Clonazepam (Klonopin)

[DonJuanNJ81]

Does anyone have any first-hand experience with dealing with someone taking Klonopin? My girlfriend pops these like their tic-tacs and I've noticed that a month after we started our relationship shes gone completely bonkers. Total change in personality. Its like she was acting for the first month we dated...and she deserves an Oscar. She shows alot of the BPD symptoms also. Is this stuff used to treat Cluster B's?

It's gotten to the point where regardless of anyones answers, I'm gonna send her packing soon anyway...this is more for curiousity reasons.

Thanks guys!


Clonazepam may be prescribed for:

Epilepsy[37]
Anxiety disorders
Panic disorder [38]
Initial treatment of mania, together with firstline drugs such as lithium, haloperidol or risperidone
Restless legs syndrome
Schizophrenia

If it helps, shes also been to the E.R. about 5 times in the past 7 months, and she just did a two week overnight stint in the hospital until the doctors kicked her out because they couldnt find anything wrong with her.

haha....crazy!

 

[realsmoothie]

Does anyone have any first-hand experience with dealing with someone taking Klonopin? My girlfriend pops these like their tic-tacs and I've noticed that a month after we started our relationship shes gone completely bonkers. Total change in personality. Its like she was acting for the first month we dated...and she deserves an Oscar. She shows alot of the BPD symptoms also. Is this stuff used to treat Cluster B's?

It's gotten to the point where regardless of anyones answers, I'm gonna send her packing soon anyway...this is more for curiousity reasons.

Thanks guys!


Clonazepam may be prescribed for:

Epilepsy[37]
Anxiety disorders
Panic disorder [38]
Initial treatment of mania, together with firstline drugs such as lithium, haloperidol or risperidone
Restless legs syndrome
Schizophrenia

If it helps, shes also been to the E.R. about 5 times in the past 7 months, and she just did a two week overnight stint in the hospital until the doctors kicked her out because they couldnt find anything wrong with her.

haha....crazy!

WTF... you are asking for trouble. She may be a really nice girl and all, but wow, five times in the hospital?

Sadly to say, I have taken clonazepam in the past, after a really bad semi-breakup when my self-esteem was the pits and I was getting anxiety attacks every once in a while. They're sedatives, they won't make you "happy" but they'll calm you down.

 

[DonJuanNJ81]

WTF... you are asking for trouble. She may be a really nice girl and all, but wow, five times in the hospital?

Sadly to say, I have taken clonazepam in the past, after a really bad semi-breakup when my self-esteem was the pits and I was getting anxiety attacks every once in a while. They're sedatives, they won't make you "happy" but they'll calm you down.

Haha I'm not asking for anything. I could give this chick the boot today and have no problems with it. From all the antibiotics they've pumped into her in her last stint in the hospital, shes gained a hell of a lot of weight, she's longer fun to be around, and generally annoying me, and I guess shes certifiably friggin nuts to boot.

Awesome!

haha thanks for your help

 

[penkitten]

the wackiest trouble making residents at my apartment complex are on this cRAP.
one day they are sad and depressed , the next they are mean and nasty.

 

[KarmaSutra]

I had an ex who took that sh!t for relief of Aunt Flow.

She damn near had the business end of an axe handle upside her dome it made her so fvcking crazy.

 

[My Name is Nobody]

Pops them like candy huh? Sounds like she's been taking them for awhile and does it every day and she's addicted. Wait until she stops taking it and has a Grand Mal seizure. Once you get on that stuff it's impossible to quit. It changes your brain chemistry and without it she will be in withdrawls worse than Heroin. I've been there with a girl before, and I'd get her help to see a doc and ween her off that crap, or else there's a good possibility you'll be seeing her again in a casket.

 

[logic1]

This drug is mostly subscribed for anxiety. Maybe a death in the family, divorce, ect. It helps relax the person. It is also used to help people sleep. My understanding if used properly its not that dangerous.

It also is used to help people come down off of some drugs they may be addicted too, like possibly Loratab. As they start to decrease the amounts of a pain killer over a certain period of time they have the person take this drug to help the withdraw affects from the pain pills.

