Too Much?

[katemom]

I take 12 mg of Klonopin  a day, 150 mg of Trazadone, and 40 mg of Paxil? is this okay?

[joann1975]

worried...I was wondering that as well. That kind of concerns me. However my son was overdosed and hospitalized at 3months old due to a pharmacist error. The worst part was it's the little pharmacy by where we live my son had been in there w/us since he came home from the hospital....they always talked to him and said he looked like his daddy. So why didn't it register in his head that this little baby shouldn't be on 2 TEASPOONS of zantac but rather 2ml. Being 1st time parents we had no idea that was alot. Then in 5 days I refilled the 30day supply....still the pharmacist said nothing. It got noticed when I called the pediactician to tell them I couldn't pay $35 every 5 days for this....anyhow he is fine. No long term effects the pharmacy is paying for his college. didn't mean to get off subject...pharmacy errors really are a sore spot w/me.

katemom....we are just trying to help you out and get a better feel for you situation. please keep posting and talking w/us about it. i too take klonopin (2mgs) but usually i break them in half.

[katemom]

No, they never comment on anything because Along with the dosage change, there was also a change in filling it. I have to refill every ten days now, instead of once a month.

[worried878]

I was just thinking...that is 360 klonopin a month ...372 on a 31 day month..does the pharmacist question this when u fill it each month?

[worried878]

Acceptance is a step in the right direction...everything can not be fixed unfortunately and we must cope with it in the best way possible...but of course...u r on a drug forum and we are going to zero in on the 12 mgs of klonopin...it may not be something u r worried about but u posted it so i assume it is worrying you somewhat...klonopin is one of the stronger benzos even tho it does not hit you as hard as xanax when u take it...it is just as addictive...I would really start to look for another way to manage the anxiety as your tolerence to the klonopin will continue to rise...your tolerence does not  correlate to your overdose threshold and that is alot of klonopin...I would discuss this with your doctor and i do find it rather irresponsible for any doctor to actually prescribe that amount to someone on a daily basis...i would probably find a new doctor who specializes in mood disorders to help me with this..keep posting

[katemom]

I went to the neurologist and he did an MRI and said everything looked fine, no abnormal brain activity or seizure activity. I did check with my doctor and the P.A. said she checked with doctor and the prescription was correct as written. I've never been diagnosed with any kind of seizure problems, but when the panic thing just started out of the blue, they prescribed Xanax. Then my psych. said Klonopin would be a better option for me. I finally had to stop obsessing over why all this craziness overtook me and accept that it had. I used to BEG people to help me, explain it or SOMETHING, and now I'm at the point where I've just accepted that it did. Everyone in the medical field swears that it shows growth to admit that, but some days I wonder. Just for a minute.

[kim715]

I know someone said that the pill book says up to 20 for the klonopin,BUT 12 mgs a day is really excessive.Why on earth did the new doctor just double it?I would think if it wasn't working for you he might have tried tapering you off and switching you to something else,at the very least he should have done a gradual increase and monitored you to see if there was any improvement,not just double it,thats crazy.How fast did you lose the 50 pounds?If it was in a short amount of time that should have been a red flag for him,along with all the other symptoms you're having.I'm thinking perhaps a big part of why you're feeling so awful has alot to do with the meds you're on,namely the 12mgs of klonopin.I would maybe consult another doctor,but whatever you do don't stop taking the meds on your own.Quitting cold turkey on those types of meds is EXTREMELY dangerous.Get a second opinion.Best of luck to you. Peace.

[worried878]

I think so as well joanne...does not sound right....and kate..feel free to post and ask for support..that is what we are here for and we have posted for support on many an occasion..it is nothing to feel weak or embarrassed about

[joann1975]

Feel free to talk about yourself all you want. If you don't mind would you let us know the answers to the above post from worried? Do you take the klonopin for siezures or depression.

Worried:: did you notice she said her new dr just doubled her dose for no reason... do you think that could have been an error? i think she should check with the dr for sure on that.

[worried878]

I am not sure what your situation is...perhaps depression....is your family supportive and what do they feel is going on?  has your family noticed any changes in you as of late?

[katemom]

Sorry I keep posting about myself, please try to be tolerant with me. The one other EXTREMELY different thing about me is that I've stopped thinking about food. I mean, I literally don't think about it because I'm NEVER hungry and eat when I think about it. I was 170 and now I'm 120 but my doctor just says I look great, healthy, etc., so I didn't think of it as anything until right now. It's a little weird, maybe?

[worried878]

Perhaps kate has a seizure disorder...she did not say...

[katemom]

I think I'd be okay if I didn't feel frozen from the inside out. Not emotionally frozen, but real frozen, cold cold body.

