Benzos On Klonopin, but I have some questions....

[beccadoll]

I've been on Klonopin for about a month now. My anxiety is severe and the Klonopin only helps somewhat. I have the urge to take more than prescribed (I am on 2mg 3 times a day).. But I don't take more, but the urge is getting so strong these days because I feel like it's not really helping. My anxiety is still there and it's crippling.

I'm also scared about becoming addicted to benzos. I have no history of addiction whatsoever. I have been against taking benzos, but lately, my anxiety has gotten worse, so I figured I needed to see if they could help me. I see my doctor again on Thursday, not sure if I should ask him for an increased dosage or something else altogether.

I also have a question. I am sleep deprived. I work from home at night and I get about 1-3 hours a sleep a night. Sometimes my boyfriend is nice and lets me sleep in in the morning, but we usually have issues with that so I basically say fuck it and suffer because his sleep is obviously more important most of the time. We have a toddler so she's up in the wee hours of the morning, so it's not like both of us can sleep in. Well, I've been thinking about taking something like Adderall to help keep me up because coffee simply is not doing what it needs to do these days. I have to drink so much and yet, I'm still so sleepy and less productive.

If I start taking something like Adderall, will it counteract the Klonopin? I recently started popping caffeine pills because I don't know what to do anymore. I don't have a huge support system, it's just me, my boyfriend, and my toddler, so I can't just have someone watch my daughter for a few hours so I can sleep.

I'm new to BL and running on 2 hours of sleep, so if I am not making any sense, I'm sorry!

 

[ComfortablyNumb95]

hi
depending on how much you take you will most likely feel less the adderall with a benzo in your system. but you could try to lower a bit your clonazepam dose before taking the adderall
staying up all night for multiple days on amphetamines is a really really bad idea though, especially if you have severe anxiety.
2 hours a night is just not enough sleep, now wonder you're anxious! i'd advise you seek another job, no money in the world is worth your mental sanity!

 

[beccadoll]

hi
depending on how much you take you will most likely feel less the adderall with a benzo in your system. but you could try to lower a bit your clonazepam dose before taking the adderall
staying up all night for multiple days on amphetamines is a really really bad idea though, especially if you have severe anxiety.
2 hours a night is just not enough sleep, now wonder you're anxious! i'd advise you seek another job, no money in the world is worth your mental sanity!

Getting another job just isn't an option. I set my own hours, but I chose to work at night because working during the day with a toddler just isn't possible. I'm a writer and I need 100% concentration or my productivity sucks. My boyfriend used to be cool about letting me sleep in the morning when our daughter gets up, now he constantly complains that he's tried and it would be nice if he had the option to sleep - when he chooses to stay up all night to play video games and I'm working my ass off - but that's another story.

I'm willing to make myself suffer if it means I'm able to work more. The caffeine pills are helping so far, but I do feel more anxious, but it's something I can live with I guess.

My anxiety has always been severe, but yeah, it has gotten worse with the lack of sleep and the increase in caffeine.

 

[ComfortablyNumb95]

if caffeine helps adderall will moreso, but it can make you more anxious too.
your bf sounds like a douche. does he contribute with the incomes? if he lets you ruin your life like this just to play videogames and doesn't even work well, he just doesn't deserve you (or anyone else for that matter)

what do you do during the day? as in, you have some free time to sleep or to dedicate to activities you enjoy?
cheers

 

[beccadoll]

if caffeine helps adderall will moreso, but it can make you more anxious too.
your bf sounds like a douche. does he contribute with the incomes? if he lets you ruin your life like this just to play videogames and doesn't even work well, he just doesn't deserve you (or anyone else for that matter)

what do you do during the day? as in, you have some free time to sleep or to dedicate to activities you enjoy?
cheers

He works from home too. He's not a douche, just has his own issues. Recovering heroin addict and went off Methadone last April and is still sober (yay!) but I feel like I am constantly helping everyone with their needs and forgetting about mine. He complains of anxiety, so I stop everything I'm doing to give him a back rub to relax him - I tell him I have anxiety and he leaves the room. He says he doesn't know how to handle all of my emotions so we're not really close emotionally. He's been extremely distant and irritable since he's been off Methadone and I guess that's just something I have to accept. He's different now. I thought things would be better, but they're worse than ever. :/ But I accept things for what they are. No one's perfect and I'm willing to make all the sacrifices in the world to help our financial situation. My work is full-time so I feel like I am always working.

I spend time with my little one during the day. Playing with her and teaching her new things. I don't have any hobbies really.. Well photography, but I don't take pictures as much as I used to. Maybe once the weather is nicer I'll have more opportunities to enjoy the sunshine and photography. Sleep, well, that would be a hobby I'd enjoy haha but I don't get that luxury.

