when did you increase your calcium intake? wonder if that has anything to do with it...
HOw long have you been off the xanax?
Withdrawl side effects can last a LONG time!

bizi
worrying can certainly cause us to worry even more and then you can have heart palpitations and skipped beats and jsut get worked up into a tizzy.
I have done this about 2 years ago.
It is/sounds like anxiety and anxiety can just play haovac on us.
you just take the klonipin at night right?
what is your dose if you don't mind or PM me.

Hi Bizi,
About 4-5 days ago I went back on my multi vit and started taking extra calcium. I hadn't taken extra calcium for a very long time.

I need a chemist.
But no calcium tomorrow/Tuesday so I can see what happens.

I went off the Xanax June 20. The pdoc raised the Klonopin an equal amount so that I would not have any withdrawals.
About 4 mornings later, I woke up in a cold sweat. I did the same a few days later. I had anxiety. The anxiety went away after a couple of weeks but I still have other issues like creaky squirty sounds in my head and twitching (not muscular) throughout the body off and on.

I'm thinking it best not to mess with the Klonopin dose.....still have too much going on with the Xanax leaving my body.
On the other hand, maybe I could at least stand a Klonopin reduction.

Mari

Dear Bizi,
I take 2.0 Klonopin at night and .5 mg Klonopin in the am when I wake up.
I don't need it during the day but I remember hearing that the klonopin should be dosed more often than once a day due to its half-life -- someone here at the old brain talk told me that. The pdoc said ok to breaking up the dose and taking part in the day.

I have anxiety/panic that is specific to sleep. I made an appointment to see the hypno-therapist on Friday. I had taken a break from her since August, but she called to tell me it was time to come back.

Mari

Mari,

I hope you feel better soon. I'm not up on what our meds can do to us to offer any insight. I do know though that I seem to always have trouble with anti-depressants and that is why I do not take any.

befuddled2

Dear Befuddled,
Thanks for your kindness.

mari

I read some one else describe this as a zap.
A side effect from getting off of a benzo of any sort....
I will go have to look up the equilvalents of xanax and klonipin.
I think the doses may be interchangable but their half lifes are different.
I do know that 2mg of klonipin is equal to 40mg of valium in a cross over to do a slow taper.

Bizi,
I don't believe that anyone can make a general statement about equivalencies with the benzos.
The Klonopin and Xanax are not the same. The fact that the Klonopin has a longer half life (as pdoc pointed out) should have helped me.

I did the change by the book and it was ugly for a few weeks.
Still not over.
Theoretically, the klonopin should have covered for any xanax withdrawal. Not the case.

When I go off klonopin some time in the future, I can't see switching benzos to do it.
All benzos are not equivalent. Maybe for some people. My body knew/knows the difference.

In my case, thank goodness I am not getting zaps. They gentler than that. Parts of my body start moving for no reason....like inner thigh.....or inside top of pointer finger.....or a part of my tushy....
I figure that this could take a few more months. Then I will be tired of it. I won't think it is fun anymore.

Mari

I'm wound up tonight and hyper/wired. Sorry if I sound obnoxious. I am just trying to explain. Thanks for your questions.

Oh and I wanted to tell you that hubby and I are not ready for dancing. But I did sign him up for yoga tonight. He will end up loving the teacher. ... We will have fun, I think.
Have fun dancing! (thumbs up)

Good Luck at the p-doc today. I hope you find some answers and get relief, check in afterwards.

Hugs, Nikko

First I got there more than an hour early by mistake and he was running behind. He saw me sitting and took me in ahead of people who understood how to read a clock
I told him about the Xanax withdrawal. The hard stuff lasted 2-3 weeks. He didn't seem concerned/interested since I was ok now and hadn't called him back then in the summer.

Then I asked him about the Calcium and Verapamil reaction. He said yes, they effect each other. Then he looked it up on his computer:
"calcium (esp calcium citrate) reduces the response of the Verapamil" and hence the anxiety, chest pressure, and paresthesia.

He told me to check other OTCs for extra Calicium that gets slipped in.
(I remember a sleep aid I saw that has Valerian root and Calcium. I also remember the food that has added calcium, including grape juice that I buy sometimes.)

When I asked if the paresthesia was dangerous, he said, "No." He practices neurology too. ........ Whatever.

I see my gp PA next week and will ask for a bone density test.
Maybe I don't have to worry about calcium.

I don't know much about the OTC drugs and the interaction with our type of meds, guess I should check into it.

It's a good idea to see your PA too. Go easy, have a nice day.

Hugs, Nikko


p.s. I do know that grapefruit juice isn't supposed to be drank if you are taking Valium and also Zocar. Don't quote me, but I am sure I read that, plus it says it on my mom's zocar.