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Switching from Ativan to Klonopin
I have recently begun stepping down from ativan while adding klonopin. For 10 days, I was on .05mg ativan AND klonopin twice a day. I felt the best I have felt in years for that ten days. Now I am down to ativan one a a day while continuing klonopin twice a day. I am not happy with this... i am having severe headaches and sleepiness, with loss of motivation. Is this due to ativan withdrawals or should I ask my doctor for a higher dose of klonopin once i am off ativan?
Ty, so much, nursegirl and bradian.... no, my thoughts on suicide have not become intentional thus far, and I do promise to get help if they do... i know deep down that i should stay in this world for awhile, no matter how much pain it causes me. I know that benzos are dangerous with alcohol, and i am careful not to mix them. Ty for your ideas on relaxation... i have found that (i know this is weird) any sort of 'organized' music is upsetting for me, so i either find something boring on tv to listen to, or i listen to nature sounds. I cannot even recall the last time i turned on my radio. I wish i could give you both a hug - Blu
Hi blu,
It took me awhile to read, but I have read off of your and nursegurl's posts.
I'm very sorry to hear that your boys have left home. They will come back soon! I don't have any children myself, but I do know that they miss you just as much. Im a young adult myself and I often miss my parents. I don't get to visit them often, but when I do I usually ask for their advice on one thing or another and just have a plain old good time. So you have that to look forward too.
I agree with nursegurl about the drinking and would like to add something. If you mix alcohol and anxiety pills together you can get what is called respiratory supression. This is bad, because you could stop breathing. So if you have a drink, try not to have it too close to the time you take your anxiey meds. Sorry if I am creating more anxiety by saying this , but I do want you to please be careful.
Being sick and sleepy could indeed come from the changing of meds. I know that when I first started klonipin, that I felt very sleepy from it. I am used to it now, but it took awhile. As for the sick part, you are under a lot of stress girl! It's time for healing.
I don't have a lot of money myself, but I have found some cheap ways to help me distract myself from anxiety: -writing here on medhelp, -writing poetry, -painting, -deep breathing exercises as recommened by Andrew Weil, -and I don't know if you will be keen on this next idea, but prayer helps a lot. Have you ever heard of the singer Enya? She has beautiful, relaxing music that you can listen to for free on youtube. And last but not least, I am reading this book called "Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder". I know you don't have bipolar listed on your profile, but some of the lifestyle changes recommened (sp?) in the book are very useful.
Blu, I hope this helps. I will be thinking good thoughts about you. Hugs-Bradian
It took me awhile to read, but I have read off of your and nursegurl's posts.
I'm very sorry to hear that your boys have left home. They will come back soon! I don't have any children myself, but I do know that they miss you just as much. Im a young adult myself and I often miss my parents. I don't get to visit them often, but when I do I usually ask for their advice on one thing or another and just have a plain old good time. So you have that to look forward too.
I agree with nursegurl about the drinking and would like to add something. If you mix alcohol and anxiety pills together you can get what is called respiratory supression. This is bad, because you could stop breathing. So if you have a drink, try not to have it too close to the time you take your anxiey meds. Sorry if I am creating more anxiety by saying this , but I do want you to please be careful.
Being sick and sleepy could indeed come from the changing of meds. I know that when I first started klonipin, that I felt very sleepy from it. I am used to it now, but it took awhile. As for the sick part, you are under a lot of stress girl! It's time for healing.
I don't have a lot of money myself, but I have found some cheap ways to help me distract myself from anxiety: -writing here on medhelp, -writing poetry, -painting, -deep breathing exercises as recommened by Andrew Weil, -and I don't know if you will be keen on this next idea, but prayer helps a lot. Have you ever heard of the singer Enya? She has beautiful, relaxing music that you can listen to for free on youtube. And last but not least, I am reading this book called "Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder". I know you don't have bipolar listed on your profile, but some of the lifestyle changes recommened (sp?) in the book are very useful.
Blu, I hope this helps. I will be thinking good thoughts about you. Hugs-Bradian
I know it's hard....you feel like you're in a dark hole with no escape. I think we've all been there. We feel helpless, hopeless. I wish you could find a way to make therapy happen, but I know financially it isn't cheap. If you have to use us for support, that's fine!
Please just promise me that you will not hesitate to seek immediate help for the suicidal thoughts. Many people have thoughts about it, but when those thoughts turn into intention, it's time to get some help. If you're not SURE whether or not your thoughts are a threat to you, err on the side of caution and get help anyway. Please promise me that much?
