Question: Hello,
I have somewhat of a complicated situation in regards to Benzodizapine withdrawal. Here my medical background. I am 29, almost 30, 6'3, 230 pounds, pretty healthy though I could lose a few in the midsection, my only medical conditions are anxiety and occasional hypoglycemia when eat certain foods, but I am not diabetic, my blood pressure is very healthy, and I take zoloft 200 MG per day, and very rarely take clonidine 0.1 tabs, only when I have an extreme panic attack, which is very rare these days thankfully. Here is the situation. I took Xanax 2 MG per day from 2008-2011 and then switched to Klonopin at the same dosage with no problem whatsoever. I switched back to Xanax in early 2013 because I was having some serious issues with the klonopin, it was making me feel depressed. I was put on Xanax Extended Release 1 MG in the morning, 1 MG at night and 1/2 MG of regular immediate release in the afternoon, so anywhere from 2.5 to 3 MG total. I never took more than I was supposed to and certainly never abused it. I was having a very stable treatement and things were going well. In the past 3 months, I got with my psych and we started a taper because we both felt it was time and were both comfortable with it. We went down to 2 MG of XR only and a regular strength xanax only as needed if breakthrough anxiety occurred. That was not working, so he prescribed me GABApentin. I never took it due to the high possibility of water retention and weight gain. So I had an old script of Klonopin and was told that I could quit xanax and go on the Klonopin immediately. I was told to take up to 5 MG a day for up to two weeks to build up the Klonopin in my system while the Xanax left the move down to 1.5-2 MG per day. I felt great after two weeks, but then I started to feel strange and anxious. I had a mild panic attack, but when I have anxiety it is all physical and not at all psychological, only my body feels strange, and I sleep well. I have been taking anywhere from 3-4 MG of Klonopin, more than the 2 MG my doctor has prescribed, but I am only doing so because it provides me with some semblance of relief. Even then, I have to take a .5 MG xanax every so often because I start to have strange feelings in my head like the room is spinning and strange sensations in my head, I have also lost 8 pounds. This only happens about every other day. Either way, I cannot exercise or go out like I would like to. Am I taking too much klonopin or not enough, or is this withdrawal? Also, I find myself very hazy and also dehydrated at times. I am thinking about taking the GABApentin to help, but am afraid of the side affects. I would very much appreciate your feedback.