Posted by JohnX2 on April 7, 2002, at 20:51:05
In reply to Re: I've been scared into quitting!, posted by 2sense on April 7, 2002, at 17:53:13
> I started on Klonopin/Clonazepam .5 - 1.0 mg 1 1/2 years ago because I was unable to sleep. I take Wellbutrin (150 SR -- 2X a day -- I have Hashimoto's which causes hypothyroidism so I also take Synthroid -- for the depression that comes when the antibodies from the Hashimoto's kick up and it cuts my smoking to nearly nothing. I also have AD/HD and take Ritalin (a life saver). My doctor who I had seen for 6 years moved and a new one took over and during a 4 month period I went from 0.5 - 1.0 of the Klonipin to 4.0 (just at bedtime). This doctor became very ill and someone else (another pyschiatrist) took over and decided because my one brother may be bipolar and I have a thyroid disorder then I must be bipolar also. I wanted to go off (slowly) the Klonipin BUT a) the doctor had no appointments because they are short on doctors so our discussions where over the phone and short; b) he simply believes this and there is no changing his mind because I talk fast (I grew up in NJ and am currently in W. PA). When I worked in CO and CA I learned to slow my processing and talking so that others who were 'mellow' could keep up -- when I taught at MIT I didn't have to adjust anything for anyone they all kept up fine. I have no other symptoms and have been evaluated by other psychiatrists having worked for the government and it was part of intake -- so my family got the flu and I didn't refill the script (meaning I called a day or two late and the doctor didn't call it in a day or two after that) -- I had a grand mal seizure on Good Friday. Someone said they could take it or leave it (a posting from 07/04/01 or there abouts) -- be very careful with regard to w/drawl of anti-convulsants that are benzos -- my doctor (not one of them) ever told me that this could happen. Ultimately given how much I research having had some less than pleasant experiences (not everyone is an "A" student and/or doctor) I have a bunch of medical books, etc. Interestingly he PDR doesn't state the danger of sudden withdrawl (and it should) what it does, is tell the reader to see anticonvulsants (a section with other groups of meds, antianemic meds for instance) and it is there they are very, very clear about the danger in sudden withdrawal. I am seeing an excellent therapist and if I leave the practice then I leave her too -- hence my delima. Any ideas? Sorry so long it is my first posting. (To dot the i's and cross the t's I am having an EEG tomorrow AM and a brain MRI with contrast on Tuesday -- this was order not by the pyschiatrist but by my internist who thinks I should get out while I am still able to ... well I am sure you get the picture. Thanks for any and all who made it through this "brain dump". :-)
Take this with a grain of salt... Its my understanding that people with seizure disorders develop tolerance to Klonopin's antiseizure activity much quicker than people with anxiety disorder develop tolerance to the anti-anxiety effects. The medicine was looked into to treat seizures, but dropped due to the tolerance issue.
Some people feel that bipolar disorder is a form of a seizure disorder..I found that the medicine Topamax, which is a non-habit forming antiseizure medicine that also works on the same Gaba receptors as Klonopin, was a very effective medicine to substitute for Klonopin (for my symptoms).
Best wishes with your testing.
Regards,
John
poster:JohnX2
thread:91010
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020402/msgs/102312.html