Klonopin

[wanttoheal]

I was Rx'd klonopin in 2010 for anxiety and insomnia. After almost 1 year I decided that I wanted to be med free and completed a successful 4 month taper. Four months later my symptoms returned and I was forced to reinstate. In the beginning I was only taking it as needed. 1-2 times weekly. This worked at first but I soon found that I was having withdrawal symptoms during the in between days.
I sought alternative help since going back on the klonopin full time was not appealing. I was referred to a compound pharmacist who specializes in bio-identical hormones. He strongly suggested progesterone as a replacement for the klonopin. In his opinion, I was on such a small dose that switching and stopping the klonopin wouldn't be an issue.
He was dead wrong. My life has been turned upside down ever since. I stopped taking the progesterone after only one week as my anxiety symptoms were so severe that I could barely function. It's been 9 weeks and I'm still in pure hell. I was forced to take klonopin daily but it's not working like the last time I was on it. My dr wants me to up my dose to stabilize and then taper. The problem is I can't stabilize because the klonopin isn't working.
I wondering if I should just start tapering since at this point I don't know if becoming stable on it is possible.

[alankay]

I would up the dose for now to get stabilized. Then start on a new long term strategy. How much we talking about here? .5mg or close? If so that's a tiny dose for a long acter like klonopin which is a good med. Alankay.

[bullyMeNever]

You should honestly consider safe natural alternatives that don't have harmful side effects. I was on klonopon and almost developed Parkinson. I have been on vitamins, supplements, and asparagus, I am feeling much better

[bhamlaxy]

bullyMeNever- This has been discussed numerous times- yet you don't address the inquiries and keep posting the same thing. Parkinson's has NO known cause, besides possible GENETIC reasons. You may have certainly experienced side effects, but if you almost developed Parkinson's, please contact medical professionals as this would be a revolutionary change in the way the disease and it's causes are studied.

wanttoheal- How are things going? Hopefully better.

I know you want to be med free, but if you are still struggling heavily, maybe a low dose of a less addictive anti-depressant would help. It could balance you out a bit and get you off the klonopin. I was taking .5mg of ativan daily for about two months until my lexapro kicked in. Stopped taking ativan basically cold turkey without a single bad effect (although that wasn't very long and a low dose).

Just a thought.