Klonopin. How Slippery Of A Slope Are Benzodiazepines?

[Panda Bear]

I've recently stated taking Klonopin and benzos scare the crap out of me.

Right now, I need them pretty badly. I'm on the tail end of a suicide issue that was brought in by a reaction to Wellbutrin and Neurontin. So, my body is pretty anxious and I'm somewhat of a basket case. My psychiatrist gave them to me and said we'd worry about them later(I needed to function and be as safe as possible ASAP). The dose is .50mg 2x day. I'm take about 3/4 of one .50mg pill. I keep them cut into 1/4 because half is to much for me.

My T agreed that we would do damage control down the road, and that getting me stable was the best course of action. Generally, I have a good radar for not abusing pills. In fact my body generally doesn't tolerate meds well(hence the failure of so many options as of late). And my ability to only need 3/4 of one pill a day. But still, it worries me. It's been YEARS since I've felt calmish and having access to an easy way of coping with my anxiety is sooooo nice.

Should I set a goal of when to be off them? Should I let T and psychiatrist take the lead? Both of them are in agreement that we are safe and fine for now and that we can worry about it later.

 

[Deleted member 28403]

Well, they are quite a slipperly slope, at least for me.

I was on diazepam before and now am on xanax, addiction sorta builds up quickly, especially after you had one or two withdrawals already, so I'm not sure what advice to give, take them while you see you aren't building tolerance, and when you see you are better, maybe pull down the dose a bit. but don't rush with anything. That is generally how I went about it, other than that time I cold turkeyed and f*cked myself up for a week

 

[PTSDfree]

Have you tried an extended release benzo like Xanax XR? They can be used on a daily basis and last a lot longer.

 

[Panda Bear]

So initially, the psychiatrist gave me short acting Xanex, but it caused a massive headache(a migraine really) and was totally intolerable. After that she switched me to the Klonopin because it is slower to start, but last longer. We didn't go with the XR Xanex because of the headaches it caused.

 

[sedna]

I've recently stated taking Klonopin and benzos scare the crap out of me.

Right now, I need them pr...

I was on klonopin for a year or so when I was in terrible shape a few years ago. The risk with that one is an especially potent rebound effect. As it wears off, it creates anxiety. The side effect of a pill wearing off, literally, is a nervous system anxiety symptom. That makes you keep taking them, also, its hard to tell if your anxiety is real or a klonopin withdrawal. Xanax gives me headaches too, it works by crossing the blood brain barrier, its not a central nervous system depressant like the others, which is why you can get a headache. Wellbutrin should never be prescribed for someone with a history of panic attacks and I get really p*ssed off every time I hear about that happening. It can create a massive panic attack without warning, it effects some people like amphetamines. Neurontin is a sedative that stays in your system a long time and is usually pretty harmless. Its for seizures and nerve pain and has no narcotic, its not an A class drug. The Wellbutrin is probably what you freaked out over, the Neurontin likely helped, it would have been worse without it probably.

I feel like if you need drugs you should take them, but always do independent research and be cautious. If you take Klonopin for a while its essential to taper off it gradually, dont just quit and switch to something else. You may want to give Neurontin another chance with Wellbutrin out of the picture. Also, if you feel like you can get away with less than prescribed, like if your having a good day break the pill in half, it will help you be less likely to build a tolerance quickly.

And finally...Do Not Drink Alcohol !!! Klonopin and alcohol are disastrous when mixed together. One drink on a special occasion maybe, but any more than that and your in for psychotic episodes and blackouts.

Sorry, I'm a mom and I used to be a nurse so I can get carried away. I just worry about how little info doctors seem to have about the drugs they prescribe sometimes.

 

[Lionheart]

It must be a pretty slippery slope as my doctors almost refuse to give prescriptions for them. Except for once, when I was given a few Lorazepam for travel anxiety I have never been given benzo's in the 18+ years of therapy I've had. Doctors and psychiatrists site addiction as their reason for not wanting to prescribe them to me.

 

[VikVikViktorious]

I'm glad you asked this question. When I started Zoloft 2 months ago I had the strangest feelings of disorientation and suicidal thoughts. About 2 weeks in my Psychiatist prescribed Klonopin to "take the edge off a bit."

I was literally in heaven. I was back to my old self- smoking pot/drinking, socializing with friends, performing well at work and my soccer games... It was quite euphoric.

This last Friday I was taken off them and was put on gabapentin for relief instead. The Zoloft still wasn't working. That Friday was one of the worst days of my life.

I was and still am at a point where I'm considering just staying on them for the rest of my life - they worked so damn well. At 31- I'm not sure that's the brightest idea. Scary stuff.

 

[joeylittle]

I was and still am at a point where I'm considering just staying on them for the rest of my life - they worked so damn well. At 31- I'm not sure that's the brightest idea. Scary stuff.

Just remember that they do lose efficacy. So, the longer you use them, the less they work, and the more you need to take. Then, you hit the point where they will not work at all.

For occasional, emergency relief, they are incredibly useful for many people. And many people can use them sporadically for long periods of time. But that's the best way to think about them - as a once in awhile kind of aid.

 

[Panda Bear]

@coco9

Sorry, I should have been more clear. I was prescribed Neurontin first, and it didn't work. I was on a very low dose(100mg, 2x day) and I simply couldn't tolerate it. It made me horrifically foggy and caused massive, and unstoppable dizziness! 24/7 and nothing made it stop. It was horrible. My T felt that it made me a very off and unreasonable(and it did. I couldn't focus!) we tried to move around the dosage to alleviate the dizziness but it didn't help and after 6wks, I couldn't stand it anymore. We weren't even able to get the dose part the 200mg and for the last few weeks, I only took 100mg. We had a few week break between meds. After that failed, we then went to the Wellbutrin which also failed and caused me to become so anxious and eventually suicidal. I stopped eating, and lived in a constant state of panic and fear. Finally, I was sitting in Ts office and said I wanted to die. I felt paranoid and totally frozen.

Insert Klonopin....I was a basket case and highly irrational. The psychiatrist refilled my script this week for another full month(after a 2wk script) and we'll talk on the 29th about what happens next. I'm using roughly 3/4 of one pill and my dosage is 2 pills a day(1mg total). She told me to use them as I see fit, but no more than 2 pills a day. Honestly, I like the Klonopin. I don't feel like punching people in the face and I can actually think....l

 

[sedna]

@coco9

Sorry, I should have been more clear. I was prescribed Neurontin first, a...

That's sounds good then. As long as you dont overdo the Klonopin and build a tolerance then it should be fine. I dont reccommend drinking a fifth of vodka with Klonopin in your system though! I have more than a few regrets about that combo :hungover: . Wellbutrin is a dirty drug for anxious people, I'm glad your off it. Good luck :tup:

 

[KayJ92]

I'm on klonopin - 2mg. It helps.

 

[Mach123]

I think they work great but you have to be very careful. I was on them once when I was in a really bad way. I don't know how high my doses were but suffice it to say they were high.

The withdrawl from those was one of the worst things I ever experienced, it went on for almost a month. I don't want to try and describe what it was like but I feel confident in saying I'm lucky I'm alive.

I really like them and I'd go on them again believe it or not but only if there was absolutely no other choice. (I'd Valium over those for instance) If I was ever in the kind of shape that I described above again I wouldn't try to come off them myself I'd go into a detox.

I know it's hard if you can get them and you're in a lot of pain but be careful.