Klonopin, Xanax and Paxil

[Lissas02cavy]

My boyfriend had been taking klonopin for over 3 years at 2mg a day.    A few months ago he weaned himself down to 1mg a day. He did just fine. Within the last month or so his anxiety and panic attacks have worsened dramatically. 4 days ago he checked himself into a hospital where they changed his medication because he could not take the panic attacks any longer. They took the klonopin away cold turkey. They gave him xanax and paxil and told him that he shouldnt have any problems with the switch. He felt better the first day and a half. Now he has had a horrible time sleeping. He will wake up every 2 hours in a panic-like state. His heart is pounding and he says his chest feels very tight. He has not been able to keep any food in his system and he is very very weak.

Does anyone know what he can do to help cope with these withdrawals? or if its possible the xanax and paxil are causing these symptoms?

[Ga Guy]

I suspect that the problem is with the switch of benzos. My mom has a habit almost like your boyfriend. She only took 1.5 mg a day, but she tapered off over several months and in very low dosages. She tapered down .25 mg every 3-4 weeks until she was at 1mg, then she tapered down 1/8th a mg every 3-4 weeks until nothing. No benzo should be reduced too quickly. You should find a doctor that will listed to your bf and try to get them to let him do a VERY SLOW taper. Right now, he's just trading one benzo (klonopin) for another (xanax).