It is also used somehow as a date rape drug ( illegal use). But I dont know what or how they use it in that situation, possibly enough would knock you out but not have the memory of what happened when you wake up.

 

[logic1]

After some research this stuff can put you in a Zombie state half awake and half asleep with no memory of what happened when your were like that, hence the date rape part.

EDIT

 

[Luveno]

Clonazepam is a benzodiazepine.

Benzodiazepines are drugs which depress neurological activity in your brain, which makes one weak and sleepy.

Ideally, their main use is to heal seizures. Yes, these drugs are powerful things.

Unfortunately, a lot of people are prescribed benzos for mild psychological upsets like anxiety or insomnia. The pharm companies did a great job in marketing these drugs out to be used for questionable purposes.

Benzos are highly addictive. People who take benzos for too long will be unable to sleep or relax without them. The withdrawal state, although not commonly fatal, is extremely uncomfortable.

Your girlfriend is addicted to and dependent on benzos. She is displaying classical signs of addiction and dependence.

If you care about her, I'd try to find her help. If you don't, I'd just chuck her.

 

[STR8UP]

Unfortunately, a lot of people are prescribed benzos for mild psychological upsets like anxiety or insomnia. The pharm companies did a great job in marketing these drugs out to be used for questionable purposes.

And the alternative is a strong SSRI???

Benzos get a bad rap. I take Clonazepam. In all fairness, the SSRI's did help me with some social anxiety issues. I'll give 'em that. But the side effects....yikes.....

Benzos are highly addictive. People who take benzos for too long will be unable to sleep or relax without them.

Highly addictive? That's debateble. The anti-benzo crowd would like for you to believe that. But I can tell you from personal experience that taken in moderation they likely aren't as addictive as coffee.

I take it maybe 5 times per week, mainly to help me sleep. They are SUPER cheap and have provided benefits that FAR outweigh any drawbacks (for me there are none).

That said......if someone pops them like tic-tacs they probably need to be taken away from them, just like with any drug.

 

[logic1]

And the alternative is a strong SSRI???

Benzos get a bad rap. I take Clonazepam. In all fairness, the SSRI's did help me with some social anxiety issues. I'll give 'em that. But the side effects....yikes.....



Highly addictive? That's debateble. The anti-benzo crowd would like for you to believe that. But I can tell you from personal experience that taken in moderation they likely aren't as addictive as coffee.

I take it maybe 5 times per week, mainly to help me sleep. They are SUPER cheap and have provided benefits that FAR outweigh any drawbacks (for me there are none).

STR8UP....... I'm glad you said this because its exactly what I heard from other people. It not as dangerous as some people make it out to be. Unless you abuse it. Heard the same thing about the addiction. Fairly easy to come off of. Thats why they use it to help people come down off of the highly addictive drugs.

 

[Luveno]

And the alternative is a strong SSRI???

No. The alternative is lifestyle management like exercise, meditation, and diet changes. There are other drugs as well that can aid in sleep that are neither SSRIs nor benzos, like zolpidem and zopiclone. Unfortunately most general practitioners are being paid per patient so they just bang up a benzo prescription to get you out of there as fast as possible so that their next moneymaker can come in.

Psych drugs are overprescribed though our knowledge of their actual mechanism of action is extremely limited. Chalk that one up to good pharmaceutical advertising.

Highly addictive? That's debateble. The anti-benzo crowd would like for you to believe that. But I can tell you from personal experience that taken in moderation they likely aren't as addictive as coffee.

Have you tried to stop taking them? If you ever do I don't recommend cutting cold turkey.

That said......if someone pops them like tic-tacs they probably need to be taken away from them, just like with any drug.

Exactly. Regardless of what the addiciton rhetoric says, if someone is living their life with the sole purpose of obtaining and using more of a substance, then they are addicted to it.

 

[STR8UP]

STR8UP....... I'm glad you said this because its exactly what I heard from other people. It not as dangerous as some people make it out to be. Unless you abuse it. Heard the same thing about the addiction. Fairly easy to come off of. Thats why they use it to help people come down off of the highly addictive drugs.

