Timely comment here. My docs office (former sleep doctor) called me just yesterday to schedule follow up since it's been a while since I've been back after my tremors etc. started with the klonopin. I told her of all the issues it caused me and wasn't coming back. she must have told physician as he called me back quickly. After I told him of all of the issues I had with this drug he basically told me he has been prescribing it for 30 years with well over 300 patients and I was the first to express concerns?? How is that possible? Also as crazy as that sounds, I also just spoke to a pharamcist who recently retired and he told me he hadn't even seen a script for klonopin in years, go figure. He said - that was a drug prescribed back in the 70's. Now, he did work for hospital pharmacy not retail so not sure if that explains it?
Can I ask why a sleep doctor is prescribing your Klonopin? I use my Psychiatrist for psych meds.
I have a sleep doctor too (a pulmonologist) and he monitors my breathing issues and monitors my C-PAP machine. He says I also have COPD even though I haven’t smoked in over 30 years. He asked me if my mother ever smoked and I said yes and he said did your father ever smoke? I said yes and he said “then you have COPD?” So I’m on 3 different inhalers , one nasal spray and recently ordered me a nebulizer yet every time I take his breathing test, I pass it. Go figure!
Can I ask why a sleep doctor is prescribing your Klonopin? I use my Psychiatrist for psych meds.
I have a sleep doctor too (a pulmonologist) and he monitors my breathing issues and monitors my C-PAP machine. He says I also have COPD even though I haven’t smoked in over 30 years. He asked me if my mother ever smoked and I said yes and he said did your father ever smoke? I said yes and he said “then you have COPD?” So I’m on 3 different inhalers , one nasal spray and recently ordered me a nebulizer yet every time I take his breathing test, I pass it. Go figure!
Andy, I now have new sleep doc that I saw for first time about 2 or so weeks ago. Previous one gave me the klonopin which soon caused side effects, tremors, body buzzing, eye issue, and some weakness in my legs. He prescribed it after I told him I was having issues with insomnia which could be result of mild anxiety. I honestly just thought it would help me sleep better, which it did, but then the side effects started about 6 or so weeks into taking it. Was told by he and his assistant that they didn't think klonopin would do this. After 7 months and my symptoms getting worse, I stopped cold turkey as of March 3, so just 3 months ago. My eye issues stopped almost immediately, body buzzing was terrible first month or so after stopping but is much improved. Leg strength also much better but I do still have some minor body vibrations taking place. Lingering effects are prolonged and worse for people who stop cold turkey like I did but the symptoms I experienced while on it were freaking me out and slowly getting worse. This Benzo was poison for me but that's my personal experience. BTW, my current sleep doc said she would have never given me klonopin. Just go's to show, beware of your physician, they all look at things differently. I have 3 docs in my family and I remember my Harvard/Johns Hopkins nephew tell me to be your own advocate.
Andy, I now have new sleep doc that I saw for first time about 2 or so weeks ago. Previous one gave me the klonopin which soon caused side effects, tremors, body buzzing, eye issue, and some weakness in my legs. He prescribed it after I told him I was having issues with insomnia which could be result of mild anxiety. I honestly just thought it would help me sleep better, which it did, but then the side effects started about 6 or so weeks into taking it. Was told by he and his assistant that they didn't think klonopin would do this. After 7 months and my symptoms getting worse, I stopped cold turkey as of March 3, so just 3 months ago. My eye issues stopped almost immediately, body buzzing was terrible first month or so after stopping but is much improved. Leg strength also much better but I do still have some minor body vibrations taking place. Lingering effects are prolonged and worse for people who stop cold turkey like I did but the symptoms I experienced while on it were freaking me out and slowly getting worse. This Benzo was poison for me but that's my personal experience. BTW, my current sleep doc said she would have never given me klonopin. Just go's to show, beware of your physician, they all look at things differently. I have 3 docs in my family and I remember my Harvard/Johns Hopkins nephew tell me to be your own advocate.
When I started taking Klonopin around 10 years ago by my psychiatrist I initially felt anxiety relief. I have GAD (general anxiety disorder) and these meds helped until the past 3 years. I have not said anything to my psychiatrist since but like you my legs weren’t strong enough to support me and I started to get wobbly so much that I had my PCP order me a cane.
Eventually I got “brain fog “ and got to the point that I had to transfer to a walker! Not because of my weakened legs but because I had brain fog and my walker helped me stay steady.
