Can Klonopin withdrawal cause agoraphobia?

[NJCherub216]

I had my first panic attack in 10-08 which I know came from chronic stress from a job. After that first episode I began to have repeated attacks everyday. I ended up in the ER twice, did EKG, xray, holter monitor all came back fine and labled me with panic disorder. Xanax worked at first but started to wear off too quickly. I was put on 10mg lexapro and 1mg klonopin 3 x a day. I never wanted to be on drugs but in the hospital I was desperate for relief. I took the lexapro for 2 months and actually got more palpitations from it so I started to wean off and am now off of it for 2 months. The klonopin I managed to wean down to only .25 mg each day and am now having a hard time getting off that small dose. I also started developing agoraphobia this past month, I was better last month and now it seems like a downward spiral. Everytime I leave the house I force myself because I know I have to to get better but my chest gets so tight I cant stand it and I get short of breath like someone is sitting on me. Sometimes I forge ahead but other times are so bad I turn around and go home. Eventhough I am exposing myself to things it doesnt seem like it is getting easier each time I do it. It feels like pure torture. I also feel so fatigued that there are days I can get out of bed, my heart starts racing from just standing over the stove to cook breakfast. I have been seeing a CBT and hypnotherapist for the past month twice a week but I feel I am getting worse instead of better. Maybe it is the drug still playing with my system and causing more symptoms but no one seems to understand. Please help I feel like I have become a prisoner. I cant even enjoy going out with my kids and doing things together like a movie or a day trip and I cry all the time cause Im so depressed and frustrated by this whole mess and having no relief in site or hope that it will go away so I can be normal again. I was even walking last month for about a mile and now I cant even do that because I get apprehensive when I venture too far and then become nervous.Six months ago I was perfectly fine, driving anywhere, sitting in traffic, going to New York with my kids, going places alone no problem. Now I cant even cook dinner because I am too weak or take care of myself. I used to be so independent. Now I cant even function and it is killing me. Please any advice? thank you.        

[MrGreen]

The only thing I can think of is that you were so aware of the tablets and what they were doing. Both the good side of them and the bad side of them. Now the idea of going without tablets at all can play a major effect on the mind. Not to mention possible withdrawls from other medication. Kind of like if I knew the tablets I was on did that little something for me. I accept my tablets do. To have to come off them and try and live my life without them would seem near impossible to me. You mentioned all the things you could do. I assume this was when you were on medication? Hence they were doing something for you. To come off can send users into a slump. I have known people who go through depression like symptoms. But to me it is more their feeling down because of anxiety of not having their tablets any more. I don't know if I am making much sense with this post. I may be way off the mark. Maybe your body is letting you know that you do need some form of medication is what I am saying. To go fully without might be the wrong choice. We all hate medication. The side effects and the likes. But at times we have to accept we need them. There is no two ways about it. They help us out. They help us to function. I was housebound for over a decade. Without medication I would be still the same. With medication I am out and about. I accepted I needed them. After much debate with doctors and shrinks. You just have to make your own mind up, for the best, about your situation. Just hope all goes well. Ask any questions if you have any or tell me how wrong I am if I am way off the mark. That is what the forum is all about.

[jimgreg]

you have to build up to it..in baby steps..i had this for 2 yrs couldnt leave the house..i was put on 10 mgs of lexapro and 1 mg of klonopin aday..did good on it..but within 2 weeks i was ok....but 15 yrs later on xanax now and at times i still have a touch of the agoraphobia//but everyone is difft....stopping the klonopin should be done in a facility..were they can watch you..ur only on .25 but you were on a higher dose..this med is a long acting benzo...i went from klonpin to xanax on 2.5 mgs aday  for 5 yrs..it helps but klonpin was much longer,...so the truth here is if you have pantic with agoraphobia//// you might or might not still get it when you get off the klonpin..the thing i learned  and its still hard to do is the way you think causes all ur problems....and thats the bottom line..but when we add meds to it ..it doubles the problem or worse as the meds lose potency..then we have to get off the meds to win  1st  then you have much more to deal with than started too.......you can do this..you know you  can  god bless  james

[michell221]

Klonopin can cause agoraphobia and panic attacks when getting off  of it.  I was put on it last year when for hyperthyroid problems.  I was on it two months and its horrible getting off.

I weaned myself down to .25 mg a day then I started cutting this tiny pill into 8ths and would take out an 1/8th a week. I ended up getting an RX for the .125mg dissovable tablets and at the end was taking 1/4s of them a day.  

It took a few months to get off and some scary side effects but I started to feel better slowly and the anxiety went away.      I would have breakthrough anxiety upset stomach and spasms and was scared of going out when coming off of them.  You just have to take it slow to cause the least amount of symptoms as possible. You can even dissolve the pills in water and cut down by removing 2-3 ml of water every few days so your body can adjust easier.  You have to be at a stable level when you start.  If you just cold turkey benzos you get the severe anxiety and agoraphobia so you may need to up your dose to a level where you are feeling ok and go from there.   There is a great online support forum for this. They can help you with a schedule for decreasing your dosage using the water method.  This has the most success.   Look for the yahoo benzo withdrawl support group online and there are some wonderful people to help  .  Take care :)