[joann1975]

I looked in the Pill Book and paxil at 40mg isn't excessive. I thought the 12 of klonopin would be but the book said 20. I think that may be for people w/seizures though.... just my 2 cents! :)

[worried878]

12 mg of klonopin a day is an awful lot...the usual dose i have seen prescribed is 1 mg twice a day...sometimes 1 mg once a day....that is excessive and i would think u would feel "different" as that is a ton of benzodiazepine to take on a daily basis...if a drug is not working for the anxiety, your doctor should have swiched you to a drug that works not to excessive doses...your tolerence could be high if you have been taking this dose for a long time...please be careful....that is not a drug you can cold turkey either...it would have to be tapered...trazodone is usually 50-100 mg a night so 150 mg is not  excessive...  I am not sure about the paxil off the top of my head as i dont know the normal dose of that medication

[joann1975]

From my personal experience years back I was put on a bunch of high doses of anti depressants they made me feel worse than ever and I gained like 80lbs (yes 80) in 3 months. The dr's just kept trying to add meds to my list. I finally had to wean/taper off of them 1 by 1. You may want to consider talking to your dr about lowering the doses for a while and see if that helps.

[katemom]

I never used to a cold person, maybe it's all starting my 40's thing. I don't feel drugged up, just a lot different than I used to feel. It's not bad, it's just different.

[katemom]

This might sound crazy, but I feel like I'm having weird seizures all the time. My muscles tighten up then let go in different parts of my body constantly. It's kind of tiring, but I saw a neurologist and after a MRI he said I was fine.

[joann1975]

Some people are just cold...is that normal for you? I am always hot no matter what. Did he mean to double your dose did you ask?

Most important is do YOU feel it's to high? Do you think you could do w/o these amounts. You can't just quit the klonopins cold turkey you would need to discuss that with your doctor. From my understanding (i am not an expert or a dr) it could cause seizures to quit a drug in the benzo family.

[katemom]

My former doctor actually did all the prescribing, and, inexplicibly, my new doctor just out of the blue doubled my dose of Klonopin. I've never thought about going off them because I guess they work right. I'm constantly cold and have lost about 70 pounds (not that I care at all about that, I don't). I was just wondering if it seemed high to other people.

[joann1975]

I am sorry....I looked in the Pill Book and you can take up to 20mg of klonopin per day. According to the pill book the doeses are ok.

[joann1975]

I take 50mg zoloft and 2mg klonopin...but it is usually cut in 1/2. Does your doctor give you 12mg a day? I wouldn't be functioning on that many. (says the girl who could take 20+ lortabs per day)
Katemom are you wanting to quit? Are you taking these all from one dr? Could you please give us some background?

[catmagnet]

At one point, I was taking 6 different meds for anxiety/depression...all I wanted to do was cry and sleep. Now I take 1...prozac...and I feel pretty good.

[J_friend]

Wow - I have a friend in a similar situation, Katemom.  He's on at least different drugs, which he claims all assist each other in fighting his depression.  My gut reaction is that is sounds excessive - VERY excessive.  What's more, it seems similar to me - I'm currently using pain pills to make me feel good - and although many may argue this point, I'll still make it:  what is the difference between what I'm doing and what you're doing?  I'm sure there is a legitimate reason for some people to take SSRI's or other drugs that will assist their brain's chemistry.  However, I also think it's typical of western thinking:  just treat the symptoms and ignore the MAIN problem.  My brother and I were speaking yesterday about this very issue.  He just went through a major break-up with his girlfriend, and he's been VERY depressed.  His doctor wrote him a script for Lexipro; and yet, he didn't get it filled because he actually wants to experience the pain from this break-up in a more organic way.  I respect that, and I believe that my brother will grow from this experience.  

There are SO many things we can do: exercise, eat healthy, meditate, surround ourselves with honest, supportive people, take up a hobby ... the list goes on.  Again, I'm not saying that you don't need ANY of these medications, but I've seen what they've done to my friend.  He's very lethargic, overweight, and he just doesn't seem "present" and in the moment.

I know I may not be one to talk - I'm currently "escaping" the work I need to do on myself.  But, maybe I SHOULD talk - I'm trying to be straight and honest about this issue.  Perhaps the mental anguish that many of us suffer should be viewed more as "curriculum" as opposed to our enemy.  Perhaps we need to work through these feelings of despair and depression to get to the ROOT of the problem as opposed to simply putting the proverbial bandage over the wound.

I'm not sure if that makes much sense to you - but again, it seems your doctor has put you on an excessive amount of medication that may put a fog over the REAL you.