My brother reinstated - Need advice

My brother was on 4mg of klonopin for about 10 years. He tried to taper two years ago, but stopped around .5 mg--he went to fast. He went back up to 2 mg and stayed there. Earlier this year he attempted to taper again, but again went to fast. He got scared and went to a 1-week detox facility and they CT him.

 

He has been off of klonopin for 6 months. Unfortunately, this past month was the worst he has been. It's clear that his recovery is going to take a long time. He has also been hospitalized 6 times during the six months.

 

He just got off of the hospital this morning. The doctor he has seen several times encouraged to stay off klonopin and offered other meds, which my brother refused. This time he wanted him to reinstate.

 

All this time, we've done what we can to keep him off, but his symptoms are just too severe. He also has akathisia which is terrible.

 

EDIT: He has severe depression, intrusive thoughts of dying, intrusive memories, zero sleep (he obsesses over getting no sleep), burning hot face, itchiness, dp/dr, feels electrified inside, anger, akathisia, muscle stiffness/pain, left toe goes up then down, etc and he doesn't control it. He walks on the outer part of left foot because of toe issue and so now his foot is painful. He can't rest his foot to relieve pain because he has akathisia which makes him want to pace. These are the issues I hear about.

 

I try to be encouraging to him as much as possible because he has no hope or positive attitude. But as everything fails, reinstating seems like the only option to try. I admit I'm scared.

 

He's taking .25 mg of klonopin twice a day. This will likely do nothing for him, and he'll probably need to go up to .5 mg twice a day to get some therapeutic effect. It would be even more disheartening to go higher than that since he'd be getting closer to where he started. I have two questions.

 

First, he doesn't want to be on klonopin, and may want to just stop today. He has his first .25 mg dose yesterday afternoon, and probably had a second at night. He probably had a dose at the hospital before he left. Can he just stop today without must ill effect?

 

Secondly, is it best that he just keep going since he started again?  If he does, what am I to expect?

 

If he's only had a few doses then I feel he can just stop taking it, no need to taper.  If he decides to continue with the reinstatement I believe as you do that the .50 a day will do little to help him, he may have to return to the 2 mg or more.  It sounds like he's really suffering but I wish he could hold on and not reinstate, I can't imagine giving up on the suffering he's already endured, I was too stubborn to go back, I had to see it through but it sounds like he's in worse shape than I was after my cold turkey.

I just talked with him and he decided to stop. He's afraid that it won't work and that he would need a high dose, and he'd be back where he started. Six months of suffering just to start over--he doesn't want to do that.

 

So I support him on that. I just hope he doesn't have to go 12 months like this before he sees relief.

These chronic reinstaters have other psychological problems beyond benzos in my opinion. Maybe there are other meds that can help his mood.

I just talked with him and he decided to stop. He's afraid that it won't work and that he would need a high dose, and he'd be back where he started. Six months of suffering just to start over--he doesn't want to do that.

 

So I support him on that. I just hope he doesn't have to go 12 months like this before he sees relief.

 

I'm thankful he's decided not to reinstate, good for him!  I'm sure its rough on you to see him this way but please let him know he can recover, I've watched so many seemingly hopeless cases come through this.

I just talked with him and he decided to stop. He's afraid that it won't work and that he would need a high dose, and he'd be back where he started. Six months of suffering just to start over--he doesn't want to do that.

 

So I support him on that. I just hope he doesn't have to go 12 months like this before he sees relief.

 

I'm thankful he's decided not to reinstate, good for him!  I'm sure its rough on you to see him this way but please let him know he can recover, I've watched so many seemingly hopeless cases come through this.

 

You say it well Pamster. You have been around longer than anybody and your smarts grace this site!!!

Day 74 of my CT from Valium and each day I fight not to reinstate, but suffer is all I do.  I will keep him in my prayers.  I never knew life could be this bad and hard.  Everyday I want out of this wave.  I had a good window, but I’m drowning in this wave as it’s my worst one.  The anxiety and lack of sleep is winning.  I try to distract but I cry and cry.

These chronic reinstaters have other psychological problems beyond benzos in my opinion. Maybe there are other meds that can help his mood.

 

I tend to agree with you. However, your suggesting he try new meds is, well, inappropriate. None of us are capable of prescribing meds, and especially to someone we have never even met.

 

Here's another thought: benzos can CAUSE depression! And benzo wd can cause depression too. But either way, the poster's brother will most likely be able to make his own decisions when the time is right.

After so much of the medicine, it won't work.

I started out on 0.5mg of kpin, and worked my way upto 4mg a day...if not more sometimes.

No matter how many I took, it didn't help.

 

Like any medication, tolerance sets in.

 

It's harsh but manageable....

 

Tell him to wait it out. The body needs to heal.

 

I was in terrible shape, but too stubborn  to give in. I knew the kpin wouldn't work anyway if I did.

 

Just have to be patient.

I also read a post where he's taking supplements.  They're not as innocent as they may seem. Perhaps, he could stop taking the supplements and he may feel better.

Some ppl seem to believe supplements heal faster.

I don't think so. I took nothing, and was fine at 16 months off or so.

 

Adding elixirs, potions, pills or whatever isn't the key to feeling better; I believe patience and time is.

 

Good luck ❤️

I feel for him. I CTd 4 mgs of xanax  back in 2011 and it was a nightmare of both physical and mental s/x. It took about 6 months for me to feel like a human being again -- the first week was incredibly horrid. It's hard to tell yourself you just have to plow through it, but you do. I was seeing a therapist at that time (for something else) and she was very kind and supportive. Maybe this would help him? At least he would have a professional to talk to. They  don't need to be an "addictions" specialist. Mine sure wasn't. Just a thought.

 

Best,

 

Katz

How is your brother KJH? I feel for him.