Prozac and klonopin problem

[chrismary]

I am scared. I was taken off prozac 8 months ago. I used to take klonopin and I wanted to quit it so they gave me prozac to replace it. I was taken off because I seemed to have become toxic. My head Is totally rigid and my jaw is real tight. My doctor said I should take this unique opportunity to let myself heal. Well, now they are putting me back on klonopin to relax me and it isn't working very well. Plus I just want to heal and I am scared of klonopin withdrawal again. I could take the whole bottle and it would not benefit me much at this point. What else can I do about this. Will my head stop hurting and will my cells regenerate? I love tranquilizers, but I am really scared and the doctor just refuses to help me or talk with me at all. In fact he is transferring me to another doctor because he is leaving. They said I have a type of akathisia. I am also on neurontin to see if that helps. I would like to take inderal. I was told that my baseline of what is normal would drop out gradually and that I would get better. The zaps are not as bad but they are still there. What would you suggest since I am really afraid? He said go back on the klonpin and then we would work on that later. Well, why? Any help would be so appreciated.
Chrismary
P.S. I had really bad mask face when I was on klonopin and I was told I would loose my vision if I didn't stop it. I am so scared.
Thanks again and help!

[angel813]

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

This is the Ashton Manual site.

[chrismary]

kicking benzosis pure hell. I am really scared because my doc says they are not addictive!!!LOL! They often wean you onto something else...I am informed that possibly clonadine (spelling?) might help with benzo withdrawal...i am on 2 per day or one depending on what I can tolerate. I am livid because they forcing me to take them instead of having me take one when and if I have a panic attack. I would try busbar. They won't give that to me, and I am going to find some on my own if they don't
and also look for a good GP because psych docs are not always that smart. I go off without them..however I am taking them to telax me because the rigidity from the prozac withdrawal is so severe that I don't know what else to do. Any advice on this rigidity? Thorazine is an antipsychotic that does stop a panic attack. I have taken it. Sometimes it gives you a facian droop and a gait. Also maybe night sweats. Benzo withdrawal and healing takes about 6 months but you can go down on benzo's very very slowly and not feel much...like one a month or something too. It's the last one that will get you. After you stop that last one you are on your own. I have done it. It took me 3 years to quit librium. I am going on that benzo site. Thanks ever so.
Chrismary

[jet73]

Hi Dan,

Great websites for benzodiazapines:

www.benzo.org.uk
http://group.yahoo.com/benzo
also, do a search for: the ashton manual online, it is a GREAT source for benzos and how to w/d.

My advice, get off all benzo asap.  They will ruin your life. Each day you take it is one more day of poison changing how your brain works.  I speak from experience, as I am going through a very painful w/d from Xanax. It has been hell.

God Bless!  Jen

[Gryffin900]

Thanks for the info. It looks like you know a lot about benzodizapines. I know it is easy to find info on the internet regarding antidepressants and in books. But it's hard to find info about benzodizapines. It's hard to find info on the internet and in books. Some books might mention them, but not in detail. Do you know of a good website or book that I could learn more about BDZs? Are there any books you know of that are specifically about BDZs? Also what is Thorazine? How could it help me?

Thanks,
DAN

[chrismary]

Valium is really hard to kick. Klonopin at .5 3x per day is nothing.....It might relax you a bit but yeah, it wears off. So does Valium by the way. All benzo's do is kill the anxiety for a bit and the anxiety comes back. Kind of like putting a bandaid on it. In fact they actually can rebound and cause anxiety because your body will manufacuture a craving for them and cause more anxiety to get them. It's called addictive. Klonopin is much easier to get off of than valium. I thought people on klonopin usually take 1 mg 2 times per day. 1 mg should last twelve hours to prevent anxiety. You use klonopin before an attack...not after so much. It prevents panic. Valium treats an attack directly.
Prozac made me hyper and wanting more  benzos. Paxil did too. If you take klonopin just take it as prescribed and tell your doctor if the dose needs to be upped I guess. I would not take valium if I were you unless you actually can't breathe through an attack and can't function. Thorazine is out there still...old but out there.
I'm seeking a prognosis for myself and can't get one. I feel awful.
chrismary

[Gryffin900]

You wrote a comment about one of my posts before about me taking Paxil and Klonopin. I discontinued the use of Paxil because of the hyper effect it gave me and a few other bad side effects. I've been on Remeron for about 3.5 weeks now and am still taking .5 mg of Klonopin 3 times daily. It seems like the Klonopin isn't effecting me the way it use to. It seems to wear off quicker and the anti-anxiety effect isn't as strong as it use to be. One dose would only last about 3 hours or so and now it seems like it lasts even a shorter time now. Isn't Klonopin suppose to last longer? I asked my psychiatrist about taking Valium but he said to stay on klonopin. I know valium lasts longer. Should I be on higher doses of Klonopin? Should I take .5 mg more than 3 times a day? What do you think? How will I know if the Remeron starts to work? What do you think I should do? I hope your doing better than the last time I talked to you.

Thanks,
DAN

[chrismary]

What I am afraid of is klonopin withdrawal...It is awful.
I agree with your assessment, but I have no support in my life for what I am going through. I will review your program.
Chrismary

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

I don't know enough about all the details to give you a specific recommendation, but in general, if you have had this much difficulty with medications and side effects, you should trust your intuition about your body, and let it heal without medication.

Have you already tried relaxation techniques to help you through the withdrawal phase?  Are you in counseling, and dealing with the source of your anxiety rather than the symptoms?  If you want help with the source, you can go to masteringsress.com.