Thanks for the posts. I am coming off Klonopin after 5 years. I am not going cold turkey, but tapering off. It's nice to know the bad feelings I've been having are side effects from coming off the Klonopin. It's also important to know about the drinking. I have still been drinking 2-3 almost every day. I will cut that out immediately. I don't need to make this any harder than it already is. So far I have only missed an hour of work, but I think coming down from 0.5 mg to 0 will be a lot harder than going from 1.0 to 0.5 has been. I may have to try the 1/4 mg thing at some point
I've got an iron will for the shakes and panic attacks because I have had them for years. The Klonopin has to go now. I'm glad I am getting off of it, but I am not there yet, and it is going to be a bumpy ride from hell. I hope I don't have any seizures. That would take me down. Scary. Absolutely, I will heed the thing about drinking. It is bad news when coming off this stuff. Ironicly, it was my drinking that made my doctor decide to take me off. She said I just could not drink with this med. Now, drinking while coming off of this med, is the worst hell.
Looking back, I think I was always having daily withdrawals from this med. I quit drinking for over two years, but I think around 9:00-10:00 PM, I started jonesing for the med. I would have panic attacks several times a week at bedtime, or severe, life-ending kind of depression. But it would only last for 20-30 minutes until my Klonopin kicked in, and I was fine.
What a nightmare drug. Too bad so many people are like me and don't look it up until they are getting off of it. I could have gotten off of it sooner, or at least been aware of what it was doing to me. I needed it to calm my thoughts and sleep for quite a while, but I would not have continued with it for 5 years if I had known it was this kind of drug.
Spread the word about this one. I was warned that it was "addictive," but I was not made to fully understand.
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Anne614 wrote:
I quit cold turkey. Staying strong and fight through this. Yes it is pure hell! I want it to stop! 10 yrs of using ( or more). So scary!! Any ideas to this process?!
Yes, do not cold turkey off this drug. Look up Professor C Heather Ashton and follow her method. She is a leading person that has dealt with Benzo's and she has a taper method that can work. Klonie's have a half life and will allow you to feel alright for about 5 to 7 days then it will hit you. Pls taper. Josh
Please don't quit cold turkey! Especially if you have been on it for 10 years, you will go into seizures! You need to slowly taper. It takes a long time to taper off of this drug. It took me 6 months and I have been free of it for 3 months. Get your Doctor to make a tapering plan for you. You should go down every few weeks. This is not an easy drug to come off of. Remember your brain and your central nervous system is used to having this drug and you will go into a tailspin if you don't slowly taper. Be patient and take it slow. My biggest problem was rebound anxiety and insomnia when I finally got off. After 3 months of hardly any sleep I am finally starting to sleep again. It takes your body awhile to recover from this drug. My best advice to you is pray, meditate, exercise often and find a support group like friends or someone from Church that can help you get through this. Your body might go through a post acute withdrawl syndrome too if you don't take it slow. You can do this. It is possible to get through and don't compare yourself with anyone else. This is a very personal journey and everyone goes through it differently. Prayers going up for you. Let us know how you are doing.
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if you are one k's your in trouble. I am withdrawling from wicked disgusting medication that in the beginning was no big deal. Nerves were perfect and no side effects like a buzz or drowziness. I was happy. Then my meds ran out in St. Thomas and about 4 days later all hell broke loose. The burning nervous sensation in the body core was overwelming, the headaches, the light footedness, the blurred vision, the inability to talk or write, I could go on and on.
I am currently fighting for my sanity due to this uncomfortable exidous but I'm gone to continue until gone for good. I truly believe this is the worst feeling I have ever experienced and if my words mean anything - RUN FOR YOUR LIFE BEFORE TAKING THIS DRUG !!!!!!!
SIGNED
THE NERVOUS ONE
ps. iT DOESNT STOP EPILEPTIC SEISURES IT CAUSES THEM !!!!!