During my 2 month inpatient hospitalization they used a 3 year old med list as they had lost my list of current medications.
I wasn’t on Clonazapan then so they stopped it abruptly cold turkey and I won’t get into how that wrecked my mental and physical health. It was the worst thing I ever experienced.
So, long story short I have blurred vision, wobbly and weak legs and poor balance with the added brain fog that persists. I have every symtoms as yours and I’m still on klonopin and I want to wean off but I can’t as it stands right now.
I have been researching 24/7 to get help for my daughter, after I watched "Take Your Pills Xanax" on Netflix, I went on You tube and found Colorado consortium on benzodiazepine information. Look for BIND Benzo induced neurological disfunction,
Andy, I now have new sleep doc that I saw for first time about 2 or so weeks ago. Previous one gave me the klonopin which soon caused side effects, tremors, body buzzing, eye issue, and some weakness in my legs. He prescribed it after I told him I was having issues with insomnia which could be result of mild anxiety. I honestly just thought it would help me sleep better, which it did, but then the side effects started about 6 or so weeks into taking it. Was told by he and his assistant that they didn't think klonopin would do this. After 7 months and my symptoms getting worse, I stopped cold turkey as of March 3, so just 3 months ago. My eye issues stopped almost immediately, body buzzing was terrible first month or so after stopping but is much improved. Leg strength also much better but I do still have some minor body vibrations taking place. Lingering effects are prolonged and worse for people who stop cold turkey like I did but the symptoms I experienced while on it were freaking me out and slowly getting worse. This Benzo was poison for me but that's my personal experience. BTW, my current sleep doc said she would have never given me klonopin. Just go's to show, beware of your physician, they all look at things differently. I have 3 docs in my family and I remember my Harvard/Johns Hopkins nephew tell me to be your own advocate.
My daughter went off her benzos cold turkey 4 years ago. She was lost, the cops thought she was on meth, arrested her and put her in solitaire for 10 days, I called jail numerous, numerous times telling them she needed help, well no help. She then got 3 duis in 6 weeks. She is now in a mental hospital
I have taken clonazepam and methylphenidate for 5 years for treatment resistant depression and severe anxiety. If I did not have these medicines I would be dead today by suicide. I am not addicted to these drugs, and I have worked with my psychiatric nurses to learn how to taper off them completely if needed. They know the potential for harm of these drugs and they monitor me strictly and regularly. These drugs should not be prescribed to people who have addictive tendencies! But if you make it illegal for me to take them (by prescription only!) you will kill me, and I will despise you until the day I die. I hope you will be happy then for butting in where you don't belong. I politely ask you to mind your own business and leave your hands off my health.
Glad you have found something that takes the edge off your depression and anxiety, so important. No, you are not addicted to these medicines; they are prescribed and you take them exactly as directed, never more than prescribed. However, if you have been taking clonazepam daily or nearly so for five years, you are dependent, meaning your brain and body now need them to function and feel well, without which you would have a withdrawal reaction, hopefully the slow taper your nurses have taught you about will minimize withdrawal symptoms, if it comes to that. That's not addiction, that's your body adjusting to not having them in your system at previous levels, and it is difficult, whether or not you have addictive tendencies. I don't have addictive tendencies, and yet it seems I am irreversibly dependent, think of it as a brain injury, I've taken the drug for so long that it seems to have irreversibly altered brain structures, so that even a very slow taper is unbearable. Not everyone experiences that, only a certain percentage, and it has nothing to do with addictive personalities. Not sure who you're responding to about making it illegal to take them, but that's not going to happen, rest easy. What does happen is that some docs who prescribe them decide they want you off them, or a new doc who doesn't support their use will inherit you, and insist you come off them - that's what happened to me. It's been a very rough road that at times I thought I would not survive. Some have an easier time, some a harder time and for some it is just impossible to discontinue.
I was allowed stay on them when a compassionate new PCP found me in a very bad way due to extended withdrawal (2 years and counting), but messing with doses like that definitely changed the way they work for me. I tell my doc I got the benzo back, but I didn't get ME back. My life bears no resemblance to the one I had before a forced taper - this should NEVER be done. Talk to patients about discontinuing, suggest, encourage, but never force. Good doctors know this from experience, but it is not taught in med school, only that they are poison and that getting off them can be "worse than heroin withdrawal", a favorite line they learned. My fresh out of college PCP learned a lot about difficult benzo withdrawal, and she learned it at my expense. Having been through what I have, I believe it is irresponsible for any doctor to put a patient on benzos for daily long term use, for which they were never intended. However, once that bridge has been crossed, it is inhumane to reverse course once patient has taken them this way for years and is profoundly dependent. My opinion only, based on experience. Wish you the best.
