Klonopin questions - important!!!

[caseysmom4]

Hello, I don't know if anyone remembers me from about 3 mos ago - I posted about a Vicodin addiction and IBK really helped me with some advice I needed. I was only at 4-6 7.5's a day but still felt withdrawls if I stopped, I didn't stop right away, I actually went up for awhile but  reading these posts & hearing people stories inspired me and I managed to get it under control, haven't completely stopped but went from 6 10's a day in the last month to tapering down to 3 a day now. Hoping to stop soon but still have to work every day and take care of my 2 yr old, But anyway my question is about Klonopin, I have been on Klonopin for about 2 yrs due to exreme panic attacks after my daughter was born. I am only prescribed .5 mg 2x a day and rarely take that much. Some days I didn't take any - depending on how I was feeling. I never got "high" from them, the first couple of weeks they would make me fall asleep but after that it would only relieve my attack and make my heart palpitaions stop and make me be able to function. In the beginning I would take the 2 a day sometimes 3 because the attacks were really bad, I went to the hospital 2x thinking I was having a heart attack  before they said they were panic attcks (after I had my daughter I was home for 2 days and went into post-eclampsia and went into congestive heart failure because of all the fluid build up & my lungs filled with fluid), so anyway they finally diagnosed me with Post Traumatic stress which caused the panic attacks). So sorry for being long winded but I have been reading this web site for 5 mos and know the 1st thought is always that your making excuses for your addiction - and I really don't feel that I have an addiction to Klonopin - I only take as needed but after all this my question is after only taking for the last 5-6 mos about 1, half a mg pill every night, very rarely 2 - .5 mgs if its a bad one, this past month my husband starting taking my pills - I only have 4 left and my refill isn't due til 1/14, If I don't take them other than for having a full blown panic attack, which I haven't had in awhile because I know how to catch it before it gets that far now - and I think I can make it through with some breathing exercises, but I'm freaking because I've heard that you can have seizures and possibly die from Klonopin withdrawal, so at this dose do I have to worry about having a seizure if I don't take any for a few days or should I just space them out in a certain way, if I have an attack I can try to make it through with just laying down and breathing exercises - I can possibly get them from someone I know to make it through but I don't want to if I don't have to. So in your opinion (anyone) if I run out cold turkey will I have a seizure or major medical problem or with 4 can I make it through til the 14th. I'm getting panicky just thinking about - hence the long post - sorry. I'm prone to panic attacks and really, really hate that feeling and am so mad at my husband for just taking them. It's not like the Vics where you feel like **** but can manage - when I have a panic attack I literally feel like I'm going to die (can't breathe, heart palpitation, throat feels likes it's closing etc. So again should I worry about major medical problems with just stopping them cold turkey or should I break them up into halves even though they are only half a mg to begin with. And that's still not enough to get me to the 14th. Thank you in advance for any help. I'm kinda freaking here if you can't tell. I only keep a few in my purse for emergencys and just looked at my bottle and realized how many were in there.

[mom2amj]

I am on the same dose .5 twice a day.  It is a pretty low dose so the chance of seizure is not likely.  If it will make you feel less anxious, call your doctor and be truthful with him about what happened.  if your insurance won't pay for it becasue it is too soon, ask for a different benzo like Ativan it isn't quite as loopy feeling as klono and I think it lasts a little longer and makes the day a little smoother.  Eight days isn't too long, but the more you worry the more likely an attack will come on.  Something else to try would be an herbal supplement, ask someone at GNC what works....I have a friend who suffers from anxiety and depression and swears by homeopathic methods she will not take px meds, it's worth a shot!
GOOD LUCK!

[IBKleen]

Hi Sweetie!

I just saw this post. I must have been in dream land when you posted it.

Good to see you are still around and making progress.

I don't now a darn thing about Klonopin, but it seems you got some darn good advise here.

Take care. Hope to see you post more.

