linky123
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19974
posted
Well, I had no idea how addictive this stuff was until now. My md put me on it six years ago for anxiety. All it really did was make me sleepy, which I thought was good because I have a hard time sleeping.
I have researched and read the nightmare stories. I want to get off of this and plan to call my md today. My anxiety levels are at an all time high anyway. I have a mild c diff infection that I have been dealing with.
So hearing about this really has me worried.
I've heard of different ways of tapering, but don't know what is best.
Help.
-------------------- 'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.' Matthew 11:28 Posts: 2607 | From Hooterville | Registered: Apr 2009
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philly78
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Member # 31069
posted
I was on klonopin but not nearly as long as you were. I had started out only taking 0.25 mg and worked my way up to 1mg. I only took it at night before bed because it made me really sleepy as well.
Weaning yourself of any type of benzo can take some time and should not be rushed. Depending on the dosage that you're on, it can takes months or even a year.
I wasn't on that much and not for too long so I was able to do it fairly quickly. I went from taking 1mg per day, to taking 0.75mg per day, to 0.5 to 0.25. Then I went to 0.25mg every other day. Then I eventually stopped.
They key is to listen to your body. Everyone is different and you don't want to go through withdrawal symptoms. That can be very uncomfortable and dangerous.
For people that are on higher doses of klonopin or xanax, I've seen valium used as a temporary substitute to help them wean off.
1mg of xanax or klonopin is equal to about 20mg of valium. The valium also has a longer half life and both things contribute to it being easier to wean off of for some. You're blood levels remain relatively stable as opposed to the ups and downs you may have with the shorter acting drugs.
Here is a helpful link. The substitution of valium is also discussed on the page.
Some docs do have charts or schedules that they give out to patients to use as a guide. Maybe your doc has something similar.
Good luck!
-------------------- When faced with pain you have two choices....either quit and accept the circumstances, OR make the decision to fight with all the resources you have at your disposal. Posts: 1000 | From PA | Registered: Mar 2011
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linky123
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19974
posted
Well, I went to see him this am. He said the reason they prescribe klonopin is because it has the longest half-life (8 hours) so is not addictive like xanax, valium etc.
He gave me a tapering program that takes 12-14 days. He said his pts did just fine with that.
I explained that I had had chest pain and heart palpatations when I forgot my meds on a trip. He said, 'you were just anticipating it so had the anxiety/panic sx.
I said, 'I have never had a panic attack and wasn't even aware the meds had that side effect, so how could I anticipate anything'?
I am so angry at these mds turning unsuspecting people into addicts without even knowing it and then they don't want to take resposibility, but they do take your money with no problem.
-------------------- 'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.' Matthew 11:28 Posts: 2607 | From Hooterville | Registered: Apr 2009
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Your not an addict. You took the medication because your body needed it. I felt the same way and was so upset about being on xanax that I increased my anxiety.
You can decrease your medication by .25 every two weeks. If you do not have issues go down another .25. I am not sure how long you were on it but 14 days is a bit quick to come off of any benzo especially when fighting lyme too.
I am on xanax for over ten years for my inner ear due to a botched brain surgery. This week a top neurologist was the tenth doctor to put my mind at ease over using xanax to control the vertigo. She said I had a choice, I could lay in bed spinning without any balance to walk or I could use the medication to give me some relief and have a life to live. I guess the medication is worth it so that my life can be somewhat normal.
Take it slow and NEVER allow anyone to say you are an addict. Our bodies need medications at times to bring relief.
-------------------- Diagnosed with chronic neuro lyme 12/10 after 30 years of vertigo.2 tick bites in 3 yrs from upstate NY. Was on omincef for nine mths..zith and rifampin stopped.Remission~ All the pain and symptoms are back and I am not treating now with biaxin. Posts: 788 | From New york..queens | Registered: Nov 2010
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philly78
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 31069
posted
He is wrong about the half life. Here is the half life for all three drugs from RXlist
xanax ~ Using a specific assay methodology, the mean plasma elimination half-life of alprazolam has been found to be about 11.2 hours (range: 6.3-26.9 hours) in healthy adults.
klonopin ~ The elimination half-life of clonazepam is typically 30 to 40 hours
valium ~ The initial distribution phase is followed by a prolonged terminal elimination phase (half-life up to 48 hours). The terminal elimination half-life of the active metabolite N-desmethyldiazepam is up to 100 hours.
There is a handy chart at the following link which lists the half life of these drugs.
I work in the ER now, but I worked with drug and alcohol addicts for quite some time and have seen people do the switch to valium to make it easier.
Also, since only a small amount of xanax or klonopin is the equivalent of a higher dose of valium....the chart here says 0.5mg of klonopin or xanax is equal to 10 mg of valium....it makes the tapering easier because you can gradually decrease the valium dose where you wouldn't be able to do that with the other drugs.
For example....if you made it down to 0.25mg klonopin per day then just suddenly stopped, it is still possible you may feel some side effects or withdrawal. Now, if you were on the equivalent dose of valium, it would be 5mg which you woud be able to further cut in half to 2.5mg. You cannot do that with Klonopin. I think the smallest dosage pills are 0.5mg.
I hope I am explaining this right. I know what I want to say but am having a hard time expressing it.
That is not to say one way is right and the other wrong. I will also say that imo, getting off of klonopin in 12-14 days after being on it for 6 years is going to be very difficult. Of course....this is just my opinion.