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I started a program called withdrawal ease in prep for opiate withdraw. I heard it was great. Last week I found I was out of meds. Despite knowing my medical history and the fact I as on this drug he told me to get it from the pain Dr. That Dr. said she didn't do that and to get them from the Dr who told me to ask her. I just said "screw it" I knew nothing about the fact clonazepam would cause withdraw issues. I had ran out last Thurs. While on a trip with a friend I was getting violently ill, I went home wondering what this was. I eliminated possibilities. My gut felt as if I had swallowed a cup of nails. It is Wed so I am guessing it has been 5 or 6 days -cold turkey. That was by ignorance of this medicine. Was even told by a pharmacy I should not have too much trouble. Yah right!
THE GOOD NEWS??? I had started on the herbal substance that help with withdrawls. From what I have read I should be going thru at least another week ofpure hell.
You and others asked what should I do? I am not totally better but it sonds like I am doing better than what some of you describe. Don't get me wrong, I was going thru hell for 2-3 days. I only realized 2 days ago that this was from running out of meds. So I am on day 5 or 6. I don't feel perfect but after only 2 days of no sleep, it seemed that the sleep formula was working as I slept 10 hours.
Mind you, I had no idea what was going on til it was very bad and by the process of evaluation considered this stupid drug was the culprit. I looked up clonazepam withdrawal. Guess what I found this and many other site affirming my guess. I have read many of the reads on tapering and the long term hell assiciated with withdrawls AFTER tapering. I am astonished that my symptoms have gone downand I amd resting better than most decriptions I have read about in these horrible stories. I am not a salesperson and just now realized this product was doing what it said it was in assistinga person going thru with drawls. I can omly think that by some stroke of luck the Good Lord led me to start preparing for opiate tapering and starting taking the suppliments just prior to running out of my clonazepam. I was thining tho that now I have to experience tow withdrawls. I am totally shocked and despite 2-3 days of hell I am seeming ly not suffering as long as many are describing.
I don't know the answer but what can it hurt. Go to seach and look up withdrawlease. It really sounds like it is working for this type of withdraw. The founder was really good at writing me. If this subsides even faster I will write and state that I seemingly made it thru this faster and easier than what many of you shared.
I am so sorry for allof you and expected to cry on your shoulders. I only now realized I suffered but could have suffered more if I had not by chance started this suppliment befroe I unknowingly was going thru withdrawl process. I don'tknow if this will help some of you. But I saw the cries for help and decided to share this rather than dwell on my recovering. Let's hope this is a help for many of you.I will update you as to how this continues to seeming help. If you are suffering, what have you got to lose. Look them up and try it. I actually believe this has really helped.
I suffered and feel what some of you are still fighting. Maybe these suppliments will help. If it does share it and lets hope it helps alot of folks here
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When I ran out of clonazapam last week (thinking that was no big deal) I was preparing to have to try quitting opiates as I did not want to be shut down all of the sudden by fearful Drs who treat you like a criminal These same Drs. refused to give me my refill of clonazapam. Again I thought nothing of it, until last Monday I was becoming violently ill. My gut was in severe pain, dizzy, fearful, etc I thought I might have cancer or some bacterial infection I started doing inventory on what I had been eating, where I had been and finally any medicine changes. I then remembered I had not had stopped this medicine about 3 days earlier. I was in the sun all week and supected heat exhaustion. It was when I got home from a trip cut short, I remebered to look up effects of stopping clonazapam. Low and behold that was it.
I had started to take the witdraw ease in prep for what I knew I had to do with pain meds as well as the fact that Drs were going to cut me off here. I wanted to get control of addictive meds but did not realize clonazapam was even going to do this to me.It was awful! I still have to make frequent bathroom runs and my bowels are all out of wack.
As I said, I see here that those fighting these withdrawls are doing so even while tapering. I was wondering if I should but the tapering seem to make the fight longer and evenmore unbearable from testiminy here. According to one understanding pharmacist he did not feel seizures would occur now that I have cleared some of this from my system.
The point is I went thrusome bad days and it just sounds like most people here are having longer term days of the fight. I had started the suppliments to prepare for withdrawing from pain killers not knowing I would be going thru clonazapam withdraw. It is still bad but it is subsiding faster ( I believe ) cause I started the withdraw ease formula which works naturally with the bodys changes from withdraw.
