Posted by simcha on September 8, 2007, at 23:16:23
This is uniquely frustrating. When I started with this psychiatrist in 2002 he took me off of my 1mg of Klonopin every night that I was on for 2 years without having to increase or change that worked for my RLS and Bruxism. He told me that we "don't need to use a bazooka" to treat RLS and Bruxism. He also brought out research that Klonopin supposedly causes depression and it interrupts the sleep architecture. Thus he told me to taper off of Klonopin and start taking Neurontin. I started on 300mg of Neurontin before sleep. Fast forward to 2007.. I'm on 1,600mg of Neurontin a night.
And guess what? I still have the same complaint, as 7 years ago before I started Klonopin the first time, RLS and Bruxism. So, I went to see him a week or two ago and told him about these issues yet again. So what did he say? Well, I'd have to go to my general practicioner in order to be treated for the RLS and possibly placed on Klonopin. I reminded him of what he said about Klonopin 3 years ago and then he told me about mirapex and then quickly backed out of it because mirapex could cause OCD in people who may have signs of it (which I do).
So, I saw my gp yesterday, and guess what? He prescribed me .5 or 1mg of Klonopin to be taken before bedtime for RLS and Bruxism. Also, I can reduce the Neurontin.
Now, what have been the effects of the Neurontin after 5 years. Well, I was 50 pounds lighter 5 years ago. I'm not sure that Neurontin even does anything anymore.
So, now I'm reducing the Neurontin with an eye to discontinuing it. I'm going back to Klonopin. Why take 2 drugs for the same darn condition when Klonopin worked so beautifully for 2 years, almost 5 years ago.
What is it about benzodiazepines that causes some pdocs to become gibbering masses of denial? Benzos work period. They're safe period. If you need them they aren't a problem period. It was even very easy for me to taper off of Klonopin after being on it at 1mg per night for 2 years. I believe it's because I actually needed it and I wasn't using it as a recreational substance.
Why is this such a difficult concept for many pdocs to understand? This is sooooo frustrating... I am 50 pounds heavier and I lived with RLS and Bruxism for 5 years all because this pdoc has problems with benzos...
Oh, and I could have gone to another pdoc, but alas, if you do that and you ask for the treatment you need, they label you as "drug seeking." Well, if I had strep throat and I asked for amoxicillin because that's what works when I have strep, is that drug seeking? Why is it that a pdoc would gladly write me a script for that amoxicillin if I asked for it because it works for strep, but would balk at prescribing klonopin for me when I ask for it because I have RLS and Bruxism and it works for these conditions?
poster:simcha
thread:781709
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070831/msgs/781709.html