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Klonopin withdrawl permanent nerve damage
I was precribed Klonipin for 10 years along with ambien and an antidepressant. For 5 of those 10 I was addicted to Klonopin, ambien and started drinking. At the end of my addiction, I was taking handfuls of klonopin and sleeping pills a day. I also drank two bottles of wine a day with them. I wound up overdosing on a coctail of klonopin, over the counter sleeping pills and alcohol. When hospitalized my doctor had to take me off Klonopin fast in order to get me into a rehab. He weaned me off Klonopin in 3 days. A week later while in rehab I experienced numbness in my face, mouth, tongue, arm, leg, and neck. My balance was way off, my taste was messed up, my tongue and face constantly burned and tingled. This was added to the usual withdrawl of trembling. no sleep for 14 days, and so on. A month later I was able to see a neurologist. After tests he decided it probably was caused by the alchohol over time without me even noticing it. He said it will heal itself in 6 months. It's now 1 1/2 years and it seems worse. Also, I went through time each day where I wasnt drinking and I would have definately noticed this because it is extremely painful!!! After research , I am convinced this damage was caused by the very quick and painful withdrawl of klonopin. I would love some input on anyone who has developed permanent damage from withdrawling from klonopin. Help!!!
I was on 1 mg of xanax twice a day. Over time I went up to 3 and 4 mg a day. I had to come off of it on vacation because I ran out. I did not think it would be a big deal. IT WAS! Holy crap. I thought I was on methadone or something. Everthing was so intense. I thought people where watching me. My face tingle from the top of my head to bottom of my chin. I got back home and took my meds. I was better in 30 minutes. Went to sleep for 12 hours. I guess because I could not sleep for 3 days while I was off. I started researching xanax and benzos. Found out how very bad this drug was. 1 out of 8 are addicted in Australia. Most prescribed drug worldwide, xanax. I decided to come off. Took me 15 to 20 times of trying. I have been off for 2 years. Still have tingling in my nose and above upper lip. I am much happier. My mind can handle anxiety much better off of xanax. It's insane. I had a doctor tell me that xanax was designed for 5 to 7 days of use at most. It is meant for when you have a very dramatic loss in your life. At any rate I hope this helped. I'm not saying get off of them. I am saying that when you do get off, you will get your life back. I understand the struggle I wish anyone the best. Take care
My heart so goes out to you.
I am much older than you,and throughout my life I have been greatly 'abused' by these type of medications the so-called 'professionals' insisted I take. Turns out I have a severe case of hypothyroiditism- I have so many things to say, to communicate about all the 'drugs ' the Docs insisted I 'try' or take,there is not enough room here. Maybe we can email. I am trying to wean myself off of the 1-3 mg of klonopin I take at bedtime, to sleep, for longstanding insomnia. Tonight I am going to try to take 1/2 mg,and see if I can sleep at all.I pray I will.
I am convinced that klonopin,which seems so great in the very beginning, for severe anxiety and panic states, well I am convinced that it is POISON. In my internet researches I have discovered that it can cause a profound general deterioration in health and function.THAT is what has happened to me since I started taking it in late January 2008.....I have had a profound physical deterioration. This drug- if you google it,and read every thing, you will try to wean yourself off of it gradually. Serzone I had a very traumatic severe problem with about 12 years ago; after only a few days I grew very sucidal (though I would not have carried it out, but I FELT so bad). The feelings dissipated after the Dr. took me off the serzone. I had had a concussion, been on meclizine and valium and some other wierd things- the Quack Doc injected my skull above my ear where I had the concussion pain, with a wierd nerve block drug or something (I was trying to comply) and my face turned sort of green...this same quack put me on serzone...ended up in crisis in hospital......messed up my life terribly, all these drugs !