***this post is edited by
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I am sure you will find it with a search.
I hope this can help you. I truly knw the fights you are all in. I still feel a lack of motivation and irritability. Some stories here scare the c**p out of me. I only know I want OFF all this c**p and it is not easy. One thing is I have gone this far and to encourage the guy who went cold turkey and seems to be succeding to go backwards and start a taper doesn't seem smart. He and I have gone this far so I ever want to touch this stuff again!
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pford wrote:
please let me know what you did. I am trying to come off as well.
I was on a regiment of pain killers. I really need them but, I was getting way too dependent on oxy codone. I had a nice Dr that I could talk to about my fears and he knew I was a severe accident survivor. Moving back here, I was going thru inteerigations by Drs and Drs who would not help.
When I ran out of clonazapam last week (thinking that was no big deal) I was preparing to have to try quitting opiates as I did not want to be shut down all of the sudden by fearful Drs who treat you like a criminal These same Drs. refused to give me my refill of clonazapam. Again I thought nothing of it, until last Monday I was becoming violently ill. My gut was in severe pain, dizzy, fearful, etc I thought I might have cancer or some bacterial infection I started doing inventory on what I had been eating, where I had been and finally any medicine changes. I then remembered I had not had stopped this medicine about 3 days earlier. I was in the sun all week and supected heat exhaustion. It was when I got home from a trip cut short, I remebered to look up effects of stopping clonazapam. Low and behold that was it.
I had started to take the witdraw ease in prep for what I knew I had to do with pain meds as well as the fact that Drs were going to cut me off here. I wanted to get control of addictive meds but did not realize clonazapam was even going to do this to me.It was awful! I still have to make frequent bathroom runs and my bowels are all out of wack.
As I said, I see here that those fighting these withdrawls are doing so even while tapering. I was wondering if I should but the tapering seem to make the fight longer and evenmore unbearable from testiminy here. According to one understanding pharmacist he did not feel seizures would occur now that I have cleared some of this from my system.
The point is I went thrusome bad days and it just sounds like most people here are having longer term days of the fight. I had started the suppliments to prepare for withdrawing from pain killers not knowing I would be going thru clonazapam withdraw. It is still bad but it is subsiding faster ( I believe ) cause I started the withdraw ease formula which works naturally with the bodys changes from withdraw.
I can;t remember if it is callled withdrawease,com or withdrawlease.com
I am sure you will find it with a search.
I hope this can help you. I truly knw the fights you are all in. I still feel a lack of motivation and irritability. Some stories here scare the c**p out of me. I only know I want OFF all this c**p and it is not easy. One thing is I have gone this far and to encourage the guy who went cold turkey and seems to be succeding to go backwards and start a taper doesn't seem smart. He and I have gone this far so I ever want to touch this stuff again!
I may want to ADD that due to my lack of experience wth mself or anyone that has had a problem with this drug I do NOW tend to agree that a form of weening may be needed.
I had been to a rehacenter for alcohol and a mild addiction to pain med 7ysrs ago.
TODAY - I was on day 7 or 8. (not quite sure. From experience withalcohol and vicodin, as well as witnessing more severe addictions to narcotics. It wa spretty evident that by day 7 you had the great part of the battle over.so I must regress on the previous statementon saying I had gone this far so why go back to the drug to ween off now. I learned this klonopin does NOT want to let go of it's victim. I was having cramps, irritaility and dizziness. I called to consider rehabbut I am alone and have no one to care for my dear "companion dog" and have responsibilities to promote disabled racing where I fell I would let too many down. I called the pain management and compained to the head of the clinic that my doctor ignored the danger of sudden dismissal of the drug. Ny health insurance provider was great. She said I may need rehab if I choose but, I also need to get on something that helps and encouraged me to call my doctor again or get to an ER. The ER was part of the doctors clinic but, the young attending doctor was in total agreement with the nurse at insurance conpany and the pain Dr did not realize my own Drl.was refusing and encouraged me to do the same. I was feeling awful. Not like the 3,4 and 5th days.
