Protracted Klonopin withdrawal symptoms anyone?

[alikalik]

Hi all,

I was on Klonopin for 4 months for anxiety (0.5 mg for the first month and a half, 0.75 mg for 2,5 months -both administered as single doses at night). I went cold turkey cause my insurance ran out and I did not want to use the medication anymore cause it really did not help with my sleep/anxiety issues. I did not know at the time I had to taper off, hence I had extremely severe withdrawal symptoms, starting with flu like symptoms going to shivering, extreme anxiety, sleeplessness for two days and severe gastrointestinal problems. I started to exercise after the initial withdrawal symptoms went away and was able to sleep 5,5 hours waking up/stay awake in between, another 2 hours. My anxiety level was not as bad. This is my 7th week in the withdrawal and I had a terrible week with 3,5 to 4 hours on average night's sleep and high anxiety. Did anybody experience this wavelike protracted syndrome -cause I think, it's still withdrawal- and what did you use/advise to at least solve the sleep part of the problem?

Many thanks in advance

[alikalik]

It's really amazing how doctors' do not check hormones in women... Especially knowing the fact they can fluctuate immensely from one day to the other.

After this withdrawal, I started to exercise in the mornings, but I have to really tire myself up (if people are OK with 30 minutes I have to do one hour for example), cardio and weight lifting... Next week I will add swimming to my exercise and I am told swimming in the am is the best, cause water has a calming effect throughout the day.

Also I found a sliding scale fee clinic and will have my hormone levels checked. I usually have terrible PMS syndrome and painful periods. I will keep you posted...

Is your sleep pattern constant or does it fluctuate? For example last nite I was able to sleep again 6 hours (not refreshing) then was awake 1 hour or so then slept another non refreshing 2 hours. This is my usual pattern. Towards period it gets worse.

Lostmarbles, did you try exercising heavily in the am consistently?

ciao

[lostmarbles]

Funny you should mention all those things and I'm pleased as it hasn't bee addressed on this site since I have been on it but the odd thing is before I cleaned up the doctor asked if I had ever been tested for an underactive thyroid - I had'nt. She took my blood and I got the results and the answer is everything is normal. I have had 'mood swings', anxiety, sleep problems since I was young , around the same time I started my periods but no one could ever find 'the problem' - it has been frustrating to say the least..Staying asleep and not being rested once I have slept for a bit is also the issue with me - always has been.. I was also given sleep meds, xanax and anti-depressants but of course I got addicted to the xanax hence im on this site.. I was prescribed these meds 3 years ago,like you. My body clock is completely screwed! I am doing everything right - eating healthily, baths, relaxing music, reading etc to no avail.. im hoping that sooner rather than later I will surprise myself by being tired and keeping normal hours like most people.. now that would be a dream come true!! let me know how you go.. and keep me posted.. x

[alikalik]

Hi ladies, sorry, I just checked your ages. Now that I saw we are same age with lostmarbles and toxictome is a little older than us, can I ask you when your sleep/anxiety problems started, was it just a sleep problem or did you have other signs of anxiety. Mine was not a problem of falling asleep, but staying asleep and not being able to wake up rested... Also did you notice any change in your anxiety sleep patterns either as PMS syndrome or Perimenopause syndrome

Looking fwd to hearing, Thx

[alikalik]

Thx lostmarbles and toxictome for the advice... I guess what surprised me was the comeback of the sleep problem. Lately I was reading about insomnia and hormone imbalance. None of the doctors asked for a hormone test. After three years of rotating between sleep medications, anti-depressants and anxiety medications, I am extremely frustrated cause I believe my problem is related to some hormonal fluctuation some progesterone/estrogen imbalance. Lostmarbles, I do not know how old you are or whether you had your hormones checked or whether your sleep/anxiety problems gets worse with your cycle, but the more I think about it, the more I believe my problem has sthg to do with the cycle -besides the fact that I am having protracted withdrawal symptoms... I hate doctors prescribing medications to every single minor anxiety issue... The first time I went to the doctor, I only had a sudden stressor in my life and no other signs of panic attack or high anxiety, the more I could not sleep the more became anxious and the root cause of my sleep problem was never addressed properly... Any thoughts anybody?

[toxictome]

Breathe deep...try a HOT  bath...keep your mind busy...as lost said, it's just part of the process....it s***s , but it will eventaully get better!

.keep posting and talking about it...that helps too!!
Good luck!

[lostmarbles]

My DOC  was also benzos and I have since cleaned up on it.. unfortuanately some sleep or no sleep is part and parcel of this medication.. at the moment I am having no sleep for 48 hours and then sleeping for 12 hours straight. The thing to do is not stress yourself out over not sleeping or not sleeping enough as this just maks it worse. I keep myself busy; reading, writing, this site, a bath.... eventually your tired mind will catch up with the rest of you but as I have discovered with myself and that of others, sleep is one of the main things that doesn't come easily...I'm sorry I'm not much use but I do understand ... Personally I do not want to take anything to aid me to sleep even if it is herbal and non addictive but that's just me not wanting to depend on any type of pill again.. the anxiety is still there but less not forget that we were put on these meds because of it so it is unlikely that it will disappear just because we are off them.. I am trying to retrain my thought pattern so that I  don't get overwrought with panic..