[nightgarden]

I have been taking Klonopin for a long time - 15 years. And it has been the same dose 1.5 mg/day although I went up during a stressful month but it did n't seem to help so I went back down.

I also take 30mg Paxil/day for social anxiety for 5 years and it has helped like nothing else with horrible panic attacks and I don't feel that I need to quit (not aware of any reason). I did not have bad weight gain from it like some.

But recently I feel like I am experiencing dementia and I wonder if it is the Klonopin. Is my dose high? I always feel like I am playing games with my doctor with it - she wants me to get off and makes me renew every month and 'forgets' to give me the script. I do feel like it relaxes my muscles but I wonder if I could do that another way.

The dementia I am speaking off:
1 - have read a lot of articles on connection between dementia and Klonopin 2 - feel like lately I am getting dementia. I have had 2 car accidents (minor) but have never had any since a teenager and now within 1 month I have had 2. I feel like I have made unsafe moves in traffic and usually am very safe.
3 - I have been having terrible insomnia where I cannot get to sleep even with pills that are supposed to work
4 - I have recently made very impulsive actions including one that ruined my career and usually am much more in control and think things out
5 - I will take forever to do something and it still doesn't get done and I can't get it done.

I feel like I am not in control anymore.

Any input appreciated.

[-jimi-]

It does not seem like a huge dosage of Klonopin. And I kind of doubt you get dementia from it. But yes, it can affect memory and functioning. If I take the max dosage of my benzo too long, it actually makes me forgetful and a bit dumb. But backing down on dosage a bit helped, which tells me it's not a permanent thing. When I have cut down to half my max I am pretty normal memory wise, but recently, because of anxiety I have to take 75 % of my max, which leaves me with some memory issues and some fogginess.

Can't explain the impulsiveness though, I've never had anything like that.

[healingme4me]

I read the article in reference about benzos and some theorized link or statistical look at those that use them long term and Alzheimer's/Dementia. Um, personally if I were to, would it be genetics or would it be benzos, since there's a family history on both sides, just two people, a grandmother and a great grandmother. Chicken/egg thing for me, there.

I read that you aren't sleeping well, that can wreak havoc.

Impulsiveness, is there some type of trigger in your life? Feeling slighted by anyone in particular or just everyone as a whole? Extra life stressors?

[nightgarden]

Well the impulsiveness - I thought it over and I am impulsive. I wasn't be honest there with myself. I guess it would be not having as much control over my impulses like I usually do.

Maybe the sleep - just not functioning well without it.

I would like to get off the benzos to stop having to practically beg my doctor for them. Tired of the power plays. And feeling like maybe I don't need them or need a lower dose. And I am afraid if I go to another doctor I will be cut off. I was once with a new doctor (went back to old doctor) and they "did not believe in benzos". They cut me off just like that and my body freaked. I suffered so much that my husband was going to take me to the emergency room as in climbing walls and no sleep at all. Maybe some people can do that but it I could not go 'cold turkey[.

[Angelique67]

I went cold turkey off Klonopin (after going from 4 mg to 2.5) and I was so unbelievably sick I had to go inpatient. I was cut off by a nurse practitioner. It was a nightmare. If I could have stayed on it the rest of my life, I would have chosen that over the benzodiazepene withdrawal syndrome I still have over two years later. I wish you the best.

[*Laurie*]

Benzos are bad news. At first they seem amazing. After a while you need more to feel okay. Then your cognitive abilities suffer ('dementia'). I am absolutely sure I have brain damage from Klonopin. Withdrawal is a night mare.

This site gives some extra info: www.benzobuddies.org

[Sesiley]

symptoms of benzos is memory loss.....only long term.benzo use has a link with dementia

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G750A using Tapatalk

[Tauren]

I'm not sure if they can cause those symptoms or not, but they are extremely addictive. You really have to talk to a doctor about those issues.

[-jimi-]

Yea and without benzos I would have been dead. But at least dead and healthy.

(There is a much, much stronger link between antihistamines and dementia compared to benzos. Antihistamines are touted as safe and are often used instead as a safe alternative to benzos. Antihistamines are for example Benadryl and Vistaril.)

[where_to_begin]

Originally Posted by LauraBeth

This site gives some extra info: www.benzobuddies.org

That site really scares me, considering that my P-Doc thinks I need to cut back on the benzos.

I am taking about one or two .5 mg Xanax a day--down from two or three xanax a day. I also take two 10 mg ambiens to sleep, and they are no longer working. I have upped it to three on occasions, but my P-Doc has told me how dangerous that is. He has given me Belsomra to try to gradually mover over from Ambien to Belsomra.

[Ocean5]

Klonopin withdrawals can be living hell. Be careful. I'm sensitive to medicine, but ended up in hospital with seizures (never had one before) once I "thought" I was at end of withdrawals. I didn't know withdrawals can go on for months or years. I thought I had made it through worst part. Be careful, and go very slow if you decide to get off.

[-jimi-]

The memory loss (to tie back to the OP and stop talking about addiction which this was never about), can really be caused by the benzo without being dementia. Dementia is a quite specific thing which leads to cell death in the brain. There is nothing really saying the forgetfulness one can get on benzos is dementia. Forgetfulness does not equal dementia.

