Connect
I have been in Clonazepam 0.5mg TID for 18 years
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.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Depression & Anxiety Support Group.
Connect
I have anxiety…and now depression. I would be happy to die. Shortly after feeling this feeling, I got breast cancer…unbelievable. I have been healthy my entire life..no colds..no flu… nothing I didn’t even get COVID…nor did I get the vaccine
I have taken the occasional Clozipam (sp?)…just for the relaxation benefit
I moved and doctors don’t want to prescribe even 2 pills… is there something over the counter I can take for relaxation and give me a good full nights sleep?
I don’t want to be dependent upon a doctors prescription. I don’t have a “Family Doctor” because like I said. “I don’t get sick”. I felt a lump in my breast and now I’m dependent on a doctor..one who is judgemental rather than understanding…
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@skeast well welcome to the group, there are a lot of really great people to ask your questions and get answers. i had cancer and so far have it beaten will see how I'm doing this testing Friday, mine was brain tumor and lung cancer. i have put it in gods hands. so far the roads been pretty bumpy but i am fighting to stay alive for family. just keep your spirits up as best as you can, pretty soon you will have lots of people to share with. have a blessed evening and I'm sending a prayer your way now ========== sent.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsI hope you are comfortable….sending you the best cure ever…LOVE…
S
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@arthur57 it’s a terrible drug lol all of them psych meds are terrible I don’t care if it’s a SSRI or a SNRI or a mood stabilizer they all have horrible withdrawal and some extremely severe side effects those Benzo’s have saved peoples lives, and help anxiety not everyone is depressed, and needs some bogus antidepressant that they get paid by Big Pharma for them prescribing it and there’s people like me that can only take Klonopin with NO Side Effects, but have every side effect from their garbage SSRI what it is they don’t make enough money off of Benzo’s and SSRI and Mood stabilizers can be very expensive!!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions@romancity13, I totally understand what you’re saying and agree completely, I’ve been taking Ativan for over twenty years and it’s been my anchor for years, I couldn’t have coped with many things including cancer without it. I’ve tried antidepressants many times and I feel sick from side effects, currently I’m doing it again and kicking myself because I feel so lousy, worst part is that I have to withdraw again so more side effects to deal with. Also recently I started having inter dose withdrawal from Ativan and that’s scary, I can basically go about 8 hours between doses but then I need another dose so currently I’m taking 0.5 mg 3 times daily. This is why I started trying antidepressants again but I believe it’s having the opposite effect, I feel like I am going around in circles, I have a new doctor who is trying to help me but I feel his experience is limited, getting help elsewhere is challenging north of the border.
@frouke I completely understand I tried all kinds of antidepressants and unfortunately they didn’t work for me, but you can also try klonopin time release which works the whole day, and releases slow, but I really hope you find something that works for you, because psych meds can be a real challenge their good for some, and then there’s those that can’t handle them and unfortunately benzo’s work just gotta try to find right dose, and also do therapy and other things that make you happy, and diet, and exercise, and see if there’s other things that may contribute to anxiety.
@romancity13 This is so true, I am on a short acting benzo, I used to worry about it failing me, I might give Klonopin a try and see what happens, thank you.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI've been taking Clonazepam for over 20 years. I started on 1 mg. twice a day. The morning Clonazepam made me sleepy throughout the day. The next visit, he changed it to 1 mg. at night. I have epilepsy and it controlled my night-time seizures. The last visit, I started noting I wasn't sleeping as well. I requested to have the Clonazepam adjusted to 2mg. at night. He didn't hesitate to prescribe 2mg. tablet for me. I've checked the side effects of the drugs I take online pretty religiously. I have never seen an article stating that long term use of Clonazepam causing dementia or Alzheimer. If you already have dementia or Alzheimer, then it is not prescribed. I have been started on Lexipro. (5mg. 1 morning, 1 evening) for anxiety and has been working very well. I take a supplement, Kava, in the afternoon usually with lunch and also find it very helpful.
@frouke It is the longest lasting benzo and I still believe there is the right combination of antidepressants out there for you. Try Zoloft in combination with Wellbutrin and Buspar. It has worked for me for over 30 years. That combined with Klonopin might work. Just don’t abuse the Klonopin. Find a dose that works and stay on it.
Good luck to you.
@daveshaw Thank you Dave, it's been a tough time finding the medication and all the while you have to cope with the side effects, it's a proverbial mission but I am determined to get there, thanks for your support, Frouke
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction