happy to have found this board!

[[Ma...]]

Hello! I am am a 38 year old bipolar woman who has been on and off klonopin and other benzos for about twenty years. I always thought I could take or leave them. Much to my surprise, when deciding to stop my .5 twice a day klonopin regime because I want to have a baby later this year I realized that everything I had been warned about benzos was true. I've been off klonopin for 10 days. I'm having horrible withdrawals. I'm being treated at an out patient partial hospital program with topamax, gabapentin and lakictal. I'm having the worst panic attacks of my life. I'm not sleeping, my heart is constantly palpitating. My head is killing me. It is getting easier.. but it's still very frightening. Looking forward to getting some support and hearing how others have gotten through this.

[[me...]]

Welcome to the forum!  We're glad to have you as a new member.  It sounds like you cold turkeyed (a hospital "detox" is almost always a cold turkey or a very fast taper), so unfortunately the symptoms you're having are par for the course at this point.  Those of us who've gone through this know how awful the symptoms after a c/t can be.  It's temporary, however, and you will heal in time.

 

You'll find plenty of information and support here.  Our members have gone through all aspects of withdrawal, and you're likely to see  people who understand what you're going through and can tell you what has worked for them.  For those who are currently tapering, we suggest reducing no faster than 5-10% every 10-14 days, and some taper even slower than that.  One exception: very short-term users of a few weeks or less may be able to taper faster than that.  Having some withdrawal symptoms is normal, especially near the end of a taper and for a month or so after discontinuing the medication.  The most common symptoms are anxiety and insomnia, but these are temporary and will go away in time.

 

Here are a few links you may find useful:

 

Cold Turkey, Detox & Rapid Withdrawal

 

The Ashton Manual is an authoritative source on what to expect in withdrawal and recovery.  Dr. Ashton is an expert in the field.  She describes and explains withdrawal symptoms in Chapter III, and there is also a section with withdrawal/taper schedules.

 

Please take the time to Create a Signature.  This will allow others to see where you are in the process so they can better support you.

 

Again, welcome!

 

 

 

[[Bm...]]

Hi

Sorry to hear that you are having problems getting of this medication. I did a cold turkey off of Clonopin also and it was tough but so much happier now four years to the day later!

 

I'm also a nurse who works at a birthing center. I admire that you are getting off this medication before getting pregnant. We are seeing more and more infants born to mothers who are on prescription antianxiety, antidepressants, ect. and the babies do go through withdraw from them. These babies do suffer and it is very sad. I admire that you are thinking of your baby before you even get pregnant.

 

I hope you are feeling better soon and YES you will start feeling better. Don't know when everyone is different but your central nervous system will recover.