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Clonazapam for 4 months

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Posted 9/5/2014 11:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hi
I have been on clonazapam for the last few months while trying to find an SSRI to work for my anxiety. Now I am worried I will never get off clonazapam:(
Posted 9/6/2014 12:06 AM (GMT 0)
You can get off clonazapam if you need to, but I'm not sure if you are saying that you are worried that you can never got off of it because you won't get help with your anxiety , or because of the addiction factor?
Posted 9/6/2014 12:10 AM (GMT 0)
I am worried that I will become tolerant to it and never be able to get off.
I am taking .875 mgs at bedtime.
I could certainly use it during the day until I find an SSRI to work but I won't,don't want to increase my dose:(
Posted 9/6/2014 12:53 AM (GMT 0)
I'm not on an Ssri either yet. I was taking .25 daily but have cut it now to .125 because I was concerned about dependacy. It still seems to be working, no tolerance issues.
Posted 9/6/2014 1:01 AM (GMT 0)
Hi
.125 mgs would do nothing for me, in fact .25 mgs does nothing for me that's why I am scared.
Thanks
Are you going to try an SSRI?
Posted 9/6/2014 1:04 AM (GMT 0)
I am trying to take a small piece off of my clonazapam each week and see how far I get:)
Posted 9/6/2014 2:01 AM (GMT 0)
I'm personally not familiar with .875 mgs of anything, wouldn't even know how to figure that one out, math was my worst subject but couldn't imagine calculating that dosage.

I feel like if you need them than you take them, no I hate the idea that I am back on xanax, because a doctor I saw before I think was trying to kill me because he gave me 2mg's of xanax 3'xs a day and valium at night, when I totally lost my insurance and couldn't afford to just whip out 150.00 to see him, I had to quit cold turkey and it was the worst withdrawals of my lifetime.

So I am on xanax again, and it does worry me, now hard will it be to get off of them, but for now I am just focusing on the fact that I need the medication, and when the time comes that I can be weaned off than my doctor should know the best way to do it.
Posted 9/6/2014 2:08 AM (GMT 0)
MBU,

You can do anything you determine to do!!

Having the advice of your doctor, and a weaning schedule will help...so make an appointment for coming up with a plan.

With the help of your doctor, you can wean slowly and steadily and be able to get off your Rx without problem.:)

We will be here to support you!

S.C.
Posted 9/6/2014 2:13 AM (GMT 0)
Hi
My clonazapam tablets are .5 mgs each so I take 1 3/4.
Xanax can be hard to come off of too, but you are right, if you need them you take them.
Docs have been trying different meds out on me for over a year now so consequently I have been on and off clonazapam several times but I have never been on more than 1 mg per day.
I will continue to try and cut down a small amt each week and see how i do.
Posted 9/6/2014 2:18 AM (GMT 0)
I am currently taking .25mg a day of clonazapam. I take half if that dose in the morning and half in the evening. It seemed to work well at first but after a couple weeks I don't feel that it is working anymore. I'm reluctant to increase my dose because of my fear of the withdrawals that I have heard come with this class of drug. I trust my doctor who wants to do a very very slow taper but the idea of withdrawals still keeps me from increasing :/
Posted 9/6/2014 2:20 AM (GMT 0)
Oh okay, like I said math is almost like a foreign language to me.

You are not taking a big dose at all, and if and when it is time that you can stop, that amount should not be an issue, I believe on a personal level that I can become mentally dependent on things easily, not every one has that terrible gene, but it runs rampant in my family.

I eventually want to cut down on my xanax, but I just don't feel like right now is the best time.
Posted 9/6/2014 2:36 AM (GMT 0)

Cianna said...
I am currently taking .25mg a day of clonazapam. I take half if that dose in the morning and half in the evening. It seemed to work well at first but after a couple weeks I don't feel that it is working anymore. I'm reluctant to increase my dose because of my fear of the withdrawals that I have heard come with this class of drug. I trust my doctor who wants to do a very very slow taper but the idea of withdrawals still keeps me from increasing :/

How long have you been taking clonazapam?
Posted 9/6/2014 2:44 AM (GMT 0)
2-3 weeks
Posted 9/6/2014 2:47 AM (GMT 0)

Cianna said...
2-3 weeks

If you came off it now a taper would be very easy. If you still need it you may want to consider an antidepressant that you can take long term. They usually keep you on the benzodiazapine until the antidepressant is in your system.
Posted 9/6/2014 3:03 AM (GMT 0)
I have Zoloft but I don't feel comfortable taking it. I'm scared of side effects and I'm just not sure if it's a step I want to take. The clonazapam is great, even tho it's only supposed to be a short term solution. I'm just a bit lost on where to go from here. Still too scared to take the Zoloft. Too scared to increase what I am taking... Hate this stuff.
Posted 9/6/2014 3:08 AM (GMT 0)
Cianna, what about the Zoloft scares you? Have you had a bad experience with an anti-depressant?
Posted 9/6/2014 3:09 AM (GMT 0)