As a child, I suffered from insomnia at times. I had a very unhappy childhood indeed- a sad, lonely one. I remember my Mother giving me when I was around 8 or 9, BELLADONNA, which helped me sleep, It maybe was only 1 , 2 or 3 times. Later, one time I begged her for some 'belladonna'. She said she shouldnt give it to me,and also that they were not prescribing it anymore.I believe my problems started then and there, when she did give me belladonna. It was easier to give me a half of her 'pill', than to talk to me, rub my feet,stroke my face, rub my hands with lotion, reassure me, read to me. Such is the case with the Medical profession generally,and esp. in America. Give em a drug ,when they just need normal human contact, understanding,compassion, support. Most of us who use these drugs or have used them, did not feel loved as a child. I am so glad yo found a homeopathic Doctor! I might look for one of those, though we are so remote and faraway from everything where I live. When I was a young woman I was given- almost against my will for a long while, the drug Ativan (lorazemepam) which is also sheer POISON, too. I mean it is ok for stopping the DT's, and for short-term use, just as valium is- short-term. These Docs had me taking Ativan all the time,and eventually I got so addicted to this wretched drug, it was very very horrendous getting off of it. I did it myself. I broke the pills into pieces,and lowered the dose every week. The drug- even a little tiny piece of it- is so strong- that every time I lessened the dose weekly, I would have the shakes, the sweats and diarrhea for a day or two. But I did it. I got off it, but it took me about4-5 months. Now I find I have another problem,some 30 years later! KLONOPIN ! And I only was taking about 1 mg at night to sleep,after some years of severe stress,loneliness, worrying and abject insomnia. But with some bad news, during the last months I stupidly increased it to 2 mg,and a couple of nights when even that didnt knock me out, I took more ! 3 or even 4 , over some hours.Very dangerous. Then I noticed I couldnt walk, was foggy all the time, all kinds of debilitating symptoms occured !
I have decreased the dosage. I am determined to get this drug out of my system ! I think it is poison. Recently grew very ill after several of these upsetting episodes and taking too much klonopin. They have discovered a severe hypothyroidism illness/problem I have, from a disease I had when younger, called 'Hashimoto's Thyroiditis', auto immune disease they think is from a virus. I had taken Synthroid years ago for about 3 years, then stoppped. Dr.s checked my thyroid in blood tests all the time but did not pick up on the problem. In extensive google searches I discovered some links between klonopin and thyroid function problems. It is conceiveable that my hypothyroidism has been either caused- or exacerbated severely, more recently by the klonpoin,and most especially even, all of my adult life, by the overuse of benzodiazepenes ! The health effects are extremely bad over time. I am an example of what not to do.
My heart goes out to you. Take heart! God bless you; may God give you peace.
I am much older than you,and throughout my life I have been greatly 'abused' by these type of medications the so-called 'professionals' insisted I take. Turns out I have a severe case of hypothyroiditism- I have so many things to say, to communicate about all the 'drugs ' the Docs insisted I 'try' or take,there is not enough room here. Maybe we can email. I am trying to wean myself off of the 1-3 mg of klonopin I take at bedtime, to sleep, for longstanding insomnia. Tonight I am going to try to take 1/2 mg,and see if I can sleep at all.I pray I will.
I am convinced that klonopin,which seems so great in the very beginning, for severe anxiety and panic states, well I am convinced that it is POISON. In my internet researches I have discovered that it can cause a profound general deterioration in health and function.THAT is what has happened to me since I started taking it in late January 2008.....I have had a profound physical deterioration. This drug- if you google it,and read every thing, you will try to wean yourself off of it gradually. Serzone I had a very traumatic severe problem with about 12 years ago; after only a few days I grew very sucidal (though I would not have carried it out, but I FELT so bad). The feelings dissipated after the Dr. took me off the serzone. I had had a concussion, been on meclizine and valium and some other wierd things- the Quack Doc injected my skull above my ear where I had the concussion pain, with a wierd nerve block drug or something (I was trying to comply) and my face turned sort of green...this same quack put me on serzone...ended up in crisis in hospital......messed up my life terribly, all these drugs !
