Klonopin. Bleh.
November 21, 2010 5:42 PM Subscribe
I am withdrawing from Klonopin, and I feel awful. I'm not sure what to do.
My body aches, my brain is spinning, I can't make it through a 6-8 hour time span without crying. I feel trapped in my job, I hate sex, I feel fat. If I stop moving, I feel like I'm dying, unless I'm sleeping and then I don't ever want to wake up or get up. I don't know how to explain this to my SO and I don't want to because I feel like I depend on him too much and I don't want him to see me like this. All of my other "friends" feel like a million light years away, and I don't know how to talk to them because then it would make me the sort of friend who is only there when she needs you. I'm a little too old to be turning to my parents in a time of need. I've tried drinking, I've tried sprinting, I've tried making art, I've tried watching movies until my eyeballs hurt... I'm just trying to tough it through but there's got to be a way to make this at least a little less painful and a little less brutal for my relationships. Has anyone gone through this when tapering from Ativan, Klonopin, etc.? What can I do while I try to get through one last week or two of this?
My body aches, my brain is spinning, I can't make it through a 6-8 hour time span without crying. I feel trapped in my job, I hate sex, I feel fat. If I stop moving, I feel like I'm dying, unless I'm sleeping and then I don't ever want to wake up or get up. I don't know how to explain this to my SO and I don't want to because I feel like I depend on him too much and I don't want him to see me like this. All of my other "friends" feel like a million light years away, and I don't know how to talk to them because then it would make me the sort of friend who is only there when she needs you. I'm a little too old to be turning to my parents in a time of need. I've tried drinking, I've tried sprinting, I've tried making art, I've tried watching movies until my eyeballs hurt... I'm just trying to tough it through but there's got to be a way to make this at least a little less painful and a little less brutal for my relationships. Has anyone gone through this when tapering from Ativan, Klonopin, etc.? What can I do while I try to get through one last week or two of this?
How are you tapering? Or did you go cold-turkey? Sometimes a slower taper is the order of the day, although my personal experience with, eg, desvenlafaxine, was that it was better to just stop and endure a few days of brain zaps. And I suppose most importantly, why are you tapering? Was this a joint therapeutic choice with your psychiatrist, or an exigency pushed on you? If you're not ready, you're not ready, although for most of the standard indications of Klonopin, someone should have also started you on something stable and long-term. Eg, for anxiety disorder, using an SSRI or buspirone or something like that.
posted by adoarns at 5:59 PM on November 21, 2010
posted by adoarns at 5:59 PM on November 21, 2010
Yes. Why are you tapering, and you're probably not tapering properly if you're having this kind of reaction. I was taking K-pinz regularly for a while and somehow found myself run out for a few days and man that was hell. I'm now down to an occasional dose if I really need it, but that was a slooooow tapering for me with my dr's knowledge. Please be careful, benzos aren't to be messed with.
posted by sweetkid at 6:02 PM on November 21, 2010
posted by sweetkid at 6:02 PM on November 21, 2010
Response by poster: Err... well, I told my psychiatrist I was going to go off of it, and then he told me how. He explained that generally the point of something like Klonopin is that it should be a temporary solution while I move into long term treatment with some sort of SSRI (e.g. lexapro). Then, I explained that he should have made that clear when he prescribed it, and I told him I didn't want to be on it for more than the 3 1/2 months I've already been on it, since I was having nasty side effects (fatigue, memory loss).
I was on 1 mg 2x a day. Then I moved to 1 mg 1x a day for a week. Then I moved to .5 mg 1x a day for a week. Tonight I am supposed to be cutting off completely, but I feel lousy.
posted by Tulip at 6:11 PM on November 21, 2010
I was on 1 mg 2x a day. Then I moved to 1 mg 1x a day for a week. Then I moved to .5 mg 1x a day for a week. Tonight I am supposed to be cutting off completely, but I feel lousy.
posted by Tulip at 6:11 PM on November 21, 2010
Call your psychiatrist. He can tell you how to slow the taper and what other medical options you have. Withdrawal symptoms go with the benzo territory, but medical supervision is pretty important.
posted by gingerest at 6:20 PM on November 21, 2010
posted by gingerest at 6:20 PM on November 21, 2010
Don't cut off completely tonight and call your doctor ASAP in the morning. There's no reason for you to be this miserable. Tell him what the withdrawal is doing to you and see if he can help in some way. Tell your SO that you're going through withdrawal if you haven't already. Go to bed as early as you can tonight. Sleep your way through as much of it as you can until your doctor can assist you.
posted by dchrssyr at 6:24 PM on November 21, 2010
posted by dchrssyr at 6:24 PM on November 21, 2010
Best answer: Okay, so what you're describing are normal withdrawal symptoms, although they're affecting you more severely than most people would be affected (at that dosage, length of use).
