It totally makes sense.

I am also seeming to recover again. Or maybe I never completely recovered.
Not sure. I don't think I will ever know.

I have the problem right now that I can't seem to see names the way they
are written, I see the letter's reversed. Such as I'm sorry to say. I very
well may have been calling you Brian, because I know for a fact I have
been reversing in my mind your ai, to ia in the name you use here.

So if at some point it prints that way, don't be offended. Its just my brain
working the wacky way it does. I don't have dyselexia. I wish at times I
could say I did, to explain my problems with word retrieval.

Donna

DMom,
Don't worry about it. I answer to brain or Brian. No problem. I get it and you are not the first to call me Brian. I know it is so hard to read, write, remember things etc. I have noticed that everyone looks the same to me. I forget their name and face as soon as I see them. Cars also look the same. I can't tell the difference. I can see color still so I still have something. Got to hold on to the positives not the negatives. What a hard thing brain injury is. I never could have imagined this could happen. Whatever, we just have to adapt. I have found numerous ways to adapt. I often crack myself up by thinking I now equal maybe half of an autistic person. No offence to anybody who is autistic. I am just saying my brain is below that level. Have to keep a sense of humor. It's all I have.
Hope everyone is doing good today. Much love to all of you. I know you are suffering too.
Brain

Bizi,
I have been worried about you. Did you get some sleep last night? I would of been on here sooner asking about you but my dad accidentally overdosed on his Parkinson's medication this morning and I have been at the E.R all day with him. He is ok but totally out of it. What a day. I sure wish I had a Margarita myself tonight. Could really use one but would be sorry in the morning. The doc is going to have to up my clonazepam. I am back up to 2 a day. ****
Brain

thank you brain, don't worry about me I am fine. I slept last night so that is good. took a short walk with my hubby tonight to give a neighbors dog some treats like we used to before his accident. it was a struggle for him on a crutch about 5 blocks total there and back. it hurts his wrist.
thank you for thinking of me.
(((((HUGS)))))
bizi

Hi Everybody,
The doc will not increase my clonazepam. Oh well. I am lucky that my dad takes this med too and has an extra refill so I will use a few of his to get me by with the missing ones on my prescription from taking two a day a few times. Or else I will just be on the clonazepam withdrawl wagon for a few days. Whatever.
Really, I am not happy to be back on a benzo. I took three Valium 10mg for years and went cold turkey off that years ago. I was glad to be free of them. But I guess with having seizures I really have no choice.
I went to my pain doctor today. Read what happened under my explanation on the traumatic brain injury section as I am too tired to explain it again. Basically, no answers from him but the neuropsychologist will have some for me when I am done with the testing and she has completed her evaluation. Have any of you guys been accepted on disability? I need to talk to someone about that if any of you have managed to get on disability. I am just drained. My dad is so much work now with his Parkinson's disease me and my mom already have full time jobs caring for him now. He has really gone down hill fast.
Hope you are all doing well today.
I send my love and support to you all,
Brain

Dear Brain,

30.0 mgs of Valium is very roughly equivalent to 1.5 mgs Klonopin. Be careful. The difference is that Valium has a very long half life and is easier to taper / discontinue than Klonopin is.

Half lives of Valium and Klonopin and Xanax:

1. Vallim 20-100 hours
2. Klonopin 18-50 hours
3. Xanax 6-12 hours

Your father probably qualifies for some home health care and other services. Get you mother connected to state and local organizations that can help. Maybe your father's MD can help as well.

The spot of the MRI will be revealing when they tell you that what part of the brain is affected and how you can be treated.
Information is good because it leads to specific dx and treatment.

I imagine that the testing is tiring and maybe in some ways depressing.
Take care of yourself.

Mari

Hi Brain

May I ask, how many days till your Klonopin refill?

I was going to suggest not taking the full dose every day until you run out, nor padding with Valium ... you haven't been on the Klonopin that long - cutting back shouldn't be so bad.

What i would suggest is taking only 0.5 mg say perhaps once every 2 or 3 days, instead of the full 1.0, to get "caught up" with your script. Then once you have your refill you will be straight.

If you have enough valium, you could add 10mg of valium taken at the same time as the Klonopin, on the days that you take only 0.5

If this is confusing please just ask. If you let me know how many days left before you can refill the Klonopin script I will be able to be more clear.

Honestly I'm surprised your doc left you in the lurch and did not suggest something you could do until your next refill.

As an alternative to taking less on some days, I wonder if the neuro would call in a one time script, for the missing pills only. I don't know how that works though, and i wouldn't want for that to interfere with your refilling your regular script.

mega hugs to you

((( HUGS )))

~ waves ~

Mari,
Thanks. You are kidding me that 30mg of Valium is roughly equivalent to 1.5mg of Klonopin. I wish I would of known that. I would not have gotten on the Klonopin. Also thanks for the advise for my dad. He has gone down very fast. Me and my mom are struggling to hold it together. We will be needing to get some help. I don't think we can afford it though and I don't think Medicare pays for home care.
Waves, no I am not taking any Valium to replace anything. I only took an extra Klonopin on 5 days (not consecutive) that I was just loosing it from my dad's situation and needed to hold together for my mom cause she did loose it. Don't worry friends I have enough Klonopin to make it to my refill with taking my normal 1.0 dose each night. Doctor will not increase it. I can see why if it is that strong I am surprised he gave it to me but does know what we are going through with my dad. My mom herself has had to get on lorazepam. Is that totally strong too? And anti-depressants.
Thanks,
Brain

1.5mg of klonipin is not that strong, I take 1mg at night to help me sleep. most of the time it works some times my brain wins and I stay awake. I have never had to have an increase and have been on it for years.
I am surprised that your pdoc would not temporarily increase your meds during this stressful time. Mine did if I needed it when jeff fell and broke his hip, I was really stressed out. I never took the increase but was nice to have the go ahead if I really needed it.
good luck with everything today.
bizi

Lorazepam is 1/2 the strength of Xanax and Klonopin, i.e. 10x the strength of Valium. It has a short half-life, just a little longer than that of Xanax... a good bit shorter than Klonopin.

here is a table for conversion:

Link: benzo.uk.org -- BENZODIAZEPINE EQUIVALENCE TABLE

Please remember, however, that each benzo has it's own specific profile wrt the 5 basic benzo properties, so subbing one for another is not a clean mathematical equation; one must consider each case and the sx to be treated. the 5 basic properties that all benzo's have, to differing degrees, are:

-- anxiolytic (antianxiety)
-- hypnotic (sedative)
-- anticonvulsant (prevent and/or stop seizures)
-- amnestic (cause amnesia)
-- myorelaxant (relax the muscles)

~ waves ~