As a child, I suffered from insomnia at times. I had a very unhappy childhood indeed- a sad, lonely one. I remember my Mother giving me when I was around 8 or 9, BELLADONNA, which helped me sleep, It maybe was only 1 , 2 or 3 times. Later, one time I begged her for some 'belladonna'. She said she shouldnt give it to me,and also that they were not prescribing it anymore.I believe my problems started then and there, when she did give me belladonna. It was easier to give me a half of her 'pill', than to talk to me, rub my feet,stroke my face, rub my hands with lotion, reassure me, read to me. Such is the case with the Medical profession generally,and esp. in America. Give em a drug ,when they just need normal human contact, understanding,compassion, support. Most of us who use these drugs or have used them, did not feel loved as a child. I am so glad yo found a homeopathic Doctor! I might look for one of those, though we are so remote and faraway from everything where I live. When I was a young woman I was given- almost against my will for a long while, the drug Ativan (lorazemepam) which is also sheer POISON, too. I mean it is ok for stopping the DT's, and for short-term use, just as valium is- short-term. These Docs had me taking Ativan all the time,and eventually I got so addicted to this wretched drug, it was very very horrendous getting off of it. I did it myself. I broke the pills into pieces,and lowered the dose every week. The drug- even a little tiny piece of it- is so strong- that every time I lessened the dose weekly, I would have the shakes, the sweats and diarrhea for a day or two. But I did it. I got off it, but it took me about4-5 months. Now I find I have another problem,some 30 years later! KLONOPIN ! And I only was taking about 1 mg at night to sleep,after some years of severe stress,loneliness, worrying and abject insomnia. But with some bad news, during the last months I stupidly increased it to 2 mg,and a couple of nights when even that didnt knock me out, I took more ! 3 or even 4 , over some hours.Very dangerous. Then I noticed I couldnt walk, was foggy all the time, all kinds of debilitating symptoms occured !
I have decreased the dosage. I am determined to get this drug out of my system ! I think it is poison. Recently grew very ill after several of these upsetting episodes and taking too much klonopin. They have discovered a severe hypothyroidism illness/problem I have, from a disease I had when younger, called 'Hashimoto's Thyroiditis', auto immune disease they think is from a virus. I had taken Synthroid years ago for about 3 years, then stoppped. Dr.s checked my thyroid in blood tests all the time but did not pick up on the problem. In extensive google searches I discovered some links between klonopin and thyroid function problems. It is conceiveable that my hypothyroidism has been either caused- or exacerbated severely, more recently by the klonpoin,and most especially even, all of my adult life, by the overuse of benzodiazepenes ! The health effects are extremely bad over time. I am an example of what not to do.
My heart goes out to you. Take heart! God bless you; may God give you peace.
I was so drugged up by doctors who had no idea what was wrong with me my eyes would roll into the back of my head & I would pass out while talking to people. I have had so many tests of all kinds over & over again (none by anyone in mental health profession though). I had scars on my feet from shoes because my feet were so swollen. I struggle using a can opener, I have difficulty lifting a dish. Simple tasks are not simple for me.
I was on large doses of the Fentanyl patch, Percoset, Dilaudid, Ambien, on top of other meds + the pysch meds.
I took myself off the Ambien, the Fentanyl patch, the Dilaudid & plain out refused to take drugs doctors were STILL advising me to take!
I switched family doctors & had to find a new psychiatrist to write my Nefazadone & Konopin prescriptions, the drugs I was told I needed & would be on the rest of my life. I spent months going through Aetna's list of covered doctors & saw around 3 of their covered pyschiatrists.Two of which would not treat me or write out the prescriptions. One told me that the dosages were so high I could die. The one place I found that would treat me felt like a back alley clinic. I had started questioning the medications & their testing procedures (none) & soon found myself out the door. There were no diplomas on the walls here. All this while I was updating my family doctor about what I was being told, when I had a new shrink appointment, etc. Do to her refusal to prescribe me the medications when I was having difficulty getting then I ended up in the emergency room. At first I had no idea what was going on, I was never told what could happen if I stopped taking the medications abruptly. During one ER visit the attending doctor phoned my family doctor who straight out lied to him by telling him she had no idea I did not have a pyschiatrist or that I was out of medications.
I started tapering off off the Klonopin two years ago after coming across a website that listed practically all of my symptoms. The website was about Benzodiazepine withdrawl & tolerance. I had been on 600 mgs of Nefazadone & 6 mgs of Klonopin for about 14 years. Trying to find doctors who will listen to you when you are trying to taper is a nightmare in itself. I was a wreck during tapering. I should have been in a hospital. If I knew of a place that could have helped me I would have checked myself in. I truly didn't think I could handle coming off of these medications. These medications are not like opiates or Heroin. It is much, much more difficult to come off the pysch meds.