The ER docwas verykind (which I had not experience from the sister clinic) He told me that" the doctor will have my orders as we are on the same file. Heneedsto understand the severeity."
Th ER doc did not put me back on Klonopin as he hates it too. He wanted me to keep my intake down being I had fough thru tthis far but, did not want my receptors going wild and causing me harm He wants me to ween off with valume which I saw was an effective tool as the recovery rate from that will be easier. Iit DID amke mefeel immediately better tho on a weaker equivilent to klonopin to help me get down furthur.
I am still a tad light headed but able to endure this much better and combined with my suppliments Inow feel I am on a plan to recover.
I still thing the decreases should be a little longer than one week and will present the chart I saw to the doctor but, without the combination with klonopin. I have it out of my system now and sure, am on a similar drug. The understanding is to deal better with the fight this way and clear my body of one and the other half life is not so difficult. My only goal is to stretch this out longer on the ween.
I know this is different than other type of withdraw programs suggestions but ifit keeps the edge off I will deal with some discomfort and survive. PLEASE pray I can get this Dr to communicate with me and stetchthe time out.
I am still sold on the suppliments as they help promote all the systems of the body effected with withdraw. I still don't think I could have made it this far without that and other essential vitamins. PLEASE another thing- you will lose electrolites and need toget the right food in you. GET OFF JUNK FOODS. Force yourself to detoxify your body of bad fats ( organic as much as you can) make low fat healthy meals that support digestion. ANY LITTLE THING HELPS!
As one writer said and I haven't. Search your Faaith This is a tough time to look for God but He is there. I t is us that do not get closer. Iam a strong believer in my Christain Faith. I'm not much for a generic God but if that is how you need to seek Him I believe it brings another dimention to the healing process. I fyou feel He helps don't forget Him. He can continue to keep your life on track. Like manyof you I suffered severanxiety attack 15 years ago. I was an alcoholic and lost my faith and trust. It was rekindling thos ethings that helped my overcoming booze and getting over severe attacks. Really.like a questionable food you never tried. Give it a taste and see if you might find it better than you thought.
Prior to my accident I lived through a horrible divorce, alcohol, vicodin,obesity and heart attacks (sorry to say my accident was VERY tragic) and thise meds are a needed evil but my next step is to learn to live without them. I was DOA at the hospital. in a coma as they had to peice my broken pelvis andspine back in place, amputated my back muscles as they were ripped off as I was sent skidding across the pavement after being throw out of a vehicle at 65 mph.
I look back and now realize my anxiety attacks were over petty things and for a year let thise petty things rule me. I beat it. I beat alcohol, I beat death. So I am not going to allow my self to lose this fight.
I am not a hero or praising myself. My mistakes have led to my children distancingthemselves and missing out on a loving father. I can't blsme them or control them (NO, I never abused them) It was my downward spiral. I only hope as adults that they see a Dad who is a winner.
Through all this and having to rely on mobility devices I go race in marathons , half marathons in a adative racing device. The reason I say this is that it has brought mehope and purpose. If I let Klonopin win, it takes that away. I am going out for my 1st practice ride tonote and prepare for a half marathon.
My new therapy is without klonopin and I know, I HATE EVERY DRUG WITH Z IN IT! But I will use the lesser one and get to where I can deal with the final fight.
My PRAYER FOR YOU -Dear Lord Jesus. There are many out there
hurting with me. Let us not be alone. Help us know that You are there and the other here are supporting our fight against this drug. Let those who hurt continue to come hear for support from one another, If one feels like going backward help us help then to move forward.
Thanks all for you allowing me to post. I love and feel for the hurting. I have my Faith but I am still human. So let's love and support each other. Don't leave here if you are in the fight. We''l fight together til we win.
PS Tell your Doctors the dangers that they don't seem to understand. I have already started. I told this ER doc to be very careful not to give anyone this unless absolutely needed and then monitor those. Thsi should NOT be a long term medication for many who get it when there are alternatives. If somehow anyone needs to connec. I also feel that some of us need to hear a real voice and not just see a person in a blog. If somehow some of us can connect 4 support I would be in favor.