[cec1491]

If you do quit.. i would strongly SUGGEST having your doctors approval and they will tell you how to correctly do it. your doctor knows your body.

[makinit]

Hello Caseysmom,
    Benzo's can be a tricky drug to detox from, but you have some good things in your favor.
-your not abusing them/high doses
-you have a grip on how to cope with your panic attacks
- a positive attutude of wanting to get off of this drug
But I have some important information on how to get off of benzo's with no withdrawals at all, if you follow the plan that has been proven to work. It is the safest method known, worldwide. This method is by Dr. Heather Ashton, ie THE ASHTON MANUAL (strictly for info on detoxing from all the benzo's safely)

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

Click on chapter II and chapter III

chapter II explains how to withdraw after long term use (long term for benzo's are someone who uses the drug for more than 4 weeks)

chapter III explains a withdrawal schedule (schedule 5 is the one you will need to complete, dealing with your current dose of klonopin/clonazepam)

As a Dr. and Professor, Dr. heather Ashton is a professor at the University of Newcastle and has studied withdrawal from benzodiazepines in her own clinic. Clinic of studies/trials and research from Benzo withdrawals for many years. This is, in my opinion, the most accurate knowledge that anyone can give you with the highest suscess rate. You may want to print out all this information and show it to your doctor, if you feel ok in doing that. It may give your doctor an idea of what route you may be seeking.

                                               Hope this works for you!
                                               It's worked for many others I know,
                                               including myself...

                                               With Respect and Care,
                                                    David/makinit

[cec1491]

H ok I know for a fact that everyone is different. and not everyone expierences seizures but it is possible even if you have taken just a few a day for a month.. your body gets immune to those drugs and kinda freaks out if you dont have them..but keep positive. And just like vicodin and anyother drug that effects your nervous system and brain. If you feel "not normal" and start to worry then just go to the er and tell them that you have bad anxiety and you need more meds. they will help. just tell them your situation..I useto be addicted to vicodin, percocets, and xanax. I have been clean for one year :)  And you can get thru this too... lots of people do it. Just stay positive.. tell yourself you can do this.. see your not doing the drugs there doing you. if you feel as you wouldnt know what to do without them and freak out. try not to pannic and keep your head up. stay head strong.--best of luck.. oh and also it only takes aboit 3-4 days for the drug to get out of your system. DO what you think is best whether it's hanging in there or going to see a doctor. you know your body better than anyone else..:)

[road2recovery]

first relax, i know all to well about what you are going through...U will be ok, they have a very long half life...you are not taking a high dosage and not for a long time..

for me 3 yrs ago i quit c/t had no idea i would go into w/d's never even read on the computer at all...I was a very high dose for 2 yrs...IT was hell for over 3 weeks, but i did not siez , and i am still here..
i would try and make those 4 last.....the more u think about it the worst it is....i know i have been there...I also never took them to get high, i have EXACTLY what you have..

AS far as hubby goes, well lets just say , he should feel bad for this..
good luck and the breathing treatments work wonders...and not the paper bag lol.....
r2r

[Savas]

First, stop panicking. :)

If you can skip days on end, you don't have to worry about seizure and other serious side effects. That applies to long term high daily usage.

Your going to have to try not to think about it; as you pointed, there's a mental catch-22 here where you WILL get a panic attack from obsessing on it.

As far as your husband goes...I don't know what to tell you, except if he feels he needs this med, he should see a doctor. But illicit use is a bad way to start out and will make him getting a prescription difficult. You should consider locking up your med's. They are YOUR med's, and what he's doing is wrong on so many levels, legal and moral.
You should also consider trying to stop using them. If you can go days without it...it means you're halfway to not needing it. This drug does have a physical rebound effect where used long enough you'll get panic attacks because you don't have the drug (fun, eh?)

You sound like you've done a good job at realizing the need for alternate disciplines for dealing with stress and panic. I'd say you're a prime candidate for taking it further and realizing the potential of a drug free, panic free happy life.