Clonazepam and Terrified.

[karebear73]

In 2003 I was put on my first ever anti depressant for depression only. Then another, then another....I reacted severely to side effects. I had tried approximately 5 to 6 different ones and they all had the same effect in which I had to come off....it was not until I swallowed that first antidepressant that I began shortly after having panic attacks. I always had anxiety but not panic. In 2004 I was placed on paxil and was on 2 pills a day even through my entire pregnancy. In 2008 my dad suddenly died in front of me when I was left to call the dnr. They took me off paxil as they felt it wasn't working anymore and placed me on another anti depressant, Remeron. 2 months later I was put on clonazepam 2 mg per day. I was a walking zombie and had to cut back in which starting in 2010 I was on only .5 mg at night. Remeron wasn't working either and I was put on Wellbutrin...nope made things worse....then I was placed on seroquel. Only 25 mg a night along with the clonazepam. May of this year I didn't want to be on medication anymore despite the anxiety as it was taking a toll on my body. I am super sensitive to drugs (can't hardly even tolerate an extra strength Tylenol as my stomach cannot take it). I Began to taper on clonazepam and by July I came off. Instantly the burning sensation in my abdomen and the distension that made me look pregnant began to subside even though I was still nauseaus as he'll in which I will add here I also have gerd and had been on omeprazole since I started clonazepam...coincidence? As well as 2 different anti nausea drugs....metaclop and domperidone. I came to rely on these heavily over the years. Nauseaus every day, bloated, stomach pain. This didn't occur until after I started clonazepam. Anyway, after completely stopping clonazepam I started coming down on the serqoeul from 12 mg to 6.25 mg nightly then off. That lasted 2 weeks and nope...had to go back on...my stomach was going nuts and anxiety was an all time high. 4 weeks later I fell ill (end of September of this year) head pressure, neck pain. Muscle pain and numbness, severe muscles in and sciatica...severe all over body pain, pressure etc. they have done every test possible including spinal tap, etc...nothing. Health anxiety set in. All keep telling me it's in my head. So I took their advice and seeker psychiatry again. Off seroquel I went and instantly onto paxil again. That lasted 6 days. Then off paxil and onto seroquel again then 2 weeks later off seroquel and onto cipralex. That lasted 2 weeks...my stomach couldn't take it gerd was awful...still is. Off cipralex and back onto seroquel and now clonezapam again.all the while factor in the stomach meds and ativan twice a day. So 12.5 mg seroquel and started with .5 mg clonezapam stomach was killing me...went down to half pill as burning was back, pain didn't subside, all symptoms were still surfacing and still surface. I knew I needed to get off clonazepam or my stomach is going to die. Now on quarter pill clonezapam and 12.5 mg seroquel. Anxiety is still all time high, stomach is a wreck, not welcome at an er's due to my file flagged as health anxiety and psychiatry. My pharmacists won't talk to me as I overly phoned them, I'm up at 3 am every morning for the day...this has been going on since October. Either I have a severe issue with my stomach in which my gi doc doesn't feel a need for a scope...or clonezapam withdrawal is what's been going on for months??? Don't know what to do...all docs say it's in my head, and all psychiatry tells me is that it's such a low dose and because I. So sensitive there's no way it's withdrawal or the drugs playing havoc causing me chronic pain...they are trying to tell me it's somataform and my doc is trying to convince me to see a naturopath so he can get rid of me. I have nowhere to turn for support psych wants to now give me cymbalta or lyrica....I don't want any meds! My stomach can't take it! I'm suffering every day, in pain every day...some say fibromyalgia...I say the meds did this....and am still convinced another upper gi scope should be done.... Help please!

[Dahila]

Yes it is hard to read. what I got you think that clonazepam is causing stomach pain, it is possible, I am on it and my hubby is on clonazepam for over 5 years. he takes it when he needed, I take it every day. I do not think it causes a lot of withdrawal (sometimes I stop taking it , when the stress easy on me) maybe in combination with other meds it can cause stomach pain. Sorry could you edit the post with some line space between paragraphs?

[alankay]

There are sublingal(under the tongue) dissolving tabs of meds like klonopin. I have had klonopin before and it can be dissolved under the tongue as can be ativan but they make faster dissolving tabs/wafers.
I'd ask about valium rectal gell or liquid(insitol) as it's a bit less potent but effective. Just trying to by pass the stomach might help. Start low dose and see how you feel. PM me any time. Alankay

[backdoc]

Hi Karebear, i think your allopath is correct in sending you to a Naturopath, id say you are in a chemical spiral and that possibly correcting your body chemistry and getting you clean would be a good place to start , then if you need meds you'll know where to begin, best to you KB

[karebear73]

Ty everyone..this just sucks! I've been ill the entire 2013 year...last night I went from a quarter of .5 mg of clonazepam to one eighth 2 nights ago...and down to 6.25 mg of seroquel from 12.5 mg for the first time last night. so sensitive that I slept only 1 hour gerd is back full force with head pressure, gas, hunger pangs , brain zaps were unreal all night long, headaches, burning skin sensations, facial rash

I was awake for the 1st time after taking seroquel and noticed I instantly got itchy, burning arms and face severe nasal congestion and anxiety.