Glad you have found something that takes the edge off your depression and anxiety, so important. No, you are not addicted to these medicines; they are prescribed and you take them exactly as directed, never more than prescribed. However, if you have been taking clonazepam daily or nearly so for five years, you are dependent, meaning your brain and body now need them to function and feel well, without which you would have a withdrawal reaction, hopefully the slow taper your nurses have taught you about will minimize withdrawal symptoms, if it comes to that. That's not addiction, that's your body adjusting to not having them in your system at previous levels, and it is difficult, whether or not you have addictive tendencies. I don't have addictive tendencies, and yet it seems I am irreversibly dependent, think of it as a brain injury, I've taken the drug for so long that it seems to have irreversibly altered brain structures, so that even a very slow taper is unbearable. Not everyone experiences that, only a certain percentage, and it has nothing to do with addictive personalities. Not sure who you're responding to about making it illegal to take them, but that's not going to happen, rest easy. What does happen is that some docs who prescribe them decide they want you off them, or a new doc who doesn't support their use will inherit you, and insist you come off them - that's what happened to me. It's been a very rough road that at times I thought I would not survive. Some have an easier time, some a harder time and for some it is just impossible to discontinue.
I was allowed stay on them when a compassionate new PCP found me in a very bad way due to extended withdrawal (2 years and counting), but messing with doses like that definitely changed the way they work for me. I tell my doc I got the benzo back, but I didn't get ME back. My life bears no resemblance to the one I had before a forced taper - this should NEVER be done. Talk to patients about discontinuing, suggest, encourage, but never force. Good doctors know this from experience, but it is not taught in med school, only that they are poison and that getting off them can be "worse than heroin withdrawal", a favorite line they learned. My fresh out of college PCP learned a lot about difficult benzo withdrawal, and she learned it at my expense. Having been through what I have, I believe it is irresponsible for any doctor to put a patient on benzos for daily long term use, for which they were never intended. However, once that bridge has been crossed, it is inhumane to reverse course once patient has taken them this way for years and is profoundly dependent. My opinion only, based on experience. Wish you the best.
Laura - I think you are spot on. These benzos should probably never be prescibed, other than for very short term use, however, I suspect that's not what happens and bingo, dependence is born. It's quite interesting at how so many docs are anti benzo, however, there are others who still prescribe them like it's no big deal, go figure? I'm still disappointed in my last doc for giving me this crap, the pharmacist for not discussing with me, and myself for not doing my own research before starting the treatment. As I mentioned in earlier post, pharmacist who recently retired didn't even know klonopin was still available, said it was a drug from the 70's so old school thinking.
I stand corrected but you didn’t have to tell me to mind my own business. I wasn’t talking to you. That was rude and maybe you need a medication adjustment. Relax (if you can). The generic name for both is almost identical to me. I’m not a pharmacist. Wellbutrin was in my hospital’s computer and they gave it to me and I wasn’t in a world of trouble.
One day they gave me Buspar to supposedly take the edge off. I told them not to add Buspar to my cocktail. So they stopped it.
This thread started off with something about joining a class action suit regarding benzodiazepine addiction.
Why would that even come up if benzodiazepines are not dangerous to get off of?
Then I followed the thread and many others talked about benzodiazepines being addictive. Why do so many people, not all are in this forum, say it’s addictive? I understand now why nobody had any lawyers willing to take a benzodiazepine class action lawsuit. Live and learn I guess. I’m going to research if benzodiazepines are addictive to everyone not just those who have an addiction issue. I don’t know why my comments are coming up twice.
You need to be aware of folks in the Mayo forums. I was just told by a person that I didn’t know what I was talking about. I had mentioned that Wellbutrin and Buspar were the same. I stood corrected but the person went further by telling me to mind my own business and not to mess with his health because of the statement I made that Benzodiazepines should be removed from pharmacy shelves.
He went on to say that if it wasn’t for benzodiazepines he would not be here and would have died by suicide and how would I feel if benzodiazepines were removed from pharmacy shelves. In other words. I would be responsible for his death and “how would you feel?”