Good luck to each of you.
Vance
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Guest wrote:
I am updating on my post before on withdrawing from klonopon after 9-1/2 years. It has been 3-1/2 weeks after I cut down from .25 to nothing. Horrible as I said before so I went to the Dr. yesterday. Even though I knew what they were going to say I will repeat it to everyone. The Dr. said I cut down to fast. I was only on the .25 for about 3 weeks down from .5 mg when I cut the .25 to nothing. If anyone is reading this, cut down slowly! I was alright at .25 mg splitting that in half in the morning and half at night but when I cut that toally out I made a mistake. I should have cut the .25 mg. down after I was on that dose for a month to 1/8 of a mg in the morning and 1/8 mg. at night. Stay on that for 4 weeks then cut the 18 mg. out in the morning and just go with 1/8th mg. at night. Stay on that for four weeks and cut the 1/8th to 1/16 for 4 weeks. Yes, you can split the pill down that far. I found out that there are wafers at .25 and .112 but you cannot split these. The Dr. said I should go back on maybe .25 mg.'s again for 4 weeks and then cut down as I mentioned above. That was yesterday. I bought a generic pm sleeping pill over the counter instead. The Dr. said it is made from a combination of tyleno and benadryl and that is not habit forming. I took wo of those pills last night and for the first time in 3-1/2 weeks I only woke up once. This morning I felt like the sleep did so much good for my body. I could really tell a difference. I was just a little bit groggy today but the mental boost from the sleep did so much good. I plan on taking only one of those tonight. I cut my klonopin into 1/8th pills to try to take only 1/8th at night but I held off because I wanted to take the sleeping table first. I am trying to give anyone help out there! Try this. A little sleep goes a long way. Yes, I still hear the ocean in my ears, having terrible arm and leg jerks at night and am still going through withdrawels but I can say that I am 50% improved. I already drink lots of water and keep busy but when I am watching TV is the worst because I tend to feel the symptons more. Even though I am very active and always on the go I still cannot stand to sit still. Oh yes, the Dr. also wanted to put me on other prescriptions to handle the withdrawels but then I would have to withdraw from them. I DON'T THINK SO!! I do also pray! Yes, God can do miracles but on his time. I know that and can live with that. I too tried to cut down about a year ago from 2 mg.'s to 1 and couldn't. I don't know why I could cut down from 2 to 1 to .5 to .25 this time and be alright. Maybe a body changes as we get older. Who knows. I am bound and determined to not go back on even 1/8 of a mg. but I will think about it if I can get rid of these withdrawels and taper off ever so slowly. That really is the clue but believe me I truly know what everyone is going through. It IS the toughest thing I have ever went through, will NEVER do again and will warn EVERYONE not to go on this drug. Prayers for everyone, I hope this helps!!
Your feedback was very good. if your out there. write back and let me know how your doing now.
With the suppliments I mentioned and a slow tapering woth valume i seem to be stablized. I am now at 2.5 mgs of valume whic from waht i researched is far less than the klonpin. Though i don't know if the Fr realizes that tis is a long haul withdrawls. She seems to thinkit willend ina month -We who have experiencedknow that this IS NOT True. I hope to use your letter to show her the reality.
Personally, I am ready to file a lawsuit against the manufacturers who are not giving the Docoter the truth. I really can't bla,eall of them. After all they ar ehuman and can't possibley undertand everything-especailly of the pahramacsutival companies are feeding them wring information.
HORSEGIRL and DEBORAH. I wish there was someay to give you an e-amail or facebbok request. don't know if that is possible but if it is not against the rules feel free to send a friend request. All messages can be kept private. No, I am not a perv or anything. As a mater of fact i would liek to see how many would like me to start a support page on facebook. We can keep this amembers only page and totally private to all of us. Geelfree to look me up on facebook. there is power in nunbers and power in support.