Things WILL get better and there are a lot of people who need you around and want you to get better. I know you're in a dark place right now, but try to keep the faith. We're here for you.
Please just promise me that you will not hesitate to seek immediate help for the suicidal thoughts. Many people have thoughts about it, but when those thoughts turn into intention, it's time to get some help. If you're not SURE whether or not your thoughts are a threat to you, err on the side of caution and get help anyway. Please promise me that much?
Things WILL get better and there are a lot of people who need you around and want you to get better. I know you're in a dark place right now, but try to keep the faith. We're here for you.
Ty so much, Sweetie... no, i cant afford 'real' therapy, so i come find it here :). I am fully aware that drinking is not a good idea (tho i am careful not to take any benzos when i do drink). I have never noticed any increased anxiety after drinking, but i do get awful hangovers, and those are a great deterrent. I am tired of crying!!! I cry rivers, and i cant beleive that i havent dehydrated myself from the loss of so much water. But my grass looks great from my watering it... :) Extra tough time? Feels like my whole life is extra hard. Why does this have to be so BAD for me??? I am tired of feeling crazy. I wanna be normal!!! Ugh.. and maybe something else i should tell you... i have had some suicidal thoughts lately and i know thats beyond bad.... i just hurt so much and im tired of that, so exhausted inside and out. I just keep telling myself that i will not kill myself today, not today, not today not today. Geez...
Blu...I'm sorry to hear about your troubles. You have a lot on your plate. You're trying to muddle through this taper, and now you have the emotional stress of the "empty nest syndrome" on top of that. As far as that goes, it is 100% normal! You're always going to worry about your kids, and you're missing them! How could you not? It's OKAY that you're a crying fool...LET yourself feel those emotions. Don't try to hold them in thinking you have to somehow be strong and not show your emotions!
Keep working with your doc on the taper, and please be honest with him about all that is going on. I don't recall, are you in therapy? If not, I think that would help you IMMENSELY. You could explore all of these emotions you have swirling around you and how to cope when you feel you are having an extra rough time.
Also, PLEASE be cautious with the drinking. I admire your honesty here...being straight forward is so important. The problem with drinking to alleviate our anxiety is two-fold.
One, MANY many people with anxiety issues turn to some form of self-medication to try to cope, and that just ends up in a bad place with extra problems to deal with. That kind of self medication often turns into addiction, so people with anxiety have to be vigilant about substance abuse.
Secondly, alcohol will absolutely cause a significant increase in anxiety the day(s) after drinking. I've experienced this a million times. The day after allowing myself to "let go" a bit with some drinks have been AWFUL. Anxiety just through the roof and practically unbearable. I KNOW that during the time you're drinking, you feel much better....the alcohol does give you a sense of relief from the anxiety, but the pay off just isn't worth it, you put yourself in a position of having worse anxiety, plus you start a habit of turning to unhealthy and harmful ways of coping with anxiety.
Hang in there, it's a rough time for you. You're sad and missing your boys, on TOP of dealing with the taper and your anxiety. Be patient with yourself, and don't try to be a hero, okay!?!
Hugs!
Keep working with your doc on the taper, and please be honest with him about all that is going on. I don't recall, are you in therapy? If not, I think that would help you IMMENSELY. You could explore all of these emotions you have swirling around you and how to cope when you feel you are having an extra rough time.
Also, PLEASE be cautious with the drinking. I admire your honesty here...being straight forward is so important. The problem with drinking to alleviate our anxiety is two-fold.
One, MANY many people with anxiety issues turn to some form of self-medication to try to cope, and that just ends up in a bad place with extra problems to deal with. That kind of self medication often turns into addiction, so people with anxiety have to be vigilant about substance abuse.
Secondly, alcohol will absolutely cause a significant increase in anxiety the day(s) after drinking. I've experienced this a million times. The day after allowing myself to "let go" a bit with some drinks have been AWFUL. Anxiety just through the roof and practically unbearable. I KNOW that during the time you're drinking, you feel much better....the alcohol does give you a sense of relief from the anxiety, but the pay off just isn't worth it, you put yourself in a position of having worse anxiety, plus you start a habit of turning to unhealthy and harmful ways of coping with anxiety.
Hang in there, it's a rough time for you. You're sad and missing your boys, on TOP of dealing with the taper and your anxiety. Be patient with yourself, and don't try to be a hero, okay!?!
Hugs!
