klonopin

June 10, 2008

Dear Sue

I've been using Xanax, same effect, quicker onset, shorter half-life, as a

sleep enabler. It's been nearly 10 years now, I'm still taking only half a

milligram at night, occasionally up to a milligram but only for a couple of

days. I think Xanax is probably more than a fair substitute for Klonopin for

some people.

Regards

R

Re: Klonopin

> One problem with clonazepam (Klonopin) is that you become dependent on it,

> and if you

> have to stop it suddenly you can have have severe--even

> dangerous--withdrawal

> symptoms.

>

> In New York State it is a controlled substance, a Class IV (I think) drug.

> The doctor has to

> make a carbon copy of the prescription and send it to the state. This

> seems to make some

> doctors very nervous about prescribing it, and they can change their minds

> on a whim,

> which leaves the patient in a very bad position. Other doctors have been

> known to use it as

> a sort of blackmail: Do such-and-such or I won't renew your clonazepam

> prescription.

>

> So you start on clonazepam at a low dose, and after a while you need a

> higher dose just to

> get the same benefits. Your brain, which might have been functioning

> somewhat normally

> to begin with, loses the ability to perform certain functions--and when

> the clonazepam is

> withdrawn you will probably be more sensitive to sound, light and color

> than you were. If

> you have to go off clonazepam " cold turkey, " this sensitivity can increase

> to disastrous

> levels.

>

> And one other thing. Many people report that after a while, clonazepam

> seems to cause

> severe insomnia, in addition to a sort of fog and sometimes depression.

>

> It's not like taking a vitamin. Anyone who is thinking of initiating a

> lifelong dependence on

> this drug should do some reading on the downsides first.

>

> Sue B.

>

> ------------------------------------

>

> This list is intended for patients to share personal experiences with each

> other, not to give medical advice. If you are interested in any treatment

> discussed here, please consult your doctor.

June 10, 2008

We didn't really. I think it find in with his belief that the brain is being

flooded with too many signal. He thought it was the best drug for ME/CFS. I

tried it overnight and really liked it. Havent picked up the prescription yet

for it though.

I have an overview of the session coming up in the newsletter.

From: marti_zavala & lt;marti_zavala@... & gt;

Subject: Re: Klonopin

Date: Monday, June 9, 2008, 10:22 AM

& gt;

& gt; I am not sure where I stand on the klonopin issue, but ironically

my new computer has a program that has been trying to clean out old

email and a message I sent to myself 2 yrs ago was brought to my

attention, I don't know where I got the interview with cheney or

how old it is but this is verbatiom what I copied and sent myself

from somehting I found on the web. to go faster and suffer a little.

& gt; & gt; & gt;

Hi,

Thanks for posting this. I remember this! It was a little

frightening to me because I was brain-fogged and couldn't grasp the

concept of coma vs seizure (well, I could grasp it but didn't like

it).

I cut out a paragraph because I wanted to make a comment based on

our recent conversations on the board.

This paragraph seems to me to equate Klonipin to us as insulin is to

a diabetic. They can be very ill until the insulin is

administered. So, one could argue that they are " addicted " to

insulin.

I am beginning to view Klonipin as insulin for our off-balance brain

chemistry. I have been intending to deal with gluatamate/GABA

through diet (removing excitotoxins, not easy) to supplementing with

GABA.

" The last question Cheney addressed concerned the dose: what happens

if the dose is too high? He said the only down side was that if you

took a little too much (we are not talking overdose here) it would

shift you toward coma on the continuum. It would shut your brain

down to some degree, and thus impact your ability to function. This

is inconvenient, but it's not harmful. In fact, it shifts you into

the " healing state " on the continuum. You may feel like a zombie,

but your brain is protected and your neurons are not getting fried.

However, not being able to function isn't an option for most of us,

so we need to find the maximum dose that doesn't make us drowsy. "

I have recently found out from an autistic child's mom that

removing excitotoxins from diet does not necessarily correct the

imbalance (as countless autistic children's parents have learned).