Sincerely V. Gerkovich
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Guest wrote:
This is at least the fourth or fifth time I have been back to these postings on Klonopin withdrawal. I keep searching for an answer to when these withdrawals will end. I am on day 14 of withdrawals from the HORRIBLE drug!! I started out about 9-1/2 years ago on .5 mg. for restless leg syndrom. No, noone told me this was addicting, exact opposit. Yes, it did help but you do get intolerant to the drug and start taking more. I went up to 2 mg once a night about two years ago and went down to 1 mg and then to .5 cut that in half to .25 in the morning and .25 at night then cut the morning dose out and went down to .25 only at night. That seemed to work until I stopped taking the .25 mg at night and stopped. Yes, horrible withdrawels! Couldn't speak without my voice shaking terribly, heart felt like it was going to explode. Like I said I have been off of it for two weeks now but the withdrawels havent stopped. My shaking isn't as bad and my chest doesn't hurt as much but I do feel like I am going crazy. I still hear the sound of an ocean LOUDLY in my head, still have numbness, can't sleep, stiif neck and shoulders. Back hurts.
Does anyone know when this will stop??? I said I would never go back on this drug again but wondering if I should go back on 1/8th of a pill in the morning and 1/8th. at night and then still taper. I just feel like this will never end. I am fighting not going back on this pill because I am disgusted with myself for ever going on this in the first place. I try to warn people if I know they are going on it, DON'T DO IT!! Anything is better than these withdrawels! It is so sad that there are so many people going through this for so long. There should be some way to get off this without going through this H...! Please, if anyone can give me a glimpse of hope that I am almost out of this I can tough it out. My Dr.'s applaud me for going off of it but if they only knew how miserable I was. I am surprised I still can function at my job, it is not easy, believe me.
Please if there is anyone out there who got through this we all need to hear from you. Out of all these posts hardly anyone has made it. I want to make it and help others.
am 56 y.o. and was on klonipin for 8 years, starting at 1mg twice daily and eventually up to 2mg. twice daily. My new doc took me off of Cymbalta(an antidepressant that wasn't helping), Lamictal, a mood stabilizer, klonipin and adderall which I was taking because one doctor I had seen while in a hospital decided I had ADD. I was on these meds for years and was weaned off supposedly but the klonipin wean was much too fast. He went to 1mg te daily for a week, then1/2mg twice daily for 2 days and finally 1/2mg for two days and off. Believe me I hated this doc for what I went through and am suffering with. A HORRIBLE WITHDRAWAL! For a month now I have been to a benzo detox for 6 days and wanted to die rather than be that sick. Dizziness, headache, vomiting, diarrhea(then constipation), cold sweats, shakes uncontrolably, night sweats so bad I had to change p.l.j.s at least twicea day . I couldn't even function. My temper was bad, my body felt numb and my taste buds were even affected that even though I am feelettering much bg much bg much better now I still feel like my tongue is numb and everything tastes bad to me. I have dropped over 10 pounds and my stomach is in knots. I will never touch this drug again. It is worse I think than withdrawing from heroin!!! So I've heard. I hope people who are thingking of taking this DON'T. Please try something non-addicting. I am an R.N. and you would think I would know better but it doesn't matter what or who you are it grabs ahold of you and won't let go. I don't know how long before I feel normal again - don't even remember what normal feels like. Good luck to anyone withdrawing. Hang in there.
What city are you from Deb?
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Try Imipraime which is antidepressant. I know you think you will not get depressed but you will as if you will lose your mind. Exercise as much as you can. Take up a hobby and don't sleeping pills every day as they will stop working. LORD, help my friend to overcome. She needs you.
Reach out to me if you need some encouragement 404-541-6680
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klonopinispoison wrote:
I can't tell you how much this thread has helped me figure out what was wrong with me! I thought I was dying, and now I realize that I have withdrawal symptoms.
My story is similar to all the rest... I am a 48 year old woman. I had been having trouble with anxiety since my early 20's, when a doctor prescribed me Buspar. I went off of that without a hitch, and then got into Valium in my 30's as my boyfriend at the time always had an ample supply and I would take some of his Valium, and even some of my grandmother's when I lived with her. When I couldn't get the Valium anymore after breaking up with my boyfriend and getting remarried... I had trouble sleeping again/more anxiety after my children were born. I was prescribed Xanax for a while, but that was too hard on my body... and then I read somewhere that Klonopin was much better for the anxiety and not as addictive/hard to get off of like Xanax or Valium was.
