![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by TimeLord on January 19, 2009, at 12:03:43
Hey folks.
So I'm in roughly my eighth month of withdrawal from Klonopin and am sort of restarting my Remeron withdrawal. I was on both for roughly ten years.
I know Klonopin withdrawal is supposed to be nasty, but it seems that the Remeron withdrawal is what put me over the edge. I simply can't sleep and no over the counter remedies seem to help. After seven months off of Remeron, I hopped back on to a small dose (3.75mg) just to help with sleep, but find that it makes my mind race and feel crazy. On top of that, sometimes it doesn't do a thing - I just feel as if I hadn't taken it.
I am no longer on either med and am feeling lousy. I am currently going to CBT and hope that it will, help, but I'm kind of worried that maybe my underlying condition is coming back to kick me in the *rs*. Is there anything I can do to help this? I am able to work and function, but during those periods of sleep deprivation I find it almost impossible.
I am diagnosed with Depression/Anxiety/Panic Disorder since age 14 (21 years ago). I used to take a tricyclic until it pooped out, took another tricyclic until I got a new doc who switched me to Serzone. I was only on Serzone for about four months before I was switched to the Remeron/Klonopin and that's where I am now. Well, without the Remeron/Klonopin obviously.
One odd point. While I was being deprived of sleep, I would wake up early in the morning in states of PURE panic and fear. One morning, however, something in my head clicked when I awoke and I suddenly stopped feeling fear and panic. In fact, I felt kind of unemotional, too. I was far more irritable, however. My anxiety has been gone since that day, almost 100%... any thoughts on why this is happening? I know it should be a good thing, but it is not the norm for me.
Posted by hugsandkisses on January 26, 2009, at 7:59:06
In reply to Remeron/Klonopin Withdrawal, posted by TimeLord on January 19, 2009, at 12:03:43
Hi, I've been on Lithium/klonipin since 1992. For many years I used the klonipin to go to sleep. After some years I only used the "K" for anxiety which seems to be bolder as I age. When I can"t sleep,I find if I change places and even leave the tv on low, I go right to sleep. Another thing I have done is I started eating vegetarian type food,I don't know why but it helps.
Posted by bohemian grove on February 5, 2009, at 14:09:03
In reply to Remeron/Klonopin Withdrawal, posted by TimeLord on January 19, 2009, at 12:03:43
Finally someone with the same experience. Welcome to phase IV trials.
My experience with mirtazipine/remeron:
I discontinued klonopin/clonazepam after ten years. I had been to the ER half a dozen times after running out of it.
The pain of clonazepam withdrawal was NOTHING compared to remeron.
Remeron withdrawal was the worst pain I have ever experienced.
The doctors I saw did not believe that an antidepressant could cause this.
What did it feel like? The best analogy I can think of: it felt like I was being IMPALED.
It went away INSTANTLY with the smallest dose of remeron.
I had run out of refills and could not obtain any more. The pharmacy advanced me two tablets. I swallowed them and drove home. Half way home I had to stop to vomit all over my car and then the street.
And I did not withdraw from it abruptly, but over the course of a month. By the end I was crushing the tablets and diluting the powder in water.
It sounds hard to believe, I know.
I have tried to stop again and am down to 3 mg. I can't sleep. My internal clock seems set at about 26 h/day.
I was prescribed muscle relaxants for stomach spasms. It had no effect.
Remeron can also cause a hypertensive emergecy when used with clonidine.
Good luck making any doctor listen to you when it's a psychiatric drug. In general they don't know anything the drug companies don't tell them.
Posted by SLS on February 5, 2009, at 15:11:59
In reply to Re: Remeron/Klonopin Withdrawal, posted by bohemian grove on February 5, 2009, at 14:09:03
Wow. I'm sorry you had to experience that. Some people have no problems coming off of Remeron, others have sworn that the drug is the devil incarnate.
Can you perhaps produce a list of the specific symptoms of withdrawal that you experienced? I can appreciate the impaled metaphor. However, I think it would be helpful to also add some details for others to profit from. I would like to know more about Remeron withdrawal myself.
Thanks.
- Scott
Posted by bohemian grove on February 6, 2009, at 4:31:22
In reply to Re: Remeron/Klonopin Withdrawal » bohemian grove, posted by SLS on February 5, 2009, at 15:11:59
I haven't experieced anything else like it. Once I was in the ER for some other reason and a man in a nearby room was screaming in pain. His problem was pancreatitis. I didn't scream, but I did moan fully aware that the doctors and nurses on duty had dismmissed me as exaggerating.
Total insomnia was also a problem.
My experience with remeron and clonidine has lowered my estimation of doctors. They don't listen. If you complain of anything they haven't read about they treat you as if you were retarded.
Doesn't my experience with remeron indicate physical addiction? Yet one doctor told me "remeron isn't addictive". Clonidine withdrawal does cause elevated BP and elevated pulse and a doctor told me "clonidine doesn't effect pulse". They're disgusting.
Posted by bohemian grove on February 6, 2009, at 4:32:53
In reply to Re: Remeron/Klonopin Withdrawal, posted by bohemian grove on February 6, 2009, at 4:31:22
"doesn't affect pulse"
sorry
Posted by SLS on February 6, 2009, at 6:31:21
In reply to Re: Remeron/Klonopin Withdrawal, posted by bohemian grove on February 6, 2009, at 4:31:22
> I haven't experieced anything else like it. Once I was in the ER for some other reason and a man in a nearby room was screaming in pain. His problem was pancreatitis. I didn't scream, but I did moan fully aware that the doctors and nurses on duty had dismmissed me as exaggerating.
>
> Total insomnia was also a problem.
>
> My experience with remeron and clonidine has lowered my estimation of doctors. They don't listen. If you complain of anything they haven't read about they treat you as if you were retarded.
> Doesn't my experience with remeron indicate physical addiction? Yet one doctor told me "remeron isn't addictive". Clonidine withdrawal does cause elevated BP and elevated pulse and a doctor told me "clonidine doesn't effect pulse". They're disgusting.It is hard to disagree with you. You are right about some. I think E.R. doctors are more likely to go by the book because they have to deal with so many things that are outside their field of specialty.
Remeron generally isn't "addictive" in the true sense of the word. Addiction involves physiological CRAVINGS and/or psychological compulsions. What you are suffering from is physiological DEPENDENCY and true withdrawal.
Sorry to be picayune about words. They can be important.
- Scott
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Withdrawal | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.