Were do I start I'm desperate

[[me...]]

I have been on and off clonazapam for 10years but this has been the longest 6years I want to come off them but my gp won't help I'm totally in the dark. I'm also on 300mg pregablin and100mg sertraline I feel drugged up but they are not helping me at all can it be done with all the meds I have sjrogens which is an autoimmune disease I don't make saliva or tears it effects my digestion too I believe the medication has caused this I've never felt so I'll. And since my accident the medication is causing me to fall.im scared and feel trapped I have no support and I've lost my confidence I'm 69 years old I was put on the meds for jaw pain but they are not helping I don't go out as much my gp doesn't understand at all I'm sure the clonazapam caused my serious fall.it did alot of damage got alot of metal in me I'm so angry at the medical teams so glad I found this site although I'm still finding my way round thankyou

[[...]]

If your doctor is filling the  clonazapam why do you need his help? Just keep getting it filled and start a taper.

Study tapers. There is tons of info on this site.

There is the Ashton manual. This manual will tell you where to start.

https://www.benzoinfo.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Ashton-Manual.pdf

Most doctors do not understand that many people need a long taper.

Start looking for a doctor that is knowledgeable in slow tapers of benzo specifically.

We don't know how slow a taper you might need. If it does take a while, you would be better off having a doctor to record your progress.

Edited September 28, 2023 by [...]
Added

[[Br...]]

Hello @[me...] -  It sounds like your doctor is not knowledgeable about how to taper off benzos.  If you are interested in planning a taper we can help you. I think it would be good if you could work collaboratively with your doctor on tapering but as long as your doctor continues to fill your prescription you should be able to taper.  We can help you make a plan.  What do you think?

[[me...]]

Hi brighterday yes I would like support to get started I'm so confused but I'm taking my full dose 1mg at the moment and I'm getting withdrawal i.e nausea headaches disturbed vision and havnt slept for months thankyou🙏

[[Pa...]]

Hi @[me...], I’m so glad you started a thread, now we can really get to work!  I’m very sorry to hear about your fall, this is a major concern for older folks taking benzodiazepines and Rx sleep medications so I’m surprised your doctor isn’t concerned about that.  

Can you tell us what dose your pills are, this will help us figure out the best way to reduce it.  I agree with @[Br...] about trying to work with your doctor, having them as a partner is helpful because there may come a time when you’ll want to ask for smaller dose pills to aid in your taper.

How many times a day do you take your dose, do you take it all at once or split it up? 

[[Ho...]]

5 hours ago, [[m...] said:

I have been on and off clonazapam for 10years but this has been the longest 6years I want to come off them but my gp won't help I'm totally in the dark. I'm also on 300mg pregablin and100mg sertraline I feel drugged up but they are not helping me at all can it be done with all the meds I have sjrogens which is an autoimmune disease I don't make saliva or tears it effects my digestion too I believe the medication has caused this I've never felt so I'll. And since my accident the medication is causing me to fall.im scared and feel trapped I have no support and I've lost my confidence I'm 69 years old I was put on the meds for jaw pain but they are not helping I don't go out as much my gp doesn't understand at all I'm sure the clonazapam caused my serious fall.it did alot of damage got alot of metal in me I'm so angry at the medical teams so glad I found this site although I'm still finding my way round thankyou

Hi @[me...], I have a good friend with Shogren's. She's on chloroquinine, I think. She too has trouble sleeping as well as trouble with dryness. She takes very good care of herself, gluten free, dairy free, clean foods, walking every day, so things are under control, but it took a long time for her to get to this place. She's around 73 years old. 

Pregabalin also makes me really, really drowsy. I couldn't take it! I felt like I had a hangover all the time. I think your sertraline dose is sort of low/normal.

So sorry to hear about your fall, how awful for you! Yes, let Pamster et al know your dosages and take a look at the Ashton manual. See if there is a way out for you!

[[me...]]

18 hours ago, [[P...] said:

Hi @[me...], I’m so glad you started a thread, now we can really get to work!  I’m very sorry to hear about your fall, this is a major concern for older folks taking benzodiazepines and Rx sleep medications so I’m surprised your doctor isn’t concerned about that.  

Can you tell us what dose your pills are, this will help us figure out the best way to reduce it.  I agree with @[Br...] about trying to work with your doctor, having them as a partner is helpful because there may come a time when you’ll want to ask for smaller dose pills to aid in your taper.

How many times a day do you take your dose, do you take it all at once or split it up? 

Hi pamster I take 1mg of clonazapam at night. I've just half tapered my pregablin and feel okish now I need to know how to get off the nasty clonazapam do cut them 

[[me...]]