I have been on Klonopin for 8 years now. I started at a .5 1 time a day dose to 2 mg a day. I never felt the need to switch again to another medication because Klonopin was the only one that finally helped me feel okay and rested when I took it. I got into the habit of doubling my dose and ordering refills before I ran out, so I always had a steady supply, to take 2 pills or 3 when I felt like it (1 mg dose).
After many years and many refills, this past month I went to order a refill and they canceled it (I had 7 pills left) and told me that I would not be able to order another refill until June (50 days!!!). This was due to the fact that the insurance company said that I had already used up the allotted number of pills this year and I'd have to wait! I only had 7 pills LEFT as I always wait till the last minute. And I know that if I told my doctor that he would be livid for the fact I was only supposed to take 1 pill a day, and I was often taking 2 or three over the years I've been prescribed the medication. So this month I went COLD TURKEY. OMG, this has been a nightmare!
So, there I was, I had heard the horror stories about withdrawal, but never went through one. I had a hysterectomy in December and have been feeling horrible ever since. I had been trying to get as much out of the number of pills I had left but to no avail. I never thought it was the withdrawal that was making me feel bad, and I was taking the medication irregularly, some days 2 pills, next day 1, the next day none, then 3, etc.
I went for a blood work up and all my levels were fine (minus iron and thyroid, which I already knew was out of range) and told the doctor about my unexplained symptoms... tingling in my arms and legs, VERY COLD in my arms and hands, like ice water was running through my veins, my inability to sleep. Just basically feeling run down and fatigued, but then I have 2 boys and get up at 5 am to take them to school every day, so I just thought I was run down and not fully healed from the surgery.
Well, the pains in my stomach kept coming, and though I never got sick, I had the headaches, inability to sleep, the numbness and tingling which was driving me nuts and still is today, and the inability to focus or concentrate. I also have noticed over the last year that my eyesight was getting worse, I couldn't see well, everything was blurry. I ended up with two sets of glasses, one for reading and the other for distance. I've had great eyesight my whole life. This was a new symptom to me.
I realized that the surgery really didn't help ANY of my symptoms get better. I had fibroids for the last few years and my bladder needed to be tucked up because of constant urges all night to get up to use the bathroom.
Since surgery, I don't get up as much, but all the other symptoms remained. Now I know that it was the medication that was making me have all the pains in my stomach, the sleepless nights, the irritability, the mood swings, the headaches. I am about 3 weeks off of the medication (I had to stop cold turkey because I couldn't order any more). I still don't feel well and can't taper as I don't have any medicine. I feel like my heart is racing, only to have it feel like it's stopping (like an arrhythmia) and the pains in my arms and legs, the numbness and tingling have gone to different parts of my body, because I was really beginning to think I had carpal tunnel syndrome and was going to get hand braces, when the numbness started to move elsewhere! I am so tired of feeling sick and I think this medicine is the whole reason for it. I probably didn't even need a hysterectomy as it did nothing to correct the pains in my stomach that I thought were from fibroids. And my same doctor, the GYN, is the one that prescribed the Klonopin for me and has for the last 4-5 years! I had gone to a 2 mg dose in the second year and was even abusing that! I would go on and off a lot and not even think I was withdrawing, and because the anxiety symptoms would return if I skipped a pill, I'd take 2 the next time and they'd go away.
Now I am at the mercy of the drug getting out of my system. Forget about ordering another refill in June. I am finished with this poison forever!!! I am embarrassed to say that I never really knew what I was doing to my body. I was just playing with the meds, thinking I had some systematic problem that was not the result of medication I was taking, but I thought maybe I had cancer or something. I was convinced that I was dying. I had the doctor do blood tests every few months and though I had an iron deficiency and thyroid condition, they never once mentioned that it could be the Klonopin, though both my GP and GYN knew I was taking it (though they did not know I was taking too many or too few at a time). Without telling my doctor what I was doing, I was slowly slipping into a nightmarish hell of my own. I was my own worst enemy!!!
