Clonazepam Withdrawal Symtoms

[melanie54]

I have been taking clonazepam over the past 5 years.  Recently I have tried to get off of the medication because I would like to become pregnant.  I know that clonazepam causes serious birth defects and am currently on birth control.  I use to take 2 2mg. tablets at bedtime.  I have been diagnosed with PTSD for awhile now.  I use to take zypexa and gained about 50 lbs.  I used to weigh 135 and went up to 180.  I have lost 25 lbs. though with regular exercise and am now 165.  Anyway...in the last 4 months I have been cutting my clonazepam down gradually.  I am also taking Trazadone to help me sleep.  Right now I am taking 100mg of Trazadone at bedtime and I cut my clonazepam down to .5 mg.  I have done this slowly and followed ny Dr.'s advice. However, ever since I started to cut it down  I have been having extreme bloating and numbness under my chin.  I realize that I need to lose some more weight but I have actually lost weight.  I know that clonazepam depresses the CNS.  Could this be how I will ALWAYS feel without clonazepam?  It's a horrible feeling.  My whole face feels numb.  I have been extremely irritable.  And it just only started since I have neen lowering my clonazepam.  I feel really goofy and out of it at times.  I have actually been laughing more although I feel rather stupid and childish.  I was just wondering if this bloated/numbness feeling is a withdrawal symtom or if this is how my body really feels without clonazepam.  And also, what are the withdrawal symtoms?  Could Trazadone be playing a part in this as well?  Please help:(

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

It is very unlikely that the bloating and numbness have anything at all to do with withdrawal from clonazepam.  It is an anxiety suppressant, so feeling giddy and laughing may be more a natural reaction that has come back after a long period of suppression.



The Trazadone is also not a factor in the bloating.  When you go off altogether you will not have any symptoms if you go down to the smallest possible dose every third day in the third week, and then stop.



The only withdrawal symptom to worry about is seizures, and that won't happen with this three week cut down schedule.

[melanie54]

P.S. This feeling that I described above also just seems to happen near the end of the day.  Could this be because my meds are wearing off sooner? Or is this a part of my PTSD.  Could I be having anxiety that would cause the numness feeling?  If anyone has any advise...I would greatly appreciate it...Thanks!

[fullmergavin]

I'm not a medical doc, but I myself have taken about 60 1mg of these pills since August, and I can tell you, I've gone through hell and back just cutting back from about three fourths of a pill per day down to 0.5 per day. At first, I wasn't taking them everyday, but than I started to on a daily basis for the purposes of restful sleep, and the whole thing has just been crazy. My thinking is all distorted on this stuff, so I'm getting off of it asap.



I have also experienced several of the same symptoms that you have mentioned, and don't be surprised-my physician told me, after the fact, mind you, that this stuff is essentially a very mild form of the LSD drug.



So don't be surprised whatsoever in terms of the symptoms you're going through. To be able to go from 4mg per day down to 0.5 is very impressive. Based on what I've read, few can do that on their own without ending up in some psych ward, so you should be proud of yourself, ma'am.



I have been trying to get some clarification into the actual dangers of withdrawal from this stuff. Some docs believe that you can't get addicted to it AT ALL, while others say that Klonopin, this drug in particular, can cause very serious, if not outright dangerous withdrawal symptoms, even after just a couple of months of use.



It will be interesting to see what type of response you get. Good luck to you, ma'am.

[melanie54]

Thank you for your input.  I just got my response from the M.D.  I can't necessarily agree that there are no withdrawal symptoms based on what I have experienced.  I have tried three seperate times to go off of clonazepam and everytime I have had a rough time.  I have had crazy dreams every night.  I have also had an increased sense to light and sounds.  It is kind-of scary that the side effect to worry about is a seizure, but I honestly think that there has to be more withdrawal symtoms than that.  My face feels numb for about a week after I cut my clonazepam down and then I feel ok until I do it again, but it is just a horrible feeling!  Do you have any symptoms when you don't take it?  I have looked at several web sites and there are not really any listed.  My Dr. tells me that it will cause body aches but that is about it.  That is why I am on here to see if anybody that actually takes it and knows what it does has any funky withdrawal symtoms.  Thank you.

[melanie54]

Ok...And this might be a stupid question but is Klonopin the same as  clonazepam?

[fresnoborn]

i used to take trazadone and it made me look swollen. it helped me sleep even though i had vivid dreams. i stopped taking it cause i looked sooo swollen. good luck to you. lol

[fullmergavin]

Yes, Klonopin=Clonazepam. Klonopin is the generic version, but I'm on the same one you are.



