Hi there,

I had two episodes of seizures from benzo (Xanax withdrawal). Be soooooooooo careful, I was taking too high a dose, I think and then just stopped because I felt too tired and blamed it on the benzo (rightfully so, I may add). I just didnt' taper off of it slowly enough. Went from 4 mg a day to nothing....cold turkey; dangerous and highly unadvisable.

Just my two cents!

Ive been on klonopin for the last 2 months and xanax the 2 months before that and I think Im going to quit CT. Yall think I'll have any trouble? I was only taking 2 mg's of the k's a day.

I think I might ask my doc for another refill just to keep around the house. Problem is my shrink wants me off them and I only have 12 left to last me untill the 26th. I should be fine and I dont think my doc would have much of a problem giving me some more. I just think I might still need some untill my paxil starts to kick in you know. From what Ive read paxil might take a few weeks to relly start working......dang GAD I hate it, Matt

I,ve Tried paxil,zoloft,effoxor and lexapro.
IF one of them works for you, that's great.
None of them help me like clonazepam does.

Ive tried the zoloft and it didnt do a thing. But my shrink just diagnosed me with adult adhd?? And put me on adderall. I took it today and felt great but Im scared being a stimulant it might kick in some bad anxiety, but thats what he said the paxils for. I just dont want anymore flashbacks and nightmares from Iraq. Maybe my fam. practionor might let me stay on the klonopin as well. I love the stuff and it sure seems to work better that the xanax I was on before.

Mattscru, after 4 monts on a moderate dose of benzos, it's just not safe, and will not be comfortable, to quit CT. And almost surely you Will have cravings. The other meds you're being switched to may work...I sure hope so, but they simply don't fill the same brain receptors. IMO, & all I've read, you need a slow taper...a month at the very least. Please make sure your GP & your shrink are on the same page.
My 2 cents.

First, I am sorry for changing the thread subject. I assumed the threads were being tracked through some internal mechanism rather than the subject! I've changed it back.

Second, Luv, and anyone else who has had seizures, could you please inform how long it took before you had a seizure after you stopped and did you suffer other WD symptoms before you had the seizure?

My reason for asking isn't to rain on anyone's parade but to be super careful when using these substances (and encourage others to do so). I understand why benzos are advised to be "short course" medications. Once your brain achieves homeostasis, any abrupt WD could lead to overactivity and cause seizures. I think a seizure-suppressing drug like Klonopin may likely lead to more seizures when WD than Xanax, but there is also the issue of half-life. So I'm curious based on people's experiences when the window of danger exists.

Seizures are scary, but they can be managed if you are sitting down or not doing anything that would cause you to get hurt (cooking, etc.). The worst scenario is for you to be driving fast and having a seizure. I've had a friend to whom this has happened to twice and it's something to do with alcohol--3-4 drinks and within 12 hours, there's a guaranteed seizure. For most people, it would take several years or decades even of heavy use to get to that point with alcohol, but with benzos it seems it can happen within weeks or months.

Also, my guess is that you're unlikely to be able to react quickly enough to pop a Klonopin and have it work to stop your seizure. Best thing you can do is to do a proper slow taper, and if circumstances don't permit that, then lie or sit down if you feel anything suspicious.

So what then constitutes a safe short term course if you never want to suffer WD? A week every month? A week every quarter? Two days per week? Two days per month? It probably varies, but note that this isn't so much related to half-life. Even if you totally WD on each occasion, but always take it so your brain is used to it, a complete stop will cause overexcitation of the brain (as with alcohol).

VS

Hey there...happy to help. My seizures occurred about 48 hours after my last dose. First one happened in the bathroom, head injury, blood on floor - I woke up in bed not know/realizing what the hell happened. I had NO idea it was coming, no predromal symptoms/halos/smells that are sometimes present. It hit me like a ton of bricks! I was told by my 5 year what happened (tell me that doesn't TOTALLY SUCK). I had forgotten what had happened earlier in the day....where the other kids were (I had gotten them up, packed lunches, made breakfast, dropped them at school); I had no recollection~! I remembered the day later on, however... I was so DUMB NOT TO MAKE the connection between the seizure and Xanax. I was suffering from serious insomnia and thought perhaps it was triggered by that, doctors agreed somewhat, but really didn't have a friggin' clue. Tests were clear (MRI/EKG) I didn't say anything re: my benzo use while in hospital because I simply didn't make the connection and/or I was too embarassed to say I order them on the internet. For the sake of self preservation, I was more embarassed than seeing any conection. THEN....a year later, I ran out, cold turkey. Previous to the running out of IOP Xanax, doc had weaned me off of the anti-seizure med. Restocked, used Xanax again for months, then stopped and BOOM!!! Not the day after my last dose but THE NEXT day - it was like clockwork. I got smart, hmmmmmmmm - look a PATTERN, did some research, found the connection and am now careful as HELL! I never, ever allow myself to run out, have a GP who prescribes as needed. I prefer DB sources to keep the use "off the books",out of my medical records as much as I can. Privacy is valuable in my world.