My son has announced that he is not coming home, and will stay with his brother in south carolina to finish high school and find work there, however both boys are planning to come home for christmas. I have found this devastating for myself. I know that the boys need to fly at this time in their lives, and that this is appropriate for them, and I am not upset about that part of it. I JUST MISS THEM so much I feel crazy. I have tapered again, no improvement there. I cry and feel sick alot, and I sleep alot, and have started drinking more than usual. I do have a dr appt soon, and will tell him all of this. I just generally feel sooooo BAD, and I want nothing more than to feel better.... I appreciate your time and concern, Nursegirl, so anymore advice you can offer would be more than welcome. I have found that I had to remove reminders of the boys from places in my home where i spend the most time. They make me cry. So i just took them and put them away out of sight until i can deal with them when i am stronger. I also have no clue about what the heck to do with myself now... i have forgotten how to be alone without feeling lonely. My husband is suffering also, and taking it out by working sunup to sundown, going for a beer or two, then coming home to eat and sleep. He hates to see me cry, and he hurts, too. So we kind of stay away from each other when we feel sad so as not to drag each other down further. I do not have the option of working as much as he can (my job only offers me up to 40 hours a week). So I am alone alot, and I feel lost. Sorry this is so long... i guess i just needed to put it out here where maybe others can help too if they want to... thank you - Blu
Thank you for your response... I'm not ready to begin another taper just yet.... my 18yo son just left on his own for nine days to vacation with his brother on the east coast, so doing the worried mom thing.
0.25mg Klonopin equals approximately 0.5mg Ativan, so your doctor had you covered as far as dose equivalency goes. You really should start to notice an improvment and not need the Ativan at this point, HOWEVER, it may be as simple as changing the dose schedule of the Klonopin, example...breaking up your daily dose into 3 increments versus 2.
I would talk to your doctor about how to proceed. I'm willing to bet that some simple changes like that may be all you need. As for staying on both? It wouldn't really be optimal because you're going to increase the tolerance issues and possibly end up with cross tolerance, where you become "used to" and require a higher dose of BOTH meds. Klonopin by itself doesn't have nearly as significant tolerance problems as the shorter acting Ativan.
Talk to your doctor. Sincerely, you have some options here. Hang in there!
I would talk to your doctor about how to proceed. I'm willing to bet that some simple changes like that may be all you need. As for staying on both? It wouldn't really be optimal because you're going to increase the tolerance issues and possibly end up with cross tolerance, where you become "used to" and require a higher dose of BOTH meds. Klonopin by itself doesn't have nearly as significant tolerance problems as the shorter acting Ativan.
Talk to your doctor. Sincerely, you have some options here. Hang in there!
When I fist started my taper, I was on .05mg of ativan AND same of klonopin at the same time. I felt great for that ten days. But then when I lessened the ativan, I started no feeling so great. I quit the taper and am still taking .o5mg of each twice a day... i'm gonna have to talk to my doc about this... is it possible that taking both at low doses is the mix i need? Could i do that for a long time? My anxiety is hereditary and will not just go away. Thanx all for you replies!
There are dose equivalents. Even though Klonopin is slower getting into the system. It doesn't take long to reach steady state if taken 2 to three times a day. It should not be that difficult to switch over. After I took the Klonopin for a couple of days I did not feel the need for the ativan. My anxiety was nearly gone. In fact I felt better with the Klonopin than I ever had with the ativan. Another scenario for Blue crystal is that now that the Klonopin has reached steady state, you need to quit the Ativan. May be the sleepiness etc. is from the combo.
i was wondering what you are going to do or what u did do. i'm on 2mg ativan 3 times a day and was thinking i wanted to switch to klonopin. i dont want to have withdrawls or anything i dont know what to do
How much Klonopin are you taking? Maybe the ativan with the klonopin was the dose you need to be stable. You may have to have the klonopin upped a bit. I switched from ativan to klonopin without a hitch. I know it's different for everyone, but it takes a bit to adjust to any med changes.
This kind of process can definitely have some bumps in the road. If you are experiencing these kinds of symptoms, it wouldn't hurt to talk to your doctor. You may need to slow the process down a bit or he may need to do some dosage adjustments with the Klonopin.
Personally, the symptoms you describe are not typical of withdrawl type effects, but that doesn't mean that the med change isn't causing some unpleasant issues for you. Just remember that this process very well may not be without some issues along the way. You've been doing great thus far...just keep in close contact with your doctor!
Hang in there hon!
Personally, the symptoms you describe are not typical of withdrawl type effects, but that doesn't mean that the med change isn't causing some unpleasant issues for you. Just remember that this process very well may not be without some issues along the way. You've been doing great thus far...just keep in close contact with your doctor!
Hang in there hon!
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