Klonopin

[wanttoheal]

Anyone having trouble tapering off klonopin? I've been in a fiery hell now for 8 months trying to get off the stuff :(

[Siegfried]

Are you doing it under medical supervision?

[wanttoheal]

Yes-

It's still been a nightmare :(

[Siegfried]

Tell us your story, from the beginning. Leave nothing out!!!

[firefly06]

I'm weaning off xanax an it's also shitty- without doctor advice though. A couple more weeks and ill be good but I know kinda how you're feeling :/ it gets better I swear!

[wanttoheal]

I was put on Ativan in 2009 for extreme anxiety and insomnia. Within about 3 wks I started noticing behavioral changes and also felt quite ill on it. Since I hadn't been on it long and was on such a small dose my dr thought I could just stop. That is where the first nightmare began. I went into horrific withdrawals within 24 hrs. I soon realized that I had to taper. During my gradual taper I stopped sleeping and lost 40 lbs. when I finished my taper I was so sick that I was unable to function. My dr had never experienced this type of reaction to benzos and was at a loss.
He referred me to a withdrawal specialist who Rx'd phenobarbital. This made things worse. He then admitted me so that I could be monitored. What I didn't realize and what he neglected to tell me was that I was going to detox. I was surrounded by heroine addicts, crack addicts and alcoholics. I was on nothing. I had just come off a very low dose of medicine that was Rx'd by my dr. While in detox I was given multiple psych meds that made me want to crawl out of my skin. I was forced to go to meetings and talk about "my addiction". That was the worst 3 days of my life.
After being released from detox I was so sick that I was admitted into a normal hospital for extreme anxiety and insomnia. There I was given round the clock doses of ambien and klonopin. This was the most sleep I had had in 6 months. I was there for a week.
I was released from the hospital with an RX of celexa and klonopin. That was my cocktail for over a year. While I needed the medication during my healing I realized that after a year that both meds were making me depressed. I had always been a healthy vibrant person before all of this and I didn't like feeling medicated.
With my psychiatrists blessing I first tapered off celexa and then klonopin. I did ok off my meds but at 4 months out I stopped sleeping again. Again with my psychiatrists blessing I started taking klonopin as needed for sleep. That was a year ago. I was taking it 1-2 times weekly. That really didn't work for me because after awhile I noticed that I was going into withdrawal in between doses.
I then sought alternative therapy as I really didn't want to have to go back on the klonopin full time. I was referred to a compound pharmacist who specialized in bio identical hormones. He was convinced that I was low in progesterone and was Rx'd a low dose. This is where the second nightmare starts. After one day of taking the hormones my anxiety levels skyrocketed. I was told by the pharmacist that I needed to go back on the klonopin while getting used to the hormones. This is exactly what I didn't want to do. I then discontinued the hormones as directed due to my cycle. I then spiraled into a deep withdrawal. I never took the progesterone again but I also never stabilized again :(
I consulted with a neurologist who told me that progesterone and klonopin can be cross tolerant.
Which means they cancel each other out.
That was eight months ago and I'm still suffering. I went back on the klonopin full time. The goal was to stabilize and then do a slow taper. Since the progesterone the klonopin has become ineffective and I'm also experiencing adverse effects. Anxiety, depression, intrusive thoughts etc. however every time I try to taper I going into horrific withdrawal. I'm caught between a rock and a hard place.
I'm currently down to .25 klonopin from .5. Each day is a struggle :(
Hope I haven't left anything out.

[Siegfried]

This is a very unfortunate situation. Why don't you try an SSRI again?

[wanttoheal]

Hi - ssri's make me more depressed. Even my psychiatrist knows there is nothing I can take. She says its just going to suck until it doesn't :(