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Withdrawal and Klonopin.

Since I used to drink excessively I suffer from withdrawals when I drink.  The only way I can drink these days is if I take an antianxiety drug the day after I drink.  I drink very infrequently.  Anyway, is Klonopin a drug that I can just take every once in awhile after having drank?  Or is Klonopin a drug which you have to take according to a specific regimen?
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Avatar universal
where able to stay oof the klopins
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Avatar universal
I take 2-4 mg of klonipin every day. I'm bipolar, it's to keep me calm I guess. 2 at night. Then in the mid- morning, after my son is off to school, I mike a huge screwdriver in a pint glass, chew up two mg klonipin, and drink it. I also take two Benadryl. This knocks me out for 3-4 hours.
I know I'm an addict. I know I should do this. I can't halp myself. What to do??
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Avatar universal
Yes you can quit klonopin, it's very hard but well worth it if you want to be free of the addiction.  No you shouldn't stop it suddenly, in case you do not know this - if you are habituated you risk tremors, hallucination, seizures and death.  All of these symptoms are common when withdrawl is unmonitored and sudden.  No doctor who is trained in drug treatment would advise an addict to try stopping without supervision.  Normally a tapering down of the drug dosage is advised, this is critical in cases where the patient has long term or high levels of use, it is especially important if both are present.  Levels of use in excess of 1.5 mg / day or regular use exceeding a few months should almost always indicate a tapering schedule for stopping use of klonopin.  This should be complimented with behavioral therapy ranging from private sessions with a trained professional to group meetings like NA (narcotics anonymous).  Alcohol use intensifies problems both physical and mental do not underestimate the synergistic effects of benzodiazepine abuse and alcohol use, if you are currently taking a benzodiazepine do not consume alcohol, if you cannot go without one, stop the other.  If you cannot seek immediate help, call a drug abuse or alcohol helpline or your local hospital and simply explain your situation.  It is not new, it is not shocking, it is not a moral problem, it is not a character defect or a reflection of your unfitness for any position professional or social.  We are discussing a medical issue just like cancer or diabetes, one just as deadly.  The primary difference is that addiction can easily lead to the death of others as well as yourself, and other physical illnesses rarely do; an example is operating a car or other potentially deadly device when suffering from benzodiazepine addiction / intoxication.
The professionals who treat these problems are well trained and common, the problem is very common and fortunately help is available 24 hours a day 365 days a year.  The main impediment to achieving help is the reluctance of the individual needing help to be honest and seek it, trying instead to hide or dismiss or fail to accurately discuss the extent of the problem.  Just be completely honest and treat the need for help the same way you would if you had a terrible injury.  There is rarely a case where a person doesn't seek help for a serious injury like a bullet wound in the stomach.  Nor does a person fear the consequences of treatment for such an insult to the body.  Addiction to these drugs should be approached with the same demeanor.  You wouldn't try treating a gunshot yourself, or deny the importance or minimize the degree of such a problem, and addiction and failure to address it can be as serious and debilitating a problem for you and your friends and family.  Best of luck.
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Avatar universal
I have gone off Klonopin 2x now. I have done it with the help of Gabapentin. This drug really helps with withdrawal hell. Ask your M.D about it. This drug will also help prevent seizure.

