Posted by Dinah on June 27, 2008, at 18:24:41
In reply to pdoc yelled at me (sort of), posted by sunnydays on June 26, 2008, at 0:05:15
I decided long ago that I didn't need to like my psychiatrist, or understand him, or enjoy my visits to him. I just haven't met any I like overmuch.
I've been on Klonopin for over ten years. My doseage has actually gone down rather than up. And I've stopped it from time to time for long enough to get through the withdrawal. And yes, there is a period of withdrawal or discontinuation. I have very interesting temporal lobe experiences during that time, and tend to get rather hypomanic. But when it's all over and it's out of my system, I find I have a recurrence of the three am waking that originally caused me to take it. Apparently three am is a magic time of fear for me.
It *is* possible to get addicted to benzos. With my family history of addiction and personality that tends to addiction, I have been vigilant. Many many people use benzos, short or long term, without being addicted. It's something to monitor in yourself, and I think it's wise of you to keep an eye on it. But there's no point in refusing to use a chain saw to chop down a dangerous tree because people can get hurt with chain saws. Insomnia and anxiety has its own side effects, which can be at least as harmful as responsible use of medications.
poster:Dinah
thread:836478
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20080616/msgs/836854.html