It's true that benzodiazepene withdrawal can be serious business. You're tapering properly, though, according to a doctor's instruction, and you're not at such a large dose that you need to be worried about your health. If you have concerns, I'd be happy to discuss dangerous withdrawal symptoms, but from what I hear from you, you're in no danger.
The good news is that it's almost over. Really.
I would involve your SO. You can show him this thread. Benzodiazepene withdrawal is very similar to alcohol withdrawal, and you're going to have high levels of anxiety while it's going on. He should know, if only so that he doesn't hold your behavior right now against you. He might even be of some support. (Plus, I think withdrawal is safest with some supervision.) There's no reason not to involve other people either if you need them. You're never too old for your parents-- use them to lean on, if they're available, while you still have them. Unless you've been an awful friend, then it's okay to talk to your friends. Wouldn't you do the same for them? Or, if not, won't you in the future?
Don't delay withdrawal. That's just going to draw things out. Keep to your plan right now: you're safe, if uncomfortable.
Don't drink alcohol. That's might draw out your withdrawal too.
You've been doing the right things by distracting yourself. (Previous advice to sleep through it would be good, but I bet you're not finding sleep the easiest thing to achieve right now :)) If you've used up movies, how about a mindless video game like Tetris or Bejeweled? Anything to kill the time.
posted by nathan v at 6:44 PM on November 21, 2010
It's true that benzodiazepene withdrawal can be serious business. You're tapering properly, though, according to a doctor's instruction, and you're not at such a large dose that you need to be worried about your health. If you have concerns, I'd be happy to discuss dangerous withdrawal symptoms, but from what I hear from you, you're in no danger.
The good news is that it's almost over. Really.
I would involve your SO. You can show him this thread. Benzodiazepene withdrawal is very similar to alcohol withdrawal, and you're going to have high levels of anxiety while it's going on. He should know, if only so that he doesn't hold your behavior right now against you. He might even be of some support. (Plus, I think withdrawal is safest with some supervision.) There's no reason not to involve other people either if you need them. You're never too old for your parents-- use them to lean on, if they're available, while you still have them. Unless you've been an awful friend, then it's okay to talk to your friends. Wouldn't you do the same for them? Or, if not, won't you in the future?
Don't delay withdrawal. That's just going to draw things out. Keep to your plan right now: you're safe, if uncomfortable.
Don't drink alcohol. That's might draw out your withdrawal too.
You've been doing the right things by distracting yourself. (Previous advice to sleep through it would be good, but I bet you're not finding sleep the easiest thing to achieve right now :)) If you've used up movies, how about a mindless video game like Tetris or Bejeweled? Anything to kill the time.
posted by nathan v at 6:44 PM on November 21, 2010
When I was in your situation Valerian Root was a handy crutch. It simulates many of the effects of Klonopin (including the fatigue, which may or may not be a problem for you) without creating an addiction. Alcohol masks your symptoms but then they come back with a vengeance. Are you off caffeine? That helped me as well. Camomile tea was also nice, or Camomile & Valerian tea. And, of course, things will get better, so remember that. Good luck!
posted by hiteleven at 6:47 PM on November 21, 2010
posted by hiteleven at 6:47 PM on November 21, 2010
Seconding calling your doctor for help with this. Also seconding letting your SO know what is going on, even if only in the briefest way.
When I've been in a great deal of pain mentally and/or physically, I periodically relax my muscles, do some slow, deep breathing and give myself a mantra along the lines of, "Just move through it, it will be over soon, almost through it." It might help to remind yourself that this is a result of withdrawals, and to not believe certain types of thoughts that are going through your head or make any major decisions right now.
(Personally, I'd taper off way more slowly than that. Yes, it makes things take longer, but you'll probably feel a hell of a lot less miserable while you're doing it.)
posted by moira at 9:13 PM on November 21, 2010
When I've been in a great deal of pain mentally and/or physically, I periodically relax my muscles, do some slow, deep breathing and give myself a mantra along the lines of, "Just move through it, it will be over soon, almost through it." It might help to remind yourself that this is a result of withdrawals, and to not believe certain types of thoughts that are going through your head or make any major decisions right now.
(Personally, I'd taper off way more slowly than that. Yes, it makes things take longer, but you'll probably feel a hell of a lot less miserable while you're doing it.)
posted by moira at 9:13 PM on November 21, 2010
Oh I feel for you. I had more intense withdrawal symptoms than the norm as well. It was horrible, awful, and I had bolstered my support network prior in order to go through it. I asked for support from my parents, my SO, my friends. They were wonderful. (I was in my 30's.)
