No support MD says no WD symtpms short dose duration !

[[jo...]]

Im without medical support , My doc refuses to believe that anyone on my dose of clonazepam and the now 9 weeks I have been on this would cause withdrawal symptoms. He wants Me just stop taking it.  At first I would get symptoms after 12 hours of dosing now I get major irritability anxiety after 2 or 3 hours of dosing.  Palpitations , anxiety , hot flashes body aches etc.  I feel symptoms to varying degrees until I take the next dose once per day.

'

Im besides myself holding and getting worse with only emotional support from one friend and BBs . Why cant the medical mainstream accept the fact that even folks like myself can go through these horrific symptoms and have great difficulty trying to wean off of this drug. He says its My depression causing the anxiety and symptoms. Has the depression for sixty years and the depression may be making it worse however these symptoms are clearly WD symptoms. Im on medicare , In RI try finding another shrink that accepts medicare. The minute We mention mental illness they send you to a social worker for counseling. Mental health care here is an abomination. 

[[Sh...]]

For what it's worth, I completely understand what you're going through. I was on a benzo for an even shorter time than you and was not able to go cold turkey like several doctors told me was OK to do (only made it to day 2). And I also was unable to find a knowledgeable, compassionate doctor in my insurance network. But I found one terrible doctor who would at least prescribe valium, so I was able to taper without medical help. It takes a lot of resourcefulness and patience, but you will make it -- hang in there!

[[Mo...]]

Johnny, I did a search and found this...it's at least somewhere to start to try and find another dr. in RI.

http://www.coastalmedical.com/documents/Psychiatry_Ref..pdf

[[Mo...]]

Also this practice. Sorry if any of these are where you already are, or not close (though nothing in RI is very far!  )

http://angellstreetpsychiatry.com/PatientPortal/MyPractice.aspx?LType=10&UCID={101AFCEB-12B9-4F9A-AD19-3853CA54A7FC}&TabID={1}

[[Ja...]]

Trying to find a psychiatrist in NH is impossible also...I was told that their was a shortage of psychiatrists...maybe there all sick trying to come off Benzo's.....

 

Jaddy

[[be...]]

CT is very close by, and we have plenty here....

[[Ga...]]

the mental health care is bad here in FL too.

i was told to jump off 3 mg a day

i did, it was hell

i was never told how hard it would be.

i ewasnt advised i couldve had a seizure.

 

good luck

 

most drs will tell you it isnt w\D

[[Ao...]]

Doctors I have attended also do not believe any of the symptoms I have are benzo related. EVEN after my backpain especially decreased after I jumped . They firmly state it is anxiety related and when I "get to grips with managing my anxiety without the medications , my symptoms will fade".  There was NEVER any help or support in the beginning when I first went looking for help. I needed some counselling definitely , not handfuls of pills to be prescribed.

 

Btw , I'm from Europe and the mental health services here are very poor too.

[[sc...]]

I live in RI and I know that several of those places have long waiting lists.  You could try Butler Hospital their a psychiatric facility,,I see one psychiatrist there and he thinks I have severe anxiety disorder, never had a panic attack in my life,,but my gp at Memorial Hospital is very helpful and they have psychiatric services if they believe you need one.  I've never tried a regular psychiatrist here because of insurance but it couldn't help.  Good luck

[Guest [Ma...]]

I saw one benzo wise addiction specialist in RI ,on a list posted in here. I ll try to find it again 

[[Sh...]]

This is the one listing for Rhode Island on the "benzo wise" doctors list:

 

    Dr. George Southiere, Jr. MD

 

        Ocean State Addiction Medicine

        105 Sockanosset Cross Road Suite 320

        Cranston, Rhode Island 02920

        Phone: 401-949-2220

 

        Contributor comment: "He is an addiction specialist. He got me off of Klonopin. He crossed me over to valium then did a liquid valium taper. He understands benzo withdrawal."

 

[Guest [Ma...]]

Thanks Shirah..that s the one I was looking for!

[[jo...]]

thanks for the tip on that doc however He is not practicing at this time. I called His office and the other doc in with Him is not taking on any new patients and does not accept medicare. typical RI. Someone mentioned Butler Hosp which is a mental hospital here in RI. I was attending the day program and it was their nurse that prescribed the benzo Im stuck on which is killing Me each day. Im there for depression I end up an addict and now like the rest of em they just downplay My WD symptoms.  RI is NOT a good place to have mental illness unless You are loaded and can afford to pay cash for services. 

[Guest [Ma...]]

Another possible lead for you Johnny.  Richard D Lewis. New Bedford Ma  about 30 mins from Providence.  Listed as an addiction specialist thru MAD.

[[...]]

Most docs are clueless.  Even the ones who should know.

 

I found a benzo wize doc by asking my pharmacist.  I called and talked with docs on the phone.  It doesn't have to be a Pdoc.  You know about tapering properly now so you just need the script. I'd call around until you found someone who answers the phone and gives you a decent answer before bothering with an appt. i know if you live in a small town with few docs may not happen but gotta be some big towns around too if you don't find one locally who will work with you.

 

I found the pharmacist seem to know more about these drugs than the docs.

 

Good luck.

[[jo...]]

JTH yes most pharmacist do more than the doctors about the meds however when it comes to WD and tapering issues most are also clueless.  One day I drove around in My car asking the same question to over a dozen pharmacist and they basically all played down my dose and lenght of time taken.  A few told Me to just quit the original dose of 0.25mg. 

 

Its killing Me just trying to get to 0.125mg, getting close but still have a way to go. Once I get to 0.125mg Im going to take My time even if I eventually end up licking traces k  powder off My fingers as suggested by one BB. Im sensitive to drugs and have severe underlying depression which is whats making this situation worst. I dont want to jump on another drug. If somehow by a miracle I can get off this poison and still sleep at least 4 hours a night I know I can blow off the depression without drugs. My biggest fear is the return of the total insomnia. Then Im screwed !

[[Pa...]]

Johnny,

If you're looking for a psychiatrist to help you taper, check out the Mad in America website, under Resources, then Directory of Service Providers.  Some are listed for most states.  There's one in Rhode Island, but I think that person may be a psychologist who could not prescribe.  But there are psychiatrists listed in other nearby states.

 

I don't know if you're familiar with Mad in America, but it's an organization that wants to alert people about the dangers of psychiatric drugs and provide help in coming off them, etc.

 

Good luck,

Papa