clonazepam

[esther42]

I used and abused clonazepam (Ritrovil) for 15 some years.  A little over two months ago, I decided to stop taking it.  I went "cold turkey".  For weeks I had all the withdrawal side effects (headaches, rocking, anxiety, insomnia, fear, sweaty palms and feet, and many, many more)- all within weeks.  I ended up in the hospital because about 10 days after stoping the medicine, I started to have violent thoughts against my in-laws and son.  I paniced and went to the hospital.  By then, I was going 48 hours without sleep.  The doctor gave me an antidepressant to help me sleep but I stopped it a few days after getting out of the hospital because the headaches, tunnel and blurred vision were too much to bare.  

I was left with severe anxiety, poor sleep and the violent thoughts.  The violent thoughts themselves cause severe fear, diarrea (diarrhea), nausea, lack of appetite, etc.

I know now that I should have never gotten off the sedative so abruptly.  But the violent thoughts are so overwhelming sometimes that I wonder if I should go back to it or take an antidepressant (which one, is the question).

My questiones are these: are the thoughts due to the withdrawal? If so, will they go away in time?  Or are they a part of me I did not know about and must be medicated for it?
Are there any successful alternative cure of violent thoughts?
Thank you.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

Yes there are alternatives therapies for violent thoughts. YOur medication suppressed the thoughts, but the thoughts have some meaning.  The meaning may not be as obvious as it seems. Correctly interpreting these thoughts, and coming to a new and better understanding, is the very best way to resolve them permanently.

It is good to use medication to help you  get more control sooner and stop the vicious symptom cycle you described here.  Going back to clonazepam, under a doctors monitoring, is a quick way to do that. Starting an antidepressant at the same time and waiting for it to kick in, is also a good idea.  When it kicks in you can lower the dose of clonazepam or get off of it.  AGain, you should not self medicate. These are suggestions that should be discussed with your doctor.

[Skizo]

Slow withdrawal under medical supervision from clonazepam.

Consider SSRs, beside their beneficial effect on depression and axiety, they are good to help control impulses.

I have seen some people with similar impulses (or fears) who had an obssesive-compulsive make up

All these should be explored in therapy.

[britgirl]

Is this the same as Zuclopenthixol? I know people who have had a similar reaction as you if it is.

[writepooh7]

I have been on konopin for 12 yrs I would love to stop its scarry social phobia they gave me celexa but still have not stoped the clanazapam thanks

[Kelp]

Your thoughts from the withdrawl of clonazapam could just be a withdrawl effect. The issue is why were you prescribed this in the first place. Was it for thoughts or was it for anxiety or both. Clonazapam is highly addictive and I am surprised your doctor did not prescribe you an anti- depressent and reduce the clonazapam slowly. From the sounds of this your doctor was very irresposible. I have been on Clonazapam but it is a short term fix for about 6 months tops until an anti-depressant fully kicks in. As in an earlier post the SSRI group are known to be good at controlling thoughts. I take Luvox. There are very few side affects to these drugs and most disappear within three months.
Hope this helps
Kelp

[JennXor]

I have been diagnosed with major depressive disorder as well as social anxiety and panic disorder!  I'm using a combination of drug and psycho therapy.  I take Klonopin, Wellbutrin SR, and Paxil CR for these problems.  I too have had violent thoughts toward people I would never think of hurting.  It's a very frightening and disturbing thing.  When it happened to me, I panicked and went to the hospital too.  
I talked to many doctors and nurses while I was there, and it really reassured me to hear that violent thoughts toward yourself and/or others is a *symptom* of the disease that is depression.  I would suggest that you see a therapist and continue on antidepressants.  I cannot stress strongly enough that YOU SHOULD NOT TAMPER WITH YOUR DOSAGE!!!!!  Your treatment will be much less effective if you do so.  The side effects can be daunting for the first few weeks, but they do go away.  Be strong, and know that you're not alone.  :)

[Olin]

you are lucky you did not die from withdrawl from clonaz your dose must have been low but the amount of time you were on it it is amazing your doc let this happen. The dose I am On 6-8 mgs a day for 4 yrs. both of my doc say that I could be dead within 4-5 days they are the top addiction doc's in Canada and they also do consult's on research in the U.S. Very few addictions doctor's I have met know the phsyco active drugs like these guys and in fact one of them phsyc docs can't hold a candle to never stop long term or high dose cold turkey. Valium is a far less prescribed drug due to these reasons amoung other's. The docs have wised up and started using benzo's for specifics instead of V's as a cure all

[chrismary]

They are giving be clonazepam again because I had an adverse reaction to prozac. I was previously on clonazepam for 12 years after using xanax for 12 years. I think you can quit it by going down 1/2 tab ever 100 hours when you are ready to...or 1/2 tab every week or month or year..just do it real slow. Can you tell me who the drs. in Canada are? My   prozac problem is very strange. I would like to talk to someone.
Thanks
Chrismary

[supafreak]

i can understand your problem with the obsessive thoughts about violence against your loved ones.  THIS IS NOT A REFLECTION OF YOU AS A PERSON!!!  THIS IS LIKELY NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD EVER DO!  It sounds like a classic case of obsessive compulsive disorder.  The obsessions refer to unwanted thoughts that cripple you.  Often, but not always these thoughts are of sexual nature, religous nature (eg "I hate god"), or of physically doing harm to someone else, espically a loved one.  This does not mean that you want these things to happen, or that you would ever do them.  I also suffer from bothersom thoughts, and the guilt that goes along with this can be unbearable.  I have found that the medication anafranil has helped quit bit.  I wish you all the best

[supafreak]

i can understand your problem with the obsessive thoughts about violence against your loved ones.  THIS IS NOT A REFLECTION OF YOU AS A PERSON!!!  THIS IS LIKELY NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD EVER DO!  It sounds like a classic case of obsessive compulsive disorder.  The obsessions refer to unwanted thoughts that cripple you.  Often, but not always these thoughts are of sexual nature, religous nature (eg "I hate god"), or of physically doing harm to someone else, espically a loved one.  This does not mean that you want these things to happen, or that you would ever do them.  I also suffer from bothersom thoughts, and the guilt that goes along with this can be unbearable.  I have found that the medication anafranil has helped quit bit.  I wish you all the best

[supafreak]

i can understand your problem with the obsessive thoughts about violence against your loved ones.  THIS IS NOT A REFLECTION OF YOU AS A PERSON!!!  THIS IS LIKELY NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD EVER DO!  It sounds like a classic case of obsessive compulsive disorder.  The obsessions refer to unwanted thoughts that cripple you.  Often, but not always these thoughts are of sexual nature, religous nature (eg "I hate god"), or of physically doing harm to someone else, espically a loved one.  This does not mean that you want these things to happen, or that you would ever do them.  I also suffer from bothersom thoughts, and the guilt that goes along with this can be unbearable.  I have found that the medication anafranil has helped quit bit.  I wish you all the best