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where do i go for help

Was originally prescribed clonazepam to take at night when I saw a doctor because I wasnt sleeping at all. Not a new problem, but I was sick of it and wanted to do something about it because it was affecting my mood. Now, I have seizures (grand mal) each time I've come off clonazepam. First I dislocated my shoulder, then seized in a walgreens and cracked my head on the floor. I've been on this med for ten years. Was on 1mg per day from 2002-2011. I ODed two times (2003 and 2004) and was committed to inpatient psych each time. I was suicidal. But immediately regretful. They were impulsive, dangerous acts which accompanied my mood fluctuations.
So apparently this is how it will always be and I can never have children bc I'm stuck on this dangerous med, I have to see (and pay for) a Dr in order to approve the prescription too. The whole thing is a well oiled money machine. I have no health insurance and have medical debt from above events.
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Avatar universal
And yes, I've been seeing the same psychiatrist since end of 2005. I've seen her everywhere from once a week to once a month. When it comes to a plan for coming off ANY of the meds, she is reluctant to "rock the boat" since things are going well for me in life. She treats me for depression and anxiety. So she does have to take into account:

   Perhaps the meds are working... Whatever the combination... She's doing well and isn't suicidal. Mission accomplished.

I understand that (my current Dr.'s) point of view. But I've thought it over a few years now. I want out of this pharmaceutical relationship. It's abusive to my liver and my finances.
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Avatar universal
Sorry for the weird typos. Getting used to typing on my phone
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Avatar universal
I appreciate the heads up to taper. I'm well aware of the need to.
To clarify: the two times I stopped taking clonazepam and had seizures were not done in order to come off the med. The first time, I was unaware that a seizure was a side effect of stopping the med. I was taking it for sleep, but at the time had returned to college and it was finals week. I was up awake studying and didn't want to sleep. In front of a computer, next thing I know, I'm drooling, confused and my shoulder was dislocated. This was spring of '03.
The second time I stopped taking the med, I had had a bad session with my doctor. I told her that I needed to take a break from seeing her bc of some things that were said. So she did not refill my prescription. Walgreens was great. They knew she was with-holdingrip and that I had a history of seizure. They hunted down (in the computer system) a prescription of mine for clonazepam that had never been filled. I walked, swiftly, the 1/2 mile to Walgreens. For some reason I stopped to look at lipstick and I felt it come on. All I coul d see was pink and my ears were buzzing. I shuffled as fast as I could to the pharmacy counter, blacked out. Apparently I made it to the counter, said "im dizzy" and I fell head-first to the floor and had a seizure. This was November '05.
So I've never tried to ween off of clonazepam. I have tried to ween off of 2 different SSRIs and was unsuccessful after about 3 months each time. The electric shocks made me cave and get a doctor and a prescription.
I'm worried that I will need a hospital stay to detox from this stuff bc those seizures occured so quickly after not having clonazepam,  2-3 days. Also, my sis was prescribed this med around 2002 to help her sleep. Different doctor- neurologist for migraines. She had to detox when they had her on three different meds. She said clonazepam withdrawals were the worst for her and that was why she and her Dr had decided on inpatient detox. My sis was a cop at the time, so she had very good insurance.
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4149717 tn?1389503561
the others are right! Benzos need to be SLOWLY tapered down or as you have already found out, you can have a seizure! Benzos can be extremely dangerous to come off of c/t . Have you discussed wanting to come off the meds with your Dr? Please make sure if you havent, that you talk to him so that he can work on a SLOW taper schedule with you! Many have successfully come off benzos, it just needs to be done properly
Helpful - 0
617347 tn?1331293081
HI... check this site, you will find some very good advices

http://benzo.org.uk/manual/index.htm
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Avatar universal
I was on klonopin-clonazepam for many years and only got off a little bit at a time. my doctor said some people will have to be on a little dose each day because of the way it changes your brain chemistry. For me, I couldn't think or form thoughts and I had visual disturbances. It took two years to get off it, then got addicted to opiates from health problems. Now I am on subs as I have blogged. Good luck to you. Don't be hard on yourself. Cut down a very little at a time.
Helpful - 0
1235186 tn?1656987798
Hello and Welcome. You will need to taper down your dose. As you found out cold turkey is dangerous off a benzo.You have no insurance? Do you get the meds from a doctor? Have him prescribe you a taper plan. It will lower your dose in small amounts over time to allow your body to adjust to less klonipin
It is possible to get off it. It just has to be done safely.
Debbie
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