-------------------- When faced with pain you have two choices....either quit and accept the circumstances, OR make the decision to fight with all the resources you have at your disposal. Posts: 1000 | From PA | Registered: Mar 2011
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philly78
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 31069
posted
Oh and I forgot to mention. You said this
"I explained that I had had chest pain and heart palpatations when I forgot my meds on a trip. He said, 'you were just anticipating it so had the anxiety/panic sx."
Judging from what he said to you, I am gonna have to venture to say that you're doctor is an idiot! Maybe he should be given a list of withdrawal symptoms from benzos which INCLUDES chest pain and heart palpitations! Ugh!
Here is a good list of some of the withdrawal symptoms you may experience when doing your taper. Please pay attention to your body and don't rush it! It may take more time than what your doctor is saying.
As already stated...you are NOT an addict and the simple fact that you are aware of the addiction possibility shows that. Drug addicts will deny, deny, deny that they are addicted. That isn't the case with you. Also...keep in mind that there is a difference between a drug addict and someone who is taking these meds as prescribed for legitimate reasons. You say that your anxiety is already bad, so if it gets worse or is untolerable, you might not be ready to come off them yet. Listen to your body.
-------------------- When faced with pain you have two choices....either quit and accept the circumstances, OR make the decision to fight with all the resources you have at your disposal. Posts: 1000 | From PA | Registered: Mar 2011
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philly78
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 31069
posted
Sorry...one more suggestion. If you aren't seeing a psychiatrist to manage your meds for anxiety, I would consider doing so. Primary care docs don't know as much about this and I had a wonderful psychiatrist who worked with me. It makes a world of difference in some cases.
-------------------- When faced with pain you have two choices....either quit and accept the circumstances, OR make the decision to fight with all the resources you have at your disposal. Posts: 1000 | From PA | Registered: Mar 2011
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linky123
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19974
posted
Hi Philly,
Great info. PM sent.
-------------------- 'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.' Matthew 11:28 Posts: 2607 | From Hooterville | Registered: Apr 2009
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posted
Great info Philly. I had a friend who was on very high doses of xanax plus depression meds and drove to florida...ran out of meds and didnt think anything of it.
He had a huge seizure and was found in his car and put in a mental institution down there not knowing who he was. His family had not clue where he went or what happened.
I am sure you need to be supervised and do it very slowly. There is no rush in life that is worth these serious effects. Take your time and relax or the anxiety will not be controlled without meds at all. Best of luck
-------------------- Diagnosed with chronic neuro lyme 12/10 after 30 years of vertigo.2 tick bites in 3 yrs from upstate NY. Was on omincef for nine mths..zith and rifampin stopped.Remission~ All the pain and symptoms are back and I am not treating now with biaxin. Posts: 788 | From New york..queens | Registered: Nov 2010
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Hambone
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 29535
posted
quote:Originally posted by philly78: 1mg of xanax or klonopin is equal to about 20mg of valium.
This is why doctors shy away from valium. They are scared of prescribing what seems like very high doses.
A doctor might hand somebody 4mgs of Xanax, and have absolutely no idea it is the same thing as giving them 80 mgs of Valium. You would be hard pressed to find a doctor who would ever prescribe 80mgs of Valium because they would think that is dangerous. Makes no logical sense how they think 4 mgs of Xanax and 80mgs of valium are two different things.
I got very dependent very quickly on 1/2 mg of Ativan. I was switched to 1mg of Klonopin and water titrated for 6 months. If I had to do it all over, I would've taken at least a year. But everybody is different.
Posts: 1142 | From South | Registered: Dec 2010
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posted
well i did a very fast tapper from 1/4mg Klon a day and the first couple weeks were a breeze and then wham-O a bunch of my Lyme symptoms came rushng back except for the de-realization.
i Quit the Benzos to see if it would help my dereal stuff, thinking it was caused by tolence withdrawal from the benzo.
derealization is alot better so i am convinced it was the benzo tolorance causing it,
but im still suffing from from all the Lyme symptoms that returned when i went benzo free 2 months ago,
if anyone can give me some feedback on how long it might take to stabilize from the withdrawal induced symptoms i would be grateful.
wish i new then, but i will never take them again getting off has been a tough road and i'm still on it.
good luck and god bless you.
-------------------- LSG Scott Posts: 513 | From Boston, Cape Cod, Mass | Registered: Aug 2009
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posted
Lymetoo...this same lyme neuro told me to stay on the xanax to keep my vestibular damage under control. I have heard the same now from ten doctors over all these years.
She explained that i could spend my life spinning in a bed or I could take the medication that it was created for and live my life the best I can with the surgery damage.
I always try to convince the doctors taht it must be the xanax that is causing things. I know this lyme neuro was great and she told me to stop fearing medication that is helping me live.
I guess I am a permanent xanax addict then, since there is no cure for my inner ear damage..not fixable! Wow just one more thing to think about now too I guess.UGH
-------------------- Diagnosed with chronic neuro lyme 12/10 after 30 years of vertigo.2 tick bites in 3 yrs from upstate NY. Was on omincef for nine mths..zith and rifampin stopped.Remission~ All the pain and symptoms are back and I am not treating now with biaxin. Posts: 788 | From New york..queens | Registered: Nov 2010
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