Panic Attacks Support Group
A panic attack is a period of intense fear or discomfort, typically with an abrupt onset and usually lasting no more than thirty minutes. Symptoms include trembling, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, sweating, nausea, dizziness, hyperventilation, and sensations of choking or smothering. Panic attacks can be very sudden, appear to be unprovoked, and are often...
yes I know that some chant " they are addictive"
and perhaps they allowed themselves to become dependant by taking too many, but what happened to some doesnt happen to all
I know of 2 psychiatriats who specialise in anxiety and panic attacks and fears and both prescribe valium or similar, both say its unusual for an anxiety sufferer to have an addictive type personality
sadly, whether you get these meds from many docs depends entirely on their personal prejudices, some of the most fanatically anti valium docs may well be valium addicts themselves
remember to store these meds in a cool place as heat spoils them, so keep them out of the car glovebox
also there are fake tablets around that of course dont help, especially if bought on the internet
although its not recommended, I know of some panic attack sufferers who have coped by taking high doses of these meds, daily for 30 or more years and are still in good health
and perhaps they allowed themselves to become dependant by taking too many, but what happened to some doesnt happen to all
I know of 2 psychiatriats who specialise in anxiety and panic attacks and fears and both prescribe valium or similar, both say its unusual for an anxiety sufferer to have an addictive type personality
sadly, whether you get these meds from many docs depends entirely on their personal prejudices, some of the most fanatically anti valium docs may well be valium addicts themselves
remember to store these meds in a cool place as heat spoils them, so keep them out of the car glovebox
also there are fake tablets around that of course dont help, especially if bought on the internet
although its not recommended, I know of some panic attack sufferers who have coped by taking high doses of these meds, daily for 30 or more years and are still in good health
Psychiatrist are full of it and I don't much listen to what they have to say anymore. No one told me when they put me on clonazepam(klonopin) how very addictive it was. I took my dose as prescribed(never overtaking) and now that I am trying to get off it, it is hell on earth for me.Anyone and I do mean "ANYONE" can become addicted to these drugs. You don't have to have an addicting type of personality.
Now if someone is in the throes of anxiety and panic and need something to cope then by all means take something to help you. However go into it knowing full well that these drugs are addictive. Also go in thinking of these drugs as something temporary to get you over the worst part of you anxiety and panic attacks.
My GP said she hasn't known anyone who HASN'T been able to come off of it without adverse side affects. GRRR I wish she had told me this when she was first prescribing it to me!
If you are having problems getting off medication, it means that you are doing it too fast, no matter what the medication is. You have to go slower. It can take a year or more to get off certain kinds of SSRI's, for example. It does not mean the drug is "bad" it just means that your body got used to having it around and now it has to get used to not having it.
Many people have to be on klonopin for their entire lives, like someone who has seizures or parkinsons for example. The medication works well for many people. It is not "bad", and "addictive". It's just that YOU had a bad reaction to it--not everyone will, as everyone's brain is different. Klonopin has been a life saver for many people.
[[[[your body has gotten used to depending on that specific chemical to be in your system. When you take that chemical away, your body reacts to not having it.]]]]
Umm Hun that is what addiction is. It is not only street drugs that you can get addicted too. Many drugs that doctors prescribe are sold illegally because of the people addicted to them like oxycontin.
I am sorry you had a bad time getting off klonopin. People have bad times getting off prozac, paxil, zoloft and yes, even coffee. Yet no one calls these things "addictive". I am sorry you don't understand that putting labels on these very effective medications is sending a bad message to people who could be helped by these medications. Like I said, everyone's brain is different. No one can predict how a certain medication will act in your body. For every 10 people that claim 'Oh my God, Klonopin is the worse drug ever!" there are 10 others that would say it helps them have a life.
If you had a problem getting off the klonpin, it is because your doctor took you off it too fast. There are hundreds of drugs that you need to wean off of. It doesn't mean that taking them makes you a drug addict. "Oh I won't take that drug cause I'll get addicted!" That is just plain foolish.
If you think that way, then you better not take any drugs, or drink coffee, or eat chocolate, lest you become an addict.
Grammy Bear, take each drug for what it is, a way to help you. If your body has a reaction to coming off it, then SLOW down the weaning process until you feel better. But don't deny yourself an opportunity to get better. There are plenty of people that do just fine on klonopin, xanax, and ativan, never "get addicted" and never have a big problem getting off of it. Do what you have to do to get your life back, and don't be afraid of drugs.