I cannot do breathing or relaxation as the sensations are so strong I cannot focus and pain prevents me from doing breaths

The mental health crisis line only tells me, "I don't know what to tell you there's no magic wand"

I get that...but is this an allergy? An adverse reaction to seroquel as these symptoms were occurring for the year even without clonazepam just being on seroquel,?

Only other meds I've been on is gerd meds and estrogel and progesterone but I don't get itchy after the estrogel...I do take the progesterone same time as seroquel though....

So adverse reaction? Allergy? Or new anxiety symptoms? Or something else going on?

I even feel like I'm allergic to water as every time I drink it or tea whether decaf or not...I get itchy a red face and burning arms and stomach pangs as well as a fuzzy tongue that feels swollen along with a sensation my throat is closing...everything I drink!

Ugh! What's happening? My doctor and psychiatrists all say they don't have an answer as there are no statistics
Some say I'm on too low of a dose for that to happen but then can't answer what's happenng to me!

Help!

[karebear73]

Alankay I can't take ativan....it makes me a zombie but doesn't the away my anxiety so after taking it I'm more anxious and stumbling!

[Dahila]

It must be difficult for you Karebear. I will tell you a story (do not mind my English, it is my second language)

I was at work when someone said to me; you have a red spot on your face, immediately my brain starts to send signals to my body and I am getting the hives, I started to to scratch my body. You see I am allergic to a lot of things and I thought I am going to have anaphylaxis,
I had it before and almost died. I went to ER and they gave me some benadryl. Doctor checked and he said that I do not have anything, in mean time, when I went to ER and had seen the doctor my hives dissapeared. Magical cure; being in presence of doctor, cured my hives, miracle, not really. I feel save when I am close to ER because they will give me the shot when something happen.

So Whenever I think I got an allergy it shows on my skin.
My daughter is allergy prone and she gets hives on her whole body and itching of course, every time she is under stress.
Right now I do control it better having Epen in my purse. I know that I am save.
Mind over the body. I do not think that is the case in your situation, but maybe some of the signs. You need to get to doctor who care. and will help you. I do not like when my doc does not know what is going on. ...very unsettling. Good luck Karebear :)

[alankay]

That's why valium might be good. See it's less "concentrated" or it's not a high potency benzo like ativan/klonopin yet effective. This allows for low dose tweaking. It comes in 2 mg and 5 mg tabs(10mgs are more for seizures I believe). This allows you to really customize the dose and it comes in liquid(under the tongue) and anal gels that bypass the gut and get into the blood stream to calm you.
Yeah often stomach issues and anxiety go hand in hand. My Mom has that issue but not me.
I realize the high potency benzo needs "less of the drug" and that way hope for less side effect but if this has proven not to be the case the opposite may be true for you. Ask about this older time(came out in 1963), "tested and true" benzo. It's what I use but am lucky as they all work for me OK well.
Diazepam rectal gel is provided as unit doses of 2.5,5, 7.5,10,12.5,15, 17.5, and 20 mg so the smallest(2.5mg) one might be tried. I'm not pushing meds just trying to help you get some relief via trying another med via another route.
If benzo make it worse than you might be getting a paradoxical reaction so need to try hydoxyine(atarax) an old anti histamine with anti anxiety effects. or other drug. Alankay

[Dahila]

Alankay you know so much about meds, I forgot about antihistamine :))

[alankay]

Yeah I've read and tried topical progesterone as well Only helped me a little.
Some links.
http://www.drstephencenter.com/tag/progesterone/

http://www.progesteronetherapy.com/anxiety-attack-symptoms.html#sthash.7tu5Gb7b.dpbs

Worth looking into I think.
I'd mention gabapentin too but she seems to have stomach issues that might be aggravated. Alankay

[Dahila]

alankay I am on Gabapentin, you think it can cause some stomach issues? I am on it for months and the last few days I got some issues with stomach acidity,

[karebear73]

Thanks for the help you guys. I definitely know I'm sensitive as last night was only night three on one eighth of clonazepam and night two on 6.25 mg of seroquel and I am suffering bad from gerd and super nauseaus suddenly. Have to sleep with pail beside me.

As for the progesterone I am on pill form of 100 mg and it is strictly for my surgical menopause since my prophylactic oopherectomy 2 and a half years ago as I am also on estrogel.

[Dahila]

oh the mighty hormones.....Hopefully you will get better:)