what exactly is Klonopin

[susanlea]

My Dr. persciped Klonopin for axiety. Someone also told me that it is used for withdrawals from narcotics.  I use vicoprophen occassionally for migraines and disk pain.  Is this a bad combination?  I don't want to get addicted to either, but from what I've been reading on the forums, some people have difficulty getting off it.  I took 60mg of oxycotins a day for 2 years, along with 5-6 percocet 650's and stopped them for 6 weeks, the headaches and back pain were too much, but  I did not want to go back to the oxy's and perc's my Dr. said vicoprophen was not as strong, someone fill me in please. When I went off the other stuff I really didn't have any major withdrawals, just pain as usuall and a little nervousness.

[Brighty to Deja, Phil, Vic Gurrl and Kim]

Just got back to the board after the holiday. Thank each of you in particular for your kindness and encouragement. I do not think I am very special. I just handled it on a daily basis and it was a nightmare. It's interesting about kids... some seeming to have the earmarks of singlemindedness at a very early age. My daughter was the easist of my kids. I'm not sure there's a way to know ahead of time what we'd like to know. I do regret that I allowed myself to believe that since my daughter was a good student, good athlete and talented musician .... no tatoos, no rings or pins in the face (lol), nice success oriented friends, clean cut and well spoken, close to me and her dad and not at all rebellious. I had no clue this could happen. So for those of you who have young children the only thing I can say is you don't know what you don't know. I wish I had spied in her room, read her diary, removed the lock from the door and not allowed her to have a phone. She was a good kid so I did not violate her privacy. BIG BIG MISTAKE !! The other thing I feel strongly about is to NEVER throw your child out of the home in hopes they bottom out. The bottom could be death. Today my daughter has nearly 9 months clean. I would not trade that for Bill Gate's millions. She tells me she feels the same. I believe her finally. And yes, Vic Gurrl... you are right about the sexual trauma.... she is in counseling for this issue the last 5 months and I do think this has helped incredibly.  God bless all of you. You are in my prayers every day. Love, Brighty

[From Aunt Lindy to Mariah]

Brighty I dont know where to begin except to tell you that you are one incredible woman! Do you know your story sounds like it could be on OPRAH!  You are such survivor.  I hope that as my small ones grow older (I already call my 5 year old dauther "Thelma AND Louise) that I can be the incredible, gutsy, dedicated, beautiful person that you are.  You are truly amazing!  While other moms might just sit back and panic you went to the plate and said I will not sit back and allow this to happen.  You are in a WAR.  Do you know that you should write a book on this.  It might be good therapy for you and it would give others the courage to do whatever it takes.  You know it could be about taking control of a bad situation and how the strong survive.  I can just see you now being the featured writer on Oprah's Book Club!  My daughter is only five and she is a DOLL but is strong willed and has a mind of her own which is a good thing but could cause her problems along the path of adulthood. I was tying her little shoe today quickly as we were on our way out. She is sitting on the floor and I am pushing trying to get her shoe on I pull up her socks and notice these TWO BIG LUMPS that are on her calf area inside her leggings she was wearing.  I pulled up the bottom of one of her leggings and pulled TWO TOOTSIE POPS right out of her leggings. She just smiled and said that they were for the ride in the car.  I told her that I was customs and that she was busted!  It was so funny it made my day!
Brighty thanks for sharing that.  Truly amazing.  
Sincerely,
A Big Admiring Fan
Kimmie

[to Kat]

Wow, what an incredible, moving post.  Thank you so much for sharing your difficult struggle.  Most parents would not have found the strength you have to cope with this situation.  One day your daughter will realize what a wonderful mother she has, and will realize what a treasure life is.  Until then, stay strong and expect setbacks.  As I know you have learned, they are a part of the process.  Two steps forward, one step back.  It may be a slow way to travel, but it is guaranteed to get you where you are going.  Remember to take care of YOURSELF too.  Too often people like yourself give so much of themselves, that they forget about their own needs.  Good luck and God bless. Phil

[Brighty to Kimmie--- My story of hope an]

