Posted by Justitia on September 12, 1999, at 1:20:46
I have been on 1 mg of klonopin for 10 years. When I was put on it for a short term crisis of divorce, I was absolutely assured it was not addictive. Well it is, as we now all know. I have not needed it for at least 8 years. But every time I have tried withdrawals, the effects have been so bad, even with minute reductions that after a couple of weeks or less, I give up and go back. Now my insurance company has forced me to go on the generic clonazepam. (The difference in price is $160 over three months and climbing.) So I went on it and went through gradually increasing hell for two months. At first it was speedy, teeth clenching, to ultimately horrific nightmares someimes two or three a night, waking up in exhaustion, sometimes waking up because I was calling out in terror and fear in my sleep from a nightmare. But that has seemed to pass in the last week or so after about 6 weeks of this mess. I have been taking 1 mg of the clonozepam in the last 6 weeks. The passing of the really bad symptoms has given me hope I can get off this stuff altogether, if I can last long enough. I am 51 years old, very youthful, highly enrgetic, workout in gym regularly, still get proofed for age in bars occaissionally...smiles. I have read horror stories about going off. Seizures etc. Hearing problems, etc. My hearing has been bothering me, my ears ache and I don't hear as well. This has happened quite suddenly since the switch to clonazepam. I am more negative and more despairful than before, but I am also under more stress. Any advice on how to withdraw? or whether to. I have read earlier threads on Klonopin vs. Clonazepam. I know there is a difference and that Clonazepam is weaker. I am asuming that since I have survived this switch, but for ear problem and less cheerful outlook, I can get off entirely though gradually. Any help?
poster:Justitia
thread:11464
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990829/msgs/11464.html