I researched benzodiazepines as addictive and he asserted that they aren’t.
My research resulted in my conclusion that benzodiazepines are addictive. The person that told me to mind my own business was in a group about class action lawsuits regarding benzodiazepines.
Why would they be talking about filing class action lawsuits regarding benzodiazepines unless there is some evidence that it can be.
He claimed that only people with addiction problems should not take benzodiazepines and that he is aware of the harm that they can cause. Besides my own research many people on this thread are of the same opinion. That benzodiazepines are addictive.
They are a controlled substance and carry a black box warning.
There are many medications that should not be used while on benzodiazepines, including depression medications and about 20 side effects.
I asked if it was the horrible withdrawal symptoms that caused it to be addictive because the medication itself is not addictive but they are in a sense because people can’t get off them and go back to taking them again to alleviate the withdrawal symptoms.
I’ve heard it from people that are on benzodiazepines that they are addicted to them and it could take up to a year to recover completely using the weaning off method. I take 0.5 in the morning and 1 mg at 4:00 so I’m probably one of the lucky ones that could wean off my klonopin fairly easily.
I was impatient in a hospital for something unrelated and my chart of current medications was lost by the hospital so they used a medication chart that was 3 years old and I wasn’t on Klonopin then so they cut me off cold turkey and refused to give me any klonopin for 20 days and I’m not going to get into how horrible it was to quit abruptly but I wanted to die.
Was it because I was no longer given klonopin or something else in my drug cocktail. Funny though when I finally got home I took a 1 mg tablet of klonopin and I immediately calmed down within 20 minutes. Apparently it’s helping the person who told me he’d be dead without them so I guess it works differently on other people.
I have been on this forum for many years and have found everyone here to be extremely respectful and helpful. I have never felt the need to “be aware” of anyone. Sorry you feel this way. You may want to try another forum.
I have been on this forum for many years and have found everyone here to be extremely respectful and helpful. I have never felt the need to “be aware” of anyone. Sorry you feel this way. You may want to try another forum.
When we only have words on a screen without the benefit of tone and body language, it can be easy to misinterpret the words. I think everyone has acknowledged how important the guidelines are and how helpful a forum like this one can be with mutual respect.
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Can I ask why a sleep doctor is prescribing your Klonopin? I use my Psychiatrist for psych meds.
I have a sleep doctor too (a pulmonologist) and he monitors my breathing issues and monitors my C-PAP machine. He says I also have COPD even though I haven’t smoked in over 30 years. He asked me if my mother ever smoked and I said yes and he said did your father ever smoke? I said yes and he said “then you have COPD?” So I’m on 3 different inhalers , one nasal spray and recently ordered me a nebulizer yet every time I take his breathing test, I pass it. Go figure!
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1 ReactionAndy, I now have new sleep doc that I saw for first time about 2 or so weeks ago. Previous one gave me the klonopin which soon caused side effects, tremors, body buzzing, eye issue, and some weakness in my legs. He prescribed it after I told him I was having issues with insomnia which could be result of mild anxiety. I honestly just thought it would help me sleep better, which it did, but then the side effects started about 6 or so weeks into taking it. Was told by he and his assistant that they didn't think klonopin would do this. After 7 months and my symptoms getting worse, I stopped cold turkey as of March 3, so just 3 months ago. My eye issues stopped almost immediately, body buzzing was terrible first month or so after stopping but is much improved. Leg strength also much better but I do still have some minor body vibrations taking place. Lingering effects are prolonged and worse for people who stop cold turkey like I did but the symptoms I experienced while on it were freaking me out and slowly getting worse. This Benzo was poison for me but that's my personal experience. BTW, my current sleep doc said she would have never given me klonopin. Just go's to show, beware of your physician, they all look at things differently. I have 3 docs in my family and I remember my Harvard/Johns Hopkins nephew tell me to be your own advocate.
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2 ReactionsWhen I started taking Klonopin around 10 years ago by my psychiatrist I initially felt anxiety relief. I have GAD (general anxiety disorder) and these meds helped until the past 3 years. I have not said anything to my psychiatrist since but like you my legs weren’t strong enough to support me and I started to get wobbly so much that I had my PCP order me a cane.
Eventually I got “brain fog “ and got to the point that I had to transfer to a walker! Not because of my weakened legs but because I had brain fog and my walker helped me stay steady.
