Is anyone on clonazepam - need advise

[jyearta]

I was on Phenobarbital for many years. When I was taking Phen. I could stay up an hour or two more, however this is not the case when taking clonazepam. (I really don't know if it is the clonazepam.)

MY Dr. changed me to clonazepam around 2004.
2005 my Dr. added to my dose from 1 tablet 0.5 mg. at bedtime
How I take 1/2 tablet every 4 hours around the clock.
When I take my 10:00 dose I have to go BED
There have been time when I stay up - needing to do something and boy do I know it the next day. I have told my friends that if they need me after 10:00 PM, I can not help them.

anyway I take my 1/2 tablet every 4 hours.
I finding that if I get up at 6:00AM. To start my day. this does not work. I have to go back to bed sleep another hour or two.

I don't mean to be so wordee, just trying to explain.

I get so confused as to what I'm dealing with.

I guess I said all this - just to ask if anyone has found this to be the case for them also.

I'm just now putting this together after 6 years.
When I ask my DR. that say "could be"

 

[Meetz1064]

I'm on

Clonazepam also. It's the generic for Klonopin.

You're on .5 mg every FOUR hours? I'm only on .5 mg twice a DAY. But, I'm on 3 other AED's as well....Carbatrol, Topomax and Lamictal.

Klonopin is a benzodiazepine, with a REALLY long half-life (18 to 50 hours). In other words, each dose will take at least that long to work it's way out of your system.

Are you on ANY OTHER AED's besides the Clonazepam?

IMHO, it's time for you to get another opinion from a different doctor. That's just me though....Clonazepam will knock you on your butt if you're on too much. And, I think, it's also time to have blood levels done for it. YES they CAN be done. I've had them done, DON'T let the doctor tell you they can't be.

I've been off and on Clonazepam now for about 10 years. My body handles it quite well. I don't think that your body is handling it well, though, to be quite bluntly honest. No offense meant, OK?

Take care, and remember, we're all here for you!

Meetz
:rock:

 

[jyearta]

I am also on dilantin in the AM & PM, I had been put on several diff. med. that I could not tolerate the side effects.

I tried a few weeks ago to changed times for clonaze. from every 4 to every 5 hours. I thought boy this is working good, 5 days later I went into a depression that was worse than anything I had gone through (at that time).
My Dr. put me on med. for depression, (forget the name) it decreases the dilantin levels. I stop the depression med.
I went back to clonaze. every 4 hours, and the depression lifted.

I normally would not do that (change medic. times) but knowing my dr. had said everything is trial and error.

I have an appt. the 11th of this month with a NEW neur. I am praying that he will listen to me and will help me.

I saw one Neur. and He said He would NOT take me on as long as I was on clonaze. He said I would have to agree to go into a facility to be taken off clonaze.

That might in fact be the best thing for me, I just feel I cann't take that right now.

It was a few years ago I went through coming off keppra. that was the worse medic. I had to get a sitter.

I thank you for your input.

 

[Meetz1064]

I was

on the combination of both those meds for a while as well. Yes, I was drop dead tired, and I finally threw a UNHOLY fit at my neuro. Told him it was unacceptable, as I had too much going on in my life.

I was weaned off the Dilantin first--I've been on and off that for more than 35 years in the nearly 46 years that I've taken AEDs. Once I was put on something else, the effects of the Clonazepam weren't as bad.

Talk to your pharmacist as well, see if they have any suggestions.

I wish you the best of luck.

 

[jyearta]

I feel like I stay at my Phar. - asking about each medic.
They probable get tried of seeing me, But I learn to ASK, ASK, ASK.

I used to have depression bad, had to take something for depression, which made me dizzy, then I had to take antivert, for the dizzyness. I have also had problems with insomnia.

With these two med. I don't have the depression or the insomnia.

I guess I have to decide which side effects do I chose to live with.

I would rather have seizures than the anxiety and panic attacks I had. The seizures only effect me. However when that anxiety and panic attackes hit, it affects those around me. Even in my bible study, I would feel out of control and say things that hurt people. I chose to just the bible study, because of this. This happens when I would a B-12 shot. I have stop the shots now also.

 

[Meetz1064]

But you

have to HAVE the B-12. It's an important vitamin to your body, and if you're having to have shots, then your body is definitely not making enough of it, and regular pills aren't helping.

Check your diet as well. There's GOT to be a good balance somewhere, somehow. I promise there is. If I can do it, you can. And I have celiac disease on top of it all.

 

[lonnie]

I have been on clonazepam for years now. Maybe even before my epilepsy started 19 yr.s ago. I suffer from major anxiety/depression disorder and have suffered from that since childhood.

I take my clonazepam at bedtime. With other meds it helps me go to sleep. During the day it helps with anxiety. I have been on different doses through out my treatment for my psychiatric disorder. I am going through some very difficult times right now and even asked my psychiatrist if I could have one that I could use PRN. for anxiety. He has refused .

It is one of those meds that is used for more than one health problems.

 

[Dutch mom]

My son has been on clonazepam years ago. He got the liquid clonazepam together with Valporate and Topamax. He had a contradictory reaction, he got really hyper instead of calm and couldn't sleep. Later on it was replaced with clobazam tablets. We weaned of the benzo's because of the effect of habituation. Now we use clonazepam (Dutch brand name Rivotril) as emergency med to stop series of seizures and long seizures (7 drops buccal instead of rectal Diastat.)

 

[jyearta]

Today I started with B-12 sublingle (Methylcobalamin)

The shots were (cyanocobalamin)

I'm also eating fortified ceral in yogurt to get the folic acid and calcium.
I'm sensitive to most all vitamins and supplements.

