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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by carriejane on October 24, 2004, at 13:50:09
Hiya, ive been taking klonopin for a couple of months and its helped brilliantly with my social anxiety, but im coming off it now, as i cant afford anymore. Im feeling shaky, im also on effexor 225, and ive been drinking alot. Im not sure if its drink withdrawel or lowering the klonopin dose. Can anyone describe what happens when u start reducing on klonopin please? Im feeling really anxious again too.
Thanks Carrie
Posted by Kristel on October 24, 2004, at 15:32:23
In reply to coming off klonopin!, posted by carriejane on October 24, 2004, at 13:50:09
> Hiya, ive been taking klonopin for a couple of months and its helped brilliantly with my social anxiety, but im coming off it now, as i cant afford anymore. Im feeling shaky, im also on effexor 225, and ive been drinking alot. Im not sure if its drink withdrawel or lowering the klonopin dose. Can anyone describe what happens when u start reducing on klonopin please? Im feeling really anxious again too.
>
> Thanks CarrieHi. Just calm down, Clonazepam withdrawal is not that bad at all if done the right way. Reduction in dose should be done over weeks to months. What dose are you taking of Klonopin ?! And what's the minimal size you can get of it, after splitting the pills ?!
Kristel.
Posted by jboud24 on October 24, 2004, at 15:45:05
In reply to Re: coming off klonopin! » carriejane, posted by Kristel on October 24, 2004, at 15:32:23
It doesn't HAVE to be in weeks or months. I was withdrawn from 5mg xanax/day using only ativan (ie NO xanax) in a psychiatric hospital, while supervised by a physician. While this was extremely unpleasant, I suffered no ill side-effects except what I know to be a strong psychological withdrawal. In other words I craved more xanax. But it is possible to do it in under a week, particularly with something as long-lasting as Klonopin. It will be uncomfortable, it is dependant on the dose you were on, and you will probably want more, but it is something you can definitely do. It helps to taper the med, and I'll tell you that alcohol will not be your friend right now. It may feel like it is helping, but you may find yourself with a much bigger problem later on. If you can, don't be afraid to go to a psych hospital or rehab to withdraw. Just make sure if you go, they aren't going to push that ridiculous AA/NA stuff on you.
Good luck, my thoughts are with you
Justin
Posted by Kon on October 24, 2004, at 16:19:37
In reply to coming off klonopin!, posted by carriejane on October 24, 2004, at 13:50:09
>Can anyone describe what happens when u start reducing on klonopin please?
When you stop or reduce klonopin you can get 1 of 4 things:
1. Nothing-you maintain anti-anxiety benefits of drug even though you stopped it
2. Relapse-go back to where you were before but no new symptoms (same anxiety level as before)
3. Rebound-same symptoms as before but a bit more pronounced (slightly greater anxiety than before) but no other new symptoms
4. Withdrawal-new symptoms never experienced before. With klonopin such new symptoms include: nausea, vomiting, irritability, tremor, incoordination, insomnia, restlessness, sweating, weakneess, heightened perception (esp of light and sound),etc. along with increased anxiety.
Note that true withdrawal with < 8 months of daily klonopin/benzo use at therapeutic doses is not very common (about 5%). With 2 months of use (your situation), it is probably even less likely that you are experiencing true withdrawal.There is, however, a bit of psychology involved. In studies many benzo users reported withdrawal symtoms after being told that their dosage was reduced even though, in fact, it was not. So if you read about, or are worried or expect withdrawal, you sometimes get those symptoms.
What is interesting is individuals do vary quite a bit in their responses. Some individuals (slightly over 50%) can go on benzos daily for years at therapeutic levels, stop cold-turkey and have no true withdrawal; others can go for a few months and still get some withdrawal.
Also, while this isn't always the case, withdrawal following benzos with relatively longer half-lives like valium, klonopin tend to have less severe withdrawal symptoms than shorter half-life benzos like xanax and ativan.
Posted by Squiggles on October 24, 2004, at 21:02:38
In reply to coming off klonopin!, posted by carriejane on October 24, 2004, at 13:50:09
I found it difficult and never
succeeded. But don't let that
discourage you, because I was
taking it for about 17 years.