Learn from me!!

I would have thought seizures would occur more with the shorter-acting benzos, due to the sudden impact of ellimination from the body. Although clonazepam is marketed as an anti-seizure med, that's basically the point - marketing. I know that clonazepam differs slightly from the classic benzodiazepines, but generally speaking they all work as hypnotics, anxiolytics and antiepilleptics.

A company could market its benzo as all 3, but there are economic reasons why they don't.

This site refers to 'market aim' when it classifies the drugs and shows their properties:

http://www.benzo.org.uk/bzequiv.htm

It's hard to say and as with all biology, it varies I bet from individual to individual. I don't think the elimination of the drug is as relevant as the length of the time your brain has been on it constantly. For example, in theory, if you had been taking alprazolam for a year, and clonozepam for a year, and then stopped CT, my guess is that if you were going to have seizure, you'd have it in both situations--the alprazolam one will probably occur sooner than the clonozepam one, but the elimination life difference is miniscule compared to the year long CNS depression that has occurred.

This is why when people have seizures from alcohol WD, they don't have it in the time the alcohol itself WDs. It happens when the brain is getting overexcited and can be as long as 48-72 hours AFTER the alcohol has been eliminated.

I've had two seizures for two separate reasons (my guess) and in one case, I believe it was due to triggers that caused direct overexcitation or hyperactivity and in the other, it was due to removal of factors that were keeping the brain in a suppressed state that led to overexcitation (i.e., like the benzo WD). Neither involved substance use, but since I've had two, I'm worried about the use of benzos and suffering a third due to the second reason.

At the same time, I recognise the value of clonozepam in suppressing seizures caused by the first reason (which is why I was given a short term regimen, to keep me from having more seizures the first time). I also recognise the value of alprazolam in treating anxiety situations beyond your control (like turbulence in an aircraft).

I agree with your point if you have seizures from short time courses. I wish there were statistics on all this properly collated. I feel that everything is being underreported and the MedWatch system is woefully inadequate.

All this is speculation, of course. In terms of personal feeling though, I do feel the drugs are different. I honestly do feel clonozepam suppresses seizures better than alprazolam, and alprazolam is better for acute anxiety than the clonzepam.

VS

I wonder if those who take klonopin for panic related issues experience these seizures more than those who take it for anti-seizure activity? And if so, is it because they are taking a higher dosage? I did have this happen twice in one month, and it was when I was going off of xanax and onto klonopin. Man, talk about scary. I thought that i had passed out or fainted, but it was more than that, and I really could've hurt myself badly. The first time, I hit my head on the dresser on my way down, There was no onset at all, and I remember nothing before my husband woke me up. The second time, I bit my lip and didn't even know I was doing it, but woke up in a pool of blood on the carpet! When I went for my physical, my doctor knew I was taking xanax for insomnia/anxiety, but knew nothing about the klonopin. After I told her what had happened and that I was just starting to stop xanax for klon, she immediatly said "Aha!" I now have a big 'ol scar under my bottom lip to remind me how careful to be w/ these drugs.

Hi Punkadillo, again, it probably varies, but I believe a hypothesis is that if you're taking clonazepam for its antiseizure activity, and then stop and suffer WD, then not only are you at more risk for benzo-WD seizures, but you're seizure suppression protection has also gone way. So it's two "triggers" or things that lower your seizure threshold, like a double whammy.

Can you please inform us how long it took for you to experience seizures from the time of last dose of both alprazolam and clonazepam?

VS

You're certainly right about the length of time you've been taking the drug. You're definitely not going to get seizures after using the drug for 1 day. I'm assuming, since we're comparing drugs themselves, this to be a constant.

After stopping a long-acting benzo, it may take up to 3 weeks for the withdrawal syndrome to occur, but just a few hours with a short-acting one.

Chlordiazepoxide is a long-acting drug used in the UK but I rarely see it mentioned elsewhere.

I had stopped taking xanax only 3 nights, the first night that I took a 2mg. dose of klonolpin, I was fine, it worked great, but as soon as I (stupidly) upped that a week later to 4mg, the middle of the day I had a seizure. then I had another one that same week!! Both were in the middle of the day.

Does anyone have opinions/recommendations/experience on the roche (rivotril) vs. Bago (Neuryl) clonazepam?

Thanks very much

got blisters - Read torrent pharms. Clonotril-2 "each tab contains 2mg clonazepam usp. From india. Can't i.d. anywhwre. tastes like sugar slight banana flavor - R these real they taste like candy.

I have to taper rapidly off 3mg's/day. I only have about 12mg's left and have never seized going cold-turkey, but I am tapering off EffexorXR and trazodone at the same time as the Klonopin. I should be able to safely cut back to 1mg then .5mg and then none.