I searched & searched the internet & spoke with dozens of people, doctors, & treatment centers. I started my taper by going by "The Aston Method" which was created by Heather Ashton, a professor in the UK. I had exchanged e mails with Prof. Ashton, I had given my doctor research, the charts of which to taper by & even had my doctor contact Prof. Ashton (though my doctor never followed through with). I was pretty much on my own with this.
I luckily was recommended a wonderful homepath named Dr. Bonnie Camo. She put me on a regimen of vitamins & supplements & within DAYS there was immense improvement.
I am about halfway off of the psych meds. I have a long, long way to go. Physically, I feel pretty horrible but I no longer have those extreme emotions. This past winter was the first winter in nine years where I did not have to tell myself I was "safe" from suicide if I could just make it past March. I am probably going to be in pain for the rest of my life. I really don't see most of my physical problems going away. My period came back all of a sudden. I also learned that Benzo's can cause gluten intolerance (on top of many, many other things!).
I do have to deal with a lot of ingorant, judgemental people. People who do not think I am sick. People who were not there when I went through all of this. People who would have been broken by what I have been through. I pretty much keep to myself. It's not easier to be around people when sweat is pouring off of me & I am shaking. All I can do is continue to taper & hope for the opportunities to feel better then I do now.
Btw, I am only in my 30's.
I was on large doses of the Fentanyl patch, Percoset, Dilaudid, Ambien, on top of other meds + the pysch meds.
I took myself off the Ambien, the Fentanyl patch, the Dilaudid & plain out refused to take drugs doctors were STILL advising me to take!
I switched family doctors & had to find a new psychiatrist to write my Nefazadone & Konopin prescriptions, the drugs I was told I needed & would be on the rest of my life. I spent months going through Aetna's list of covered doctors & saw around 3 of their covered pyschiatrists.Two of which would not treat me or write out the prescriptions. One told me that the dosages were so high I could die. The one place I found that would treat me felt like a back alley clinic. I had started questioning the medications & their testing procedures (none) & soon found myself out the door. There were no diplomas on the walls here. All this while I was updating my family doctor about what I was being told, when I had a new shrink appointment, etc. Do to her refusal to prescribe me the medications when I was having difficulty getting then I ended up in the emergency room. At first I had no idea what was going on, I was never told what could happen if I stopped taking the medications abruptly. During one ER visit the attending doctor phoned my family doctor who straight out lied to him by telling him she had no idea I did not have a pyschiatrist or that I was out of medications.
I started tapering off off the Klonopin two years ago after coming across a website that listed practically all of my symptoms. The website was about Benzodiazepine withdrawl & tolerance. I had been on 600 mgs of Nefazadone & 6 mgs of Klonopin for about 14 years. Trying to find doctors who will listen to you when you are trying to taper is a nightmare in itself. I was a wreck during tapering. I should have been in a hospital. If I knew of a place that could have helped me I would have checked myself in. I truly didn't think I could handle coming off of these medications. These medications are not like opiates or Heroin. It is much, much more difficult to come off the pysch meds.
I searched & searched the internet & spoke with dozens of people, doctors, & treatment centers. I started my taper by going by "The Aston Method" which was created by Heather Ashton, a professor in the UK. I had exchanged e mails with Prof. Ashton, I had given my doctor research, the charts of which to taper by & even had my doctor contact Prof. Ashton (though my doctor never followed through with). I was pretty much on my own with this.
I luckily was recommended a wonderful homepath named Dr. Bonnie Camo. She put me on a regimen of vitamins & supplements & within DAYS there was immense improvement.
I am about halfway off of the psych meds. I have a long, long way to go. Physically, I feel pretty horrible but I no longer have those extreme emotions. This past winter was the first winter in nine years where I did not have to tell myself I was "safe" from suicide if I could just make it past March. I am probably going to be in pain for the rest of my life. I really don't see most of my physical problems going away. My period came back all of a sudden. I also learned that Benzo's can cause gluten intolerance (on top of many, many other things!).