The bottomline, Mel, I'm not a medical doc, but I would really, really have to imagine that you've weathered 95% of the storm. If you've already cut it by 80%+ over that long of a period, I mean, I would have to think the worse part of it is clearly over with.



I did read an article one time that mentioned patients withdrawing from these types of medications should have their blood drawn for zinc, copper, magnesium, B6, and B12, the latter was the most important, evidently. So that's something you can ask your doc about I suppose to see if it would be warranted in your case.



Beyond that, however, I'm sure you'll be ok. The doc already wrote you something here I think, didn't he? So I would follow up on his advise, as well as what your own doc has to say about things, and you'll be just fine. A lot of this can just be the imagination, too, although I will deny that in every capacity when it comes the withdrawals of this med at a personal level. It's just a strange medication all around. I'm bailing, too~.

[m4]

I only took .5 mg once a day before bed to help me sleep through the night. I was also taking 300 mg of Wellbutrin a day. I decided after one year of being on the Clonazepam to    stop taking it. Just 4 days after I stopped, I started having horrible withdrawl symtoms...such as electric shock pulses that ran through my arms and leg. I also experienced a very strange, heavy, dizzy feeling in my head, almost as if my head was so full of water. I called my Doctor and he told me that Clonazapam didn't have withdrawl symtoms and I just wouldn't accept that answer. I continued to stay off of the Clonazapam and had continued with those symtoms for about seven days until they gradually went away. I think it depends on the person as to the severity of the withdrawls. Everyone is so different in so many ways. I think that's why some of those types of drugs work for some and don't work for others. I just hate that I feel I have to rely on drugs to make me feel better mentally.



The withdrawls won't last forever!!! Remember that!



P.S. I also had withdrawls from Wellbutrin when I tried to quit that drug too.

[kd414]

I am so very glad that I have discovered this web site. I thought I was losing my mind. I feel better just knowing that I am not alone with this. I literally thought I was going to die when I tried to wean off of Effexor XR, then it was onto Zoloft, which destroyed my sex drive. Then I was switched to Wellbutrin XL. I used Clonazepam for sleep. I am currently weaning off of both. I am on a every other day on the Wellbutrin XL and cold turkey on the Clonazepam. I have constant headaches and starting yesterday dizziness. I have not taken clonazepam for over a week now. I am determined to get through this. Not one single DR, every mentioned the possiblility of seizure. I wish they would tell us EVERYTHING before they start us on medications. Personally I think they should take Effexor off the market. Everyone we are in this together. I am tired of being tired all the time. I was told the Wellbutrin would give me more energy....hmmmmm it hasn't done that.

Godd luck everyone.

[toadfrog]

I have been taken off of Clonazepam over a week ago. I have been feeling really bad and was just looking for someone to tell me the things I am experiencing are normal. Feelings of fainting, headaches, numbness in my hands, feeling out of control and wanting to cry? I had to leave work the other day because I just couldn't get it together. I just feel like giving in and going back on it to make these feelings go away

[kd414]

I know what you are feeling. I am going through the same. You are not alone. I am new to this site, but not new to the problem. I am so determined to be off of this. My worst symtom is this constant nagging headache and being unable to sleep. I too am crying again. I am hoping that all of this will pass. Maybe someone who has been through this will respond. Good luck and God Bless

[toadfrog]

Thanks for writing me back. I also am new to this sight, I just found it today. It is good to know there is other people out there with the same situation,after awhile you feel like maybe your just going crazy. How long have you been on this medication? I've been on it for 3 years and I'm only 27. I really hope this isn't something I will have to fight with for the rest of my life because I don't think I'll be able to. Thank you again and I wish the best for you in your recovery.

[Zenda]

This is a drug I feel should not be prescribed.  While I've suffered for anxiety my entire adult life, I've been on this for 13 years, and before that Ativan.  I've never been able to successfully get off of this medication.  It really does make me feel like a drug addict.  If I don't take it one morning, I am a mess.  If I run out and can't get the medication refilled over a weekend, I will be suffering horrible withdrawel all weekend.  Here I am, not a heroin addict or anything, feeling like I am a drug addict, and I am a drug addict.  I am not only hoping to get off of this medication, but also Paxil.  What I am considering for getting off of this medication and Paxil is to put myself in a drug rehab clinic for a month or 2 weeks and stop all of it . . . at least I will be in an environment where I do not have to deal with anything else.  



I'm not sure doctor's are aware of how difficult it is to get off of these medications