Posted by musil on October 22, 2002, at 11:55:43
In reply to Re: My Klonopin (Clonazepam) isnt working » viridis, posted by Squiggles on October 20, 2002, at 21:35:57
Regarding the benzophobic groups, I also fell prey to their pseudoscientific reasonings and suffered greatly during a 4 month withdrawal. BUT there was no medical reason for me to withdraw: at 1.5mg clonazepam for 18 months I hadn't experienced tolerance and the benefits of bzd therapy were evident in my functionality. I restarted diazepam recently and all is well again.
I'm trying not to point fingers, but deceptive advertising bothers me and the antibenzo movement reminds me of a cult. For example, I participated in a forum that advertised itself as a supportive environment for those undergoing withdrawal from benzodiazepines.
However, once I began participating in the forum the irrational drive to quickly taper was made manifest -- I felt a clear pressure to taper as quickly as possible and then wallow in the withdrawal symptoms with other sadists in the forum. I was undergoing an emergence of a previously contained GAD and psychotic major depression, perhaps related to the withdrawal, perhaps not; only a doctor could advise me wisely.
The overarching antibenzo stance of the forum wasn't made manifest until the moderator posted his antibenzo stance when I began to waver in my taper; support quickly became conditional on tapering, regardless of the efficacy of bzd or the severity of the withdrawal.
All symptoms, including a raging sinus infection, were blamed on bzds. A re-emergence of a serious mental illness was never considered.You might well ask what the hell I expected from such a group, and that's a good question. I guess I expected support without the politcal stance.
Conclusions:
a) I was really naive.
b) I was incredibly anxious and susceptible to
any perceived "support" no matter how biased.
c) Black and white thinking about meds should be immediately suspect.
d) Be careful, there are cults.> Viridis,
>
> I really don't think you will have problems
> with Klonopin, as long as you stay on it.
>
> Had i listened to my doctor, and not tried to
> get off it after 15 yrs. i would not have had
> such problems. Unfortunately, i succumbed to
> the enthusiasm of the benzo group--which has
> many useful and informative testimonials. And
> even there, variation between individuals
> is great.
>
> One thing is certain--benzos are addicting.
> But, so what? As long as you are taken off easy,
> IF you have to be taken off.
>
> Squiggles
poster:musil
thread:124171
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021019/msgs/124701.html