I obsessively knitted and slept and watched reruns of the Gilmore Girls. I still don't remember much about those weeks. Hang in there. Almost done now. It does get better. It does.
posted by jeanmari at 9:15 PM on November 21, 2010
I obsessively knitted and slept and watched reruns of the Gilmore Girls. I still don't remember much about those weeks. Hang in there. Almost done now. It does get better. It does.
posted by jeanmari at 9:15 PM on November 21, 2010
Another non-benzo anxiety drug, such as Buspar, may help you out. Honestly, to me that sounds like really fast to wean off, jumping straight from 2mg to 1mg. Call your doctor - he may actually have you increase your dose again and then wean you off more slowly.
posted by IndigoRain at 9:59 PM on November 21, 2010
posted by IndigoRain at 9:59 PM on November 21, 2010
Chiming in to say keep your head up and slow down on the taper if the withdrawal symptoms are proving to be too overwhelming at your present pace- while everyone is affected by the medication differently, stopping it too quickly after a dependence has built up in the body can potentially trigger some rather serious consequences! It's vital to keep an ongoing dialogue with your doctor during this process to try and work out a plan that minimizes the amount of interference you seem to be experiencing, and don't ever be afraid to seek out a second opinion if you are having doubts over the treatment plan your current doctor is providing. I had a tough time withdrawing from xanax and found the occasional strong cup of yogi brand 'kava stress relief' tea during the evening to be an absolute godsend in keeping the overwhelming urge to jump out of my seemingly bug-infested skin at bay (although I did find it to be almost equally sedating as the xanax), but make sure you talk to a doctor before taking ANY over-the-counter supplements because they do have the potential to cause certain complications. While my own p-doc gave a hesitant green light to the kava tea for alleviating only the most debilitating physical and emotional symptoms during the first stage of my withdrawal, my internet investigations have uncovered considerable debate regarding its long-term safety so proceed with caution down that road ! I've also read mixed things about the oft-toted valerian root- which was highly hit or miss with me in the first place in terms of efficacy, although my cat LOVED it ;)
I'll also second some of the previous posters who encouraged maintaining an active network of support with friends and loved ones. Illnesses like anxiety and depression have a tendency to warp a person's perceptions and cause them to feel unwarranted guilt or apprehension about their bearing on other individuals in their lives, but it's important not to let a cycle of negative thought patterns alienate you from the people you care about during a time like this. You're in the throws of a difficult medical experience right now and while you don't have to come out and drop the full details of the situation to every person you keep in regular contact with, talking to friends and family helped me immeasurably during my own situation and actually brought me a lot closer to a number of them in the long run. Definitely continue your efforts to keep yourself busy, too, even if it's not always fully exhilirating, but DO avoid excessive alcohol like the plague as I can tell you from personal experience that it will likely lead to more serious problems down the road.
You CAN do this, so try to keep your spirits up as much as possible because it will be over before you know it. While medications work for a number of people in treating anxiety and depression, there are a number of other paths for treatment that you can explore if you're still having problems after the klonopin withdrawal and aren't willing to step back into the pharm pool quite yet (will also say daily Remeron helped a great deal but I was in the large minority of patients taking it who didn't gain a ton of weight). I have a family member who has been practicing psychiatry for decades, treating mainly patients with anxiety disorders and PTSD, who absolutely swears by CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) in treating these conditions.
Anyways I'll cross my fingers for you that this doesn't go on for much longer- thanks for reading my rant & don't ever hesitate to drop a private message! While i'm the farthest thing from a (medical) doctor, I want through a similar process last year and am always happy to share my personal experiences
posted by ritual system at 12:25 AM on November 22, 2010
I'll also second some of the previous posters who encouraged maintaining an active network of support with friends and loved ones. Illnesses like anxiety and depression have a tendency to warp a person's perceptions and cause them to feel unwarranted guilt or apprehension about their bearing on other individuals in their lives, but it's important not to let a cycle of negative thought patterns alienate you from the people you care about during a time like this. You're in the throws of a difficult medical experience right now and while you don't have to come out and drop the full details of the situation to every person you keep in regular contact with, talking to friends and family helped me immeasurably during my own situation and actually brought me a lot closer to a number of them in the long run. Definitely continue your efforts to keep yourself busy, too, even if it's not always fully exhilirating, but DO avoid excessive alcohol like the plague as I can tell you from personal experience that it will likely lead to more serious problems down the road.
