Lost of Appetite...

Hi Everyone,

 

I started tapering just this week Dec 16. I've been taking 2mg  of clonazepam and 50 mg of Zoloft since 2010. From 2mg of clonazepam and 50 mg of Zoloft, I'm down with 1mg clonazepam and 100 mg of Zoloft just this Monday. Since then I lost my appetite and can't eat, I feel throwing up. I feel dizzy every time I stand and my hands are kinda shaky. Does anyone here feel the same way? I don't know how to plan my taper?

 

Hii Shelace,

 

I'm not a doctor but trying to taper 1 mg a week sounds pretty hard. It sounds like you're having severe withdrawal symptoms too. Can you contact your doctor and tell them what's going on?

 

Joy

Whoa! I'm a newbie but that is way too huge a cut! Do not do this! Taper at most 10% at a time...

I went to Doctor before I start my taper. She told me to take 1mg of clonazepam every night and 100mg zoloft every morning for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks take .50mg clonazepam every night and 100mg zoloft evrry morning for 2 weeks yhen stop taking clonazepam. But I don't feel okay. I feel lazy and shaky

. :'(

Your doctor is an idiot, that is terrible advice, please do not take any more advice from her. She knows nothing about benzo withdrawal, clearly. And someone given out uninformed advice is an idiot. I have been on ativan less time than you and if I cut that much at once I would be in a mental hospital right now.

How should I start my taper from what mg?

Shelace,

 

There;s a group called the klonopin club- here's the link- they can probably help you

 

 

 

http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=57791.msg1244128#msg1244128

 

Joy

 

 

No one here can give you sure advice but a general recommendation is 10% cut so that would be 1.8 mg. but this might be too large of a cut for you. Only your body can tell. You must find your own pace.

 

Perhaps make a new post with a title asking for advice on how to taper, or look at the other clon tapering threads.

Hi Shelace,

 

I'm sorry you are feeling so bad.

 

I'm not a doctor (I only play one on T.V.) at the same time, I started my 1st over zealous Clonazepam taper and went from 2 to 1 in one month, as well.  I started getting getting slammed my third week into it.  I really had no idea what was going on in my mind and body.  My benzo-wise doc was out of town.  I finally figured what was happening...around week 4 on my birthday.  Nice birthday. 

 

I know we are all different, even my benzo-wise doc who is very optimistic about withdrawal and timelines told me I went faster than his "a symptomatic" taper patients.

 

I have lost about 20 pounds since the first of October.  No appetite either.  I ended up happily going on Remeron 2 nights ago.  My doc thought it may help tame the anxiety that causes my lack of appetite.  I've been resistant ant to add any med, as is my doc, however I couldn't afford losing 1 pound before taper.  That's just a "for what it is worth."  We also decided to c/o to Diazepam even though it may lengthen my taper.  I gotta sleep, eat and function.

 

Good luck with your taper.  You're not alone in your rush to get your head clear.  Everyone has to keep reminding me it takes time and patience.

 

Peace to you.

 

Hi Shelace,

 

Whomever said to contact your doctor is correct.  If you can't find a good benzo-wise doctor in your area...with a little luck you have insurance.  Most in the U.S. will hopefully have it sooner rather than later.  My insurance has a wealth of chemical dependence specialists listed.  The counselors are available 24-7 to help you find someone.  Regrettably, there aren't that many docs who are fluent or will work WITH you and your research about tapering depending on where you live.  Thankfully, if you find a great family practice or internist...they can help you, too.  I know some who have worked with ND's who can prescribe.

 

You deserve to get on top of this to reduce your symptoms.  I'm sure you will find a way. 

Shelace,

 

There;s a group called the klonopin club- here's the link- they can probably help you

 

 

 

http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=57791.msg1244128#msg1244128

 

Joy

 

 

How should I start my taper from what mg?

 

joyisacat has given you a link to the section where people will help you to work out

a sensible taper plan. don't worry shelace......they will advise you. right ?

Hi again Ks1994,

 

Regarding this post:

 

Your doctor is an idiot, that is terrible advice, please do not take any more advice from her. She knows nothing about benzo withdrawal, clearly. And someone given out uninformed advice is an idiot. I have been on ativan less time than you and if I cut that much at once I would be in a mental hospital right now.

 

As I've told you before, this kind of statement is against the rules at BenzoBuddies, whether it's directed at a fellow member or at doctors (or others) in general.  Please refamiliarize yourself with our Rules and Guidelines which you agreed to when you joined.  BenzoBuddies is not an anti-doctor forum:

 

By suggesting that others should not trust doctors, psychiatrists and the medical profession as a whole, you potentially endanger other members and visitors to this forum. BenzoBuddies is not an anti-doctor or anti-psychiatry website. Our members need their doctors, not only to supply them with prescriptions for benzodiazepines, but to meet their other medical needs too. In short, you are free to describe the shortcomings in your own medical treatment, but make clear that you are writing about your personal experiences; do not spread general anti-doctor or anti-psychiatrist propaganda.

 

Megan918

 

 

 

The insurance industry is quite a cranky mixed bag and many do not have health "care" insurance and may still be left without it come the new year. Many, if not most, who do have it, do not have mental health coverage.Some who are lucky enough to have better coverage from their employer or spouses employer, may have it, either if they have paid out more for it or if they have government sponsored coverage. After the first of the year, insurance carriers are mandated to cover mental health but they are doing so by charging more and making their policies even more convoluted and confusing.

 

My problem isn't even mental health, it was a mis-diagnosed flaky gallbladder, but all the unrelated to the gallbladder stuff that I now have to contend with is still being considered mental health, even though that has nothing to do with it and never did.

 

Sorry - but that's the truth.

Cheers,

SnapDragon

Yes on the loss of appetite.  Back in 1996 I tried to cold-turkey from 0.5mg klonopin nightly.  I stopped taking it on Friday evening, and (among other symptoms), at lunch at work on Monday I almost threw up trying to force myself to eat a bowl of soup.  That's when I contacted my doctor again. 

 

I have similar nausea and loss of appetite when starting SSRIs.  In fact, I usually put away my scale so I don't worry too much about the weight loss, only getting it back out once I know I'm recovering and gaining weight.

 

I wouldn't taper by any more than 10% at a time, and hold for at least 2 weeks between each dose decrease.

 

Whenever I make a cut, I feel nausea.  G/I issues are common when tapering benzos.

 

I usually eat the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast) for the few days following a dosage cut.  Seems to keep the nausea symptoms to a minimum.  I also try to drink water and some orange juice (not an overabundance of OJ, maybe 8-12 oz/day)