Guest guest Posted February 19, 2007 Report Share Posted February 19, 2007 This is really tough stuff. I had a really hard time getting off of neurontin, but my neurologist gave me some other medication to help with the withdrawal symptoms and then we tapered off of that drug as well. Best of luck to you. Hopefully there is a physician who can find a way to help you withdraw with fewer side-effects. Take care- Steph DRUG DEPENDENCE DEPENDENCE ON PRESCRIPTION PILLS HAS BECOME A PROBLEM FOR ME SO I THOUGHT I WOULD TALK ABOUT IT TO ALL THE GROUPS TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAS STRUGGLED.I AM TAPERING OFF OF KLONOPIN AND HAVE GIVEN UP THE XANAX XR TOTALLY AND HAVE CUT MY TEMAZEPAM TO ONE A NIGHT NOT 2. DOCTORS HERE DID NOT KNOW HOW TO HELP A DISEASE LIKE SJS WITH NO CURE SO THEY STARTED ME ON A TON OF PILLS, I ALSO GET STRAIGHT CODEINE, BUTALBITOL(BARBITURATE), MIDRIN AND RELPAX FOR HEADACHES AND HAVE BEEN ON ALL THESE DRUGS AT ONCE FOR ABOUT 7 YEARS SO MY TOLERANCE IS SO SO HIGH I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE A FISTFUL TO GET ANY EFFECT. I FINALLY CAME CLEAN WITH MY PSYCH MAN THIS WEEK AND WE ARE TAPERING DOWN THE PILLS. THIS IS VERY SCARY FOR ME BECAUSE IVE HAD THEM AS MY CRUTCH FOR 7 YEARS SINCE MY DIAGNOSIS AND AM NOW GOING TO HAVE TO REALLY FACE MY NEW REALITY SOBER.IF ANYONE ELSE HAS STRUGGLED WITH THIS I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU ON OR OFF THE LISTS AND TELL ME HOW YOU HANDLED IT, IM NOT HANDLING IT TOO WELL RIGHT NOW, THE FEARS OF WITHDRAWAL AND OF NOT HAVING MY PILLS TO TURN TO IS NOT GOOD, I HAVE ZERO FAMILY SUPPORT WITH THE ILLNESSES I AM GOING TO START SEEING MY COUNSELOR AGAIN SOON AND THINK THAT WILL HELP.I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED ON MY PROGRESSTHANKS FOR BEING HERE!COLLEEN C IN KS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 20, 2007 Report Share Posted February 20, 2007 Colleen...just a quick reply to your message... I finally got off of Klonopin around 3.5 months ago, after 1 failed attempt 1 year ago to get off of it. Was on it for little under 2 years. Went through HORRIBLE withdrawal symptoms. Decreased the pills slowly over 10 months to lessen withdrawal. Went through slow withdrawl on most of those days the whole ten months. If you haven;t already, go to www.benzo.uk.org for info. Best place on the internet or anywhere regarding withdrawal and anything else regarding benzos. So sorry you have to go through this. Although my husband did more work with the kids as I was sick, he, and everyone else around me, did not ahve a clue as to what I was going through. They still don't understand withdrawal. No one does until they specifically go through a benzo withdrawal. It's pure hell. But, please keep in mind that it does get better. For me, I took the pills for severe sleep disorders, but it didn't help, and actually only worsened my sleeping problems. Now I am off of the BEnzo, but left with such profound sleeping disorders that I am struggling terribly. On Neurontin now, and occasional Lunesta (sleeping pill), but they don't help much. But, I can tell you that like can surely be better when those benzo are out of your system. Please give it time. I felt almost completely alone during the whole thing, and still am so. I can really sympathize. I still feel that way now, and am still struggling. I wish I can offewr you more support, but I am unable to take care of myself. Please hang in there. TAke it one day at a time. All thebest- Mich > > This is really tough stuff. I had a really hard time getting off of neurontin, but my neurologist gave me some other medication to help with the withdrawal symptoms and then we tapered off of that drug as well. Best of luck to you. Hopefully there is a physician who can find a way to help you withdraw with fewer side-effects. > Take care- Steph > DRUG DEPENDENCE > > > DEPENDENCE ON PRESCRIPTION PILLS HAS BECOME A PROBLEM FOR ME SO I THOUGHT I WOULD TALK ABOUT IT TO ALL THE GROUPS TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAS STRUGGLED. > > I AM TAPERING OFF OF KLONOPIN AND HAVE GIVEN UP THE XANAX XR TOTALLY AND HAVE CUT MY TEMAZEPAM TO ONE A NIGHT NOT 2. > > DOCTORS HERE DID NOT KNOW HOW TO HELP A DISEASE LIKE SJS WITH NO CURE SO THEY STARTED ME ON A TON OF PILLS, I ALSO GET STRAIGHT CODEINE, BUTALBITOL(BARBITURATE), MIDRIN AND RELPAX FOR HEADACHES AND HAVE BEEN ON ALL THESE DRUGS AT ONCE FOR ABOUT 7 YEARS SO MY TOLERANCE IS SO SO HIGH I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE A FISTFUL TO GET ANY EFFECT. I FINALLY CAME CLEAN WITH MY PSYCH MAN THIS WEEK AND WE ARE TAPERING DOWN THE PILLS. > > THIS IS VERY SCARY FOR ME BECAUSE IVE HAD THEM AS MY CRUTCH FOR 7 YEARS SINCE MY