Greg
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Avatar universal
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Avatar universal
I have been on it for 15 yrs. and my doctor didnt refill my script.im feeling bad. I saved the dose for today for tomorrow.Im usually taking 4mg but now .05. I have tegratol for my seizures but am wondering if I should risk going to work tomorrow.I feel like I wanna jump outta my skin. Took a benadryl isnt helping.
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Avatar universal
sorry its on hter twice . I just now got on here so I was learning and it ended up on there twice.
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Avatar universal
I am on a 1/2 mg of Klonopin 3 times a day. I just started taking it. should I tell mt Doctor to take me off of it?
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Avatar universal
I am takin a 1/2 mg three times a day. I just started taking them. Should I tell my Doctor to take me off of Klonopin?
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Avatar universal
I have been in and out of Klonopin scripts for anxiety due to a seperation, and also ativan. I've dabbled in Hydros also. I often mixed these drugs with alcohol and I'm an alcoholic. EVERY doctor thinks I've still got anxiety and still precribes these evil drugs. Once the scrip is over, after 3 days,I feel like killing myself. I'm a professional, and I can't function without these stupid benzos. Once I even take a .5  of Klonopin, all is good again. I'm very worried, as the pyschs that I've been to want me to go to rehab, which I went to 3 years ago for alcohol, and now I'm in this situation again. Can't afford to go back to rehab, and frankly, they say that tapering is the best way to get off these drugs. How Horrible this is an existance. Can anyone help? I'm even thinking of buying Tramadol online as it alleviates these symtoms and I'm willing to just take T for the rest of my lift at this point. I'm a traveling professsional making  agood salary, not a junky, though I've dabbled with coke and alcohol. Please help and recommend. Someone out there must have gone through this ****!
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Avatar universal
You will be able to get back to normal. I have takin clonazepam off and on for a few years. It is a bit uncomfortable to stop but I also believe that some of it can be in my head. You know kind of what could possibly happen and subconsciously you can make yourself have those feelings. I stopped taking it 5 days ago and the biggest problem I had was not sleeping. Which I think then can create a slew of symptoms from not getting rest. Try a half or whole unisom for that and you will feel better within a few days. Good luck and you will get through it.
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Avatar universal
I was put on klonopin for anxiety. It seems that it is fogging my mind, so I want to get off of it. The thing is, will I continue to experience anxiety once I am off? Also, how long of a period should I taper for. I take 1mg daily. So to taper off would almost immeditaly cause uncomfort.
Is there anybody that knows how long a taper off period should be for 1mg of klonopin taken daily?
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Avatar universal
ive been on kins now for almost 12 days now i am also o  90 mgs of methadon will i with draw i take 7 #2MG TABS AT A TIME ??? HOW SHOUOD I DO THIS OR WILL I BE FINE IF I JUST STOP???
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Avatar universal
I read a fair amount on Klonopin, but have never been one to post much.  I am currently withdrawing from this drug and honestly just feel that it's almost a responsibility to get the word out on Klonopin. (Not because I'm a professional, but even better, I've actually taken it!).  I wish someone would have warned me... This is incredibly difficult and painful to get off.  I was diagnosed many years ago with numerous emotional disorders, and for a time thought Klonopin was a Godsend.  I was completely wrong.  It numbs creativity and emotion, as well as many other side effects.  Everything is kind of..."whatever."  I have tried unsuccessfully to get off numerous times, although this time I am trying another way, crushing and mixing in water (to measure) so I can cut down extremely slowly.  Since the pills only come in .25 (lowest), and it's too difficult to stop from that point, I'm going down from .35 to.3, .25, etc. every 14 days. This may seem crazy, but if you've been on it and have gone through this, you know what I'm going through.  I feel a was misguided by a Dr. I trusted, and don't think this drug should be on the market period.  I DO believe in certain meds-don't get me wrong, they can absolutely work, but please look into other options before going down this road.  It's like a date with the devil.  My skin is flaking off, my gums are bleeding, pelvic pain, extreme sensitivity to loud noises, my muscles are killing me, insomnia, depression, anxiety...you get the picture.  Consider your options, it's a dark road. Take care.
Helpful - 0
711224 tn?1344771687
This is a very old post, you should start your own in order to be helped better and you sure need some help!
Best of luck to you.
sophie
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Avatar universal
Sorry, but don't be so conceited and think this is just the good old U. S. Of old F-ing A.  I'm in Canada and I'm ready to find a good drain hole in the basement of the house and open those veins and goddam call it all done and done with. The withdrawal from what my body calls "normal" is 20 x 2mg of clonazepam.  I'm sorry if that sounds awe-shawkin' to some of y'all... but let me tell y'all it happens to anyone.... THE ONLY way that I can calm those bloody withdrawal sympt'umz is a bottle or so of wine, or perhaps about 400ml of Vodka.. oh wait.... we'z gotta talk in AMERICAN because America is the center of the freakin' universe right? I'm 90 miles or... about 120 km north of y'all.... but I don't count... God bless the USA....  look I wanna live... but the torment is beyond indescribable...

EVER SEEEEEEEN those things crawling along your ceiling?? That aren't there??? Because just when you catch sight of 'em.... they're gone.

Ever HEARRRRRRD the voices of whispers... and suddenly BLAMMMO a big-band playing some music from the 20's.... and it's overpowering...

THEN the ..... "things" are crawling over you... all over you.... and you KICK.... and suppress a scream - SCRATCH.. SCRATCH ahh God - Have you no mercy!!!!! I am a good person... I wrote, and have published 12 books - YEAH IN STORES.... I've stood in front of thousands and given talk and speeches ... flown all around the F-ing world... and CHEMISTRY CAN DO THIS?!!?

And guess what - I know enough about computers to know, that the second I hit "POST" it's going to ask me to 'sign up' FIRST.....

What am I??? WHAT PLACE AM I IN?????? Get ahold of your user-base......

WE'RE GOOD PEOPLE - NOT lost souls...

HELP.