I am sorry you had a bad time getting off klonopin. People have bad times getting off prozac, paxil, zoloft and yes, even coffee. Yet no one calls these things "addictive". I am sorry you don't understand that putting labels on these very effective medications is sending a bad message to people who could be helped by these medications. Like I said, everyone's brain is different. No one can predict how a certain medication will act in your body. For every 10 people that claim 'Oh my God, Klonopin is the worse drug ever!" there are 10 others that would say it helps them have a life.
If you had a problem getting off the klonopin, it is because your doctor took you off it too fast. There are hundreds of drugs that you need to wean off of. It doesn't mean that taking them makes you a drug addict. "Oh I won't take that drug cause I'll get addicted!" That is just plain foolish.
If you think that way, then you better not take any drugs, or drink coffee, or eat chocolate, lest you become an addict.
Grammy Bear, take each drug for what it is, a way to help you. If your body has a reaction to coming off it, then SLOW down the weaning process until you feel better. But don't deny yourself an opportunity to get better. There are plenty of people that do just fine on klonopin, xanax, and ativan, never "get addicted" and never have a big problem getting off of it. Do what you have to do to get your life back, and don't be afraid of drugs. "
Yes all of these things are addictive but we are not talking about chocolate we are talking about a powerful drug. NOWHERE do I say that "oooh the drug companies are out to get me", or that "no one should take klonopin. You are reading things that are not there. I very clearly said,which you very clearly ignored, that should you need something during the toughest time of your panic and anxieties that you should take something, but to go into it knowing full well that it is addictive and there are side effects . Nowhere did I say these drugs are "bad" and that you should never take them. I also very clearly said,which you very clearly ignored, that at my worst time these drugs were very helpful to me, but that I wish I had been given all of the facts.
Now harry333 and your alter ego shrinking,yes I know you are the same person with two different accounts, how about you stop stirring up shit here and mosey over to a troll site made for people like you. This place is a safe haven for those who are in pain and we don't need trolls like you coming in and getting your jollies off of hurting us even more.
"Nowhere did I say these drugs are "bad" and that you should never take them.
So I guess you didn't say the following:
"Psychiatrist are full of it and I don't much listen to what they have to say anymore. No one told me when they put me on clonazepam(klonopin) how very addictive it was. I took my dose as prescribed(never overtaking) and now that I am trying to get off it, it is hell on earth for me.Anyone and I do mean "ANYONE" can become addicted to these drugs. You don't have to have an addicting type of personality."
That doesn't sound like someone who is giving such great advice. It sounds like someone who is mad about drugs and psychiatrists. When you say psychiatrists are "full of it," how is that true or even helpful to people looking for information? There are some psychiatrists that are full of it, but there are also a great many who do a fine job, help people and are doing the best they can with medications that are very tricky to prescribe. The fact that you got bad treatment, does not mean everyone will. The fact that you got "addicted" as you say, does not mean everyone will. Plenty of people take benzos with NO addiction. Everyone is different.
And you also said:
"I also very clearly said,which you very clearly ignored, that at my worst time these drugs were very helpful to me, but that I wish I had been given all of the facts."
I did not ignore the fact that you said they were helpful to you. But that statement pales in comparison to the ranting you are doing about the "full of it "shrinks. So what I take away from this rant is that the drugs are ALWAYS addictive. They may be for YOU. That doesn't mean they are for EVERYONE.
If your doctor did not give you all the FACTS, then you have the internet, you have your mouth---look it up, ask the doctor- is this addictive? Let him tell you the FACTS.
Here are Facts:
1. You have to wean off many drugs, like nexium for example, otherwise you will feel very sick to your stomach. Does that mean you are addicted to it?!
2. Many people do fine on these drugs and never "get addicted".
3. These drugs may be something temporary, or someone may need to take them for a while. No one can predict who will be taking them temporarily and who won't.
4. The only way to find out what effect a drug will have on you is to take it.
Finally, you said:
"Now harry333 and your alter ego shrinking,yes I know you are the same person with two different accounts, how about you stop stirring up shit here and mosey over to a troll site made for people like you. This place is a safe haven for those who are in pain and we don't need trolls like you coming in and getting your jollies off of hurting us even more."
I can't speak for harry333, cause I am not him (or her). If you are that paranoid maybe you need medication.
I am a sufferer just like you. I also am a researcher and when I state facts on this board, they can be backed up with plenty of data My goal here is to help people to get the right information. I don't want people to be tricked into thinking that some herb or some book is going to help them when medication might do it better.
The problem with boards like this one is that anyone can rant about their experiences. That does not make these experiences facts. What happened to you is unfortunate, but people should not come away from reading this discussion thinking that because of what happened to you, it is going to happen to them.
Please--Put things in perspective, and get a better psychiatrist next time. They are out there. You just have to look.