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Part I. I need to elaborate my condition but I will be as brief as I can. Started using Clonozepam 2005 for treatment for Restless Leg Syndrome. I had been taking Carbidopa/levodopa but after my mothers experience with it and suffering Dementia, I feared using it and my doctor had prescribed clonozepam as an alternative. 5 years of usage I had moved to medicaid. They would not allow me to continue my prescription and I had actually quit cold turkey and suffered from severe lack of sleep and periodical stomach cramps for a year. I sought many medical facilities to resume my prescription to no avail until I was able to change physicians through my medicaid. My new doctor resumed my prescription. I never believed medication is always the right answer for every health issues, especially when addiction is the risk, but after experiencing open heart surgery to replace my aorta valve (defective from birth) I am now on a lifetime prescription of Warfarin to regulate my INR. This is something that is required to regulate my blood and reduce coagulation as a mechanical valve will accumulate them and possibly for a clot that can break off and go directly to my brain from the Aorta. Clonozepam works for my RLS, and while on medicaid and the last 5 years out of country where medication is free I could afford it. (To be continued)
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Part II. I feel confident enough, even though my current lifestyle has led me into a greater depression state, that if I were to ween off the Clonozepam (far too expensive for out of pocket use and my health cost of prescription, required INR testing without Klonopin is more affordable than the premiums I would have to pay for medicare, since my premium would be even higher because I refused Medicare at age 65 (two years ago) because I simply could not use it out of country and my healthcare in the country is virtually free. Many sticky situations apply to my circumstances regarding medicare but If I weened of the Clonozepam I could afford to return to the US and get by on my SS with low income housing aid and other benefits. Since I didn't have any life threatening occurrences when I was forced to quit cold turkey before, I thought I'd try it again after being on the drug now for more than 15 years. After 4 days (just as my research had confirmed was the time frame for experiencing withdrawal symptoms) I did experience just about every withdrawal symptom known to this drug use and quitting. I resume the usage and as suggested on many internet medical sites I started to taper. The site I read recommended cutting back 1/8 Gram per week. I am now into week 3 and after the episode with cold turkey I did not resume at my 1.5 gram dose, but 1 gram seemed to be sufficient to subdue the withdrawal systems. I am starting week 4 at just 1/8 gram, basically the final phase. I had no issues so far until last night. I suffered a severe episode stomach cramps that was actually very short lived after I added another 1/8 Gram dosage. I'm finding now other websites (including Mayo Clinic which I trust) that the weening process needs to be longer and slower in order to safely quit using. I woke this morning to things back to normal. I intend to move to 1 month reduction at 1/8 gram and resume with 1/4 gram for another 3 weeks. I do not have any resource for support groups other than online and I do not trust the free healthcare system here for any type of intellectual guidance. I guess you get what you pay for. Any advice or support would be greatly appreciated.