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When I was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, nearly ten years ago my struggle began. And I was prescribed a dose of klonopin. What followed was a rollercoaster of anxiety and klonopin withdrawal.
My psychiatrist had barely reviewed my case when it was decided that I should began klonopin therapy to control my anxiety. I quickly started on the pills.
At first things were looking up. My anxiety symptoms decreased, but within a few months the anxiety started to come back. I was taking klonopin everyday. But when I missed a dose terrible things started happening. I would become overwhelmed with headaches, trembling, and disorientation.
I realized that, within a very short time, I had become dependent on the drugs. I had not been warned about the high likelihood of dependence, and I'd never considered it. Plus my anxiety was back. The drugs weren't working at all. But I didn't feel I could stop the medication.
Finally, I brought my concerns up to my doctor who recommended that I stop taking the klonopin since it wasn't really working and I had terrible withdrawal symptoms if I missed a dose. But I simply couldn't stop taking because, due to my dependence, there was a risk of a seizure. I would have to take it slow, dropping a milligram every week.
Unfortunately, this proved easier said than done. Within a few days, the withdrawal symptoms became debilitating. I suffered from disorientation and couldn't walk or sleep. I had nausea and struggled to keep food down. It was unbearable.
I got down to three milligrams with a tremendous amount of struggle. However, I couldn't get any further than that. I decided I needed professional help.
I ended up in a detox center where I was given phenobarbital to ease the pains of withdrawal. It was very difficult physically and was quite expensive. Within a few weeks, I was off klonopin completely. However, I didn't feel right. I learned that it could take up to 2 years for my body to normalize after being dependent on benzodiazepines.
It was demoralizing.
This drug is commonly prescribed, but I wonder if patients truly know about the risks. Considering the terrible klonopin withdrawal syndrome that I experienced, I wonder if the benefits truly outweigh the risks.
