Pdoc wants me off clonazepam

xRavenx

I had a meeting with my new/old pdoc. It is the pdoc that originally diagnosed me with Bipolar about 12 years ago. I was seeing a different pdoc afer about 5 years with the original one, but I started to feel I needed another set of eyes when it came to my meds, because my anxiety had increased, and she said we tried everything...

I saw the old pdoc today and did not have the best experience with her. She did not let me finish, was not very warm. I explained I was only taking my clonazepam a few times per week, and her reply was that I would "definitely start taking it every day." She said she does not want me on this med at all, even though I've been on it for years with no addiction issues. I am not even requesting a higher dose or anything like that. In fact, she was the one that first prescribed it to me. She also said I should quit my job, and I really don't agree that it would be the solution. She just wasn't very helpful.

I am wondering if it is common for pdocs now to cut people off of klonopin. She ended up prescribing me a months worth, but said that won't continue much longer. The whole interaction left me with a lot of anxiety when something that has been helping is going to be taken away. I'm not sure if I should see another pdoc.....not just due to the med issue, but she also seemed pretty cold and did not try to understand how my anxiety affects me. I understand why some pdocs do not want to prescribe it, but for someone who has been responsible for years... I just don't understand. It left me tearful and opposite of how a patient should feel when a Psychiatrist should be there to help you with your mental health. Any thoughts?

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Bipolar 1 Disorder, Unspecified Anxiety Disorder

HALLIEBETH87

I had a similar experience this past fall. My Pdoc of 8 years up and moved out of state leaving me without refills of meds and I got
Uber manic. Found a guy too rather quickly. He immediately said I was in too many meds etc and was a complete asshole. I eventually found. New
Pdoc and just got my refills til
I saw the new Pdoc who is just amazing! Maybe look
Into a second opinion? I’ve never been happier with my new Pdoc!

__________________
Bipolar 1 w/psychotic features or schizoaffective bipolar type
PTSD
generalized anxiety
Ocd

Lamictal, celexa, prazosin, Lybalvi

bizi

I have been taking klonipin for many years my old pdoc, she and I are
the same age. anyway...she sprung that on me and tried to force me

to sleep by increasing the dose of melatonin up to 20mg It was not
working and I was getting desperate, looking into buying it from
canada. In march 2years ago I crashed med wise and wound up
in the mental hospital because of my medications pooping out on

me. I was not sleeping INPT and quickly became psychotic they were trying all different meds on me. nothing seemed to work
then I was getting better on my current meds and the mania went away during an IOP stint of 5 weeks.They put me on klonipin again in patient
and I found a new pdoc.and just told her my meds including the klonipin.
have not had the least bit of a problem with her. She is a nurse practitioner.
I was afraid to go on haldol, take 5mg twice a day. lamictal, cogentin.
That is a long way of saying get another pdoc.
((((HUGS)))
She should not have treated you so poorly.
bizi

__________________
150mg of lamictal 2x a day
haldol 5mg 2x a day
1mg of cogentin 2x a day
klonipin , 1mg at night,
4-5 peri-colace for chronic constipation


multi vit,, vit c, at noon, tumeric, caffeine at noon
PRN Remeron 15mg at night,
zyprexa10mg under tongue,
requip2mg.

Tart Cherry Jam

Get another pdoc. Among other things, it is inappropriate and risky to say "quit your job" to someone you are seeing for the first time in years. She does not even know all the facts. And how are you supposed to support yourself if you quit your job?

xRavenx

Thank you for the support. I'm trying to figure out what my next move will be, but I don't think I want to stay with this pdoc for too much longer. It's hard finding a new pdoc and hope the next one has a better bedside manner and does not give poor advice like this one.

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Bipolar 1 Disorder, Unspecified Anxiety Disorder

raspberrytorte

Yeah. She shouldn't have told you to quit your job. I once had a therapist tell me I needed to quit my job. How the hell was I supposed to pay my bills at the time if I quit my job?! Stupid *****. I ghosted her. It was very satisfying!

Also, about your clonazepam, clonazepam withdrawal is a BEAST. It's terrible. Is she at least wanting to wean you off it, or is she just cold turkying you? I don't like this pdoc! I think you should search for a new one, though I know finding a pdoc is hard.

__________________
The darkest of nights is followed by the brightest of days.

Schizoaffective disorder bipolar type
Generalized anxiety disorder

Gabapentin, diazepam, Lamictal, trazodone, seroquel, metformin, Cymbalta, prazosin, loxapine.... whew! Lots of meds!

xRavenx

Yes, exactly! At one point, my old pdoc said the same thing. It's like: is she going to pay my bills?? I don't have the luxury of quitting my job, and I worked really hard when it comes to getting this job and have been able to keep it due to my meds helping me. She gave me some klonopin with instructions to only take 2 pills each week and not to exceed that. But she does not want to keep me on it, which is giving me anxiety. It's just really hard, because as a PRN, it has worked wonders. I feel it has helped me be successful at this job, and it is an accomplishment for me to keep this job for 4 years, and there are incentives for me to stay. Now, I fear I'm going to de-stabilize, and it is worrying me.

It is also on my mind that I am thinking about going back to my previous pdoc (Dr. L) who I had right before this one, but I will have to explain why I switched providers and why I'm coming back since my experience with Dr. M was a negative one. I don't want Dr. L to get offended that I tried to go back to somebody else. I wasn't 100% happy with Dr. L, but I like her better than Dr. M; especially after this experience, although I probably need someone completely new. It's a tough spot to be in.

