Hey again--

[[ch...]]

Hi, been on this board a while back, but STILL having problems so here I am.  History--over 10 years of Clonopin 4 mgs daily as needed--I am a nurse never looked these drugs up, and worse, NO DOCTOR eve told me these drugs were addictive.

Im now 71, retired, and when I moved h\nack to Charleston SC the first "doctor" I saw--at the county menal health center--said they would never Tx Vlonopin, and wrote me one Rx for 30m days, 4 mgs, Q day,  Yold I should taper off to  0 in the 30 daays,  So I did--and the first 2 weeks in Jan. 2014, were ok.  Then I began to fall apart, but since I had a huge recurring pain issue with my knee, pain doc thought I was reacting to a mild pain med,  WRONG--within 3 days I was in full withdrawal, hallucinations of every kind, Psychotic breaks 2-3 times a day, sewats, skin crawling off--you all know the drill.  Fnally found a real Psyc doc, who took one look at me heard my story and literally almos fainted.  Seems all this shit is much worse if you are "elderly"--whoo knew--and I should have only been detoxed in a hospoital.  Wow. The new Doc gave me back 1-2 ms. daily as needed.  I tried taking 1/2 then 1 then 1 daily wih another only if really needed for my vast unwnding anxiety and NP-II Hupomania.  So now its almost 3 years later, still  on the 1-2 mgs, daily. Told my doc--I will never stop this awful killer drug. Ever.  Still having of and on but very real hallucinations of all kinds.  Divide my 60 pills each month in to 2 30 pill bottles, One I take 1 pill daily, the scond bottle one if needed.  Works pput really well--except now my doc tells me I need a therapist--I am treating y sumptons with medcines,  Yeah is he right--I am the original self-medication queen of the world. Just figured thi is too long--later, fellow benzo afflicted.

[Guest [Le...]]

Hello, chinacat  - welcome to BenzoBuddies!

 

Congratulations on your decision to come off of Klonopin, but sorry to hear how roughly you were dropped to the current dose. Many of us here were also given benzos even though we are also 'elderly' and have managed to get off these terrible drugs, so you'll be in good company here. The side effects you are having are typical and will ease up in time, although you may be able to reduce them with a more gradual reduction - but you've definitely come to the right place for support while you plan a more comfortable taper. 

 

I'm so glad you decided to join the forum - you'll find plenty of information and support here. Our members have gone through all aspects of benzodiazepine use and withdrawal, so you'll be able to connect with others who understand what you're going through and can tell you what has worked for them.

 

Please feel free to post your questions (from above) to any of the specialized boards, which can all be accessed from the BenzoBuddies Community Forum homepage. Based on the information provided in your introduction, the following link may be a good starting place for you.

 

  General Taper Plans

  Withdrawal Support During Your Taper

 

When you have a chance, we 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 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.

 

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. 

 

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

 

Again, welcome!

Leslie 

[[ch...]]

I'm familiar with the book you mentioned as it was recommended by a friend, but at this point, the way my doc is handling things, I plan to stay on the 1-2 daily.  Too old to worry about my liver now!

Big problem at this time is finding a new doc who will manage my meds AND provide therapy.  My meds doc keeps suggesting it, but I can't afford 2 doc appts Even once a month. PLUS--found put that he is fraudulently billing my insurance for an appoint. AND for 25 min of therapy which He does not and refuses to do.  So think that is about t end.

PLUS__found out from the Doc that heads up the practicd that I should NEVER been put on 2 Zoloft q day ans 2 Welburtin SR 2 Q seratonin syndrome.  and another plus--he has falsified my chard sharing that he advised me in April to stop and I agreed.  Bur WOW--he's been sending in that Rx every month.  And I never saw him in April.

O am extremely tired of being screwed by docs--but I have to take some of the blame--I should have checked the two--I was a RN for 30 years.

So here I am--we lived in Fla and I got screwed by my psych doc and my ortho.  I have never worked with a physician like these,.

  I am really in a muddle now, in danger of NO DOC at all.  Sigh__________