My Experience with Klonopin: A Cautionary Tale

I am very lucky I haven't had this experience often. I had a psychiatrist that prescribed me Klonopin and I switched psychs and there was the new one she told me that was an excessive prescription. I'm like. I've been on it for many many years. Started inpatient and then for years after that. I went from taking 4mg (2mg twice) per day to 1mg (0.5mg twice). Big difference. I was a complete mess. So much panic. Many panic attacks. We fought about it very hard every time I had an appt bc I needed it! And was struggling too hard. So then I get a letter in the mail from her saying that we disagree on meds and that she disagrees with what I wanted and she doesn't want to treat me anymore due to our disagreement and her thinking I want “excessive” doses of Klonopin. It sucked. But I'm glad that happened bc I switched to my current psych who I've had for 7 or 8 years. And she is the absolute best. She gave me the Klonopin I needed and we switched my meds around quite a bit, almost completely different meds. And she has increased doses when I'm symptomatic and has worked with me for many years to get off as many meds as possible. I started at like idk close to 14 (the other Dr wouldn't give me Klonopin but sure gave me a ton of other sht). Btwn her and the one before that when I came to my current psych I was fcked up. I had been in a car accident most likely due to being prescribed an absolutely excessive and dangerous/very high dose of Seroquel & Lithium in addition to the other 12 meds. At least that is what the ER doc said. I am down to 5 meds and most of them at lower dosages. I feel like a person again and for a while I was a zombie. My wife left me due to the zombie thing (also her cheating) she said. That is a long explanation for when I really just wanted to say I understand. Some psychs are dicks and assume they know everything about you when they def don't and won't try to find out. Once you find a good psych, stay there! I am now no longer on Klonopin daily for a couple years. Just for occasional severe panic and for emergencies and sleep every so often. Now a high dosage Prozac helps the anxiety and other and almost everything else. And the hydroxyzine as more of a preventative measure. Which really just keeps the edge off. Benzos can def be dangerous. Especially stopping them cold turkey- it can cause seizures and if you use other substances could be very dangerous. But they are good. I'm glad that you found something that works. I hope that things continue to get better! And that your psych becomes more informed!

I have not taken Klonopin myself, but my sister has. She has had the same type of treatment. She went from a big city where she started on it with success to a smaller city, which was known for drug seekers, and NO Dr would prescribe it for her. Treated her like a drug seeker in every way. Their tone of voice, actions toward her and even talking about her loudly outside the curtain/room. It is atrocious how people with chronic conditions are treated. I am glad you have found a regimen that is working for you. I am sorry for how you have been treated by so-called professionals. So much for the whole "do no harm" oath they take. Emotional harm is just as important as physical harm.

I haven't taken that, so I can't relate. But, have you requested gene site testing? It's a DNA test to see what type of meds would work best. If it turns out that genetically, that medication is your best choice for wellness, I would think that they would be more inclined to Rx. But that's just a guess.

Hi there! I've been in the same situation. When living in Austin, Texas, I was prescribed klonopin by a psychiatrist and it worked great for my anxiety. I'd tried other things for anxiety that weren't "addictive", but none of them worked. Then I moved up to Michigan 2 years ago. Everything changed here. No one wants to prescribe anything that has the slim appearance of being addictive whether it's for pain or my anxiety. I'm not looking to feed any addiction, as I've always taken my meds as prescribed for years and never had issues with my doctor back in Texas. I'm still trying to work it all out up here. They seem to avoid directly treating my anxiety, by trying out different antidepressants. It's a spin the wheel & see what works, even though they have my previous records to show what worked previously. It's a flawed system for those of us who aren't looking to get "high" from our meds. I guess Dr's are considerably more careful after a few bad apples. I'm glad you've now got a regimen that works for you.