Clonazepam

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A little over 3 years ago I had a widow maker Heart Attack. I have 2 stents I am 65 now.  18 months ago I found out I have Afib and I get panic attacks too.  I take Clonazepam on a as needed basis but now I find myself taking it daily.  I divide one 1mg pill into quarters and take them.  Lately I have had to take more than one a day.  I never know if its Afib or a panic attack unless the medication takes my heart rate back down. 

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Welcome to BenzoBuddies, debo.

 

Benzodiazepines usually work well for anxiety for awhile.  As tolerance to the benzodiazepine develops, only an increase in dose restores the therapeutic benefits.  We all have to decide when to put an end to the increases, and then we're left with the issue of getting off a medication that isn't doing anything except keeping withdrawal symptoms at bay.

 

It's important that you work closely with your doctor given your health issues.  I would hope he can give you something else for the afib while you are tapering. 

 

Here is a link to our General Taper Plans where you can post for support from the wider membership.  A slow taper of reductions of no more than 5 to 10% every few weeks is the general rule of thumb.

 

Please take some time to Create a Signature. This will help other members understand your history so they will be better able to support you.

Go to the top of the page and select Profile, then choose Forum Profile, insert drug history/timelines into the text box and click Change Profile.

 

When you have a chance, I highly recommend that you take a look at The Ashton Manual, which is an authoritative source on what to expect during withdrawal and recovery, authored by Dr. C. Heather Ashton, who is an expert in the field. It provides a great deal of information that can be very reassuring during any stage of this process, including a list of common symptoms with helpful explanations on the reasons for their existence.

 

Challis 

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My question of course is what else is there to take that won't interact with the Metoprolol XL 50mg?  My PCP wants me to take Bupropion 75 mg not only for the anxiety but for smoking too!  But everything I read says not to take the two together?  Geez what way does a gal go?  Tonight I had a panic attack my wrist monitor showed a irregular heart beat and my HR increased to 118 my BP hit 132 which is high for me since I usually stay in the low 100's.  1 and 1/2 Bupropion later everything was back to normal but here I sit at almost 3 am just waiting for it to hit again. Dec 27 my BP hit 168 and heart rate 101 but it dripped to normal when I got to ER so no tests were done.  I have tried Celexa and Prozac but they took my breath away so that was that?  I have such a horrible fear of another Heart Attack and I have two clogged arteries in my neck.  I thought my Golden Years would be nice and easy.  What do I tell not only my PCP but my Cardiologist who no doubt thinks I'm just a crazy old woman looking for attention?  Also these attack seem to happen at around the same time each month coincidence?  And the ER nurses and Doctors know me on a first name basis!  So much for the Golden Years!