1. < Depression & Anxiety
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Doctor wants me to taper off meds; I don't understand why

Posted by lorraine59 @lorraine59, Nov 3, 2018

My family GP after 30 years of being on 6 mgs. of clonazepam is reducing my dosage and suffering withdrawl, along with depression, anxiety, and panic attacks. This was why he originally put me on this med!

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Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Aug 7 8:52am
In reply to @nana588 "@hopeful33250 As a mentor, do you know that genes play a big role in what drugs..." + (show)
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@hopeful33250
As a mentor, do you know that genes play a big role in what drugs to take. I have a lot of bad genes. But now I know mostly what I can and cannot take. I am at where antidepressants are really out of reach for me. But again Benzo's are not prescribed enough for people like me that I don't have much option on antidepressants. I think I have tried most all of them before, none of them worked. Drove me crazy.. So, I feel for all these people needing help and don't get it.

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Hello @nana588 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect.
I am a mentor, but I'm not a medical professional, so I can't answer your questions. I do know that having genetic testing will help your medical team to find drugs that will help and not cause serious side effects.

Are you considering genetic testing to find the most appropriate drugs?

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kittyjohnson1964 | @kittyjohnson1964 | Aug 8 6:47am

Find a neurologist. That's what i did. My Primary care Dr wanted me off of my klonopin after 30yrs. I will say that that is a high dose in my opinion but if you have been on the same dose without raising it up over and over for that many years then i would go to a neurologist. Your Dr should also be giving you guidance on how to taper off slowly so your withdrawal is manageable. Also most Dr's will give you something in its place to ease the withdrawal. I tried Gabapentin when i tried to taper down it made me worse, severe anxiety and suicidal. I wish you many blessings and i will be praying for you. Im so sorry you are having to go through mental hell.

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nana588 | @nana588 | Aug 20 8:31am
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @nana588 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I am a mentor, but I'm not a..." + (show)
Profile picture for Teresa, Volunteer Mentor @hopeful33250

Hello @nana588 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect.
I am a mentor, but I'm not a medical professional, so I can't answer your questions. I do know that having genetic testing will help your medical team to find drugs that will help and not cause serious side effects.

Are you considering genetic testing to find the most appropriate drugs?

Jump to this post

@hopeful33250
yes I had this done and it helps a lot but doctors don't know how to deal with this. They act like I am way out of my mind. I wish the govt would help with this big problem. It would save so much bad reactions to drugs. I have been through a lot of drugs they gave me in the hospital when I broke my back and I felt like I was going nuts. Do you know anyone that could get through to the government? Thanks

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gunshy | @gunshy | Aug 21 6:59am
In reply to @nana588 "@hopeful33250 yes I had this done and it helps a lot but doctors don't know how..." + (show)
Profile picture for nana588 @nana588

@hopeful33250
yes I had this done and it helps a lot but doctors don't know how to deal with this. They act like I am way out of my mind. I wish the govt would help with this big problem. It would save so much bad reactions to drugs. I have been through a lot of drugs they gave me in the hospital when I broke my back and I felt like I was going nuts. Do you know anyone that could get through to the government? Thanks

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@nana588 Dear One,
The "government process" is a long and difficult one and takes a very persistent person with a lot of help from the general population, Robert Kennedy has put in place several safeguards in Mass., but most states do the same old same old and have no conception how painful these drugs are both to take and get off. I would say do a lot of research on ai and other places, pray and the answers will come. This material word treats the body as a machine when it is a temple for the divine, as strange as that may feel to you now. Believe you can heal and the answers will come Believe me. They did for me.

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chocolaten | @chocolaten | Aug 22 11:24am
In reply to @lorraine59 "I feel I have to be honest about my profile of depression and panic attacks, as..." + (show)
Profile picture for lorraine59 @lorraine59

I feel I have to be honest about my profile of depression and panic attacks, as there has been one issue I have not mentioned..at 15 years of age, I was put on medication for depression, at 22 I experienced my first panic attack. Unfortunately they increased to a point that I could not function outside my home. Work put me on stress leave and saw the company Physiologist. I saw him on a regular basis, and returned to work. The panic attacks got worse after many life altering traumas.In my late twenties I found a cure! Alcohol! At first I found a few drinks would give me confidence, and it took away anxiety! This worked for short time until I realized I was unable to function without it. Now I had to admit I had a drinking problem as well. This is when I found the GP I have now. This is the doctor that put me on 6mgs of Clonazepam, as well as 60 mgs of Prozac! I tapered myself off of the Prozac, but still on the "Wonder Drug" of Clonazepam. It managed to take away ALL my anxiety as well depression! Fast forward 30+ years, he has decided to taper me off this drug. The first time I got to 3.5 mgs but had to have a few drinks at night to sleep, needless to say things got worse and ended up in hospital both times! What I can't figure out, why put me through this if I can't handle it and the fear I have is drinking again which could take my job, my sanity but most of all my life?

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@lorraine59 please tamper off very , very slowly. See a documentary on YouTube medicating normal. Don’t do it fast not in weeks or even a month regardless what your current doctor says.

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