Doctor Disagrees, But I Need My Klonopin
Reader’s Question
First, thanks for being here and answering questions.
I am trying to withdraw from Klonopin. But I don’t understand: why would a doctor have you come off this medication if you have depression, anxiety and a personality disorder? I don’t understand this. A lot of my borderline symptoms have come back with a vengeance now. And I feel like I am on the verge of a stroke or heart attack at times and feel this strange detachment from reality when trying to decrease the dose of the medication to 0.25 mg twice a day. I have been on this for at least 10 years.
It is scary, and I am afraid to go to detox. I’m afraid they would ignore my symptoms and let things go too far, possibly causing me to have a seizure. I am in my early 50s and already have high blood pressure. I know people abuse the drug, but it seems like I need it and am not going to be able to discontinue using it. I have had a psychiatrist tell me that I needed the Klonopin.
Please help.
Our Clinical Psychologist’s Reply
Klonopin is a trade name for clonazepam, which is in the class of drugs known as benzodiazepines. It has anti-convulsant and muscle-relaxant properties and also has been shown to have anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) properties and to be effective for the short-term in the treatment of anxiety disorders.
Long-term amelioration of anxiety problems is almost never accomplished with medication alone. And some medications — especially the benzodiazepines — are prone to abuse and dependence, especially when used over a longer term.
If you have a personality disorder, it certainly won’t be ameliorated by medication alone. Indeed, problematic aspects of your personality (e.g., intolerance of discomfort, deficient emotional self-regulation, etc.) might even be “enabled” or worsened through inordinate reliance on medicine, especially medicines of the class you have mentioned.
Although your fears and concerns are understandable, you can take some comfort in knowing that the only long-term solution to your difficulties is through comprehensive intervention, therapy, and a lessening dependence on drugs. You ask why your doctor would want to wean you from a drug and have you pursue detox and other interventions. Perhaps it’s because he or she wants you to be well.