DIAGNOSIS AND AM NOW GOING TO HAVE TO REALLY FACE MY NEW REALITY SOBER. > > IF ANYONE ELSE HAS STRUGGLED WITH THIS I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU ON OR OFF THE LISTS AND TELL ME HOW YOU HANDLED IT, IM NOT HANDLING IT TOO WELL RIGHT NOW, THE FEARS OF WITHDRAWAL AND OF NOT HAVING MY PILLS TO TURN TO IS NOT GOOD, I HAVE ZERO FAMILY SUPPORT WITH THE ILLNESSES I AM GOING TO START SEEING MY COUNSELOR AGAIN SOON AND THINK THAT WILL HELP. > > I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED ON MY PROGRESS > THANKS FOR BEING HERE! > COLLEEN C IN KS > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 20, 2007 Report Share Posted February 20, 2007 Colleen...just a quick reply to your message... I finally got off of Klonopin around 3.5 months ago, after 1 failed attempt 1 year ago to get off of it. Was on it for little under 2 years. Went through HORRIBLE withdrawal symptoms. Decreased the pills slowly over 10 months to lessen withdrawal. Went through slow withdrawl on most of those days the whole ten months. If you haven;t already, go to www.benzo.uk.org for info. Best place on the internet or anywhere regarding withdrawal and anything else regarding benzos. So sorry you have to go through this. Although my husband did more work with the kids as I was sick, he, and everyone else around me, did not ahve a clue as to what I was going through. They still don't understand withdrawal. No one does until they specifically go through a benzo withdrawal. It's pure hell. But, please keep in mind that it does get better. For me, I took the pills for severe sleep disorders, but it didn't help, and actually only worsened my sleeping problems. Now I am off of the BEnzo, but left with such profound sleeping disorders that I am struggling terribly. On Neurontin now, and occasional Lunesta (sleeping pill), but they don't help much. But, I can tell you that like can surely be better when those benzo are out of your system. Please give it time. I felt almost completely alone during the whole thing, and still am so. I can really sympathize. I still feel that way now, and am still struggling. I wish I can offewr you more support, but I am unable to take care of myself. Please hang in there. TAke it one day at a time. All thebest- Mich > > This is really tough stuff. I had a really hard time getting off of neurontin, but my neurologist gave me some other medication to help with the withdrawal symptoms and then we tapered off of that drug as well. Best of luck to you. Hopefully there is a physician who can find a way to help you withdraw with fewer side-effects. > Take care- Steph > DRUG DEPENDENCE > > > DEPENDENCE ON PRESCRIPTION PILLS HAS BECOME A PROBLEM FOR ME SO I THOUGHT I WOULD TALK ABOUT IT TO ALL THE GROUPS TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAS STRUGGLED. > > I AM TAPERING OFF OF KLONOPIN AND HAVE GIVEN UP THE XANAX XR TOTALLY AND HAVE CUT MY TEMAZEPAM TO ONE A NIGHT NOT 2. > > DOCTORS HERE DID NOT KNOW HOW TO HELP A DISEASE LIKE SJS WITH NO CURE SO THEY STARTED ME ON A TON OF PILLS, I ALSO GET STRAIGHT CODEINE, BUTALBITOL(BARBITURATE), MIDRIN AND RELPAX FOR HEADACHES AND HAVE BEEN ON ALL THESE DRUGS AT ONCE FOR ABOUT 7 YEARS SO MY TOLERANCE IS SO SO HIGH I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE A FISTFUL TO GET ANY EFFECT. I FINALLY CAME CLEAN WITH MY PSYCH MAN THIS WEEK AND WE ARE TAPERING DOWN THE PILLS. > > THIS IS VERY SCARY FOR ME BECAUSE IVE HAD THEM AS MY CRUTCH FOR 7 YEARS SINCE MY DIAGNOSIS AND AM NOW GOING TO HAVE TO REALLY FACE MY NEW REALITY SOBER. > > IF ANYONE ELSE HAS STRUGGLED WITH THIS I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU ON OR OFF THE LISTS AND TELL ME HOW YOU HANDLED IT, IM NOT HANDLING IT TOO WELL RIGHT NOW, THE FEARS OF WITHDRAWAL AND OF NOT HAVING MY PILLS TO TURN TO IS NOT GOOD, I HAVE ZERO FAMILY SUPPORT WITH THE ILLNESSES I AM GOING TO START SEEING MY COUNSELOR AGAIN SOON AND THINK THAT WILL HELP. > > I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED ON MY PROGRESS > THANKS FOR BEING HERE! > COLLEEN C IN KS > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 20, 2007 Report Share Posted February 20, 2007 THANKS STEPH AND THEY ARENT GIVING ME MUCH THIS IS REALLY TOUGH AND I KNOW ILL BE BETTER OFF WITHOUT THEM BUT THE HARD WORK IS NOW AND IM DEASABLED AND TRYING TO WORK A PART TIME JOB AND IF IT GETS TOO BAD I'LL HAVE TO QUIT THE JOB ALL OF THIS IS REALLY STRESSFUL AND I APPRECIATE YOUR WELL WISHES COLLEEN************************************** Check out free AOL at http://free.aol.com/thenewaol/index.adp. Most comprehensive set of free safety and security tools, millions of free high-quality videos from across the web, free AOL Mail and much