TiredAndScared
17-01-14, 14:46
First off, a big thank you to everyone who contributes here. I have been reading this site constantly since my panic attacks came back earlier this month and have found it extremely helpful.
I had been over the worst of my panic attacks for probably 3 or 4 years until 1 Jan 2014. In December I was given 10 doses of 0.5mg clonazepam/Klonopin/Rivotril by my TMD/TMJ doctor to help with tension and chronic tooth pain (it felt as though someone were constantly hitting my teeth with a hammer). Towards the end of my course of treatment, I started having panic attacks again, unlike any I had had in probably 15 years. I am 36 years old, and my panic attacks began just before I turned 21. At that time I was also on Klonopin, but until December 2013 I had been off it for about 13 years.
He prescribed the Klonopin in mid December, and I didn't even take it every day. I finished the 10th and final pill on 4 Jan. The first panic attack I had came on New Year's Day, as I mentioned above, and after I finished my last dose, I started having massive panic attacks unlike any I had ever had before in my life. I had random intrusive memories, racing thoughts, mood swings, constant assocation chains in my brain, difficulty focusing, etc. I talked to my psychiatrist about it, and he was surprised at my symptoms but said it sounds like withdrawal in spite of the short period I took the pills.
The first 3 days were the worst, when I was bombarded with memories I hadn't even thought about in years. I would just get random memory after memory intruding in my brain along with constant internal chatter. Nearly all of that is gone now, but I am left with the following symptoms:
insomnia - did not sleep at all for the first 48-60 hours
cold tingling in my upper arms and shoulders
cold tingling in my spine
palpitations
agitation
akathesia
overwhelming fear
panic attacks
muscle weakness
vision problems (going to my optometrist this morning)
flu-like symptoms
difficulty getting out of bed
Based on what I know about benzos, it's pretty unlikely that I have withdrawal, but that's what it feels like. In the late 90's I was on Klonopin for probably 3 years, and I am worrying that maybe my brain remembers being on the pills before and is somehow filling in the blanks on withdrawal. Regardless of what's happening, I am terrified that it's going to take months or years to recover, because I don't think my marriage could take it.
So I'm wondering, is this withdrawal and am I going to have to wait months to feel better?
I've just never heard of dependence developing so quickly and being followed by withdrawal.
I would really appreciate any replies.
Thank you!
I had been over the worst of my panic attacks for probably 3 or 4 years until 1 Jan 2014. In December I was given 10 doses of 0.5mg clonazepam/Klonopin/Rivotril by my TMD/TMJ doctor to help with tension and chronic tooth pain (it felt as though someone were constantly hitting my teeth with a hammer). Towards the end of my course of treatment, I started having panic attacks again, unlike any I had had in probably 15 years. I am 36 years old, and my panic attacks began just before I turned 21. At that time I was also on Klonopin, but until December 2013 I had been off it for about 13 years.
He prescribed the Klonopin in mid December, and I didn't even take it every day. I finished the 10th and final pill on 4 Jan. The first panic attack I had came on New Year's Day, as I mentioned above, and after I finished my last dose, I started having massive panic attacks unlike any I had ever had before in my life. I had random intrusive memories, racing thoughts, mood swings, constant assocation chains in my brain, difficulty focusing, etc. I talked to my psychiatrist about it, and he was surprised at my symptoms but said it sounds like withdrawal in spite of the short period I took the pills.
The first 3 days were the worst, when I was bombarded with memories I hadn't even thought about in years. I would just get random memory after memory intruding in my brain along with constant internal chatter. Nearly all of that is gone now, but I am left with the following symptoms:
insomnia - did not sleep at all for the first 48-60 hours
cold tingling in my upper arms and shoulders
cold tingling in my spine
palpitations
agitation
akathesia
overwhelming fear
panic attacks
muscle weakness
vision problems (going to my optometrist this morning)
flu-like symptoms
difficulty getting out of bed
Based on what I know about benzos, it's pretty unlikely that I have withdrawal, but that's what it feels like. In the late 90's I was on Klonopin for probably 3 years, and I am worrying that maybe my brain remembers being on the pills before and is somehow filling in the blanks on withdrawal. Regardless of what's happening, I am terrified that it's going to take months or years to recover, because I don't think my marriage could take it.
So I'm wondering, is this withdrawal and am I going to have to wait months to feel better?
I've just never heard of dependence developing so quickly and being followed by withdrawal.
I would really appreciate any replies.
Thank you!