Clonazepam (with response)

[Guest guest]

Annette said:

<<Hi , I had taken .5mg Clonazepam last week for 4 times a day

two days and three times two other days. You told me I shouldn't stop

taken anything suddenly. I stayed with three .5mg. You also suggested

I try to switch to Valium, but I botched that. The last couple days on

the Clonazepam I have developed a headache and really am not feeling

well. It is also really impacting my tinnitus. Should the headache go

away over time. If you'll recall I'm on Neurontin. I had terrible

headaches the first two weeks I was on it and then they went away. I

feel really bad because I don't think I was addicted to the stuff but

now I clearly am.

I do better with small changes in meds. I am going to call my

psychiatrist again about switching to the Valium. I worry about the

stigma of this, although I shouldn't. They don't recognize Clonazepam

as so addictive but Valium is clearly recognized. I wonder if I will

have insurance problems.

I am still feeling completely awful although the agitation is under

control. I've done a terrible job of getting the supplements off the

ground. Could that be contributing to this feeling of illness?>>

** We can resolve this with one question -- did the doctor tell you to stop

the clonazepam when he wrote for the Valium? I am thinking he didn't because the

Valium script is too low to be used alone for anyone who has taken higher doses

of another benzodiazepine.

I think you're working overtime looking for problems. Clonazepam is as

recognized as Valium is for being addictive. It is classified as a

benzodiazepine just as Valium is. There is no reason in the world to have

insurance problems over this.

I don't understand the following question:

" I am still feeling completely awful although the agitation is under

control. I've done a terrible job of getting the supplements off the

ground. Could that be contributing to this feeling of illness? "

** Could what be contributing to the feeling of illness?

When you tell me you feel " awful " that is meaningless to me. You have to

describe exactly what is going on in order for me to be of any help to you.

It may help you to read an article written by Kim (a former co-moderator

here). It is titled " HOW TO ASK A HEALTH QUESTION FULLY AND EFFICIENTLY " . Here

is a link:

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Withdrawal_and_Recovery/files/

Kim spent 14+ years on a myriad of psychotropic drugs and labeled

" Chronically mentally ill " . She is now drug-free and working full time+ as

Assistant Manager of Operations for a huge Home Depot store). She is also a

very gifted and successful artist. Kim wrote her story for our files. It is

titled " Kim's Story " . I've asked her to write an update for it because I know

some of the things she wrote are no longer issues for her. Her story, sans

update, is here:

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Withdrawal_and_Recovery/files/Members%27%20\

Stories/

Kim's art can be found here:

www.kimdenise.com

Regarding supplements for you, we will discuss this in your consultation (can

we change this to Wed 3:30pm ET)?

Things to help you right now --

-- Please look in the files for Guided Meditations. Take 30 min. to sit back

and listen to some of these.

-- One time a day reach out to someone and offer them words of support and

kindness. If it s not on the group be sure to tell us about it. We are all

uplifted by stories like this.

-- Once a day, write in to here (copy to the Social group) and tell us something

that you enjoy or something that makes you happy.

Finally, it is not clear to me if you fel stable now on ther Clonazepam.

Anything you are experiencing, please describe fully (Kim's article should

help).

I notice a pattern with you. You are very quick to give things up and state

that you failed or it didn't work (the Valium, for example). Unless you give

things a full, fair, trial, you'll never get to the point to understand that it

is working for you.

Thanks, Annnette!

Regards,