Clonazepam Withdrawal

[cmmb]

Have been in clonazepam (2mg/daily) for about 5 years and in other anxiolitic medications (tranxene, etc.) for 20 years.
Approx. 6 months ago started lowering dose and finally quit clonazepam. I'm in Cymbalta 60 mg. since 5 yrs.
I'm panicked as in the last couple of months I've been loosing my immediate memory very often.
Names, facts, situations got erased from my mind as quick as I've learned or talked about.
Was so certain it was Alzheimer till found could be a withdrawal side effect of clonazepam.
Could this be a real possibilty?
I'm a woman. 56 yrs. (fibromyalgia).

[john248]

I have had a choking problem ever since I started breaking off several months ago. It is not unusual. I have been off Klonopin for 4 days now. I dropped from .125 mg twice a day. I could not cut them any smaller. Its not easy but I am slowly getting better. Only felt like choking once today! Hang in everybody we can do it!!!  there is a large area on klonopin withdrawls on ************.com

[john248]

I am tapering of clonazepam(klonopin) now. I have had a trip to the ER due to my doctor ( not anymore). He switched my meds and took me off of klonopin. I lost my memory when driving. Luckily there was an ER sign by the road and I turned in. The nurse that treated me knew all about the drug and put me back on it. in 6 hours I was normal again. That was as scared as I have been in a long time. Avoid depression meds when ever possible! Most doctors don't know much about them. Do your own research before taking anything. Good luck!!!

[helpless5320]

Hi, i just joined, im a woman to, 52, i totally understand the klonapen withraw syndrome! I still take 3 mg daily for about 10 years, at one point in time i ran out, didnt have any refills, and had trouble getting hold of my doctor, after 5 days without, the withdraw started! OMG! Horrible! I would stumble with words, at night when i went to bed, my legs would jerk, in fact, my whole body would jerk, very horrifying experience! I felt completely spaced out and at that time, i gave up on getting it refilled, so, i went through a 2 month at home by myself withdraw syndrome! I started back on it again, and now i think it is causing me some kind of weird problem! When i lay down to go to sleep, as soon as i start to fall asleep, i make weird noises and my throat feels like it is closing shut! My husband knows and hears me, he cant stand it, so he gets up and sleeps on the couch! I am going to see my doc this month and i am going to ask her if the klonapen could be causing these weird symptoms! Also, i suffer from strangling depression every day!! I tried the Cymbalta 30 mg, then worked up to 60mg, i was given samples from the doctor and i never kept on it long enough for it to completely work! My husband did tell me that i was acting better on the Cymbalta! I feel so exhausted all the time and cant get motivated to do things like i used to. I suppose i should get back on the Cymbalta! As for your short term memory problem, i have the same problem and my husband tells me he knows for fact, that the drug is causing this! He hates that i take it, but, without it i cant sleep! I remember many years ago i got some tranxene and i loved it!! It gave me a nice relaxed feeling, the klonapen doesnt work quite like the tranxene does! Hmm, i sure would like to change to the tranxene! I will say this, everyone i know is rushing to the doctor and getting ativan, seems ativan is the pill of 2010, lol!! Best of luck to you!

[Paxiled]

Anything is possible with medication.  Doesn't mean it is responsible, just that the possibilities are, unfortunately, endless.