I was staying in a state of panic, because I know I need the B-12, However I can NOT deal with the side effects of the shots.

I guess you all feel this way. -- I get an answer to one question then something new pops up. And it takes a while to connect what is going on with a medic. (any Kind)

I do want to say that today after taking the (methyl.) B-12. I have been able to follow through with one task and go on to the next. I don't feel so scared.

 

[Nakamova]

In general, if you need folic acid, you can't get enough of it through food, you have to take a supplement vitamin. You might want to check with your doc to see if this is the case.

 

[lonnie]

This from a former Certified Nutritionist and Health Food Store Manager.

(with epilepsy, all the psychiatric, anticonvulsant meds as well as other meds and my right temporal lobe taken out) every bit of intelligence has gone down the drain.)

Well onward:what is B-12 used for in your body. How do you know if you are low in it?

Do you dare supplement it with everything else?

Back to the clonazepam. My prescription says to take a 2mg. tab at bed time. Today as usual I was exhausted and wanted a nap. As usual I could not relax enough to rest deeply or go to sleep.

I am seriously considering, on my own initiative , taking 1/2 of the 2mg. dose in the afternoon and the other 1/2 at bedtime.

Unfortunately, even with all the other psychiatric drugs and the neurontin, as one of my anticonvulsants, supposed to making you drowsy, I have a hard time relaxing and getting into a restful sleep.

If you look at the time it is later than I should be up for the day and take all of those pills at the right intervals I should take them and try to go from being very tired to sleep.

Be back tomorrow. "Good Night"

 

[Nakamova]

Let us know how it goes Lonnie. I hope you get a good night's sleep.

 

[elizzza811]

I was on 1mg a day (taken once in the AM) for anxiety, but eventually went up to 2mg (again, all taken in the AM).

I hear you though...when I was on clonazepam, I was sleeping constantly. There were days I'd go to bed, wake up, and crawl back in bed until 6pm.

You might want to ask your doctor to try something else because not only does it make you sleepy, but you could eventually develop a dependence on it and never sleep again...the opposite. That's my problem now. I was on it for probably 15 years (pretty much non-stop), stopped it, and now rarely sleep a full 8 hours.

 

[jyearta]

Thanks for your input.

I tried about a month ago to try taking (1/2 tablet of 0.5) every 5 hours instead of every 4 hours.

I did this trying to help my fatigue.

About 3 day passed- I thought OK this is working. Little did I know what was about to hit me.

On the 4th day I went HAYWIRE, with anxiety, panic attacks, agitated with everything, paranoid that is just nameing a few.

It takes me a while to put things together.

I which back to every 4 hours and just the next day all that was much better. I could not believe it. Boy was my husband glad.

I know I now alone, but now since that happen I stay in a state of anxiety, cause HOW I feel like I can never come off this stuff.

 

[nicholas:)]

I'm on Clonazepam 5mg, 4mg at night and 1mg in the morning, this is to top up my tegretol of 800mg. I too get very tired and cannot function till late afternoon. I have only been on clonazepam since 29th September but it helps with my anxiety. 0.5 of clonazepam is equivalent to 10mg of Diazepam so expext to feel tired. I'm happy with the clonazepam since I had unbearable anxiety.

 

[jyearta]

I just saw another neur. last Thur. and we will SEEEEEEEEE!!!!, --I have high hopes that this is going to work.

Anyway, I too am pleased with clonazepam (since I'm already addicted to it) and to think what I would I be like, since my NEW LIFE -meaning the anxiety.

Has your Dr. said anything to you about taking you off of it? if you don't mind me asking.

I trying to figure out how to handle this.
I can look back and see that I have not handle my situation correctly with some of my Dr.
I have become -well I don't know what you would call it. I think the work is scared....

 

[nicholas:)]

Hi-ya jyearta, my doc said not to worry about the addiction as at 50 I'm likely to be on Clonazepam for life. This does not worry me as I'm on heart pills for life. Hope you are not too worried

Hugz
Nick

 

[jyearta]

No that part doesn't worry me at all.

I take 1/2 tablet every 4 hours (around the clock) and 1 tablet at bedtime. and that is the 0.5 mg

a few months ago I tried going every 5 hours --hoping to improve on the energy and memory and for 3 to 4 days I thought I found a new trick. then I was hit right between the eyes I'm telling you ---I went into a deep DEEP DARK depression that I thought I would not be able to get out of.
SOOO when they mention taking me off of it I panic.

I hope you are doing ok with your heart. Please take care.

 

[nicholas:)]

I've learned with GPs and Neurologists that you have to go to the appointments prepared. Stress your concerns and be assertive. The patient has a say! The old days when Doctors were Gods are over. They realize patients have access to the internet and forums and they realize patients are no longer in the dark. So once again, be assertive, stress your case in a calm, controlled manner. I Personally don't think he will stop your Clonzepam

Have confidence and good luck

Nick

 

[Endless]

Jyearta,

Have you considered going to a psychiatrist and/or a second doctor and getting their opinion? There are less painful ways to go off clonazapam.

You can't go off cold turkey or even quickly or in some people it could cause seizures, extended very deep depression, or thoughts of suicide. That's why your doc wants you in the hospital while you withdraw. I assume he's thinking of abrupt withdrawal.

The dependance issues are the main reason most doctors will not prescribe Klonapin (clonazapam) on a long-term basis. I'd get mad at the doctor who did that to you in the first place, but that wouldn't help anything at this point.

If you are really set on getting off, and doing it quickly, do it the way your current doctor suggests. Go ahead and go in-patient. It wouldn't be a vacation, but you would be safe and at the end you will have met your goal.

If you are willing for it to take up to a year to go off, I've heard of people using very slowwwwwww tapering. Ask your doctor before you do anything.