 

[Freddie Tacos]

I have been taking clonazepam for 4 years now, 2mg/night. it does nothing any more for my anxiety but I have tried to stop and I can't. benzos are very addictive, I used to take Adderall and I found out speed, is the greatest anxiety medicine in the world for me. If Adderall works for you like it did me, then you shouldn't need the clonazepam till bedtime. However, if your worried about addiction, any narcotic prescription will result in some form of addiction. you just may never find out, till you have to stop taking the meds. I lost my job and insurance a few months ago. at the time I was on Adderall, clonazepam, Lexapro and wellbutrin. I had to drop the 2 anti-depressants, and switch from Adderall to focalin, because of the price.
Stimulants can be excellent anxiety relievers, benzos, I can't take during the day.
clonazepam is a weak, long acting benzo, I think clonazepam should be prescribed along with Xanax for sudden attacks, Xanax is stronger but only has a 4 hour half life, so the effects have a much shorter duration than clonazepam.

The thing with adhd stimulants, is you have to get the right dosage for long time positive effects, If you have never tried a hard stimulant before, then you need to be real careful about dosage. too much and you can find yourself in a bad pickle, too little and you may feel nothing but the negative side effects. That's how is for me.

 

[Freddie Tacos]

He works from home too. He's not a douche, just has his own issues. Recovering heroin addict and went off Methadone last April and is still sober (yay!) but I feel like I am constantly helping everyone with their needs and forgetting about mine. He complains of anxiety, so I stop everything I'm doing to give him a back rub to relax him - I tell him I have anxiety and he leaves the room. He says he doesn't know how to handle all of my emotions so we're not really close emotionally. He's been extremely distant and irritable since he's been off Methadone and I guess that's just something I have to accept. He's different now. I thought things would be better, but they're worse than ever. :/ But I accept things for what they are. No one's perfect and I'm willing to make all the sacrifices in the world to help our financial situation. My work is full-time so I feel like I am always working.
.

I think you both need to talk to your doctors, if anxiety if affecting both ya'll lives, then you need to do something about it, before it gets worse.

 

[ComfortablyNumb95]

^^ i agree that stimulants can make you feel relaxed if you hit the right dosage

He works from home too. He's not a douche, just has his own issues. Recovering heroin addict and went off Methadone last April and is still sober (yay!) but I feel like I am constantly helping everyone with their needs and forgetting about mine. He complains of anxiety, so I stop everything I'm doing to give him a back rub to relax him - I tell him I have anxiety and he leaves the room. He says he doesn't know how to handle all of my emotions so we're not really close emotionally. He's been extremely distant and irritable since he's been off Methadone and I guess that's just something I have to accept. He's different now. I thought things would be better, but they're worse than ever. :/ But I accept things for what they are. No one's perfect and I'm willing to make all the sacrifices in the world to help our financial situation. My work is full-time so I feel like I am always working.

I spend time with my little one during the day. Playing with her and teaching her new things. I don't have any hobbies really.. Well photography, but I don't take pictures as much as I used to. Maybe once the weather is nicer I'll have more opportunities to enjoy the sunshine and photography. Sleep, well, that would be a hobby I'd enjoy haha but I don't get that luxury.

oh, i see how kicking such an addiction could make someone irritable and anxious, hopefully he'll be normal with time.
i really feel for you, but you really needed to change your lifestyle imho. i know it's hard but 3 hours a day of sleep is really really unhealthy. add the stress and anxiety and your sanity is seriously at risk. i admire you though because you sacrifice so many things in your life for your child
i'm so sorry i can't help you

 

[beforethebeginning]

how long have u been taking klonopin?
find the right tapering schedule and quit while u are ahead.

things might still work out with ur husband. he needs to learn to relax like he was relaxed on the drugs,
then he can start being more enjoyable again.

and u really need to change ur lifestyle, think out a different plan.
stress can cause all kinds of diseases and shorten ur lifespan,
u dont want that do u?

i'd rather be poorer than less healthy

 

[beccadoll]

^^ i agree that stimulants can make you feel relaxed if you hit the right dosage


oh, i see how kicking such an addiction could make someone irritable and anxious, hopefully he'll be normal with time.
i really feel for you, but you really needed to change your lifestyle imho. i know it's hard but 3 hours a day of sleep is really really unhealthy. add the stress and anxiety and your sanity is seriously at risk. i admire you though because you sacrifice so many things in your life for your child
i'm so sorry i can't help you

Thanks. Hopefully the both of us can figure something out because we really do need a new solution

 

[beccadoll]

how long have u been taking klonopin?
find the right tapering schedule and quit while u are ahead.

things might still work out with ur husband. he needs to learn to relax like he was relaxed on the drugs,
then he can start being more enjoyable again.

and u really need to change ur lifestyle, think out a different plan.
stress can cause all kinds of diseases and shorten ur lifespan,
u dont want that do u?

i'd rather be poorer than less healthy

It's only been a month since I started taking Klonopin. I haven't really been taking more than 1 a day these days because they make me tired and don't seem to help anyway - that's why the urge to pop more is always in my mind, but I don't do it. I definitely think I might have my doc put me on something else for anxiety other than a Benzo. Any suggestions?

