Any Advice?
By jypsyjulia
@jypsyjulia (912)
United States
September 29, 2010 6:42pm CST
So, I have been on Klonopin and Xanax since about March. The Xanax ran out about a month and a half ago, but since I had the Klonopin, I decided not to go and try to get more. The problem is the Klonopin ran out. I was taking anywhere from 2mg to 4mg a day. (Although, I normally took about 2-3mg). I can't get a refill until October 13th and I don't know what to do between that time! Since I have quit the Klonopin cold turkey, I have been experiencing:
-headaches
-nausea
-chest pains
-heart palpitations
-drastic mood swings
-crying spells
-body pains
-muscle spasms
It's only day four that I've been off them but it seems to be increasing with each day. Has anyone been in a similar situation or have any advice to give? My psychiatrist will not issue an early refill date and my General Practitioner couldn't help because he didn't want to interfere with whatever "plan" my psychiatrist has me on.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
1 response
@Miner49r (568)
• United States
30 Sep 10
With the medications your speaking of, it is not good to abruptly stop taking them. It is important to taper off if your going to stop taking them. The side effects your speaking of are most likely from abruptly stopping the med. The side effects could get worse/stronger as you go along.
Since you ran out, I would strongly advice contacting your Doc. and asking for an early refill. One your off them long enough and start taking them again they will have to build up in your system.
You can do a search and find out what the blood serum half life level is for the med in question, ... I will bet it will reflect about the same time you stopped taking them.
@jypsyjulia (912)
• United States
30 Sep 10
I am aware that it is from stopping the Klonopin cold turkey. And if you read the original starting post, I did contact my general doctor AND my psychiatrist, neither of which were willing to help get my prescription filled earlier. My question is how to ease the symptoms of withdrawal, if there is anything I can do, until I can get them refilled?
@Miner49r (568)
• United States
30 Sep 10
Sorry,... I missed that paragraph, my bad.
The only thing I can think of is to drink plenty of fluids and get lots of rest. I know this sounds like generic advice but it may help. The fluids will help to push the residual medication levels out of your system, and rest is good for whatever ails you.
Treat the symptoms as you normally would anything else, joint pain, muscle cramps, headache, do the ibuprofen or aspirin thing. Deep breathing for the panic attacks and anxiety/chest pains.
sorry to hear that your doc's are not willing to help you out.
1 person likes this
@jypsyjulia (912)
• United States
30 Sep 10
Haha, no worries. And good thinking about the fluids pushing out the residual medication. I bet exercising intensely might work too, because of the sweat pushing out toxins... hmmmm, ideas ideas, haha. Thanks for your input! :)