more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 21, 2007 Report Share Posted February 21, 2007 Hang in there Colleen. There will be an ebb and flow to the process, so you probably won't feel continually overwhelmed. One day this will be just a bad memory....Steph Re: DRUG DEPENDENCE THANKS STEPH AND THEY ARENT GIVING ME MUCH THIS IS REALLY TOUGH AND I KNOW ILL BE BETTER OFF WITHOUT THEM BUT THE HARD WORK IS NOW AND IM DEASABLED AND TRYING TO WORK A PART TIME JOB AND IF IT GETS TOO BAD I'LL HAVE TO QUIT THE JOB ALL OF THIS IS REALLY STRESSFUL AND I APPRECIATE YOUR WELL WISHESCOLLEEN**************************************Check out free AOL at http://free.aol.com/thenewaol/index.adp. Most comprehensive set of free safety and security tools, millions of free high-quality videos from across the web, free AOL Mail and much more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 20, 2007 Report Share Posted March 20, 2007 Dear Colleen, You have taken the hardest step - admitting to yourself and to a MD your problem. I understand the fear of being without your meds. You are correct that after being on so many drugs for so long the amount it will take to give you relief increases. Did you get different prescriptions from different MD's? If one MD wrote for Xanax and Klonopin and butalbital and temazepam, you need to find another MD. Is there a pain clinic in an adjacent city? (I'm assuming there is not one in your town.) Pain MD's generally have rules 1) You cannot get pain/anxiety/sleep meds from any MD but them 2) You can only use one pharmacy and 3) You are sufject to a urine test without notice - anytime. Even if you work with a MD that is not a pain MD, making that pact with him/her may help. I truly believe that when you get to complicated patients like most of us are there MUST be one MD who's in charge of the general situation. When I had a lot of MD's and they didn't talk to each other, there were several setbacks in my therapy due to poor drug management. Now, I have one MD who oversees everything and I am much better for that. Do write on or off the list and let us know how you are doing. ; ) Willow --- <collins.terri@...> wrote: > > > > > DEPENDENCE ON PRESCRIPTION PILLS HAS BECOME A > PROBLEM FOR ME SO I > THOUGHT I > > WOULD TALK ABOUT IT TO ALL THE GROUPS TO SEE IF > ANYONE ELSE HAS > STRUGGLED. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 20, 2007 Report Share Posted March 20, 2007 Dear Colleen, You have taken the hardest step - admitting to yourself and to a MD your problem. I understand the fear of being without your meds. You are correct that after being on so many drugs for so long the amount it will take to give you relief increases. Did you get different prescriptions from different MD's? If one MD wrote for Xanax and Klonopin and butalbital and temazepam, you need to find another MD. Is there a pain clinic in an adjacent city? (I'm assuming there is not one in your town.) Pain MD's generally have rules 1) You cannot get pain/anxiety/sleep meds from any MD but them 2) You can only use one pharmacy and 3) You are sufject to a urine test without notice - anytime. Even if you work with a MD that is not a pain MD, making that pact with him/her may help. I truly believe that when you get to complicated patients like most of us are there MUST be one MD who's in charge of the general situation. When I had a lot of MD's and they didn't talk to each other, there were several setbacks in my therapy due to poor drug management. Now, I have one MD who oversees everything and I am much better for that. Do write on or off the list and let us know how you are doing. ; ) Willow --- <collins.terri@...> wrote: > > > > > DEPENDENCE ON PRESCRIPTION PILLS HAS BECOME A > PROBLEM FOR ME SO I > THOUGHT I > > WOULD TALK ABOUT IT TO ALL THE GROUPS TO SEE IF > ANYONE ELSE HAS > STRUGGLED. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 21, 2007 Report Share Posted March 21, 2007 thanks willow it was very hard after 7 years to admit these pills were a problem and i was on way too much of everything and suprised I was the one to bust myself and if I hadnt gotten scared by the media lately i would still be on tons of meds. It is hard for me to handle my illness's alone with no support in my family and i went to pills to try and just sleep through it all. In ways I am stressed some that I got rid of my own crutch and have to go ahead and deal with everything. I know i did the right thing for long term health and to be sober and aware of everything, Hugs Colleen************************************** AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at http://www.aol.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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