on trying t o taper off klonopin is there a medication that will help me with the withdrawals
I have been on benzos off mainly on for about 18 years..last year i stopped xanax cold turkey ended up in a mental hospital,,,,was put on klonopin and some other meds,in jan this year a dr stopped my klonopin cold turkey..so my new dr put me xanax again and in april i ask to be taken off it and he taperred me off using 0.5 mg klonopin 4 times a day...well i got down to 1 mg of xanax.He then decided i would do better on no nmed since i have a pill phobia,,so he had me start tapering the klonopin on may 28 drop bt 1 pill every 10 days,,,,,,,i tried that but when i got to 2 pills my anxiety got worse so i went back to 3 pills.......i started being so depressed which i think the klonopin causes,,,,,,and i feel all week and like im overdosed even though im taaking less klonopin...........my dr is at a loss..........im wondering if theres something i could take to help me get over the withdrawasls or whatever it is im having tapering off the klonopin...........im desparate
It sounds like from your post that you have really struggled with both anxiety and with various medications. I can't really answer your specific question due to the fact that I'm not a psychiatrist and I don't know all that is needed to know about your particular situation, but I am wondering a couple of things that may help you find an answer:
1. Are you satisfied with how your doctor helping you?
If your doctor is at a "loss," is it time to look for someone else who may have a different, fresh perspective? I always recommend that my clients see a psychiatrist for anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medication. Family doctors are wonderful professionals, but they don't have the time to stay up on all the latest research regarding medication. It may take some time to find a good psychiatrist, but when find one who stays on the cutting age of knowledge, they are worth their weight in gold!
2. Have you ever tried cognitive-behavioral therapy? If you really want to give up medication, you need something to replace it in order to deal with your anxiety.
Warm Regards,
Dr. Jennifer Fee
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Dear Sweetpea - Dr. Fee raised some very important questions that I hope you will consider. I, too, am not a physician but I would like to pose a few other questions that may help address your difficulties. From my experience in clinical practice there is a group of people like yourself who have (and likely have had for a long time) a level of anxiety that is simply intolerable. This may be because of biology or life experiences that heighten the body's stress response. Sometimes benzos are the most effective and safest class of drugs, when taken as prescribed under medical supervision, for such serious anxiety. My first question for you is whether these medications are being stopped because you have become uncomfortable taking them or because your physician has become uncomfortable prescribing them. If you have taken them responsibly but your physician has become uncomfortable with your long term use, the two of you should be carefully looking at the options and their pros and cons. Check out the Feature of the Week on the
AnxietyConnection.com homepage to learn more about medications
used for anxiety. The second question is whether you have been
receiving outpatient mental health follow-up. If you haven't please do so in order to be sure that your condition
has been properly diagnosed and all other treatment options have been explored.
Good luck! Let us know how things go.
Dr. Rick Wirtz
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VioletGrave
Wednesday, November 04, 2009 at 01:15 PM
Gear Dr. Rick Wirtz,
I have been on Klonopin since 1995 for seizures due to a head injury. I was on 2 mg qid(4X aday) I am now on 2 pills a day. One in the morning and one after dinner, I have limited amount left and I have no insurance to see a doctor and the doc that prescribe it will not give me any advice. I want off this medication. I haven't had a seizure in over three years as I used to get them several a week or a day! My body is used to this medication but I am more than possitive I will never have a seizure again.
How should I be tappering without being in the hospital? Or without another benzo. Id rather be off it all together. I have some hot flashes and sweats on some days.
Can this be done weekly by decreasing by half a tab, then to one tab a day then half, then a quater, then none? and if so how long should this take without withdrawals?
Since I dont have anxiety, I am not worried about that. I just am tired of being a slave to this medication. Can you please give me some advice?
Thank you so much!
VG