The brain seems to generate the imbalance. Having said that, I have

gone off excitotoxins for two weeks and then visited a friend for

Memorial Day and a few things had chemicals. I recognized

the " wired, but tired " issues returning and had much difficulty

sleeping, again. Didn't last more than the one night. So, diet may

help, I suggest reading Dr. Blaylocks's book and googling

Feingold Diet.

So if Cheney and others are correct, then Klonipin or GABA would be

a lifetime supplement and if we begin to feel drowsy over time then

it is possible that would be able to get off Klonipin.

AND, if our brains had resolved the issue, then withdrawl would be

easy and not the painful process that we hear and read about.

Are my assumptions on target?

I would be willing to submit a set of questions to Dr.

Baraniuk regarding Klonipin if someone will help me generate a

concise list. Here's a few to start with....

1. Is GABA/Glumatate issue generated in brain or or a metabolic

issue controlled by diet?

2. Is Klonipin a substance that is correcting (cure) an imbalance

or is " bypassing " the cause of the imbalance (treatment) and

therefore a lifelong requirement?

3. Would withdrawal for a normal person without GABA/glutamate

imbalance be easy and free of symptoms? Therefore, if ME/CFS patient

needs Klonipin, withdrawal would be painful.

Cort, did you and Dr. B. have a conversation re: Klonipin? I would

have loved to have been in the room during your conversation - I bet

it was enlightening (in terms of the future of research).

Marti

February 26, 2009

I've been taking Clonazepam for years for an anxiety disorder and it works

exceptionally well.

It's also used as a muscle relaxer and my brother takes it who has epilepsy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

klonopin

Hi All

This drug did not agree with me. Clonazepam. Neurologist prescribed it to me a

while ago. Made me sleepy and " loopy " . Started on it slow... I weeded myself off

it. I have sometimes severe muscle spasms at night while trying to sleep. This

med seemed to make it worse. AND lasted long into the next day! Weird stuff... I

stopped it gradually... (I am not stupid... anything that makes you feel that

BAD taking it, gotta take it slow in NOT taking it...) I had an appt this week

with said nuero guy to talk about that. Problem was, my Mom has a weirdo heart

thing happen, had to go in hospital that day, so had to cancel appt. I have bad

feelings about this doc. The last time I went to him I think he was trying to

decide what to have for lunch, rather than what my problems were. I hate that.

Question for group is: has anyone been prescribed this stuff for pain? I had a

Transverse Myelitis episode 19 years ago that has left my nerves " gone haywire " ,

and because the disease effects your spinal cord (made it swell). This med says

to be for anxiety, and can shut off some pain receptors in your brain???? Well

in my brain, it woke them up. I am 50 yo now and getting OLD I guess. Things

hurt worse than they used to. Good golly, I am so sick of crying myself into

exhaustion to sleep, if sleep ever comes at all. I am used to having " bad days " ,

but when they last for a week... you have to wonder about the meds. And the pain

clinic I go to I am seeing a advanced NP (NOT A DOC! OH MY!!!) who has helped me

so much... This nuero " doc " just shakes his head at the meds they have given me

so far. I need a new nuero, but it is so hard to find one who knows my disease.

I live in the sticks of NH too. But I am beginning to think I might be willing

to go maybe to Boston or SOMEWHERE!

(TM is a disease that is a result of over reactive antibodies that attack your

spine. I had the flu. I know others that have got TM from a flu shot or other

vaccine. One young girl I met got a hepatitis vaccine to work as in hospital to

see if she wanted to really be a nurse like her mother was someday!!!! Ended up

being air lifted to Boston Childrens hospital parylised from the waist down in a

matter of hours. Fast treatment you can recover somewhat... TM effects children

and young adults in their 30's. Your very " efficient " body immune system kills

your sickness and then looks for other things to attack.)

Rut roe... sorry this got so long. I am worried about my Mom. Last week when I

was still coming off this med, there was NO way I could drive to Manchester

(best heart hospital in NE) to go get her or go see her. She is back there...

Now I need to make another appt. with this nuero guy or find another. I have a

case pending with SS so I need somebody. Plus.... I do not need to be feeking

like **** over some medication, when all I want to do is have a life with a pain

level I can live with.... Ya know????

in NH....

February 26, 2009

Well.... I will have to ask about that thankyou!