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Klonopin Withdrawl
Thu, 03/10/2005 - 15:43I was wondering if anyone can tell me what their experiences have been with Klonopin withdrawl. My husband was prescribed this last August for his JME but has since built a tolerance to it. He has been able to cut his dosage in half since February (he is now down to a daily dose of 1.25 TID), but is still experiencing withdrawl symptoms. His symptoms usually occur when he is trying to problem solve. He says he feels like he has a tiny little myoclonic seizure, undectable to anyone but himself. Naturally, this is causing some anxiety.
Has anyone taken a really slow withdrawl schedule and if so how long did you wait before tapering down to a lower dose? Did this help lessen the problems of coming of this medication? Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Sarah
Comments
RE: RE: Klonopin Withdrawl
Submitted by sjones on Thu, 2005-03-10 - 15:43
Hi Gretchen,
Thanks for your reply. We were really hoping that the Klonopin would help him out and it did...for a couple of weeks. After that he would have the same types of problems. He actually did not have the severity of problems he has been having until he started on the Klonopin. But, he's really sensitive to meds. He can't take Depakote or Dilantin due to allergic reactions to those meds. He was on Tegretol, but we found out when he was finally diagnosed with JME that the Tegretol could make his seizures worse. The docs started him on the Klonopin and weaned him off of the Tegretol a few months ago. He has also taken Lamictal for several years. The Lamictal has been pretty good for him. They added Zonegran when they decided that the Klonopin wasn't going to work for him. The told him to go off cold and that didn't work out to well...he had a TC about two hours after he stopped his med. He defintely has the anxiety related to the withdrawl. He's just nervous about having a seizure all the time. I know things will get better, it's just going to take a long time. I'm just hoping to get some good info to pass along to him and hopefully reassure him during this time.
Thanks!
Sarah
Hi Gretchen,
Thanks for your reply. We were really hoping that the Klonopin would help him out and it did...for a couple of weeks. After that he would have the same types of problems. He actually did not have the severity of problems he has been having until he started on the Klonopin. But, he's really sensitive to meds. He can't take Depakote or Dilantin due to allergic reactions to those meds. He was on Tegretol, but we found out when he was finally diagnosed with JME that the Tegretol could make his seizures worse. The docs started him on the Klonopin and weaned him off of the Tegretol a few months ago. He has also taken Lamictal for several years. The Lamictal has been pretty good for him. They added Zonegran when they decided that the Klonopin wasn't going to work for him. The told him to go off cold and that didn't work out to well...he had a TC about two hours after he stopped his med. He defintely has the anxiety related to the withdrawl. He's just nervous about having a seizure all the time. I know things will get better, it's just going to take a long time. I'm just hoping to get some good info to pass along to him and hopefully reassure him during this time.
Thanks!
Sarah
RE: Klonopin Withdrawl
Submitted by Gretchen on Thu, 2005-03-10 - 11:29
Hi SarahI have with drawn all the way off Klonopin cold turkey several times. It was not pleasant but I have to take Klonopin. I've decided now if they ever stop manufacturing it? I'm throwing in the towel. It's the ONLY thing that controls my jerks and worse my twitchies. It also enhances the effectiveness of the Dilantin I take, or at least that's the theory. I'm supposed to take a high dose, 2 mg, three times a day but in reality I take it on an as needed basis.The little myoclonic actions he's getting? With my experiences that would be what I call, this isn't a medical term, the twitchies, which is a kind of myoclonic jerking because of the need for Klonopin or some AED to stop the jerk, not a withdrawal symptom. Please note though I said "with my experiences". My with drawal from Klonopin each time was classic according to their literature, which lists withdrawal symptoms. Go to Google and type in Klonopin withdrawal or you can get a "crimp" from your pharmacist. But one withdrawal potential symptom is increased sz'ing.My symptoms going off a high dose all at once were: aching joints, diarrhea, anxiety, increased sz's. Gretchen