Pharmaceutical industry - STOP TO LOOK AT THE PEOPLE who's good, decent, hard-earned lives you're affecting... Or is it ALL ABOUT the dollar..... yes.. I'm a raving lunatic who somehow makes a sht-load of valid points, while at the same time going through it in the most grossly-painful way possible.
G
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Avatar universal
Listen the state has us where they want us. No longer is Heroin Cocaine Marijuana or other street drugs the problem, the problem is prescription medications, the problem is when you get what is quote un quote addicted they cut you off no matter you might die until you wind up in the er this methadone problem this benzo problem is the government saying we no longer want the dirty end of the buisness the illegal drugs they got into the legal drugs yet if you look legal drugs kill more people a year then illegal drugs this problem is not ours although we have to deal with it it is the governments understand this between illegal drugs legal drugs 1 in 4 people are on them that is sick they predict in the next 25 years you might have 100 percent people on either a benzon a opiate methadone or other addictive drugs doctors will put you on these drugs for 10 years then cut you off i am living proof they should be imprisoned but instead we are for we do anything to get our fix once it is cut off you must understand the easiest way for a nation to control its people is drug use and america has done it very well amen
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Avatar universal
ScaredMom...you will want to post this onto your new thread...this will / can go unnoticed on such an old thread.

I take the same med...but I don't abuse it. It's hard to kick if it's abused like anything else. Frankly for me it's been VERY helpful with my panic attacks.

There is a way out for him if HE wants help...it is important you stay positive and stable for him to help him!
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Avatar universal
This sounds like a horrible drug, all these horror stories are really scaring me.  Why is this drug given if it is so hard to kick?  I don't understand!!!!!  Are the users in therapy or just take it with no monitoring.  My son is taking it illegally, he is addicted, he is not the same person that he used to be, it has changed him into a horrible person.  Obviously he is abusing it, I just don't see a way out for him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Especially after reading all these posts...
Helpful - 0
401095 tn?1351391770
do post a new question as this is an old post....he needs a doctor to help with his detox...and he has to want to quit as well....there is a site to learn alot about benzos called benzo dot org dot uk
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352798 tn?1399298154
This is an old post. Please start a new post at the top 'Post a Question' button. You will get more answers that way.
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Avatar universal
I just found out my 23 year old son is addicted to Klonopin.  He is getting it from a hard core drug dealer.  He is stealing from me and lying, complains of headaches,  and he can't stop binge eating.  He says his arms are numb, his speech is slurred and he walks like a drunk.  This is the most devastation I have ever had in my life, I don't know what to dol  I want to get him help but he has to want to be helped.  By reading all these posts, it sounds hopeless.  Is this a death sentence for him?  PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Avatar universal
Hi I just ran into this page and decided to jump in. I read some many good and bad stories about klonopin, in my situation I have taken it for about 10 years with 40 mg Prozac. I started with 2mg's and I'm at 4 Mg's now. I had very bad panic anxiety disorder and i came a long way. I can do things that were dreadful to me years ago. the funny thing is that I never got buzzed nor euphoria etc... I cut my dosage in half Feb 2007 and just had headaches for 2 weeks. in which i blamed on sinus headaches. however my doc told me to stay at my dosage of 4mg because of the fact I was doing fine. sometime i forget to take it before bed and never realize it , i guess thats the 48 hour half-life.
but anyways sorry to hear the bad stories of the withdrawal and consider myself lucky so far.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I was prescribed 4 mg of clonapin daily for anxiety and a tremor and maintained that dose for several years.  Last Dec 2007 I had spinal surgery and due to a mistake in my chart, I wasn't given any clonapin for 1 week.  The first 48 hrs I was able to get to restroom with walker and was recovering normally.  By 72 hrs, I couldn't set one foot out of bed.  I was wracked with spasms in my back, abdomen, legs.  I have little recollection except of the horrible treatment by my Surgeon and a Palliative Pain Dr. who was called in to manage my pain.  I was put on methadone and percocet but it barely touched the excruciating pain.  No one believed my pain and because it was in several differant locations, they threw up their arms in despair.  On the 7th day, I called the local Police because I was sure a nurse and my roomate were going to hurt me.  I was completely paranoid.  After that I was put in a private room and treated like the "problem of the floor".  On the 12th day, my surgeon told me that he found the problem in an MRI.  I had muscle damage in my back that he had only seen before in trauma cases and asked "What did you do?"  I assured him I did  nothing since I was unable to get out of bed after the 3rd day.  By the way, this was a 1 hr surgery to remove hardware previously placed in my spine for scoliosis and I was to be released in 3 days.  I was there for 16 days and it was the worst experience of my life.  The Pain Dr casually mentioned to my husband that due to a mistake, I didn't receive clonapin for 7 days and he immediately started me back on 4 mg when I had already gone through the worst of the withdrawal.  It was a roller coaster ride that took me 3 mos to recover from.  Make sure you tell EVERYONE in the healthcare field that you are on clonapin.  I have since weened myself to 1 mg per day.  I took 5 mos to accomplish this but it has to be a slow process.  I felt like if this medication can have such a drastic effect on your entire body, I wanted off.  I'm not off yet but on my way.  Don't ever take a chance of going through withdrawal from this medication.  It is indiscribeable.  Good luck to you all.  by Susie Aug 6, 2008
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