Is this withdrawl or lack of a dx?

[[th...]]

I'm 34 and at 32 I developed depersonalization and lyme symptoms out of nowhere, headaches/neck/joint/muscle aches, foggy and visual disturbance.

 

They found an arachnoid cyst but said it was a non issue and tested for lyme at my request (I know our tests in the us are useless).  After tons of bloodwork, mris, consultation they concluded I have some anxiety problem and prescribed klonopin 2mg a day.  I knew that was a lot so I did use 1mg for 8 mos tapered to .5mg 4 mos later and quit completely just over 2 weeks ago.

 

Symptoms are worse than ever, extreme insomnia, light sensitivity... I have to squint all day, headaches back pain neck pain fogginess... work is very difficult.

 

Never had a medical problem or used any pharms before but do drink regularly.

 

Will this go away, am I even feeling the wd effects or something different entirely?

[[Ba...]]

It sounds very much like withdrawals.

 

Hopefully they will get better throughout the following months, although these withdrawals aren't linear, you can feel fine one week and dreadful the next. You were wise to stay low and taper.

 

I am not one of the wisest buddies here so someone may chip in with better advice - maybe even reinstating at .5 and reducing very gradually, but re-instatement is usually only recommended up to 2 weeks after ceasing use so you may have past that point.

 

Drinking effects the same parts of the brain as benzo's so it is best to avoid drinking completely until all symptoms subside, and then even give it a few months to a year then as they can set you back into withdrawal territory.

 

Not the best thing to hear at Xmas time I know!

 

All the best and wishing you a speedy recovery xo

[[be...]]

I think you jumped at too high a dose.

[[Cl...]]

I agree completely with Bad choices, I think you are experiening withdrawal sympthoms, if you are able to manage these symptoms do nothing but wait. If after a month you feel the same you can reinstate at 5 mg and do a slow taper. I am not an expert, so wait a bit if somebody wise writes in here.

If no alcohol for a while you may feel better and perhaps no need to reinstate.

 

[[th...]]

reinstate at .5mg you mean?  the very dose I quit?  Last night I overslept for work, some 12.5hrs and woke up very disoriented, dizzy (still dizzy) and fatigued.

[[th...]]

So?

[[gr...]]

.5 is awfully high to jump off from I agree with that statement. Im surprised you could sleep at all much less 12 plus hrs...wow.

That confuses me cuz u state insomnia also...

 

These are wd symptoms for sure.

 

Basically, if you can live with the symptoms, i would do so. If you cant, then reinstating back to .5 or maybe a little less would be a choice....then taper from there.

[[th...]]

I usually don't sleep much, those 12hrs came after little sleep thr past several days. Went to bed at 930 woke up half hour later im up again *sigh*.  Currently eyes hurt and dull nerve type headache.

 

It keeps being stated that .5 per day is a lot, I know people that take 3 or 4 a day my age... how will they ever stop?!?!

 

Oh the tinnitus is fun too,  there's a 8000hz concert playing in both of my ears around 40db

[[...]]

Hi thisguy.  You can try posting at the Klonopin Support Group and see what opinions you get there.  Here's the link ...

http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=57791.0

 

Everyone's different when it comes to withdrawal.  I used and cold turkeyed off of 0.25 several times in the past without any problems.  This time, unfortunately, I wasn't so lucky.  Generally speaking, 0.5 is considered a fairly high dose to jump from.  Your friends should be made aware that they ought to taper off of their high doses and definitely not cold turkey! 

 

[[...]]

I'm 34 and at 32 I developed depersonalization and lyme symptoms out of nowhere, headaches/neck/joint/muscle aches, foggy and visual disturbance.

 

They found an arachnoid cyst but said it was a non issue and tested for lyme at my request (I know our tests in the us are useless).  After tons of bloodwork, mris, consultation they concluded I have some anxiety problem and prescribed klonopin 2mg a day.  I knew that was a lot so I did use 1mg for 8 mos tapered to .5mg 4 mos later and quit completely just over 2 weeks ago.

 

Symptoms are worse than ever, extreme insomnia, light sensitivity... I have to squint all day, headaches back pain neck pain fogginess... work is very difficult.

 

Never had a medical problem or used any pharms before but do drink regularly.

 

Will this go away, am I even feeling the wd effects or something different entirely?

 

 

wow...good job on your taper,,,,i will jump on new years,,,it means that my taper took me 5 months from 1 mg klonopin,,,,,

 

no way i can do longer taper than 5 months, after what i have been through,,,,

2 scary brutal inhuman CTs,

2 forced stays in psych ward, forced polydrugging by parents,

1 failed suicide attempt where i was experiencing visual hallucinations so traumatising it was on me....

