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Old 11-15-2013, 11:43 PM
Adamo Adamo is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 43
10 yr Member
Adamo Adamo is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 43
10 yr Member
Default Really in trouble now

Quote:
Originally Posted by waves View Post
I think you're likely to see the same types of symptoms you've been seeing. I don't think it is useful to anticipate symptoms or search for symptoms that you might or might not have.


I am sorry. Have you explained to your wife what is going on? Might it help to give her some material to read? Sometimes it helps to get very specific with loved ones... let them know precise things that they can do to help you, even if they are small things like running a bath, making you some tea, or doing exercises with you. Doing this can give a sense of empowerment and make your partner (or other family members) a part of your recovery process. Otherwise, what happens is loved ones often feel confused and useless, sometimes even excluded, all of which tend to add negativity and strain to the relationship.
There is no telling. Ordinarily I would never advocate cutting that much Klonopin, but, as we've noted before, your response to the drug when you take it seems to have a significant placebo component as it is much too great and too rapid to be ascribable to a pill which has not made it into the blood much less peaked. This suggests to me, as it probably does to your doctor, that the symptoms you are experiencing are not true withdrawal symptoms but a sort of nocebo effect -- you expect to feel those symptoms and your brain consequently produces them. Working hypothesis/possible explanation for your doctor's approach: you do not need the drug, but are convinced that you do; once you are off it for a bit, you will be ok.

Ginnie is very right about distracting yourself, but not just from the symptoms. Try to distract yourself from thinking about your need for Klonopin. Do something else, think about something else, worry about something else. (I realize when you post to us, you will be posting about these concerns... that's fine... I realize the issue will not just go *POOF*. Just saying, when you're off on your own. Don't read stuff about Klonopin /benzo's/ drug withdrawals. Doing that cannot help you, only hurt you. Don't dwell. Each time your mind comes to this topic, or to some symptom, keep moving your mind away, onto unrelated thoughts and activities.)

Even if your doctor has not experienced the symptoms, she has undoubtedly seen other patients. You did say she was an addiction specialist, and I explained above why I think she might be pulling you off.

Sensing, or believing, because you are forming expectations from what you read? People who go from 0.75 to 0 mg without getting hit hard do not bother to write about it. All you will find are the horror stories. Stop torturing yourself this way, please! You are setting yourself up for a negative outcome.

Regardless of the explanation for your experience, I appreciate that you are going through one heck of a time. You do have the option of looking for another doctor. I take it you have not because you trust this one? I repeat, if you do not feel comfortable with your doctor's approach, look for one who will simply work with you, and allow you to go at your own pace.

Know that things will be ok, Adamo.... probably sooner than you expect. Do what you need to do to take care of yourself. If that means finding a different doctor and staying on Klonopin for a time, so be it -- that is not the end of the world. Follow your gut on that one, and keep putting one foot in front of the other.

waves
I am 48 hours into stopping .75 mg Klonopin and I have horrible anxiety/agitation, complete insomnia, fever, nausea, chest pains, high BP/Pulse, etc.

Do any of you know what I will have to endure to get past the 72 hour mark?
Will I be incapacitated for weeks or months? I feel like I'm going to die! I think Waves you are right in thinking that I am psychosomatic but I think the Klonopin really aggravated the underlying anxiety. I cant go to work because Im so sick. My wife has left to her mother's as a separation.

Am I in danger or anything?

Adamo
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"Thanks for this!" says:
ginnie (11-16-2013)