I have this bit vile sleep med that actually is known to be "amnesic". It does make me forgetful. But I only take it off and on and when I don't take it, my memory is OK. Dementia does not work like that. It does not come and go with taking the med.

This is a side effect. It is not dementia.

[Angelique67]

Well I have lasting cognitive problems that I think are the result of being forced off a 30 year benzo period. I can barely play Solitaire. And this is over 2 years later.

[-jimi-]

So would you say you have a side effect that lasted, or would you actually say this is dementia?

[Angelique67]

Originally Posted by -jimi-

So would you say you have a side effect that lasted, or would you actually say this is dementia?

I don't know.

[Ocean5]

I looked up email a regular doctor sent me for Klonopin.

"Among the side effects are nausea, sleeping disturbances, weakness, dizziness, unbalance."

I'm using the rest of my supply because I am scared of more seizures. If I miss a dose my vision goes blurry, and things feel so strange, within a day.

[ThingWithFeathers]

Benzos aren't good long term. They help me, but I have a hard time coming off them and have, on a couple of occasions, become sui when giving t giving them up. So, for me they are bad - not because of having them for therapeutic purposes but I'm inclined to abuse them and I can't handle coming off them.

[-jimi-]

I've never abused benzo or upped the dosage. Not since day one and that is a long time ago.

Still I wish they could come up with an anti anxiety med without withdrawals, without people being able to abuse them and WITHOUT this dang brain fog.

[nataliepatricia6183]

Personally for me, Benzos put me into a depression. I have some mood issues, not sure if it's bi-polar 2 or some hypomanic and depressive states but when I take benzos like the one my doctor just prescribed me for sleep..I noticed I got depressed and hysterical on them. Some people don't respond well..it just depends.

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by Angelique67

Well I have lasting cognitive problems that I think are the result of being forced off a 30 year benzo period. I can barely play Solitaire. And this is over 2 years later.

I know we've discussed our Klonopin issues before, Angelique, but I wanted to add to this thread- I have such severe cognitive impairment from decades of taking Klonopin, I'm pretty sure I have brain damage. I'm currently doing the titrating down, but if I suddenly regain my normal cognitive functioning after I stop taking K-pin I'll be shocked. As it is now, I don't socialize as much as I'd like to - and certainly cannot be 'gainfully employed' - because I can't recall things (words, thoughts, etc.) properly. I'm constantly having to cover my tracks, or having to keep conversations short, for fear people will notice that something is wrong with me - or just think I'm not very bright.. I am thankful for the internet because while my quality of writing has also been impaired, it's easier for me than speaking is.

Jimi, I hope it's not dementia, but I won't be surprised if it is. I don't think anyone can really know.

[Ocean5]

Originally Posted by LauraBeth

I can't recall things (words, thoughts, etc.) properly.

LauraBeth - Thanks for saying this. It makes me feel much better! I am once again trying to get off Klonopin daily (got back on to avoid more seizures and withdrawals. Sensitive to medicines.)

The fact I can't recall "words - thoughts" was starting to upset me. Very frustrating. Constantly apologizing to people (One reason it's affected my work so much...) Even emails sometimes I can't remember words I should know... And I have only been on Klonopin less than a year daily.

It causes me major stress when a client wants to talk on phone. Least with email I can take time to figure out. Then on phone with client, and having to apologize often because I can't remember words, or thoughts.... it's destroying my business.

And I don't know if related, but now my thoughts jump around so much from topic to topic now.

Before I started SSRIs (Lexapro, then Zoloft), then Benzo (Klonopin.) I was successfully self-employed. Now...

I know these medicines help some people (be grateful), but also serious risk for others.

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by Ocean5

LauraBeth - Thanks for saying this. It makes me feel much better! I am once again trying to get off Klonopin daily (got back on to avoid more seizures and withdrawals. Sensitive to medicines.)

The fact I can't recall "words - thoughts" was starting to upset me. Very frustrating. Constantly apologizing to people (One reason it's affected my work so much...) Even emails sometimes I can't remember words I should know... And I have only been on Klonopin less than a year daily.

It causes me major stress when a client wants to talk on phone. Least with email I can take time to figure out. Then on phone with client, and having to apologize often because I can't remember words, or thoughts.... it's destroying my business.

And I don't know if related, but now my thoughts jump around so much from topic to topic now.

Before I started SSRIs (Lexapro, then Zoloft), then Benzo (Klonopin.) I was successfully self-employed. Now...

I know these medicines help some people (be grateful), but also serious risk for others.

I'm so sorry, Ocean. I don't know how anyone could work or have a normal social life with the cognitive impairment benzos cause.

[-jimi-]

I do believe benzos can affect thinking. Just wondering if there are other meds, or if benzo is the only one (also thinking meds for physical stuff). Interactions?

[Angelique67]

Originally Posted by -jimi-

I do believe benzos can affect thinking. Just wondering if there are other meds, or if benzo is the only one (also thinking meds for physical stuff). Interactions?

Antihistamines are also bad for cognitive health.

And that's what they give me in lieu of benzos now, antihistamines.

[-jimi-]

I was kind of wondering if the OP is on something else that could contribute.