 

 

if i won't recover,,,i will go and do Karmas job by myself.....

[[th...]]

Hi thisguy.  You can try posting at the Klonopin Support Group and see what opinions you get there.  Here's the link ...

http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=57791.0

 

Everyone's different when it comes to withdrawal.  I used and cold turkeyed off of 0.25 several times in the past without any problems.  This time, unfortunately, I wasn't so lucky.  Generally speaking, 0.5 is considered a fairly high dose to jump from.  Your friends should be made aware that they ought to taper off of their high doses and definitely not cold turkey!

 

The more I read it appears I'll be this way forever, why do doctors use this as a catchall?

[[...]]

No, you're wrong!  The more you read, the more it should be plain to see that you will NOT be this way forever!  As I mentioned, I C/T'd several times in the past without any problems whatsoever!  We're all individuals and you never know, you could get over this hump fairly quickly.  It's just wise to be prepared and know your options for a slower taper, just in case your w/d symptoms become more problematic.

 

The only thing we're all in agreement with here, is that you likely would have had it easier, had you continued to taper down to a lower amount.  But again, you never know, you could do fine.  K has a long half life so you could feel worse over the next couple of weeks when it all comes to a head.  You need to know this so you don't start panicking that it may be something else going on. 

 

Eight months is not a terribly long time to be on the K, try and relax as much as possible and know all your options in case you feel you need to reinstate.

 

As for why do Doctors use this as a catch all?!!! 

 

Hang in, you're going to be fine!

 

 

 

[[Be...]]

.5 is way to high to jump from. You need to reinstate at whatever dose you were feeling okay on and then SLOWLY taper over 3 months. Luckily you were only on it for 8 months. That is a blessing. Believe me! I'm coming off SLOWLY after almost 12 years on it.

[[th...]]

Feel slightly more normal today, still have double/blurry vision however cognitive abilities are improving.  Did feel a couple anxiety spikes for no reason so I shelved them.  Ears ringing as always.

 

 

Not feeling compelled to reinstate, the 4hrs of sleep last night is holding up though.

[[th...]]

does the vision get better?  I feel like my brain has a hard time processing fast movement / data... like I'm seeing the world at a slower frame rate

[[th...]]

?

[[th...]]

Today is particularly bad, very fatigued, have to squint to see and keep eyes open, wandering thoughts of imminent death / panic / anxiety.  Headache, cognitive problems, vision flickering, heart palpitation, neck and lower back pain.

 

what is going on.

[[...]]

Sounds like you're in the thick of acute withdrawal!  It's been over 3 weeks since you jumped, right?  Can you create a signature, it'll make it easier for others to be able to help you.

 

Sorry it's hitting you hard now, but .5 is a pretty high dose to have jumped from. 

 

PS - Have you posted at the Klonopin Klub?  Maybe they'll also have words of wisdom for you.

http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=57791.0;topicseen

[[th...]]

yes, three weeks would have been Friday of last week.  It's hard to believe that this level of brain fog and panic, visual disturbance, fatigue, off balance when I do something as simple and turn 30 degrees could all be from withdrawl!

[[th...]]

sleeping an average of 10-12hrs/night now uninterrupted, still severe headaches/visual problems/tinnitius/fatigue bleh

[[th...]]

What's the deal with head pressure and neck/lower back pain?  Terrible.

[[th...]]

What's the deal with head pressure and neck/lower back pain?  Terrible.

 

I deal with a lot of this pain. From what I understand it's bc benzos have a muscle relaxer property to them and when you tower or ct these that have been taken on a regular basis for a period of time a syx is the muscles tense up...sometimes to the extreme as the body goes thru wd. This can cause the severe head pressure and other body pain.

 

G

[[th...]]

No better yet, now sleep is a mess, back pain persists, foggy mind, eyes hurt / have to squint to see anything all day.

 

6 weeks and worsening, great.

[[th...]]

No better yet, now sleep is a mess, back pain persists, foggy mind, eyes hurt / have to squint to see anything all day.

 

6 weeks and worsening, great.

 

I think that is pretty typical with K wd. Those longer acting benzos seem to give more trouble longer out after the jump. It's gets better so I have heard. You just have to hold on and wait.

 

G

[[th...]]

taking multivitamin / vitamin D / b12 / milk thistle now... seems to help energy at least