Clonazepam (Klonopin, Rivotril)

[annV]

After discontinuing Clonazepam, I experienced severe withdrawal symptoms that lasted for over a year.

What kind of withdrawal symptoms did you have, please?

 

[Luman]

What kind of withdrawal symptoms did you have, please?

For the first few months, the physical and mental symptoms included insomnia, tension, anxiety, panic attacks, and more. I thought I had vitamin and nutritional deficiencies and tried all kinds of supplements. I felt like I did not have long to live. My life had not changed in any major way, but depression—something I had never experienced much before—set in.

This condition affects some people very severely, and there are theories suggesting that benzodiazepines can disrupt GABA neurotransmitters, which then take time to return to normal. The non-technical explanation of this made sense to me as I recovered.

My doctors are now telling me that, because I have not had a colonoscopy in over ten years, I need one. In the United States, this is usually done with anesthesia, and benzodiazepines are often used during the procedure, as they were in my past colonoscopies. I am planning to get a CT scanning version of the exam instead. This method, called a Virtual Colonoscopy, does not require any drugs. It is not covered by insurance, but I would rather pay for it out of pocket than be given a benzodiazepine or a similar drug even once during the traditional procedure.

If any issues are found during the Virtual Colonoscopy, I may have to undergo a traditional colonoscopy or surgery. However, this is unlikely, as I have no symptoms or family history of related problems.