__________________
Bipolar 1 Disorder, Unspecified Anxiety Disorder

Tart Cherry Jam

It is a tough spot to be in! Just wanted to say, good job keeping employment for 4 years! I am in the same position and it is the first time I am at the same job and on the same team for 4+ years. it is a big accomplishment for us and something to be truly proud of and thankful for whatever medications make it possible.

raspberrytorte

Only two pills a week?! Oh my god! What is WRONG with this pdoc? What a *****! How much were you on before? I was very proud of my job at the time the therapist told me to quit too. Congrats on keeping employment for four years

You shouldn't have to give a reason for switching providers. Just switch.

__________________
The darkest of nights is followed by the brightest of days.

Schizoaffective disorder bipolar type
Generalized anxiety disorder

Gabapentin, diazepam, Lamictal, trazodone, seroquel, metformin, Cymbalta, prazosin, loxapine.... whew! Lots of meds!

Blueberrybook

It is possible to go off Klonopin, but that pdoc does not have a sensible plan.

I took 4 mg/day of Klonopin daily for over a decade, and I am now off it. However, it was a decision I made with my pdoc, and at doses such as these, you have to taper. I was tapering nearly 1 year, at the end taking 1/4 a 1 mg tablet a day. It was a slow, slow process. I was prescribed 25 mg Seroquel to take when panic attacks hit and I could be at home (made me drowsy). I took a lot of Seroquel in the beginning. Otherwise, I used hydroxyzine & propranolol. I still take those 2. My doctor let me set the pace and didn't progress the taper faster than I felt I could reasonably try.

Like I said, it was a slow process. If I'd had to stop Klonopin completely within 1 month, I would have ended up in the psych hospital.

As for the pdoc telling you to quit your job, what medical school allows pdocs to suddenly understand your finances inside out and just dispense clueless financial advice?! Between that and the klonopin, that doctor should be disbarred!

Just curious...what dose of klonopin were you on before seeing this new doc?

__________________
Bipolar 1, PTSD, anorexia, panic disorder, ADHD

Zyprexa, Vraylar, lithium, propanolol, Buspar, Trazodone, gabapentin, tizandine, omeperazole

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
--Robert Frost

xRavenx

Thank you. I was taking klonopin approximately 3-4x per week and never more than 5. It helps me get through my long work days, as I get a lot of physical anxiety as well as emotional. I tried going back to Dr. L and was prescribed hydroxyzine. I gave it a shot for a week since I am desperate when it comes to trying to manage my anxiety and wanted to give something other than klonopin a final shot since I've tried everything else out there. Unfortunately, hydroxyzine has done nothing other than make me tired hours after taking it. I think my anxiety is actually worse taking it!

I have had enough and decided I have to find a new provider. This situation is really stressing me out. I do not have any issues with addiction, so I don't understand why I have to suffer through this when there's something out there that works for me.

__________________
Bipolar 1 Disorder, Unspecified Anxiety Disorder

xRavenx

Thank you. I'm on only 0.5 mg PRN and always have been.

__________________
Bipolar 1 Disorder, Unspecified Anxiety Disorder

Blueberrybook

Are you able to try propranolol? It doesn't make me as sleepy as the hydroxyzine though I had to find the right dose (too high a dose in the beginning made me forgetful) I know it is a beta blocker but it is often used for anxiety. It doesn't make me tired the way the hydroxyzine or lose dose Seroquel did. And, you can spilt they hydroxyzine tablets in half though the type I have (25 mg) are very messy spiltters.

As long as the pills are not ER/XR/SR or gel caps that come apart, as a rule they are safe to split though run it by your psychiatrist if you can.

__________________
Bipolar 1, PTSD, anorexia, panic disorder, ADHD

Zyprexa, Vraylar, lithium, propanolol, Buspar, Trazodone, gabapentin, tizandine, omeperazole

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
--Robert Frost

Blueberrybook

Is it going to be difficult to switch doctors, or will that be a relatively easy task? I know it would be a pain with my insurance, anything but patient friendly.

__________________
Bipolar 1, PTSD, anorexia, panic disorder, ADHD

Zyprexa, Vraylar, lithium, propanolol, Buspar, Trazodone, gabapentin, tizandine, omeperazole

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
--Robert Frost

Moose72

I got put on Klonopin back last August and it has done wonders for my sleep! When I first started it, I was on .5 mg twice a day but quickly asked to be reduced to once a day at bedtime because the morning dose was making it so I can’t function. Since then my anxiety is 1000% improved. I’m calm and serene and truly content with life. My sleep is wonderful, for the most part- I go to sleep around 10 and get up between 6:30 and 8:00. My new Pdoc seems to be on board with my being on Klonopin.

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*Schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type
Wellbutrin XL 300 mg
Rexulti 3 mg
Trazodone 50 mg - as needed (PRN)
Klonopin .5 mg 2x/day for akathisi
Most recent episodes:

Depression, Anxiety and Intrusive thoughts (September 2021)
Depression & Psychosis (July/August 2021)
Mania (April/May 2019

dangerousreality

Klonopin caused me suicide ideation i do not do good with xanax, or any of them prn's. throws me into full blown depression.

xRavenx

Unfortunately, I tried propranolol, and it did not really help with my symptoms, which is why I was prescribed klonopin.

__________________
Bipolar 1 Disorder, Unspecified Anxiety Disorder

xRavenx

Fortunately, there are a lot of pdocs who take my insurance in the state where I live, but it is hard to find the right fit sometimes.

__________________
Bipolar 1 Disorder, Unspecified Anxiety Disorder