I will tell anyone who is even THINKING of going on this medicine to stop and think of some other alternative. Benzos are the worse meds to get on!!! I don't have a way of cutting down the medication because I don't have any more, and I am playing with my life at this point, realizing that I could seize, have a stroke, etc. because I can't ask for more medicine. I feel like my heart is going to explode sometimes and I look like hell. My eyes are all puffy from water retention, I don't know why that is, but I'm sure it's another symptom.
Believe me when I say that this drug is poison, so are all the others, Xanax, Valium, etc. I would use herbal meds before using this ever again. I have been taking Benadryl to sleep at night since I can't get a prescription for Ambien. I am really sick and tired of being sick and tired. I pray these symptoms will soon go away, but now that I have read all these posts, I know that I know that I KNOW that what is happening to me and has been happening through the years was a reaction to withdrawal from this chemical!!!
I'm so thankful I got a chance to find out what was really wrong with me, which was nothing! It was chemically induced and boy, I am going to tell my doctor this story some day, but I thought I knew it all, that one extra pill now and then wasn't a big deal, it didn't seem like it was doing much to me anyway, and then maybe take one more as needed... and skip a day or two, feel like c**p, then start the cycle again. I just wasted 5 years of my life doing this. I am forever done. Please pray for me because I'm in the middle of withdrawal and don't know how long this will last or if I'll have a heart attack or what... but with two kids at home and a husband that doesn't know because I will not tell him... I have to keep going.
Thanks for listening. Many prayers to others who are going through or have gone through this hell, and lived to tell the story. Never mess with pills and think you're invincible... never ignore symptoms and always be honest with your doctor. If the prescription says take 1 pill, then take 1 and if that doesn't work, tell the doctor! Never mess with self medicating and if you run out, you may not be able to get more. I was almost desperate enough to pay the 300 dollars for pills overseas from India... but I don't have the cash. I am waiting this one out and in a few weeks will give an update. I'm so sorry for everyone who has had to or is going to go through withdrawal from this medicine. Hang in there.. that's all I can do now.
Try relaxation techniques which I am sure you have heard of. I understand how you feel. Try taking L-Theanine. I have tried it and it seems to help. Please do not listen everything that Dr.Oz says about what will work to help aniexty. He recommend a product called Holy Basil. RUN FROM THIS. It is the worst stuff. I took one and I thought maybe it will work even when I felt like c**p. I took one the next day and that was the worst. Don't take this stuff. PRAYER and CONFESSION OF GOD'S WORD Is what is going to get you through.
Try Imipraime which is antidepressant. I know you think you will not get depressed but you will as if you will lose your mind. Exercise as much as you can. Take up a hobby and don't sleeping pills every day as they will stop working. LORD, help my friend to overcome. She needs you.
Reach out to me if you need some encouragement 404-541-6680
I agree. Get off all ofthem. I don't know how much Valume you used to take but that is the LIE. Klonpin is not easier to getof of.
Yes!they are all bad. I found that after a week of withdrawls not going away (remember. I only took .5 once a night or a half of a .5 if i was feeling stressed.) After 7 days there was no relief. It was a smaller dose of valume that helped with the final stage of my weening. 5 mg was about equal to a third of what I was on. After about 2 weeksi went to 2,5 of valume. I am now fine. Now I am facing stupid pain mangement doctors who know I amasevere accident survivor. I am not an abuser of these but am being treated as a criminal! Well, that is aside fromthe issue at hand-
Valume did help with my final stages if you follow the plan. My withdraw suppliments also helped.
I did notneed to start by decreacing my klonopin. I had gone longenough andrefused to put any more of that in my body. After 2-3 weeks of valume in low doses I am now off ALL of them.
There is a chart that shows a weening process by still using the klonopin. Don't believe that is need. I suppose if you are on 3 mgs a day it might be worth going down to .5 twicea day with a combo of valume. My suggestion is to see how long you have been off the klonopin and see if the valume relieves the withdrawls. It id wonders for me.
I was at the point I never thought the nightmare would end. It has Praise be to Jesus!
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