15 hours ago, [[H...] said:

Hi @[me...], I have a good friend with Shogren's. She's on chloroquinine, I think. She too has trouble sleeping as well as trouble with dryness. She takes very good care of herself, gluten free, dairy free, clean foods, walking every day, so things are under control, but it took a long time for her to get to this place. She's around 73 years old. 

Pregabalin also makes me really, really drowsy. I couldn't take it! I felt like I had a hangover all the time. I think your sertraline dose is sort of low/normal.

So sorry to hear about your fall, how awful for you! Yes, let Pamster et al know your dosages and take a look at the Ashton manual. See if there is a way out for you!

Thankyou hotcoldhotcold yes I've heard of that treatment for sjrogens but my gp won't prescribe so I spend a fortune on mouth sprays and pastilles I'm ,69years old I think my medication doesn't help it's interesting about your friends diet for sjrogens could you tell me more.msny thanks 🧜‍♀️

[[Pa...]]

So, @[me...], your pills are 1 mg?  Do you find yourself feeling symptoms before your next scheduled dose, I’m trying to determine if you’re dealing with interdose withdrawal, this is when you experience symptoms before your next dose.  When this happens, people will sometimes split their dose and take it more often.

You mention being on and off Clonazepam for 10 years, does this mean you’ve completely discontinued them at some point? 

[[Ho...]]

Hi @[me...], be sure you answer Pamster first, she has the best help for you by far! My friend's diet, well that's a long story. She now knows that she's been allergic to dairy since she was a baby, and didn't fully recognize it until she had lived in Switzerland for 25 years and lived with constant infections. She goes to a dietician/nutritionist who helps her. She believes all of her problems may stem from being on antibiotics all the time, because it destroyed the lining of parts of her intestines. But she manages very well. Her diet isn't for shogun's (sorry if I'm spelling it wrong!) but for everything else. 

She wasn't diagnosed with shoguns until about five years ago. She was exhausted all the time. Now, she has energy again and feels much better. 

Pamster is so right, you may be in a tolerance phase with your clonazepam. I'm sure she'll give you good things to consider!

[[me...]]

On 28/09/2023 at 21:52, [[P...] said:

So, @[me...], your pills are 1 mg?  Do you find yourself feeling symptoms before your next scheduled dose, I’m trying to determine if you’re dealing with interdose withdrawal, this is when you experience symptoms before your next dose.  When this happens, people will sometimes split their dose and take it more often.

You mention being on and off Clonazepam for 10 years, does this mean you’ve completely discontinued them at some point? 

Hi pamster yes I was on them for two years when my tmj started but the maxfacial hsp I was then attending called them dirty drugs and put me onpregablin in the end as the withdrawal was sooo bad. Then I saw a different tmj specialist who reinstated them uurg and discharged me to be under my doctor who will not let me come off them and its6years now I've been on them....due to my accident recovery 2years and then covid it was never mentioned I certainly feel symptoms way before my dose is due at night 

Thanks pamster

[[Pa...]]

Thanks for answering my questions @[me...], it looks like you’ve experienced withdrawal before, how long were you benzodiazepine free before you reinstated?  

Would you consider splitting your dose in an effort to avoid interdose withdrawal? 

[[me...]]

Hi pamster yes I've been through alot of withdrawals I was younger and fitter then.ive recently had alot of negatives in my life and I'm older and not as confident coping yes I will try splitting my dose thankyou pamster🙏

[[me...]]

I was benzo free for 5years before starting again and it's the longest 6yrs I've been on them😥🙏

[[Pa...]]

I’ve heard from other members that each withdrawal is a little bit more difficult so it might not be just your age that’s playing an part in your misery @[me...] but I’m sure it’s in the equation.  We just don’t heal like we did when we were younger,  a bruise seems to take forever to go away.

Have you tried splitting your dose yet?  It can take a bit of getting used to, our body doesn’t like changes. 

[[Gr...]]

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Edited October 9, 2023 by [Gr...]

[[me...]]

5 hours ago, [[P...] said:

I’ve heard from other members that each withdrawal is a little bit more difficult so it might not be just your age that’s playing an part in your misery @[me...] but I’m sure it’s in the equation.  We just don’t heal like we did when we were younger,  a bruise seems to take forever to go away.

Have you tried splitting your dose yet?  It can take a bit of getting used to, our body doesn’t like changes. 

Hi pamster not spli the dose yet I fell out of bed 2days ago and was stuck between the side table and the bed for 2hours I couldn't move because of my pinned right arm and leg luckily I have a pendant so they came out and helped move me I'm so bruised it hurts everywhere also had a bleed down below scary could get to see a gp.....I've an ambulance coming this morning as I'm in excruciating pain it's so awful being dependant 😟😟

[[Pa...]]

I’m sorry @[me...], I didn’t know, that sounds so scary!  Please let us know what’s going on when you can, and I know the loss of independence is upsetting but I hope this is temporary.