Bipolar Disorder Support Group
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I've been taking klonopin since 2003-4. I know that I'm physically addicted to them. If I miss a dose, the anxiety/panic kick into major overdrive. I begin to sweat and experience back pain too.
I really want to come off of them to see if I actually need to be taking them any longer. I mentioned it to the pdoc and he said he didn't want to discontinue them. I really feel that the klonopin are creating more anxiety for me, due to the tolerance that I have built up. The pdoc just wants to keep adding another med when I mention my high anxiety level, which I somewhat understand. After all he is a med doc.
Has anyone had breakthrough anxiety, over being on benzo's for so long that you buillt up a tolerance to them?? Have you ever felt or known for a fact that the benzo made your anxiety worse?? If so what did you do over the entire ordeal??
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I really want to come off of them to see if I actually need to be taking them any longer. I mentioned it to the pdoc and he said he didn't want to discontinue them. I really feel that the klonopin are creating more anxiety for me, due to the tolerance that I have built up. The pdoc just wants to keep adding another med when I mention my high anxiety level, which I somewhat understand. After all he is a med doc.
Has anyone had breakthrough anxiety, over being on benzo's for so long that you buillt up a tolerance to them?? Have you ever felt or known for a fact that the benzo made your anxiety worse?? If so what did you do over the entire ordeal??
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have you asked your pdoc if it's the timing or just the thought of it in general...?
i am on them for both my bp and my ocd...but if my pdoc thought i could handle coming down or off with other methods...more cbt, for example, for my ocd...or just a different and less stressful lifestyle for my bp...i know she would be very happy that i was in such a space...
she'd want me to keep a small dose around for emergency panic attacks...but still...hummmm...
i know i probably sound like a broken record (and perhaps a counter-productive one...i dunno) asking people what kind of relationship they have with their pdocs...but...i went through so many to find the one that i have...which is so give and take...and comfortable...where she doesn't make me feel like she is the last word on everything...
anyway...long story short, yes. i built up a tolerance at one time and it was awful...we went up one pill and it went away...this was about two years ago to 500mg per day...discriminatory...meaning...i don't have to take them all...
and it depends on my stress level...which at the time was incredibly high as we were building a house...so now...i usually don't take them all...and actually don't really see a reaction...
unless...i'm really stressed...or really hypo...
anyway....hope some (any) of this was helpful.
xx, beep.
After they saw it Worked with my anxiety issues, they gave it to me like Candy. I took 4-5 mg average per day, and carried them Everywhere with me, even walking around the house.
I went "in and out" as far as using them - needing more, needing less - but it was finally at the end of 2005 I realize just how addicted I was.
I had used up too many, as usual - had 3 days left until scrip could be refilled - and I was sweating, shaking, you know: the Works.
I went to the pharmacy with my new scrip, got it, and stood outside the store - just Holding the Bottle in my hands - and realized I was F--king Calm. Hadn't even Taken on yet!
Right then, I decided I wanted OFF the Klonopin. Took me 6 months to stop taking them completely, then another several months to get past the Psychological addiction.
Anyway? If you want more help from me, or to talk about what happens if you go off them and your attacks come back, feel free to message me.
*hugs* to you - I am NO doctor, of course, but I am in favor of freedom from benzo's if Possible, because of their addictiveness.