Can antidepressants ease the benzo's withdrawl?

[melbatoast64]

I'm currently on lexapro and wellbutrin. I don't take klonopin every day, but i take enough to label it as abuse. I hear that cutting benzo's out of your regimen can cause a lot of anxiety, depression, and even seizures. Will my antidepressants someone help with those symptoms?

[caviar]

I NEVER HAD DEPRESSION NOR ANXIETY UNTIL I WAS GIVEN BENZOS FOR SLEEP WITHIN 9 WEEKS AT ONE A NIGHT I WAS A MESS SLEPT A BIT BUT THE ANXIETY WAS BAD THEN CAME DEPRESSION WAS TOLD A PSYCH WOULD NO BETTER THAN DR HOW TO REDUCE WELL WRONG HE DID IT SO FAST I HAD SUCH A BAD PSHYCOTIC EPISODE PRIOR TO THIS HAVE NEVER HAD MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS ITS A LONG STORY OF MISDIAGNOSIS SEIZURE AND LIVING HELL FROM THEN ON I WARN EVERYONE NEVER TOUCH BENZOS  I WAS DIAGNOSED AS ALL SORTS OF THINGS TO THIS DAY I GOT MYSELF DOWN TO 2 MG VALIUM AT  WAS SLEEPIN OK BUT CALLING OUT WHICH WAS A REACTION FROM WITHDRAWAL AND HAND CLAPPING

[charliecallie]

No problem.  I just feel for you.  I have been on some many different drugs and have had so many doc say, "take this, take that".  That is what got me in trouble in the first place.  

If you can, read some books by Dr. Peter Breggin who has incredible insight into drugs and how they interact.  His books have been a godsend to me.  I truly thought I was going crazy.  

-chuck

[melbatoast64]

thank you. sometimes i think the depression might be caused by the benzo's or the benzo's by depression...not sure...kind of a chicken or egg question. Thanks for the support.

[charliecallie]

Melba,

Whatever you do, I sincerely wish you well.  Been there, done that.   You will get through it.  The depression I was being treated for left after I stopped the benzos.  Though, the process was long but well worth it.

-Chuck

[melbatoast64]

Yeah, I think the Lexapro should help somewhat. I'm a big advocate of lexapro. I have tried cymbalta and prozac...both gave me horrible side effects. Klonopin is used to taper off of other benzo's because it is the longest-acting, and its effects kick in a lot slower. Therefore, you do not get the instant gratification that you would get on xanax which is the most fast-acting and has the shortest half-life.

[melbatoast64]

Thank you for the suggestion. However, I believe Klonopin's have the longest half-life of all the benzo's. It's supposed to be the least addictive (although that is not saying much at all). Oh well, at least I know others have withdrawn and survived :)

[worried878]

I would think an AD designed for anxiety would be of benefit...i took an anti-depressent before and after detox for about 4 months and got off when i felt better.....zoloft and paxil are often prescribed for high anxiety and it helps...my daughter who has a mild OCD disorder is a totally different person when she stops her zoloft...talk to ur doctor as there are so many ADs and it is hard to find the right one for u......i saw the post about klonopin being used to taper off of valium which is strange as klonopin is stronger than valium...slow tapers can help immensely..there is a site....benzo dot org dot uk....some great info there,,,keep posting

[charliecallie]

Melba,

I would ask your doctor if he could substitute valium for the klonopin.  As the above posters have said, klonopin is a hard drug to (not impossible if you have help) to withdrawal from.  

It really doesn't matter if you are on an antidepressant, you will still have withdrawals from a benzo.  Been there.   But changing over to valium which has a long half life might be helpful when tapering.

