klonopin

[debra_doane1959]

Is it true that once you have been addicted to klonopin you are always considered an addict?

[greenlydia]

First off, one does NOT become ADDICTED to Klonopin. Secondly, who told you this c*r*a*p?
Call any pharmacist right now and they will tell you the same thing!
Peace
Greenlyddia

[abby10]

First off, you told you that one does NOT become ADDICTED to klonopin? Second off, much of the medical establishment does not know how hard it is to get UNADDICTED to these pills.

Although the pharmacist at Walmart did tell me that klonopin was addictive and that one needs to slowly tapper off.

Miss, you are severely uneducated about these pills!!!

abby

[aheart]

You shold not consider yourself an addict, ever. You weren't abusing these pills on purpose were you? Alot of people become dependent on medication, its the nature of the beast.It's only after you already know you have a problem and then decide to do it again anyway that you become an addict. Its called drug tolerance, Just stay aware of what your taking, (educate yourself)  abd be careful with all medicines  aheart:)

[abby10]

A doctor turned me into an addict. I am not a drug seeking type. Have never bought drugs on the streets. When I had a seizure from c/t off xanax and klonipin, I was an addict, not by choice. The hospitals and doctors treat you like an addict, I do not understand why. They look at you like "GET OUT OF MY HOSPITAL,  you're just another addict".  A pharmacist said who are an addict when you "need" the drug and seek it out.

After the seizure I would do almost anything to get more xanax or klonopin to keep alive. Why was I never told about these drugs???

[helpjen]

Just wanted you to know that my doctor had me on Klonopin 1 mg twice a day with Gabitrol (an antiseizure med) to prevent migraines for 3 years.  I didn't know that Klonopin was an anti-anxiety pill or was addictive.  WHen I went off it cold turkey I got really ill and then figured out what was the problem.  I was so angry at my doctor for not telling me about my medications, but shame on me for just taking something without finding out about it. I tapered off it over a long period of time using this great taper schedule on the following site from a treatment facility in great Britian.  Using it, I had no withdrawals, was able to taper off and have never wanted it or used it since.  Try it and good luck.

http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/contents.htm

[debra_doane1959]

I am a nurse and am not ignorant to the fact that I became addicted to klonopin. However I feel that you have been misinformed!  I want to thank all the others for your input.

[lynn57]

I think the point is that you can become dependent on Klonopin, even if you do not abuse it.  That's not necessarily the worst thing.  It helps your anxiety ( better than almost any other med ),  you may require this med to live a normal life.  Diabetics are not considered addicts, but they are dependent on their insulin and would get ill without it.  Many other medical conditions require meds that you will be dependent on for the rest of your life.  It's a matter of survival.  In most of our cases, meds help us do just that.

[abby10]

I agree,

But what's the point using a drug to help with panic and anxiety that only eventually loses it's efficency. At that point you need more, and if you don't take more you can get a "rebound" effect. You will get the very symptoms that you took the drug for in the first place.  Benzo withdrawals mimic panic and anxitey. Thus many people don't realize it is the benzo giving it to them,  so the doctor gives them more and they take more.  Another addict is created!

[lynn57]

If Klonopin is being prescribed for panic attacks and combined with other meds, it should not have to be increased.  If you are using it as a tranquilizer or for a sedative you will need larger amounts over time.  I have decreased from the original amount I took. I still need it for the panic attacks but my anxiety level is controlled with celexa.

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

you can come off klonopin , just taper have done it before its a great med for anxiety, just dont abuse it .

[lynn57]

I am glad to see some positive input.  I too have tapered down so it's not that awful when done properly.  I would hate to see someone that can return to a normal life with the use of meds, give up.  There are dangers to many drugs.  You have to weigh the benefit versus the possibility of future problems.  The pharmacy pamphlets are pretty informative.

[michaxx2]

I love klonopin,I've been using it for years on and off under dr's supervision along with lexapro. I take .5mg once a day and sometimes I take less and sometimes i skip days and I am fine.I weaned off one time veryyyyyyyyy slowly and did good.You have to do it extremely slowly to avoid nasty withdrawals.I never abuse the medication,and my dr explained to me everything about klonopin,how to use it ,not to abuse it,he explained to me about the addiction,dependency and tolerance.So he educated me big time about it before I got on it.Klonopin is a godsend to me.
Good luck
Micha

[abby10]

Your doses are very small, thats good. You are soooooo lucky to have such an incredable doctor. They are far and few between. I was on 8mg xanax and 4mg klonopin a day. An addiction specialist said that benzodiazepines effect your memory and balance, and thats all he said about them. They didn't sound too dangerous to me.

Those pills almost killed me!!!

[debra_doane1959]

I have done some medical research (mine) and found out that I had been on the drug klonopin for 17 years! Before before abruptly  being taken off of it at the hosp without any help.

[michaxx2]

OMG Abby that is wayyyyyy too much of benzo that u've been taking...no wonder why they almost killed you....see ..I  never take any medication without doing tons of research about it...it took me a while to be able to try lexapro and klonopin and today I thank my dr for giving me my life back....I am a very anxious person,I've always been like that,I dwell about nothing and everything...and I got fed up to live like that....today I can say I enjoy life and life is too short to living it miserably.Now,there are people out there who really abuse it and that is dangerous..and the biggest mistake that people do is not getting educated about the medication...but like I said I am very aware of the abuse and their consequenses..so i am very very careful....and I have an awesome dr thank God...I always follow up with him....my sister has been on klonopin .5mg one pill a day for years and never had to increase...anxiety runs in my family...and she is doing pretty well on .5mg. So far so good for both of us...
Klonopin comes in liquid too from compound pharmacies...so weaning off using liquid klonopin is a good idea...like going down from .5 to .45 for a month then to .4 for another month and so on....yes it will take time to quit but who cares? it is not a race...just doing it slowwwwwwwly is the safest way.....
Micha

[michaxx2]

And by the way Abby I hope you are doing better now....are you off completely from benzo?

[abby10]

My last dose was 10/28/08. I am still having a very hard time. But there is improvement. I research everything now, but years ago the internet was new. My sister was a nurse and she gave me valium occasionally.  They made me so relaxed and calmed my nerves. When the valium ran out I never had a problem stopping them. So I found out the hard way.

[michaxx2]

you mean 3 days ago?wow.....I am sorry you are still having a hard time..but you will get better...hang in there....  :)

[abby10]

Yep! 3 days ago, I started a tapper 1 year ago. It's still tough, but it certainly has gotten better. It takes a very long time to get better from a benzo addiction.

[michaxx2]

You know Abby sometimes adding an antidepressant can help with the withdrawals.....I donno if you wanna do that but that's what my dr told me and I believe everything he tells me....I trust him ....I have been on lexapro on and off and weaned off without any problems at all....so maybe you wanna considerate that?

[abby10]

I've tried them all. Lexapro, all of them. Paxil was the only one that seemed to calm things down, but I stopped that too. I don't need them. I have a lot of nervous energy and that's just the way I'm wired. Actually learning to get through the horrors of withdrawaling from benzo's has helped me deal with things much better. Life is one big panic attack coming off them. I did take Seroquel during the really bad time, it helped my blood pressure and helped me sleep. But I'm done with that too. I just want my life back the way it used to be, befor the pills. I thought I had anxiety and panic, but looking back it really wasn't so bad. I got addicted to 3mg of ativan a day. Everything went down hill from there. But now I'm getting my life back. You don't know what you got till it's gone!

Thanks Micha

[michaxx2]

You are absolutely right Abby!!!!

[konyha]

The only person who can say you are an addict is you.