 

[ComfortablyNumb95]

you are welcome and good luck. i hope everything turns out good for ya

best wishes, and of course keep us updated

P.S. i agree with beforethebeginning's post, if benzos only help somewhat quit them. they may initially hide the anxiety but in the long term they'll just bring despair.
you should try working out but that doesn't seem an option. do you know anything about meditation? it's not something that occupies a lot of time and once you get a feel for it it helps a bunch

stay strong, cheers

 

[Freddie Tacos]

if they make you tired and you still want to pop more, then any kind of narcotic stimulant will really make you want to pop more. When I first got on Adderall, I went ape shit with it. Because of my previous history with addiction and recovery, I was able to learn to control myself, however, by that time, i had fucked up my tolerance and was taking double the daily dose. I took 4 months off and let my tolerance drop. I knew I could take it as prescribed if I just had a chance to reset my tolerance. I did, 4 months off 120mg/day addies and now I take 60mg/day of focalin, and i'm fine with it. I also smoke med grade cannabis, which helps my anxiety pretty well.

 

[beccadoll]

you are welcome and good luck. i hope everything turns out good for ya

best wishes, and of course keep us updated

P.S. i agree with beforethebeginning's post, if benzos only help somewhat quit them. they may initially hide the anxiety but in the long term they'll just bring despair.
you should try working out but that doesn't seem an option. do you know anything about meditation? it's not something that occupies a lot of time and once you get a feel for it it helps a bunch

stay strong, cheers

I do work out, but not like I should. I'll definitely add more to my life because it does make me feel better overall. I take long walks with my daughter and enjoy that, but I'll stop being lazy and do more than that I don't know much about meditation, but it's something I'll look into Thanks

I am definitely going to talk to my doctor about getting something other than benzos. I haven't taken any today and I don't feel anything negative from it so far, so I guess that's good. I don't want to become an addict. I've heard too many horror stories about addiction. I met my boyfriend while he was on Methadone, so I didn't see the side of him when he was using heroin.

For now though, I have to put in more hours because we have to move by the end of the month. I was going to use my tax refund, but someone hacked into my TuboTax account and changed info and my refund got all mixed up, so it could be months before I get that. Places around here require a huge security deposit and I am super stressed about that because I don't know if I'll be able to find a place and have enough by then.

 

[beforethebeginning]

Well initially u wereon 2mg of klonopin 3 times a day, thats quite a lot for someone who's just been put on it.
But if ur only been taking it for 30 days rebound anxiety shouldn't be too heavy.
Klonopin has a long halflife so if u dont take one, u will only feel the rebound effects the day after!

Even if u only took klonopin for 30 days and the past few days u took only 1x2 mg,
i would at least do a small taper.

Day1: 1mg
Day2: 0,5mg
Day3: 0,5mg
Day4: 0,25mg
Day5: 0,25mg

If that feels too heavy, u can extend taper period to a period of 12 days...
going from 1,5 to 0,25mg or so

Unfortunately there is not really a drug u can take everyday and not become addicted to.
Benzo's can cause "benzo withdrawal syndrome" and antidepressant like drugs all have their own withdrawal syndromes they can cause.

Ur best bet is probably getting more sleep.
If u can'tfall asleep naturally use 5mg of ambien 20mins before bedtime, but know that ambien is habit forming and can fuck up ur ability to fall asleep without it.
Ambien is related to benzo's like klonopin so it can become physically addictive as well.

And if u wanna relax take a short acting benzo like ativan,
take 1 mg once a week. or twice max.
benzo's wiht short halflife get out of ur system faster,
so if ur body doesnt have benzo's in it's system 75% of the time and u don't use big doses u probably won't develop physical addiction.

i figure if ur really that stressed u could use codeine once or twice a week as well,
but becareful cuz acetaminophen they combine with painkillers can easily kill u...
and opiates can be really addictive as well.

 

[RTrain]

A doctor prescribed you 2 mg of clonazepam 3x a day without ever being on the medication before? That is a massive dose for a non tolerant user. Can you even remember the day before when you wake up in the morning? If it isn't making hte anxiety better I woulg suggest getting off it, becauase you are just setting yourself for some brutal withdrawals if you keep dosing like that.

 

[beccadoll]

A doctor prescribed you 2 mg of clonazepam 3x a day without ever being on the medication before? That is a massive dose for a non tolerant user. Can you even remember the day before when you wake up in the morning? If it isn't making hte anxiety better I woulg suggest getting off it, becauase you are just setting yourself for some brutal withdrawals if you keep dosing like that.

Yeah, I can remember the day before. I don't suffer from any memory loss. It eases the anxiety a tiny bit, but not enough. I am definitely going to take everyone's suggestions and get off the benzos. I don't want to screw my self over and keep taking them if they aren't helping me anyway. I haven't taken any today and I am feeling pretty different, sick-like, but my boyfriend claims it can't be from not taking the Klonopin, so I guess I have nothing to worry about.