During my 2 month inpatient hospitalization they used a 3 year old med list as they had lost my list of current medications.
I wasn’t on Clonazapan then so they stopped it abruptly cold turkey and I won’t get into how that wrecked my mental and physical health. It was the worst thing I ever experienced.
So, long story short I have blurred vision, wobbly and weak legs and poor balance with the added brain fog that persists. I have every symtoms as yours and I’m still on klonopin and I want to wean off but I can’t as it stands right now.
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2 ReactionsI have been researching 24/7 to get help for my daughter, after I watched "Take Your Pills Xanax" on Netflix, I went on You tube and found Colorado consortium on benzodiazepine information. Look for BIND Benzo induced neurological disfunction,
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2 ReactionsMy daughter went off her benzos cold turkey 4 years ago. She was lost, the cops thought she was on meth, arrested her and put her in solitaire for 10 days, I called jail numerous, numerous times telling them she needed help, well no help. She then got 3 duis in 6 weeks. She is now in a mental hospital
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3 ReactionsGlad you have found something that takes the edge off your depression and anxiety, so important. No, you are not addicted to these medicines; they are prescribed and you take them exactly as directed, never more than prescribed. However, if you have been taking clonazepam daily or nearly so for five years, you are dependent, meaning your brain and body now need them to function and feel well, without which you would have a withdrawal reaction, hopefully the slow taper your nurses have taught you about will minimize withdrawal symptoms, if it comes to that. That's not addiction, that's your body adjusting to not having them in your system at previous levels, and it is difficult, whether or not you have addictive tendencies. I don't have addictive tendencies, and yet it seems I am irreversibly dependent, think of it as a brain injury, I've taken the drug for so long that it seems to have irreversibly altered brain structures, so that even a very slow taper is unbearable. Not everyone experiences that, only a certain percentage, and it has nothing to do with addictive personalities. Not sure who you're responding to about making it illegal to take them, but that's not going to happen, rest easy. What does happen is that some docs who prescribe them decide they want you off them, or a new doc who doesn't support their use will inherit you, and insist you come off them - that's what happened to me. It's been a very rough road that at times I thought I would not survive. Some have an easier time, some a harder time and for some it is just impossible to discontinue.
I was allowed stay on them when a compassionate new PCP found me in a very bad way due to extended withdrawal (2 years and counting), but messing with doses like that definitely changed the way they work for me. I tell my doc I got the benzo back, but I didn't get ME back. My life bears no resemblance to the one I had before a forced taper - this should NEVER be done. Talk to patients about discontinuing, suggest, encourage, but never force. Good doctors know this from experience, but it is not taught in med school, only that they are poison and that getting off them can be "worse than heroin withdrawal", a favorite line they learned. My fresh out of college PCP learned a lot about difficult benzo withdrawal, and she learned it at my expense. Having been through what I have, I believe it is irresponsible for any doctor to put a patient on benzos for daily long term use, for which they were never intended. However, once that bridge has been crossed, it is inhumane to reverse course once patient has taken them this way for years and is profoundly dependent. My opinion only, based on experience. Wish you the best.
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3 ReactionsLaura - I think you are spot on. These benzos should probably never be prescibed, other than for very short term use, however, I suspect that's not what happens and bingo, dependence is born. It's quite interesting at how so many docs are anti benzo, however, there are others who still prescribe them like it's no big deal, go figure? I'm still disappointed in my last doc for giving me this crap, the pharmacist for not discussing with me, and myself for not doing my own research before starting the treatment. As I mentioned in earlier post, pharmacist who recently retired didn't even know klonopin was still available, said it was a drug from the 70's so old school thinking.
rosebookay didn’t tell you to mind your own business. He/she was just giving you a heads up in my opinion.
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1 ReactionI have been on this forum for many years and have found everyone here to be extremely respectful and helpful. I have never felt the need to “be aware” of anyone. Sorry you feel this way. You may want to try another forum.
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2 Reactions@sears, I see you're catching up on posts. As you continue through the discussion, you'll see that I posted the Community Guidelines, underlining guideline number two about remaining respectful. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/about-connect/tab/community-guidelines/
When we only have words on a screen without the benefit of tone and body language, it can be easy to misinterpret the words. I think everyone has acknowledged how important the guidelines are and how helpful a forum like this one can be with mutual respect.
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