[jwill2]

I have been taking generic Klonopin (clonazepam) for 5 years and in my youth I took alot of drugs including LSD and had several "bad trips" which, I believe, induced trauma that has led to what is called HPPD or Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder. I still see "trails" behind moving objects and have major anxiety and my thoughts sometimes spin out of control to the point where I "shutdown" because I analyze things or just a particular thing and can't get my thought process straight. It keeps me from functioning in everyday life. Sometimes just simple activites or very hard to do or socilaizing is extremely difficult. 1993 was the last time I ingested LSD. I know this sounds crazy...
It is a very complicated disorder to describe.

I have taken my medication (clonazepam) for this and have gone through withdrawl from taking my meds too fast. The withdrawl (for me personally) is TERRIBLE. It's like being on a "bad trip" all over again. Paranoia, agitation, racing mind, SEVERE introspection.

I'm just posting this too see if anyone has or think they have HPPD and , no matter why you take it, if your on Clonazepam - please share your withdrawl symptoms. I would like to compare.
I am on 3mg a day.

Any kind of feedback to this post is appreciated greatly.

JW

JW

[JamesPH]

Hi, saw your post about Clonazepam. The first thing I should say is that taking that medication for that long is going to toxify your system and you should see about maybe getting off of it. Try working out at the gym on a treadmill to get in shape. My doctor prescribed that to me on a try it basis to see if it would help my HPPD. She told me that it makes you lose your memory somewhat and that it can become addicting as your body gets used to it and you have to increase the dosage for the effect to continue.

I have tried some other medications and the Tegretol seemed to help the most so far. As of right now I am taking Depakote and it seems to help without the tiredness, although I still haven't taken it long enough to get the full effect from it yet.

I also tried neurontin, tegretol, and topamax. Ironically, the Topamax made me experience the "trails" I saw when I took LSD when I was 17 years old. The neuronton didn't really do anything. The tegretol made me a little tired and relaxed, but over time seemed to start to help a lot. I may go back on it again, as I read a long time ago that someone who had halos around objects seemed to overcome HPPD over time with tegretol. I read it in an add online in the J. Clin Psychiatry journal. I also had auditory changes in tone when taking tegretol. I took 2 different types of tegretol. The first name brand made me hear tones at lower levels than normal.

I also have the same out of control racing thoughts. I was fine before I was prescribed Pamelor for 3 years when I was 19 years old. When I came off of it I couldn't relax, my body and thoughts would race faster than I could process them, etc. so I know how it feels.

I think the first step is that we all join together and recognize that we have each other and that we're not alone. We're just now starting to fight this disease with the help of organizations like NODID.org .

I talked to some psychiatry referalls and they told me to look for clinical trials for HPPD. So I did and I found that NODID.org will be doing something soon. I hope this helps some.