Many of us have been where you have been.  You can get through it.  It just takes time. And at least you see the need for change.

good luck

Chuck

[melbatoast64]

Thank you. That was helpful :)

[lynnkay]

Antidepressants are good, if you find the right ones. I am bipolar and have been on many antidepressants. When you are bipolar you have episodes of depression and mania. Antidepressants help my depressions. But, usually for mania, antipshychotics are used. Such as seroquel and geodon. Even been prescribed seizure meds. Seizure meds help with being bipolar. Don't like the antipsychotics nor the seizure meds. Put me in another world so to speak. For over 3 years, I have been on valium. It can be used to treat mania. Plus, I am a real high strung person. Always had issues with extreme anxiety. So, I am on Celexa and valium and I am stable mentally. But, I do agree that valium is highly addictive. I do use my valium according to my doc's instructions. Earlier this year, I did ween myself off the valium. And it was tough as all get out. So, for some months I was off the valium. In recent months though, I am now back on valium. I did not do well at all without it. I got so bad, I almost couldn't even stand myself. If you know what I mean. I do understand and sympathize with addiction though. My ex-husband was an addict, my son was an addict and now my daughter is going through it. My son is now clean and has been for 5 years. He took anything and everything. My daughter is hooked on painkillers. Has been for several years. And I am so worried. I have never been given klonopin. I do know xanax just as addictive almost as valium. I hate xanax. Because I am bipolar, I cannot take it. I do okay on it for a few day, then it makes me so irritable. Strange that it would react that way, but being bipolar have to be careful of what meds I take. The wrong med can make me worse. But, I am on valium and may have to be on them the rest of my life. Does that make me an addict? I do not know. That is why I did try to go off of valium some months back. I know they are highly addictive. I am a strong willed person and I did get off of them. Did okay for a few months. But, now I am back on them. But, I agree never stop something cold turkey. Can be very dangerous. Even with antidepressants a person has to be weened from them. Sorry this so long. I wish you both the very best. I did ween myself from valium and it was a rough ride. Just my bit of input. Hope it helped in some way. I get a little carried away. But, bottom line I do try to help people. You all hang in there.

[melbatoast64]

Thanks for the response. I do have days that I don't take Klonopin, and I feel fine. I'm told that it's because it has such a long half-life that it's probably always in my system. I'm very scared to go off of it...it's always been such a crutch, but at this point it seems to be doing more harm than good. The lexapro takes care of my anxiety pretty well, and the wellbutrin just wiped out my depression. Oh well. Wish me luck!

[Ladytexan2]

Hi there..... I have been there done that with Valium.  It really sucked and was very very tough to break free from.  I went into severe withdrawl syndrome when my ortho doctor switched me from Valium to Klonipin without first weaning me off of the Valium.  I had been on the Valium for 14 months at up to 30 mg a day.  After a week of Klonopin which made me sleep all day long I started getting sick to my stomach to where I could not eat.  After a week of that I called my doctor and told him I thought the Klonopin was making me sick so he took me off of it after 2 weeks.  Within 2 days things really went to pot!  I started really getting sick to my stomach, shaking, muscles jumping (leg jumping up, arms jumping up all by themselves) severe muscle spasms, pin and needles all over that would move from place to place along with the muscle spasms (felt like a spider crawling or something) severe severe insomnia!!  I also was having attacks of having trouble breathing that I have since found out was from anxiety which is the number one symptom from the withdrawl.  Be very very careful with the benzos.  They say that Valium is the most addictive prescription drug there is and the hardest to break free from.  My primary care doctor had to put me back on the Valium and wean me off of it the proper way and still even that way it was tough.  I now take Hydroxizine for anxiety that I did not have like this prior to using the Valium.  I keep hoping that that will go back to normal eventually but have read that withdrawl after taking it so long can take months or even up to a year after taking the last dose to get out of your system!  Now I am having trouble with the Lyrica side effects great huh?  Any way just wanted to let you know how bad the withdrawl is from the benzos the longer you take it the harder it is and please do not what ever you do try to go cold turkey off of it!!  It is very very dangerous.  If you can seek the help of your doctor to help wean you off.

TC and God bless you and yours with each step and breath you take.