I do have to deal with a lot of ingorant, judgemental people. People who do not think I am sick. People who were not there when I went through all of this. People who would have been broken by what I have been through. I pretty much keep to myself. It's not easier to be around people when sweat is pouring off of me & I am shaking. All I can do is continue to taper & hope for the opportunities to feel better then I do now.
Btw, I am only in my 30's.
Leave it to a doctor to blame the alcohol & not the prescription drugs. I have a story to tell.
In 1994 something in my mind changed do to a traumatic event. I lost focus, I stuttered, I had no idea what was happening to me. I was placed on Valium for 2 weeks. I functioned normally during those 2 weeks I just don't remember any of it but one little flash of being at work, just a spilt second. I went back to the doctor after my symptoms returned & he would not prescribe the Valium again.
It was then my mother took me to a pyschiatrist. I was then diagnosed as a manic~depressive though no tests were ever taken. I saw a slew of pychiatrists through the following years being diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, ADHD, Generalized Anxiety, Depression, & even Multiple Personality Disorder. I have been on so many drugs I couldn't possibly remember all of them but the ones the doctors felt "worked" were Klonopin & Nefazadone (which is Serzone).
My life then was controlled by psychotropic drugs. I did things & felt things I never would have done prior to being medicated. I have been paralyzed with fear with night terrors too afraid to leave my bed & having to crawl into my husbands lap. I almost died from a suicide attempt taking my entire prescription of Klonopin & a large bottle of Southern Comfort. I developed Anorexia & Bulima, I became a cutter. I unknowingly made the mistake of entering treatment for the eating disorders on a Friday. If you are placed into treatment on a weekend you are placed in the general "pysch" ward to be babysat until Monday when the doctors are there. It's like being put in general population of prison. While I was there a female patient went into the bathroom & placed a plastic bag over her head. I don't remember is she made it or not. I thought I was going into treatment for an eating disorder! One patient did not speak, all he did was paced & fart, pace & fart. I tried sleeping at night only to hear the screams of another patient & the snoring of my roommate. Most of these people were so drugged up they just stared like zombies.
Through the years I kept getting physically sicker & sicker & seeing doctor after doctor after doctor. Not one had ever mentioned the pysch meds may have had a harmful effect. The shrinks kept telling me what I was feeling emotionally was from my "disorders" & would change a dosage here, add a medication there. The constant remaining the Nefazadone & Klonopin.
I felt so worthless I wanted to die. I was so angry I became violent. I was out of my mind. I have been thrown out of clubs after blacking out & starting fights. It took 2-4 bouncers on too many occasions to list to remove me. I have woken up in restraints after being arrested. Mind you, I weigh in at around 95 lbs & am a whopping 5'0 tall.
I've felt bugs on me, I've heard voices, I would see flashes of stabbing knifes & other horrendous, violent images. I have such memory loss I have forgotten YEARS of my life.
I had a seizure. I devoloped a gluten intolerance which ended me in one of my many emergency room visits. I remember telling the doctor to check me for gluten intolerance but instead he insisted on checking me for a brain tumor. I went through years & years of panic attacks. I would disassociate where I felt like I wasn't even in the room.
I am now so physically ill I cannot work (I haven't in quite a few years). I had to claim banktrupty, sold my home for peanuts to some jerk who took advantage of a person he knew was ill & disabled.
I am in pain ALL the time, I shake & my muscles jolt, I have Osteoporosis, Thryoid disorder, low estrogen, Fibromyalgia, some form of an arthritic type disorder, asthma, Irritable Bowel Sydrome, Diverticulosis, a rectocele & a rectal prolapse. I have broken many bones due to having undiagnosed Osteoporosis. Insomnia has become a part of my life. Lightheadedness, dizzyness, nausea, tinitus, balance problems, I would fall all the time ~ my legs just giving out on me. I have shortness of breath, my muscles are constantly clenched, I had ammenoria for about 2 years & was told it would be almost impossible for me to conceive a child (once I was off the meds, of course!). I will have to have a C-section if I ever do decide to have a child. The colo-rectal surgeon kept asking me "Are you sure you never had a pelvic injury?" I have had multiple ulcers & kidney stones.
Continued.......
