quickest way but she will be healthier and happier. don't pull a tom cruise. j/k to all the duputies.
take care of her and try to understand her body may need something you can not help (it seems you are trying.) she may need some of her medicine to feel better. even in a tapering situation.
good luck and love to her.
Posted by JESSsMom on April 23, 2007, at 11:36:21
In reply to Re: HELP!!! I'm really scared!!!! Klonopin Cold Tu, posted by devunea on April 22, 2007, at 23:17:52
You never, never, ever detox from benzos cold turkey and without medical supervision. It's dangerous. Why is she doing this?
Posted by MjrTude on April 23, 2007, at 12:42:11
In reply to Re: HELP!!! I'm really scared!!!! Klonopin Cold Tu, posted by JESSsMom on April 23, 2007, at 11:36:21
She did this b/c of the chronic fatigue she couldn't get in to see the P-Doc and ran out of meds early due to tolerence The P-Doc wouldn't Rx w/o seeing her. I assume it's about $ but I'm jaded. The good news is that I found a few mg to tide her over the rest of the weekend and took away the withdrawal symptoms. Talked to p-doc today and got her to agree to Rx w taper schedule
Thanks for your concern
> You never, never, ever detox from benzos cold turkey and without medical supervision. It's dangerous. Why is she doing this?
Posted by MjrTude on April 23, 2007, at 12:58:51
In reply to Re: HELP!!! I'm really scared!!!! Klonopin Cold Turkey » mjrtude, posted by Quintal on April 22, 2007, at 18:15:33
Thanks for your post
It settled me down.
Good news is I convinced her P-Doc to Rx w taper. I got 2mg from a friend last night which got her through the night withdrawal sym free
Tude
> I've quit Klonopin and other benzos cold turkey many times, once from 20mg Klonopin a day, but most often from 4mg. It's been nine months since I last took a benzo and all withdrawal symptoms have now gone, they certainly don't last forever (though it may feel like they will at the time).
>
> You don't say why your wife has quit such high doses of Klonopin and Xanax cold turkey - this is never advised, but people who do so should really be in a detox untit as there is a danger of seizures. A gradual taper of Valium or even Klonopin is the best way to go about quitting benzos. I have more detailed info if you're interested, but my advice would be to go back on the Klonopin at such a dose that stops the withdrawal symptoms and start tapering down S-L-O-W-L-Y from there.
>
> Q
Posted by JESSsMom on April 23, 2007, at 19:07:09
In reply to Re: HELP!!! I'm really scared!!!! Klonopin Cold Tu, posted by MjrTude on April 23, 2007, at 12:42:11
> She did this b/c of the chronic fatigue she couldn't get in to see the P-Doc and ran out of meds early due to tolerence The P-Doc wouldn't Rx w/o seeing her. I assume it's about $ but I'm jaded. The good news is that I found a few mg to tide her over the rest of the weekend and took away the withdrawal symptoms. Talked to p-doc today and got her to agree to Rx w taper schedule
>
> Thanks for your concernGood news to hear. She (and you) will be much more comfortable and safe that way.
This is the end of the thread.
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