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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ihatedrugs on January 30, 2013, at 0:00:52
My dr. recently switched me from over 7 years of clonazepan 1-2 mg to Xanax 1mg 3x a day at my request since my brother gave me one and made me sleepier than Klonopin. I use it mainly for insomnia. Last week when I was falling asleep my leg began jerking suddenly like almost kicking something. I dismissed it as nothing. Two days ago I was buying a new cell phone with my husband and couldn't understand anything the salesperson said. Even when I had to sign I forgot how to sign. When he asked me for my address, I completely drew a blank. Also I felt as if the voices where going away or something like it. It's very hard to explain (almost like a deja vu moment). Yesterday I was organizing somethings in the kitchen and when I looked up my visual perception changed as if the door in front of me moved away from me. Kind of dizziness but not quite. Today I was trying to take a nap and my leg started jerking even more often and other parts of my body began twitching.
I went online and there are so many things that fit these symptoms and I wanted to know if it could be due to the change from Klonopin to Xanax. I know Klonopin lasts longer than the Xanax and I wasn't taking it 3x a day. I'm freaking out because the last thing I need is a neurological disease on top of my refractory depression.
I know there are very smart people in this forum and would like it if you could shed some light.
Thanks
ihatedrugs
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on January 30, 2013, at 0:26:21
In reply to From Clonazepan to Xanax feel weird, posted by ihatedrugs on January 30, 2013, at 0:00:52
Klonopin 1mg is more potent and longer acting than Xanax 1mg, so its likely you are suffering some withdrawl symptoms.
You can either go back to Klonopin and stay there, or go back for a few nights, and then start a cross taper (1 week on 3/4 of a Klonopin and 1/4 of a Xanax, 1 week on 1/2 a Klonopin and 1/2 a Xanax, 1 week on 1/4 a Klonopin and 3/4 of a Xanax)
Posted by johnLA on January 30, 2013, at 0:53:49
In reply to From Clonazepan to Xanax feel weird, posted by ihatedrugs on January 30, 2013, at 0:00:52
hi fellow teacher. :)
jono is right. when i try to reduce my klonopin too fast, or skip a few days these are my exact symptoms.
i think jono makes some good suggestions. talk to your doc of course as well.
hang-in there.
john
Posted by schleprock on January 30, 2013, at 1:10:01
In reply to From Clonazepan to Xanax feel weird, posted by ihatedrugs on January 30, 2013, at 0:00:52
Do you also suffer from anxiety? You didn't mention that as a condition for which you were taking clonazepam - the condition for which benzos are most commonly prescribed. I think most of us on this forum would tend to mainly recognize an increase in anxiety with clonazepam withdrawal. Your symptoms may come across as rather odd because of some specific type of withdrawal effect that would be more stronger in a non-anxious person (assuming that you don't suffer from anxiety.)
If you're being prescribed benzos only for insomnia, I'd get another doctor. Especially if they've been doing that for seven years.
Posted by Phillipa on January 30, 2013, at 9:34:27
In reply to From Clonazepan to Xanax feel weird, posted by ihatedrugs on January 30, 2013, at 0:00:52
Looks like you wrote this last night. Does sound like some withdrawal to me. Was it kind of like walking on a rocking boat? If the klonopin was working I'd add it back and you will have an instant answer as to whether it's with drawal as will go away. Since Klonopin is also used in seizures I wonder if withdrawing from it caused the leg twitching as technically klonopin was originally created as an anti seizure med? Also how bad is the insomnia? Benzos also worked for me for years decades. But maybe the z meds would work for sleep? They didn't exist for me when started on the benzos. It was that or nothing so to speak. Phillipa
Posted by B2chica on January 30, 2013, at 12:13:20
In reply to From Clonazepan to Xanax feel weird, posted by ihatedrugs on January 30, 2013, at 0:00:52
i can only add one thing and thats with the memory and blanking out, i'm on xanax and it has greatly effected me like that.
and on my higher doses such as 1mg 2-3x day it kinda leaves me feeling...well...stupid.b2c
Posted by Phil on January 30, 2013, at 15:31:20
In reply to Re: From Clonazepan to Xanax feel weird, posted by B2chica on January 30, 2013, at 12:13:20
I think Clonazepam is probably responsible for losing where I was in a conversation. I was at a friends house for 5 hours yesterday and probably had to stop and ask, where was I 5 times.
Posted by ihatedrugs on January 30, 2013, at 17:45:20
In reply to Re: From Clonazepan to Xanax feel weird, posted by jono_in_adelaide on January 30, 2013, at 0:26:21
> Klonopin 1mg is more potent and longer acting than Xanax 1mg, so its likely you are suffering some withdrawl symptoms.