Go to any depression/anxiety message board and you'll hear it again and again....doctors are afraid to prescribe it due to the bad press it gets. People get denied the benefits of a great drug that has no side effects (for me anyway) primarily because of social stigma. Just goes to show how strong societal influence is.

It isn't like a magic happy pill or anything. All it does is relax you. I usually take 1/2 mg before I go to bed and I sleep like a baby.

The one thing you gotta be careful of is drinking while taking benzos. If I were to take a full 1mg pill and have three drinks, the next day I wouldn't remember half the night. Scary. It didn't take long to learn that lesson.....

 

[STR8UP]

Have you tried to stop taking them? If you ever do I don't recommend cutting cold turkey.

Where are you getting your info? Have you taken a benzo before?

Ask most people who have taken it and they will tel you that the only people who get addicted to this stuff are people who get addicted to almost anything. If you don't have addiction issues it isn't likely you're gonna get hooked on it.

Like I said, I usually take 1/2 dose 5 nights per week. I could stop tomorrow with ZERO withdrawal, I am 100% sure of this. I have absolutely no cravings for it when I don't take it, which might be several nights in a row.

 

[romangod]

Since I got out of the hospital I've been taking Trazodone as a sleeping aid. Does anyone have any experience with it? Thanks.

 

[Fluideruption]

STR8UP....... I'm glad you said this because its exactly what I heard from other people. It not as dangerous as some people make it out to be. Unless you abuse it. Heard the same thing about the addiction. Fairly easy to come off of. Thats why they use it to help people come down off of the highly addictive drugs.

Crack is not that bad if you only use it here and there. Benzo's are big time trouble. They are more addictive than heroin (ask any junkie who has been addicted to both) and if taken long enough, you will never be normal again. Seriously. I have seen them destroy many lives. And whether you think you are addicted or not, they are irreversibly chemically altering your brain. Find another way to relax and sleep. Exercise is a good start.

 

[DonJuanNJ81]

End result?

I offed her today. Shes definitely got some psychological issues even while on the meds. In the past month, shes given away both of her dogs which shes got years ago, got an enormous ugly ass tattoo on her back, shes sick most days...some spent in the e.r. (hypocondriac), and she gave me a ton of **** about not watering her plants while she was in the hospital. She ignored the fact that I took care of the dogs, cleaned her apartment (which was a constant disgrace), did her laundry, stocked her fridge and visited her every day in the hospital because she'd cry and give me **** if i didnt.


What an f'ing relief...I'm already happier. Great mother/wife she wouldve been haha....waste of time!


Thanks everyone. Even though taking Clonazepam might not mean your crazy, she definitely was. This put it all into perspective.

I'm gonna go out and get me a broad. Laterrrrrr

 

[penkitten]

good for you man

 

[Luveno]

End result?

I offed her today. Shes definitely got some psychological issues even while on the meds. In the past month, shes given away both of her dogs which shes got years ago, got an enormous ugly ass tattoo on her back, shes sick most days...some spent in the e.r. (hypocondriac), and she gave me a ton of **** about not watering her plants while she was in the hospital. She ignored the fact that I took care of the dogs, cleaned her apartment (which was a constant disgrace), did her laundry, stocked her fridge and visited her every day in the hospital because she'd cry and give me **** if i didnt.


What an f'ing relief...I'm already happier. Great mother/wife she wouldve been haha....waste of time!


Thanks everyone. Even though taking Clonazepam might not mean your crazy, she definitely was. This put it all into perspective.

I'm gonna go out and get me a broad. Laterrrrrr

You made the right decision.

 

[woods]

Since I got out of the hospital I've been taking Trazodone as a sleeping aid. Does anyone have any experience with it? Thanks.

I still have a huge bottle of Trazadone. It worked great for me as a sleeping aid. I could take a quarter of one and go right to sleep, even under hard stress. Im naturally an insomniac. I dont take them anymore, unless I have to get up super early, cuz cant sleep before 11:00 usually. Some people I know say it made them wired, though. No complaints from me though.