Cianna said...
I have Zoloft but I don't feel comfortable taking it. I'm scared of side effects and I'm just not sure if it's a step I want to take. The clonazapam is great, even tho it's only supposed to be a short term solution. I'm just a bit lost on where to go from here. Still too scared to take the Zoloft. Too scared to increase what I am taking... Hate this stuff.[/quote

I hear you. If you decide to try the zoloft start low and slow. I had no side effects until I got to 150 mgs which is pretty high. If I could do it again I would start at 25 mgs for a week then go to 50 mgs and stay there for a month or so, it may be enough for you. If not go to 75 mgs.
Zoloft is not known to have much for side effects, insomnia sometimes but the clonazapam would help with that😊

Posted 9/6/2014 3:48 AM (GMT 0)
Brendaboo, I have taken two ssri's previously. Over 10 years ago I tried Prozac. It gave me pain zaps on the side of my head which I really didn't like. Mostly though I didn't like the way it made me feel. Empty, emotionless. I wasn't depressed but I still felt sad and empty and I just didn't like it. A few years ago I was given lexapro for anxiety. I didnt actually have anxiety at the time, I had undiagnosed hyperthyroidism that was causing a rapid heart rate, sweating, nervousness as well as many other symptoms. I took only one pill but an hour after taking it I felt high, giddy, weird and while I was laying in bed smiling my heart suddenly started pounding out of my chest and I thought I was having a heart attack. I made my husband call 911 and I layed on the floor and tried to breathe slowly. I declined going to the ER because it passed, I guess it was a panic attack even though I don't understand how or why it happened. I felt odd, or high almost for the rest of the day. I was talking quietly and slowly and sweetly. It was so odd. I felt like I was a completely different person. I only took 1 pill. It makes no sense to me but it scared me to the point that I developed a fear of all medication. I struggle every time I have to take anything for fear of side effects or harm to my body by the medication.
Posted 9/6/2014 4:02 AM (GMT 0)
I also have some concern about these meds and my naturally low pulse and blood pressure. My pulse at night is usually in the mid-low 50's. My blood pressure is usually 100/60 but sometimes goes lower than that. I'm nervous for these numbers to drop even more.
Posted 9/6/2014 4:03 AM (GMT 0)
Hi
These meds are meant for people who have depression and or anxiety and should not be taken by people who do not. That is when you see weird side effects.
Posted 9/6/2014 4:05 AM (GMT 0)

Cianna said...
I also have some concern about these meds and my naturally low pulse and blood pressure. My pulse at night is usually in the mid-low 50's. My blood pressure is usually 100/60 but sometimes goes lower than that. I'm nervous for these numbers to drop even more.



This does not happen to everyone, you just have to monitor how you feel.
Posted 9/6/2014 4:25 AM (GMT 0)
I definitely do have anxiety now. I did back then too, but the cause was my thyroid back then, the doctor just didn't check for it and assumed it was just anxiety.

Since my anxiety now is related to fear over my health now I just wonder if an ssri will actually help. I feel like it's my thought process that needs to change, and I'm not sure that Zoloft can help with that.
Posted 9/6/2014 4:32 AM (GMT 0)

Cianna said...
I definitely do have anxiety now. I did back then too, but the cause was my thyroid back then, the doctor just didn't check for it and assumed it was just anxiety.

Since my anxiety now is related to fear over my health now I just wonder if an ssri will actually help. I feel like it's my thought process that needs to change, and I'm not sure that Zoloft can help with that.

Have you tried therapy? Often it works, sometimes meds help with the therapy too. I too suffer from health anxiety, therapy alone does not work for me.
It is too bad benzodiazapines are so addictive and you can become tolerant to them cause they sure work for anxiety😊
Posted 9/6/2014 4:51 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all the advice, I appreciate it. I have tried therapy. Many times. My doctor just recently put in a new referral for me to see a new one because my last one was hurtful and mean and seemed to have no understanding of anxiety disorders. I saw her for almost a year but she made me feel terrible and nervous so I had to stop seeing her. I hope to find someone that can help me, but my history with therapists hasn't been great. The first one I ever had (at 16) was the best by far but he began making sexual advances after therapy was discontinued and it screwed up my trust for therapists.

I'm just all screwed up lol
Posted 9/6/2014 4:55 AM (GMT 0)
Cianna
I am sorry. That is not acceptable. Do you live in Canada? If you don't mind me asking that is.
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