What are the severe withdrawal systems from klonopin/clonazepam?

Klonopin/Clonazepam isn't usually used for alcohol withdrawal, more commonly Librium (Chlordiazepoxide) is used for this purpose. but for anxiety it's usually the benzodiazepine of choice for alcoholics (and only when all other non-benzo anxiolytics have failed) as it has a much longer half-life than Xanax or Ativan and therefore less abuse potential and less chance of increasing alcohol cravings and cross-addiction. Anger and rage would usually not normally be symptoms associated with Klonopin, but benzodiazepines affect everyone differently, however his doctor may need to consider prescribing Klonopin along with an antidepressant (Paxil is a good one for both anxiety and rage).

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As to your original question, I'm a recovering alcoholic and have been on Clonazepam for roughly 15 years and have had to quit Klonopin cold turkey a few times during that period. During withdrawal I experienced severe shakes, severe anxiety, panic attacks, muscle and joint aches, nausea, and loss of appetite, so yes the cramps could be benzodiazepine withdrawal (which are pretty nasty) or they could be a symptom of an entirely different condition (such as PAD or various vitamin deficiencies).

Third and final thing, Clonazepam normally is not prescribed three times a day since one dose is effective for about 12 hours. Changing his dosage to 1mg twice daily might help substantially. Hope this helps.
Good Luck,
Colin

Hi there Whats up! So it looks like your husband is not having the best time it seems. Well all i know he should not quit the klonopin cold turkey do to the fact that he also has a alcohol problem. After taking benzos for a period of time and just quiting it can cause more seizers more tremors and in some cases sudden death, which happened to my friend eric 2 years ago. He was drinking and took benzos plus he was overweight and sufficated in his sleep. Its a FACT that benzos and alcohol have the most dangerous withdrawls and have had the highest death rate above anything else. Also your body expecally your limbs can become num and have periods of convultions. He must be weaned off the klonopin at a slow rate, it is so risky not to. There is one drug that could help which is naltrexone.Its a medicine that reduces the desire for alcohol after you stop drinking. Naltrexone may help you stay sober for a long time.

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This medicine is not a complete cure from alcohol, but it can help you stop drinking while you get other treatments that your doc thinks is right.
Naltrexone blocks the parts of your brain that feel pleasure when you use alcohol and drugs. When these areas of the brain are blocked, you feel less need to drink alcohol, and you can stop drinking more easily. So if u consider something like that i would for sure talk to the doc. Like all meds though it has side effects, im not for sure what they are but the doc can help ya with that. The last thing i want to say is make sure he takes whatever meds he gets as perscribed and never quit taking them without the doc knowing, its very dangerous and alcohol withdrawl is the worst for the body expecally when using for 20 years. Well I hope i helped ya and i wish all the best for you and your husband, its not easy but if he does it right he will have his life back and you guys will be happier then ever. I wish you the best. Polly-

I was diagnosed about 8 years ago with myofascial pain syndrome by a rheumatologist. It is where your muscles do not get enough rest during the night, which results in muscle cramps. I had them all over my body.

I have just completed an intensive outpatient rehab program, which was quite eye-opening. Basically, addiction is a neurological disorder (from alcoholism to heroin). Once you have changed your brain using mood-altering drugs of ANY KIND, it is changed forever.

Clonazepam is extremely HIGHLY addicting and before I was allowed into the rehab program, I was ordered to work with my PCP to taper off it. You cannot go cold turkey, as you may experience seizures, which a gentleman in the program had one night after going cold turkey off a benzodiazepem(sp?).

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As the other person who answers noted, it is unusual for a doctor to prescribe Clonazepam for alcohol withdrawal. Your husband's doctor was actually giving him an addictive substance to replace another. Once the "pleasure pathway" in your brain has changed, it does not matter what substance you take that is addictive, they all work the same in the brain. Too complicated to explaining in this answer.

I was taking 1 mg. every night. My doctor told me to taper off by taking .75 mg. at night for about 5 days, then lower to .5 mg. for one week, and then .25 mg. for two weeks. I lost alot of sleep and am getting my muscle cramps back slightly, but stretching will help that.

As for your husband's restlessness and irritability, he may be experiencing some type of depression and he probably should see a therapist. There are also natural ways to help with anxiety - such as taking chamomile or even St. John's Wort (for mild depression). Exercise also helps in so many ways.

Trazadone is non-addicting sleep aid, which could help with his sleep. Until your body gets used to it, you can experience "Trazadone hangover" (sleepy and out of it the next day). My body is used to it now, so I don't experience it anymore.

Please be EXTREMELY careful about what your husband's doctor prescribes. Most doctors have only a slight teaching in addiction and many believe that these drugs are NOT addictive. They are sooooo, so wrong.

If you would like to e-mail me back directly, I can attempt to help you with the information that I learned. I learned quite a lot, and it is amazing what doctors will prescribe. Alcohol is in the benzo family along with Clonazepam. The doctor is using one benzo to cure addiction to another. It's NOT working.