In 1994 something in my mind changed do to a traumatic event. I lost focus, I stuttered, I had no idea what was happening to me. I was placed on Valium for 2 weeks. I functioned normally during those 2 weeks I just don't remember any of it but one little flash of being at work, just a spilt second. I went back to the doctor after my symptoms returned & he would not prescribe the Valium again.
It was then my mother took me to a pyschiatrist. I was then diagnosed as a manic~depressive though no tests were ever taken. I saw a slew of pychiatrists through the following years being diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, ADHD, Generalized Anxiety, Depression, & even Multiple Personality Disorder. I have been on so many drugs I couldn't possibly remember all of them but the ones the doctors felt "worked" were Klonopin & Nefazadone (which is Serzone).
My life then was controlled by psychotropic drugs. I did things & felt things I never would have done prior to being medicated. I have been paralyzed with fear with night terrors too afraid to leave my bed & having to crawl into my husbands lap. I almost died from a suicide attempt taking my entire prescription of Klonopin & a large bottle of Southern Comfort. I developed Anorexia & Bulima, I became a cutter. I unknowingly made the mistake of entering treatment for the eating disorders on a Friday. If you are placed into treatment on a weekend you are placed in the general "pysch" ward to be babysat until Monday when the doctors are there. It's like being put in general population of prison. While I was there a female patient went into the bathroom & placed a plastic bag over her head. I don't remember is she made it or not. I thought I was going into treatment for an eating disorder! One patient did not speak, all he did was paced & fart, pace & fart. I tried sleeping at night only to hear the screams of another patient & the snoring of my roommate. Most of these people were so drugged up they just stared like zombies.
Through the years I kept getting physically sicker & sicker & seeing doctor after doctor after doctor. Not one had ever mentioned the pysch meds may have had a harmful effect. The shrinks kept telling me what I was feeling emotionally was from my "disorders" & would change a dosage here, add a medication there. The constant remaining the Nefazadone & Klonopin.
I felt so worthless I wanted to die. I was so angry I became violent. I was out of my mind. I have been thrown out of clubs after blacking out & starting fights. It took 2-4 bouncers on too many occasions to list to remove me. I have woken up in restraints after being arrested. Mind you, I weigh in at around 95 lbs & am a whopping 5'0 tall.
I've felt bugs on me, I've heard voices, I would see flashes of stabbing knifes & other horrendous, violent images. I have such memory loss I have forgotten YEARS of my life.
I had a seizure. I devoloped a gluten intolerance which ended me in one of my many emergency room visits. I remember telling the doctor to check me for gluten intolerance but instead he insisted on checking me for a brain tumor. I went through years & years of panic attacks. I would disassociate where I felt like I wasn't even in the room.
I am now so physically ill I cannot work (I haven't in quite a few years). I had to claim banktrupty, sold my home for peanuts to some jerk who took advantage of a person he knew was ill & disabled.
I am in pain ALL the time, I shake & my muscles jolt, I have Osteoporosis, Thryoid disorder, low estrogen, Fibromyalgia, some form of an arthritic type disorder, asthma, Irritable Bowel Sydrome, Diverticulosis, a rectocele & a rectal prolapse. I have broken many bones due to having undiagnosed Osteoporosis. Insomnia has become a part of my life. Lightheadedness, dizzyness, nausea, tinitus, balance problems, I would fall all the time ~ my legs just giving out on me. I have shortness of breath, my muscles are constantly clenched, I had ammenoria for about 2 years & was told it would be almost impossible for me to conceive a child (once I was off the meds, of course!). I will have to have a C-section if I ever do decide to have a child. The colo-rectal surgeon kept asking me "Are you sure you never had a pelvic injury?" I have had multiple ulcers & kidney stones.
Continued.......
I'm sorry for your troubles..I have just started taking klonopin and I have always been a drinker, so i am nervous about liver damage and other problems like you speak of, but I'm afraid I don't have any experience to offer you. I do know that cold turkey withdrawal can be brutal on the body, so you have to wonder. But I also wonder about the damage of the combination of alcohol and klonopin, so I wonder about sleeping pills in the mix and imagine that, too could probably cause some damage. Are you doing any better? Do you take any medications now?
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