Alternatives to Clonazepam

[Zebrawhite]

Hi

I'm currently taking 20mg olanzapine and 40mg citalopram. I am still not fully stabilised though, but find I feel much better when I take clonazepam. Unfortunately I'm not able to keep taking clonazepam as the doctor said it's too addictive and should only be used short term.

Does anyone know or an alternative to clonazepam that I could try? I really don't know how I'll cope without it.

[Ellie_at_APP Partner]

Hi Zebrawhite

Yes it must be worrying to know you need to finish using a medication thats helping you. Are you still under a psychiatrist? Did you discuss it with them? Is that the doctor who says you need to stop taking it ?

I know Clonazepam is prescribed for anxiety, and there are other medications that are prescribed for anxiety that aren’t addictive. I take Venlafaxine for example which is for anxiety and depression.

I hope you can get some good professional support to help you cope without it

Take care

Ellie

[Maria_at_APP Moderator]

Hi Zebrawhite, have you discussed it with your doctor? Do you take clonazepam to help you sleep or for coping with anxiety during the day? There are other alternatives you can discuss with your psychiatrist, please do not suffer in silence.

Are you also doing some talking therapy to help you process all you have been through? I found it very helpful to cope with the anxiety, depression and general lack of confidence that followed pp. It is worth checking what's available through your team.

Take really good care,

Maria

[Zebrawhite in reply to Maria_at_APP]

Thank you for your replies. I take the clonazepam during the day for anxiety. I keep thinking about the psychosis and some of the things I thought happened during it. Its like ptsd it makes me feel scared and unsafe.

I'm not doing any talking therapies at the moment, I guess I could look into it. I really feel like I'm still not on the right balance of medication though. I wonder if anyone else has had to change medication a number of times before they found the best combination.

[Maria_at_APP Moderator in reply to Zebrawhite]

Hi Zebrawhite, I think it is common to think about the psychosis, it was like that for me for a while. It was a realisation of how fragile everything was and that made me feel unsafe as well. With time I started to feel more settled in myself and being able to recognize when I was feeling well and when I was not 100% and then reaching out to friends and family and professionals for help.

I hope you find the right combination of meds that allows you to recover, keep talking to the doctors about how you are feeling.

Do let us know how you are getting on

Maria

[Maria_at_APP Moderator in reply to Zebrawhite]

Hi Zebrawhite, I think it is common to think about the psychosis, it was like that for me for a while. It was a realisation of how fragile everything was and that made me feel unsafe as well. With time I started to feel more settled in myself and being able to recognize when I was feeling well and when I was not 100% and then reaching out to friends and family and professionals for help.

I hope you find the right combination of meds that allows you to recover, keep talking to the doctors about how you are feeling.

Do let us know how you are getting on

Maria

[Essex1982]

have you tried promethazine? Non sedating antihistamine. Used for anxiety and sleeping x

[Zebrawhite in reply to Essex1982]

I have, but I find it doesn't work as well as the clonazepam x