My question is when I start getting that skin crawling feeling, would it be safe to drink a small amount of alcohol or is there an OTC med that would help? I'm not a drinker so any help would be appreciated.

Good God, tapering off 3 drugs at the same time! Is there no way you can go one at a time?

Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be an option. I think the trazodone will be the hardest to go without since I've suffered from chronic insomnia for the past 17yrs. It won't be easy but I know I can do it- Don't know how well I'll be functioning but it's possible I won't even feel any different .

Effexor is supposed to be a bit of a bugger too.

You run a high risk seizure occurring on about day 2. I too chose the 2 mg level as a jump-off point for Klonopin back in the January I didn't seize, but it was one of the hmmm, let's "interesting" weeks, that first week, of my life.

Don't do this to yourself. It's dangerous, ignorant and dumb.

Let me... kind of answer this in reverse for people's general education. There are visual, ocular, perceptual, and CNS precursors that a seizure is actually imminent, but of course you never, ever want to reach those signs. How long before one seizes from w/d cannot is unpredictable.

"My reason for asking isn't to rain on anyone's parade but to be super careful when using these substances (and encourage others to do so). I understand why benzos are advised to be "short course" medications. Once your brain achieves homeostasis, any abrupt WD could lead to overactivity and cause seizures. I think a seizure-suppressing drug like Klonopin may likely lead to more seizures when WD than Xanax, but there is also the issue of half-life. So I'm curious based on people's experiences when the window of danger exists."

A super-intelligent post! Seizures can be preceded by signs (known as precursors) or they can be practically in instantaneous as you said.

Gran gal seizure (the kind about which we are discussing here), no matter the cause, are often life-threatening. One can suffer head-injury, heart-attack, or stroke. But again you described the nature, risks, and onset of seizure so well! I am honestly impressed.

I personally have been in settings to have witnessed a seizure on two occasions, though in the immediate absence of qualifed medical personnel.

They're terrifying.

Getting disqualified from driving would deter me almost as much as the risk of death!

History:
I was on Lexapro for about 4 months - hated it so got off it, nasty drug. Ah, but still had anxiety/panic to deal with. So took xanax (low dose) .50-.75 at the most a day for about 2 months but this did nothing to keep me steady.

So long story short found a decent dr. who perscribed klonopin and I'm now taking .50-1mg at night which lasts me all through the next day. Since I'm not trying to get high off these pills I actually feel normal and this is great thing.

Question:
What I want to know is what is the lowest dose/shortest duration that someone has experienced seizure while TAPERING off this med?

Am at at risk for seizure at the low dose mentioned above? My god the last thing I need is one more thing to be paranoid about (however I don't plan to quit the meds anytime soon)

Any input is appreciated.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First I would like to thank each and every one of you for all of the gracious knowledge you have to share

with others. I have learned so very much.
THANK-YOU
I am older and in a chronic sitution with many pains, and like you we are not addicts we have a higher tolerance level to be able to have some relief from our burden of a --

-----compromised body, I am sure there are a few rotten potatoes in every basket,
but you would never throw out that
entire basket of potatoes because there were a few bad

spots and the rest are golden and positively assets to many.
As all of us suffer know that not only are we phyicaly

compromised your mental well being start to break down


-- WE, have tryed to over come this pain for so --many years, and look at other folks and or about

your "our" ages and they were blessed with out skeletal pains that continue to deteriorate, week afer week, month after month and on and on..

I was repling to his post about buspar, I was taking buspar for 6 mo.s and I was like I can" really tell any
thing, long story short, ran out and kept forgetting to

refill by the 3rd day I knew WHY I WAS taking the
Buspar and that was crying, and crying, so the moral of

this longer than intend reply is you do not have to (GET A BUZZ I THINK THEY CALL IT) to realize you are taking

this medicine until you stop and then the flood gates open
back up and you are crying and having panic attacks like you had before you started taking the medicine..For me so

far ok. would like some info on the above menion ones as well..THANK-YOU, ladylisa

Hi guys/gals,

I went through all the benzos at one point in time. I had a 37 year old brother whom passed away 5 years ago, shortly after that my grandma passed away and just last week my very loving and caring mom passed away. The passing of my mom was the last straw for me. Now I am confined to my home. I keep having these really violent twitches that knock me out of bed. I haven't really slept in about 10 days. The xanax works but wears off really fast. The Klonopin (2mg) imho seem to work the best you can take one or two and it seems to stay with your body for quite some time. Without these medicines I really don't think I would be around anymore. Thanks.

Klonopin also works well in conjuction with ssri's, like citalopram (Celexa).

Best defense against anxiety disorder, in my opinion.

Hello,

i just got prescribed klonopin (2mg) and have been have some weird side effects. when i come off them i have a tendency to become real agitated and real moody. sometimes it real bad and i become real mean. has this happened to anyone else?

i am also on Lexapro 10mg

have an appointment with doc soon thinking i might need something else