I have been in Clonazepam 0.5mg TID for 18 years

Posted by jeanne51 @jeanne51, Jan 7 4:49pm

My psychiatrist retired and I was left to find a replacement. It seems there are a majority of nurse practitioners these days taking patients as providers, many do not take insurance. I found a nurse practitioner with a very good educational background. I saw her in person and she renewed the medications I was in for 6 months. Next month we had a zoom meeting and she told me she wanted me off the Ambien and Clonazepam because I would get dementia or Alzheimer’s with long term use. She insisted I start tapering against my will. I had school phobia in grade school, began having depression symptoms in my 20’s, and in my late 20’s had two major panic attacks. I have been depressed with anxiety most of my adult life. I have been hospitalized twice because of this. I have never asked for an increase in dosage of Ambien or Clonazepam fur 18 years after I found a wonderful psychiatrist who was so good at medication management.
Now, tapering Ambien and Clonazepam I have started self mutilating by picking my fingers raw until they bleed. I can’t sleep at night, I have become socially phobic. I have become isolative and often think of suicide with no plan. I am 73 years old and I think it is so cruel to put me through this when all I want is to have quality of life, not quantity. I live with my husband in adult senior living which I have not adjusted to. Taking these meds away has decreased my desire to exercise and my endurance is decreasing. My new provider told me if I didn’t want to taper my medication that I should find a new one provider. I did manage to taper the Ambien but I am down to half of the Clonazepam and feel like I can’t go on. Please help me. I am on Paxil and Wellbutrin for depression but it is anxiety and insomnia making my life miserable. I am not the same person I was a year ago.
I feel miserable, she has destroyed any quality of life I had. I really don’t want to live anymore.

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jeanne51 | @jeanne51 | Jan 23 10:25am

I can’t even get down to 1 1/2. 0.5 tablets daily.
18 years on this drug needs a much longer taper but I can’t stand the insomnia and other side effects of the tapering. I was fine until my provider thought she knew what was best for me. She is a young idealistic follow the rules provider. I don’t want to go through this misery at 73 years old.

windyshores | @windyshores | Jan 23 11:54am

In reply to @jeanne51 "I can’t even get down to 1 1/2. 0.5 tablets daily. 18 years on this drug..." + (show)

I slept well last night and made up for the previous night. I am going to start tracking sleep patterns after my very occasional small dose- usually one or two nights.

skullbasecancer4 | @skullbasecancer4 | Jan 23 1:23pm

This sounds beyond awful . Have you found anyone to put you back on meds ? I am so sorry .

daveshaw | @daveshaw | Jan 24 10:22am

In reply to @jeanne51 "I can’t even get down to 1 1/2. 0.5 tablets daily. 18 years on this drug..." + (show)

You shouldn’t have to go through this at 73 years old. If you have been on the same dose level for many years and have never escalated that dosage she is not doing here job very well.
As we have discussed before if Doctors really get to know their patients they would never insist on taking someone your age off a drug knowing what it will put you through.
If you are not having side effects find another doctor.
There is no one size fits all when it comes to any of us. We all react differently to any drug we are taking and all drugs have side effects.
I wish you the best of luck.

joanniek | @joanniek | Jan 25 7:32am

This is outrageous! I can’t even imagine a doctor or nurse practitioner would do that to you!! Find another psychiatrist asap. Keep looking until you find one! Ask before you make the appointment if the Dr has an issue with prescribing clonazepam. It’s nothing to play around with. I am basically anti-med and take many supplements but I do take clonazepam as needed because it is the ONLY thing that helps my anxiety. I’ve been taking it for 30 years. Prayers and hugs sent your way!

jeanne51 | @jeanne51 | Jan 25 9:26am

On Tuesday I have an appointment with a new provider. I am hopeful she will listen to my long history of anxiety and depression and consider me a candidate for continued use of the Clonazepam I have been on for 18 years. Thank you for your support.

daveshaw | @daveshaw | Jan 25 9:43am

In reply to @daveshaw "You shouldn’t have to go through this at 73 years old. If you have been on..." + (show)

I appreciate all the likes and hugs.
Everyone have a good weekend.

jeanne51 | @jeanne51 | Jan 25 9:45am

In reply to @daveshaw "You shouldn’t have to go through this at 73 years old. If you have been on..." + (show)

That is the problem…..she doesn’t know my history or me as a person. All she is concerned about is compliance with her philosophy and her practice rules, which she conveniently omitted telling me on our first visit. It is all the young practitioners and my young pharmacist who are anti-Clonazepam.

daveshaw | @daveshaw | Jan 25 11:09am

You are exactly right. They don’t know you and with the way insurance companies and Medicare and Medicaid operate in this country they will never be able to take the time to get to know you.
I am fortunate to have a primary care physician that has a practice built around older patients.
I come in to see her for my yearly physical or a follow up appointment and I get a hug. She has taken the time to get to know me and my family and actually cares about me.
How many people out there have a Doctor who actually cares about them as a person.
My Doctor just turned 50 and unlike some Doctors just starting their practice she treats every person in her practice differently.
If you don’t have a Doctor like that I encourage you to find one. They are still out there.
Good luck in your search.