>
> You can either go back to Klonopin and stay there, or go back for a few nights, and then start a cross taper (1 week on 3/4 of a Klonopin and 1/4 of a Xanax, 1 week on 1/2 a Klonopin and 1/2 a Xanax, 1 week on 1/4 a Klonopin and 3/4 of a Xanax)I thought so. It really started when I stopped the Clonazepan. My doctor who is completely out of ideas, making me feel even more hopeless, didn't warn me about it. Even though I specifically asked her about the switch. I'm seeing one of the Department Chairs at UF and hopefully, he'll be more audacious with meds. I'm giving my doctor the boot unless I hate the new one.
Thanks
Posted by ihatedrugs on January 30, 2013, at 17:53:00
In reply to Re: From Clonazepan to Xanax feel weird, posted by johnLA on January 30, 2013, at 0:53:49
> hi fellow teacher. :)
>
> jono is right. when i try to reduce my klonopin too fast, or skip a few days these are my exact symptoms.
>
> i think jono makes some good suggestions. talk to your doc of course as well.
>
> hang-in there.
>
> john
>
>
Ha ha john, you remembered I'm a teacher. I actually quit because the stress was too much. Although I really loved teaching and the school I worked at. I'm fighting for disability benefits but that is another story. I called my mom and asked her about giving me some Clonazepan and the jerking and weird feelings are subsiding. I made an appointment with my internal med doctor so she can refer me to a neurologist. I really want to be sure is not MS or something like it.Thanks
Posted by ihatedrugs on January 30, 2013, at 17:55:03
In reply to From Clonazepan to Xanax feel weird, posted by ihatedrugs on January 30, 2013, at 0:00:52
Posted by ihatedrugs on January 30, 2013, at 18:03:52
In reply to Re: From Clonazepan to Xanax feel weird, posted by schleprock on January 30, 2013, at 1:10:01
> Do you also suffer from anxiety? You didn't mention that as a condition for which you were taking clonazepam - the condition for which benzos are most commonly prescribed. I think most of us on this forum would tend to mainly recognize an increase in anxiety with clonazepam withdrawal. Your symptoms may come across as rather odd because of some specific type of withdrawal effect that would be more stronger in a non-anxious person (assuming that you don't suffer from anxiety.)
>
> If you're being prescribed benzos only for insomnia, I'd get another doctor. Especially if they've been doing that for seven years.I don't have a big problem with anxiety but do suffer from it. I think is more depression related. I have taken Ambien, Lunesta, Rozerem and they have all pooped out. The clonazepan is not that effective put I need something. I don't want to take anything that causes weight gain since Remeron took me from 140 lbs to 180. I've lost some but it seems my metabolism moves backwards. Do you know of any that causes no weight gain?
Thanks for replying
Posted by ihatedrugs on January 30, 2013, at 18:06:25
In reply to Re: From Clonazepan to Xanax feel weird » ihatedrugs, posted by Phillipa on January 30, 2013, at 9:34:27
> Looks like you wrote this last night. Does sound like some withdrawal to me. Was it kind of like walking on a rocking boat? If the klonopin was working I'd add it back and you will have an instant answer as to whether it's with drawal as will go away. Since Klonopin is also used in seizures I wonder if withdrawing from it caused the leg twitching as technically klonopin was originally created as an anti seizure med? Also how bad is the insomnia? Benzos also worked for me for years decades. But maybe the z meds would work for sleep? They didn't exist for me when started on the benzos. It was that or nothing so to speak. Phillipa
Phillipa,
I also think it's wd related. Still want to see a neurologist just in case.
Thanks
Posted by rjlockhart37 on January 30, 2013, at 20:28:55
In reply to From Clonazepan to Xanax feel weird, posted by ihatedrugs on January 30, 2013, at 0:00:52
i know what you mean...in 2004 i was getting a burger at sonic...i punched the button, and totally lost my fragments of speech...sluurr...like the spirit of deaf and dumbness came on me....
are you on any...antipsyhotics? those DEFINETLY can cause that....especially the leg jerking and alteration in thinking.
But if its the xanax....it could be a reaction from the diffrent mechanisms from clonazepam....xanax is strong, and the withdrawl symptoms...like couple hours when it wears off can change the electrical firing...usally increase it because it wears off fast....
ativan....ativan...that's all i can say....that would perfect for this situation...but
the speech impairment and not understanding what people are saying...i know about that because its happened to me...
ill have to google this...ill have to read the posts...i just read your post and none the responses.
r
Posted by ihatedrugs on January 30, 2013, at 21:38:17
In reply to Re: From Clonazepan to Xanax feel weird, posted by rjlockhart37 on January 30, 2013, at 20:28:55
I have stayed away from anti-psychotics mainly because of the weight gain. I really think it may be a reaction from abruptly stopping clonazepam. Although it happened a couple of weeks after. Other than the benzos nothing else has changed. I'm seeing my doc tomorrow. I just want to be sure it's nothing serious.
ihatedrugs
Posted by ihatedrugs on January 30, 2013, at 21:39:46
In reply to Re: From Clonazepan to Xanax feel weird, posted by ihatedrugs on January 30, 2013, at 21:38:17
This is the end of the thread.
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