You CAN do this, so try to keep your spirits up as much as possible because it will be over before you know it. While medications work for a number of people in treating anxiety and depression, there are a number of other paths for treatment that you can explore if you're still having problems after the klonopin withdrawal and aren't willing to step back into the pharm pool quite yet (will also say daily Remeron helped a great deal but I was in the large minority of patients taking it who didn't gain a ton of weight). I have a family member who has been practicing psychiatry for decades, treating mainly patients with anxiety disorders and PTSD, who absolutely swears by CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) in treating these conditions.
Anyways I'll cross my fingers for you that this doesn't go on for much longer- thanks for reading my rant & don't ever hesitate to drop a private message! While i'm the farthest thing from a (medical) doctor, I want through a similar process last year and am always happy to share my personal experiences
posted by ritual system at 12:25 AM on November 22, 2010
You might find some useful info on this site. Best of luck to you.
posted by Paris Elk at 1:40 AM on November 22, 2010
posted by Paris Elk at 1:40 AM on November 22, 2010
I had negative side effects including extended tiredness from Klonopin because it has a long half-life -- I'd take 1-2 mg to get to sleep and I'd be too relaxed to do anything but nap the next 2 days. Switching to Xanax (with a shorter half-life) made a huge difference. I realize it sounds like it's going in the wrong direction, but I wonder if switching to Xanax and then tapering off of that might be a smoother process? I would seriously take this SLOW -- since you're having other anxiety/depressive issues, I would hate for a bad discontinuation to add to or create a new anxiety/depressive issue. If you don't have faith in your doc, try to scrounge up the effort to find someone you can trust.
As a side note, I was taking my anti-depressent (venlafexine) at night, which is apparently very wrong since it's a stimulant -- taking it in the morning has made a huge difference in my daytime energy. I would read up on Lexapro, and maybe look into DoctorOfMindMD's videos on Youtube (he seems a little whacked, but really knows his drugs) to see if there's a best time to take it, as that might help.
Also, CrazyMeds.us has really nice, smart, and helpful people on the forums.
Lastly -- going cold-turkey off anything is bad, bad, bad (in my experience). Beyond brain zaps, there's vivid nightmares, hideously disturbed sleep, and possible panic attacks for a week or more. I've written off a hell of a lot of mental illness as 'normal', and that experience went beyond my version of 'possibly abnormal' to 'obviously Very Bad' by a long shot.
posted by MeiraV at 6:59 AM on November 22, 2010
As a side note, I was taking my anti-depressent (venlafexine) at night, which is apparently very wrong since it's a stimulant -- taking it in the morning has made a huge difference in my daytime energy. I would read up on Lexapro, and maybe look into DoctorOfMindMD's videos on Youtube (he seems a little whacked, but really knows his drugs) to see if there's a best time to take it, as that might help.
Also, CrazyMeds.us has really nice, smart, and helpful people on the forums.
Lastly -- going cold-turkey off anything is bad, bad, bad (in my experience). Beyond brain zaps, there's vivid nightmares, hideously disturbed sleep, and possible panic attacks for a week or more. I've written off a hell of a lot of mental illness as 'normal', and that experience went beyond my version of 'possibly abnormal' to 'obviously Very Bad' by a long shot.
posted by MeiraV at 6:59 AM on November 22, 2010
I feel for you. Last year I went through this with Xanax. I used Klonopin for the Xanax taper and then I tapered off the Klonopin slowly.
The thing that helped me most was a supplement called L-theanine (Suntheanine) that you can get at Sunflower Market, Wild Oats, Whole Foods, or any supplement/natural foods store. I suffered no ill effects from the Klonopin taper.
I also drank a lot of chamomile tea, which really helped. And I walked a lot, to burn off the anxious energy.
I second everyone who said to talk to your doctor. You may be tapering too fast.
posted by xenophile at 2:02 PM on November 22, 2010
The thing that helped me most was a supplement called L-theanine (Suntheanine) that you can get at Sunflower Market, Wild Oats, Whole Foods, or any supplement/natural foods store. I suffered no ill effects from the Klonopin taper.
I also drank a lot of chamomile tea, which really helped. And I walked a lot, to burn off the anxious energy.
I second everyone who said to talk to your doctor. You may be tapering too fast.
posted by xenophile at 2:02 PM on November 22, 2010
IANAD. Tapering off 2 mg in two weeks seems very fast. I took six months to do that. Everyone's needs are different. I know you want to be off it, but if you're suffering significantly, you might be able to reduce your discomfort by doing a slower taper. Keep in mind that (from what I've read) 2 mg Klonopin is the equivalent of 40 mg of Valium. Please visit Benzo Buddies. You'll find a great deal of information, support, and understanding there for the tapering process.
posted by jocelmeow at 10:35 AM on November 23, 2010
posted by jocelmeow at 10:35 AM on November 23, 2010
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posted by J. Wilson at 5:55 PM on November 21, 2010 [1 favorite]