clonazepam

hi i am in the uk and my psychiatrist is unwilling to prescribe clonazepam.  its the only thing that helps me with my anxiety.   is it really that unsafe to take it for a long time?  i read on other forums that people take it for years.

[amish1979]

Maybe you can get a referral to someone else?  What is your doctor's reason for not wanting to prescribe it?  Have you been using it more than indicated?  You have made a lot of clonazepam-related posts here in the last few hours, maybe your psych thinks you are exhibiting drug-seeking behaviour? Fill us in!

[FitOverForty]

As Amish indicated, fill us in...any type of drugs are bad for us because they affect primarily our liver.  My mom died because of medication prescribed for high blood pressure and so on.  It finally destroyed her liver and kidneys..she passed 5 years ago and never smoked, drank and my dad was the only man in her life.  So therefore, if you ask if clonazepam is really bad...well all are.  I, personally am on Ativan and only take it as needed.  I get the tightening chest feeling with short of breath.  They initially tried anti-depressants (UPPERS) and those drove me to the ER with an anxiety attack...the worse things for me.  I know now all I need is a sedative and if my doctor would not give me what I need, I'd go elsewhere or buy off the internet as last resort.  

The fact is the pharmaceutical companies along with some doctors are in cahoots with prescribing more expensive drugs.  Ex. Lexapro $90 w/ ins. and Ativan $1.80 w/ ins.., big difference big PROFIT!  I don't trust anyone anymore but my body telling me what I need.  Read on the Oxycotin lawsuit where pharmaceutical cos. where giving kickbacks to doctors prescribing their medications.

Take care and hope you get what you really need.  If you really need it and it's not overusage..go..run to a different doctor.

[mimimimi]

hi, ive only ever taken clonazepam twice...........once for two weeks while in hospital.  then over the past couple of days.  ive tried many anti depressants which make me worse.  im also exercising....starting meditation and yoga so not just relying on a tablet and im certainly not some sort of junkie!!
im just trying to find answers that i cant seem to find anywhere else.
ive been let down recently by the mental health system in the uk by the way i was treated and im feeling a bit lost.

[mimimimi]

im in the uk and cant buy over the internet...........at least i dont think i can.  i would be worried i would buy something dodgy!

[JSGeare]

Clonazepam is the ONLY thing? That's quite an assertion and suggests either a very thorough understanding of all the drugs -or that you have taken absolutely everything there is to take -and found clonasepam to be the ONLY thing that works. I doubt the former and hope the latter is not true -at lkeast not without a doctor's supervision.

If the psych "refuses" to prescribe, there is a reason for that. If the reason is unsatisfactory to you, get a second opinion. But "doctor shopping" to get what you think you need is generally NOT such a good idea.

Why not pin the psych down -and then tell everyone here what explanation he or she gives for refusing to write the sript?

[mimimimi]

she wont give me them coz she says they are addictive
ive tried prozac, paxil, zoloft, citalopram, nefazadone, and a couple of others.
i meant the only thing so far.................
im having to change psychiatrist at the moment because of the way she has been towards me.........i have a lot of support in doing this.....its not just my paranoia.........others are disgusted at the treatment i have had to put up with.
i dont want to doctor shop........i just want some help!

[amish1979]

definitely find a new doctor.  Addictive or not she should be able to give you something at least on an as-needed basis.

[teacherman60]

I suffered from what might be thought of as pre-panic attacks from 12 to 20 when I hit panic attacks full tilt. This was about 1967. I am 60 now. It wasn't until I turned 40 that I was diagnosed. First I tried Xanax; it worked, but the withdrawal was murder. Next, I tried Imipramine (sp?), but it left me a zombie. When I started clonazepam, the panic stopped and I really did not have much in the way of side effects.

I have been on clonazepam for 24 years at 2 mg a day. However, in the past few years I have been sliding more and more into depression and generally hide away from the world. I have not worked in 3 months and do not expect to go back for some time yet. (I am not retired) I have recently started taking Effexor for depression (112 mg currently and likely heading for 150 soon). I have found it nearly impossible to stop taking clonazepam over the years. Today, I decided to start a gradual 5 or 6 month reduction to zero to see if clonazepam is related to my depression and to see if my panic attacks will re-occur. Will the Effexor pick up the panic attacks is the question.

What is worse: panic or depression? I would say Panic Attacks. I cannot live in the world even alone with panic. I will let you and those reading this know how it all unfolds for me. After reading so many postings about both drugs, I am very worried about being off or on medications. By the way, my libido has just about totally vanished. So, some success, no panic; some failure; reliance on the meds and side effects most fowl.

[mimimimi]

please let us know how you get on.........wishing you the best xxx