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Coming off Clonazepam (having withdrawals help me!)

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Posted 1/29/2015 3:49 AM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone,
So my story goes like this; I've been suffering with anxiety/panic/critical depression disorder for the past year and 3 months... it all started with a mild/small panic attack i had at a restaurant i remember i couldn't breathe and i was so afraid of everyone around me. Long story short a few months after that i tried to do it all natural drinking herbal teas to relax, sleep, and breathe. That worked for a while till it all went down hill for me i cut off all caffeine so i was having really bad headaches so i decided to take a migraine pill (worst idea ever) ever since i had a HUGE anxiety attack making me afraid off ALL pills!! And i mean all pills anyway i ended at the ER a few days after cause i was afraid of dying in my sleep an it messed me up i went to the DRs after a week of crying, no sleep, i lost weight due to my anxiety so i was prescribed Clonazepam started at .5mg i was taking .25mg in the morning and at night i did that for about 2 months, after all i ended up going up to 1mg so i was taking .5mg in the morning and .5mg at night am went on for 8 months & now i feel i don't need it so i decided to talk to my dr and tapper off of it she supported me and told me to do it slow and i have but i feel scared, gittery, shaky, can't sleep, HUGE headaches i don't know what to do anymore i feel like am going to want to get back at it an am only down to .5mg now i given it 2 weeks after moving on to my next low dose but omg its driving crazy.... is it normal? Am i doing it right? I feel alone scared, i have a lot pf crying spells oh an i forgot to mention am also starting on Paxil am on my 5 day of it and i dont see it working... please help me I feel awful and i try to stay positive am mostly scared cause they told me i could have seizures and die and scared!! I literally feel like o take 1 step forward bit 3 back i am not having a good time... :'( confused
Posted 1/29/2015 5:05 AM (GMT 0)
Hi MG and welcome!

I think what you are experiencing is a double whammy here...

You are weaning off a benzo...and starting an SSRI.

I think you can expect some feelings of discomfort unfortunately...and you are just going to need to give it time.

SSRI's will often cause and increase (ironically) of anxiety upon starting. These feelings will phase out after the first few weeks...and you will likely end up with a good med for yourself.

Keep following your doctor's advice for your wean. You will not have seizure issues if you continue to step your dose down slowly and consistently...so don't worry about that.

For help in all that your body and mind are going through now...here are some great stress relieving exercises. Practice them everyday, and they will help.

http://www.stress-relief-exercises.com/



Keep posting with us. We understand, care...and support is key!

Scaredy Cat

Posted 1/29/2015 5:38 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you Scaredy Cat!
Your words are calming and am feeling better and understanding why i feel the way i do... will definitely keep all posted am praying for the best and am keeping my self positive! Will put in practice the exercises and am sure it will help thank you!
Posted 1/29/2015 6:41 AM (GMT 0)
Hello MG,
Sorry you are having a rough time. I was forced to withdraw from Klonopin for my job August 2014. I was on 1mg at night for GAD and panic for about 7 years. It worked wonders for me along with lexapro. I know what your going through and it sucks something terrible. I was withdrawn of it at a detox facility. They basically replace the Klonopin with another high dose of a different benzo so you don't seize up and let you detox. Pure hell!! Major panic, anxiety, just overall feeling terrible. The good news is it does get better. The worst for me was the 1st couple weeks. After that things calmed down some. It has been almost 6 months since my last dose of Klonopin and I'm still not 100% but I'm getting there with CBT and some new meds. Just know it does get better just have to give it time. Hope this helps and I feel for ya.
Posted 1/29/2015 12:20 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with SC, the anxiety you are experiencing could very well be the start ups of paxil. It should pass in the next couple of weeks. You should be well on your way to feeling good!!
Posted 1/29/2015 2:18 PM (GMT 0)
I also am tapering from clonapin and it has been just as you describe. I was at .5 2x/day and am now at .125 2x/day after decreasing .125 daily every 2 weeks. Keep the taper slow and small. First of all you have already cut your dose in half so that is great. You also have your ssri to eventually kick in.
My major symptom is jitteriness and palpitations.
I have found that what helps me most times is when I feel it coming on I take a walk preferably outside but also on a treadmill for 15-20 minutes and it gives me some relief. Also I did not give up coffee completely (2 cups/day) as withdrawal from it can also add to the symptoms.
Posted 1/29/2015 4:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hi

Welcome to the forum I am sorry to hear you have been struggling with anxiety/panic you are in a good place here and we understand what you are going through.

SC has given good advice and I agree you are probably getting a double whammy from both the decreasing your benzo and starting your ssri. Give it a couple of more weeks and you should be feeling a bit better if your not go back and speak with your doctor.

Hibee
Posted 1/30/2015 1:34 AM (GMT 0)
Hi! I'm weaning off Klonopin as well and my biggest symptoms are fear and GI stuff. I'm down to .25mg at night and haven't made a cut in 2 months I hate the withdrawal so much. It's tough! Harder than anything else I've come off of. Go slow and hang in there.
Posted 1/30/2015 3:19 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you all so much!!!!! I hope it gets better cause it is not fun... i go to therapy on Monday so am crossing my fingers all goes well from there. My anxiety kicks in more at night so its hard to get sleep my doctor gave me some Diphenhydramine (hope i spelled that right) but am to afraid to take it...
Posted 1/30/2015 5:04 AM (GMT 0)
I am also coming off Clonazapam. I'm about half way through my taper right now. I was really worried about withdrawal, so I discussed a slow taper with my doctor and that's what we have been doing. The first reduction was terrible, and I felt so many horrible anxiety symptoms come back. It made me scared to taper more, so I waited longer than I should have. Thankfully, every drop in dose since the first one has been cake. I'm dropping 10% of my original dose every 2-3 weeks. I also use a scale for accuracy. I'm halfway done with my taper. It's taking a long time unfortunately because of the slow drop, but it's been 100% worth it to be able to drop dose without symptoms. Good luck.
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