Posted by mattdds on January 27, 2003, at 7:16:38
In reply to Questions about Benzo's/GABA, and AED's!!!, posted by titleistguy on January 26, 2003, at 23:37:14
Sean,
I'm sorry to read you're having a tough time. I read your previous post as well. Your symptoms sound just like mine did, including the photosensitivity and severe anxiety. The photosensitivity could probably fall under the "depersonalization" umbrella.
I just wanted to point out a few things about your experience with benzodiazepines. You mentioned that you took Klonopin for only 3.5 weeks. Now, anything is possible, but it is extremely unlikely that this would be enough time to elicit a withdrawal syndrome as severe as what you describe. I had exactly the same symptoms, although not related to Klonopin withdrawal, and I know you are going through hell! But I have to wonder if you might have gotten those symptoms anyway, even without the Klonopin. Or perhaps withdrawing so abruptly *triggered* your symptoms, but did not *cause* them.
I know when the peak of my symptoms hit, I was looking for anything to explain them, because they were so intense. At first I thought it was the Serzone, since I happened to be taking that at the same time I got really ill.
Also, your dose (I think you said 2.5 mg qd) seemed very high for just starting out! You mentioned that after taking Klonopin (Rivotril in Canada?), you would fall asleep all day. 2.5 mg would floor even me, a seasoned Klonopin user! The normal starting dose is 0.5 or 1.0 mg daily. When I first started taking Klonopin for anxiety, I could take 0.25 mg and feel a lot of relief. Now, over a year later, I take 0.5 or 1.0 mg as needed. Did you ever try Klonopin at lower doses? I think where your doctor screwed up is not titrating you up to your correct dose.
It takes some skill, but most psychiatrists can find a dose for you where your anxiety is gone, but you are not at all sedated, i.e. titrate you up to the correct dose.Also, "protracted benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome" is a quacky diagnosis, in my opinion. None of the responsible research on benzodiazepines show any evidence for this. I believe the folks who came up with this ever-so scientific sounding term are afiliated with our beloved anti-benzo groups. Most withdrawal symptoms may be avoided by appropriate tapering, which may involve 3-6 months of gradually scaling back your dose. This is similar to most psychiatric drugs, like antidepressants.
Most doctors will say that if benzo withdrawal lasts for more than 3-4 weeks, then it is almost definitely not "protracted benzodiazepine withdrawal", but rather the pre-existing condition resurfacing.
Now I may be way off base here, and if I am, I apologize. I just don't want you to write off a drug that could potentially help, provided it was prescribed and used correctly (i.e. correct titration, dosing and taper). I'm not saying benzos are without their drawbacks, and I definitely don't think they are for everyone. But I had the same fears you did about taking them, and I regret it, because I could have been getting some much deserved relief, and possibly preventing my anxiety from spiraling into depression! For anxiety and panic, they really are the gold standard treatment, at this point. I think your dose was WAY too high to begin, so you might have gotten the wrong impression about how it "feels", as you were too sedated. You also probably quit WAY too fast, although I seriously doubt what you are experiencing now (6 months later??) is a withdrawal syndrome.
Best of luck!
Matt
poster:mattdds
thread:137721
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030125/msgs/137750.html