Go very slowly in reduction --
the slower the better. I don't
know your dose, but if for Xanax
coming off 1.50mg over 3 months
is successful after 17 yrs. then
I would triple that for a min.
dose of .50 K.Remember that effects of withdrawal
do not appear immediately, so
be vigilant for how you feel on the
3rd to 4th week and use your reactions
as feedback.Good luck and I would like to see
you fare.Squiggles
Posted by justjustine on October 25, 2004, at 1:01:39
In reply to Re: coming off klonopin!, posted by Squiggles on October 24, 2004, at 21:02:38
i've been coming off klonopin and xanax recently, and although i took more xanax over a longer period of time, i've completely tapered off of it - but i haven't quite gotten past the klonopin yet.
at the same time, i've gotten a new doctor who is going to screen me for adhd. well, i already got some ritalin from a friend and tried it - and i was amazed at the difference it made! not to be an ad for ritalin - i just wanted to throw that out there, because for years doctors have tried to treat my anxiety to improve my focus, but maybe the real problem is my lack of focus? when my focus improves, the anxiety seems to dissipate... i'm sure our next appointment will be interesting!
good luck!
Posted by Cecilia on October 25, 2004, at 4:09:39
In reply to coming off klonopin!, posted by carriejane on October 24, 2004, at 13:50:09
If the klonopin is helping you and the only reason you`re coming off is the cost, I would reconsider. Generic clonazepam is cheap, make sure you`re being prescribed the generic and not the brand name. The alcohol may be costing you a lot more financially, in addition to other ways. Cecilia
Posted by yznhymer on October 25, 2004, at 9:31:12
In reply to coming off klonopin!, posted by carriejane on October 24, 2004, at 13:50:09
> Hiya, ive been taking klonopin for a couple of months and its helped brilliantly with my social anxiety, but im coming off it now, as i cant afford anymore. Im feeling shaky, im also on effexor 225, and ive been drinking alot. Im not sure if its drink withdrawel or lowering the klonopin dose. Can anyone describe what happens when u start reducing on klonopin please? Im feeling really anxious again too.
>
> Thanks CarrieCarrie...
Sorry to hear you are not doing too well. Klonopin may be the culprit but lots of people have no difficulty dropping it after a short 2 month course. If you are more sensitive to withdrawal, slowly tapering the dose should help a lot.
I can't help but wonder why you would drop klonopin when it is working so brilliantly for your social anxiety? Surely generic klonopin has to be MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE than drinking a lot.
Drinking a lot is never a good option, causes all sorts of unpleasant problems including those you are experiencing, and yet you seem to be able to afford that. You even wonder if the source of your discomfort is drink withdrawal... and also indicate you're drinking a lot. Do you see the contradiction here?
Not to put too fine a point on it, but have you really sorted out the source of your primary substance dependence? Given the choice, I'd ditch the more expensive, destructive alcohol (with help if necessary) and continue the less expensive but brilliantly helpful klonopin. Good luck whatever path you take.
M
Posted by carriejane on October 29, 2004, at 6:15:58
In reply to Re: coming off klonopin! » carriejane, posted by yznhymer on October 25, 2004, at 9:31:12
Hi, i forgot i posted that, because there has been so much chaos in my life lately. Thankyou all for your feed back. I was wavering between 4 and 6 mg a day. then when i realised i didnt have enough money in my mastercard account(i got it off internet as doc wouldnt prescribe, due to addiction history). Ive had money probs. So i decided to come off and also stop drink. I did 1 mg for about 2 wks then went to 0.5 for a week, now have one tab left which is if i quarter it 4 x 0,5. Although today i feel like takin the whole pill lol.
I see what you mean though that if these were working so well i should use these instead of drinking. Well i just wanted to see if my effexor alone would do the same so i wouldnt be on so many meds.
Im not sure what to do. What if they stop working in future? I become kindof immune to them, then il hbe the same as when i started anyway.
Thankyou for your posts
Carrie
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