Posted by Ryan123 on January 13, 2004, at 16:49:06
In reply to Re: withdrawl from Klonopin, posted by 13beans on January 13, 2004, at 11:32:30
I started to taper off klonopin in July. The doctor had me tapering down 1/2mg every month. I was down to 1mg/day.
Then in September I fell off the wagon. While off the wagon I was taking 3mg/day. I drank five days during a two week period and went into detox. The doctor there took me off klonopin altogether (the same doctor tried the same thing on me December of 2001 with no success). I lasted eight days without it before having to get back on (in 2001 I lasted six days).
My medication at that time was 2mg/day of klonopin, serequel, propanylol, paxil, and trazodone (serequel and propanylol were new).
Two days after leaving detox I went into in-patient alcohol treatment. I was there a month. When I got out I saw a new psychiatrist that told me I had to quit klonopin. At that point after all I had been through I really wanted the klonopin. Right after the appointment I went to the bar.
I was suicidal (not new for me) and the next day the cops took me to a psychiatric ward. I was there until the end of the first week of November. So basically I was institutionalized from September 20th until November 7th minus three days. Big eye opener for me to get my act straight.
[at the psych ward they added visteral to my list of meds]
I saw the psychiatrist again after getting out of the psych ward and was on the same page as he was to get off the klonopin. I was at 2mg/day at the time and tapered down 1/2mg basically every week. I did not go down a level until I was at least semi-stable.
I know my tapering down of klonopin was on and off, but I don't think it was too drastic. I guess I wrote all that so each of you can be the judge whether I took enough time to taper off.
During this time without klonopin, I have also quit taking paxil. I think that added to my anxiety even though in theory it shouldn't. I am experiencing paxil withdrawals as well. The major symptoms I feel from quitting paxil are being filled with rage and electric shock-like sensations.
I'm just about completely sure that the constant and deafening ringing in my ears is a direct result of klonopin withdrawals.
Other symptoms (for me) are dizziness, drowsiness, sensitivity to light and sound, palpitations, hair loss, skin rashes, dry skin, dry mouth, muscle weakness, weight gain, muscle twitches (especially the eyes), weak voice, tremors, agitation, anxiety, irritability, excitability, hotility, horribly vivid nightmares, confusion, depression, forgetfulness, hallucinations (especially smell), runny nose, shortness of breath, (I could continue but you get the picture).
A couple of things. I've heard that klonopin withdrawal could take up to two months. How long for Paxil?
I also mentioned that I'm taking oxaxepam (serax) to help with my withdrawal symptoms. It is a tranquilizer from a different family, but it is still a tranquilizer. In the past I've gotten off of oxaxepam in exactly five days.
Any opinions or theories on my taking oxaxepam?
poster:Ryan123
thread:253823
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040109/msgs/300316.html