You are so kind also... well, I am an outsider in one way because I am not an addict.. never even smoked. But my 21 year old daughter is addicted to heroin and in treatment for the last 8 months. Just keeping her alive was the hardest thing of all because she had 7 suicide attempts in the course of her 3 year addiction. She became addicted to xanax 2 years before that. I called the doctor Back then and told him NOT to prescribe anything for her panic disorder because she was just getting a driver's license. He did it anyway and I did not know..... she became severely addicted and it eventually spiraled her into the world of street drugs and ultimately heroin. She has charges for prescription fraud, has been in 9 different treatment programs, has gone through 7 withdrawls, been to the ER at least 10 times, been baker acted 6 times, in mental wards so psychotic she did not know who or where she was ( effects of xanax), hospitalized for related medical problems about 4 times and on life support last April. We have been in and out of courts, visited her in jail, visited every psychiatrist in the surrounding 5 counties, and she has also had her bond revoked in order to jail her for her own safety between treatment options.. this is how suicidal she was. She is a beautiful girl, very smart, accepted into every college of her choice, great athlete, gifted pianist and not at all appearing to be a street type of girl. I have attended probably 60 NA meetings.. mostly with her, and been on my knees before God begging for her life, I have been hit, had our house trashed, had thousands of dollars stolen usually checks she forged, filed charges against her, been shamed in front of my community, had the police in our home all hours of the night and day, had ambulances and search helicopters over our house, and been counseled by so called trauma psychologists, naranon advocates and treatment teams. We spent last new years eve, millenium, driving to a hospital in a nearby city because she was OD'd and her brother found her.. he was stopped in the city by the police because he was running red lights and endangering pedestrians, his fiance trying to give her CPR in the back seat. The police took her into their car and called the ER who had a team waiting at the door. That same night she was released to us and she tried to use AGAIN so despondent that she had not died and so disoriented as well.  At 4 AM we had to call a crisis unit here in our town and go through this again. I have had to leave my husband and take her with me, nearly lost my marriage and sanity, and I know now  that I have gone toe to toe with the devil. Last April she planned her suicide and was nearly successful. The police came to my home and informed me she was in a hospital.. when I got there she was on life support and unconscious. They told me if she lived she may be brain injured. I told God I would accept His will but to please grant her whatever peace she could accept. Hours later a cheer went up in the intensive care unit.. she began to breath on her own. We got a lawyer went into the court and my husband in tears begged the judge to allow her into a program we found and to mandate her stay there... he said he would violate the law and take her far away in the night because we were so desperate to keep her alive somehow. WE had a legal action to force the insurance company to pay until she is terminated from the program by her treatment team... that is a whole story unto it self.... but she is still there, so that worked. The story goes on and to make it short now, she has been in a program which is primarily mental health but also for chemical dependency.. she sees a female sexual trauma counselor for a childhood rape which turns out to be a secret she kept all her life and may be the underlying reason for the panic and the continuuing drug abuse. She is also simultaneously on house arrest and she has clean time since April... I think that alone is what has given her brain the space it needed to normalize her thinking process. She is working very hard at recovery and may be coming home in December. She will then have to do intensive 5 day per week outpaient program. The house arrest is for 2 years and then she has 2 years of probation. The judge was very kind... she is withholding ajudication which has had a very positive effect on our daughter.... she has been given a chance to get a clean record if she commits herself to remaining recovered. For what it's worth, my husband and I are certain that the Xanax was the more devestating drug for her since she never abandoned it in favor of the opiate. Anyway, this is why I am here with all of you. I have gotten the right dosage of information and support from this board. I think you are all special and courageous and you give me hope to go on and to believe. Love, Brighty

[Deja to Vicodin Girl]

I just wanted to thank you for sharing your story.  I was nearly in tears reading what you have been through with your beautiful daughter.  I thought of my own children as I read your post and the thought hit me -  this could be my life in reverse.  Instead of one of my children becoming addicted and out of control, it could be me.  No one except my husband knows of my daily struggle with narcotics.  I am prescribed them for chronic pain but after 5 years it's a daily struggle to stay at my prescribed dose.  I have the constant urge to "just take a few to feel better", and I don't mean feel better from the pain, I mean getting high. Your story has given me inspiration and your courage is so amazing.  Your daughter is so lucky to have a mom like you.  She has a wonderful life to look forward to now.  Thank you, Brighty for opening my eyes and for realizing that there *are* angels out there (like you) that care.

[for Sick and scared/beware of Vicky!!]

I just wanted to let you know that there is life after using narcotics. I havent taken vicodin for 2 years now so there is hope out there that it can be done and over with!!
I suffered from chronic back pain and took meds for 4 years. One day after realizing that I was going through about 15 Vicodin ES a day, (and they really did not help the pain anymore due to tolerance) I just waited for my last refill and said "screw it"! AI never went back to my doctor for my back problems again.
I went through some withdrawls but I did start tapering ahead of time. Basically it was over in a week. I must admit after a year without smoking and day 2 without vicodin, I bought a pack of cigarettes.
I knew sooner or later the time would come that I would need some kind of pain medication and sure enough, about 6 months ago, I had to have a back molar pulled. The Dentist gave me 20 vicodin with no refills.  When I took one it was like I had never taken one in my life before. They made me feel very drowsy and weak and vicodin never did that to me before. They actually SUCKED and I didnt even take them all. You have no idea how wonderful it feels to be able to type this and admit that I actually threw away a bottle of vicodin!
Everyone........there is hope and it will happen. It did for me!
Renee