Klonopin instead of alcohol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in recovery from alcohol use disorder and I agree with the MD's advice - try gabapentin or another medication for AUD. I'm personally not a fan of naltrexone because it's an opioid blocker and in the rare instance that you would need emergency pain relief, opioids shouldn't be given. There are also more undesirable side effects with naltrexone.

As many others have pointed out, klonopin is a benzo and highly addictive, so it is not a good option for you.

My doctor has suggested using Naltrexone. What are the other undesirable side-effects you've found?

I got the injection and one time they didn’t get it right in the muscle and I had a huge painful lump for weeks. Can also cause nausea and stomach issues and in worst case scenario, liver damage.

[Anonymous]

I'm old, have cycled on and off Ativan with no issues. Withdrawal was very minor like giving up coffee. But it is a 12 hour half life drug and I know what amount is in my system and never took it for sleep. Klonopin is longer lasting so the dose accumulates. No other non benzo drug works for my level of anxiety. I pretty much stick to taking it a couple times a week now as it is so villified. But I never had any withdrawal symptoms worth mentioning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These drugs (benzodiazepines and alcohol) have similar targets in the nervous system, so you would not really be getting off alcohol as much as you’d be transitioning onto Klonopin.

Librium was what was used for this transition in the inpatient rehab my family member was in. It is also a benzodiazepine.

If you are not physiologically dependent enough to need that substitution (as your doing dry January suggests), you probably don’t need medical detox, but rehab would be a good choice for you, because willpower is not addiction treatment.

If you are in the DMV, Kolmac does this as an intensive outpatient treatment program done at night (so you don’t have to tell work).

Good luck, OP!

I have a loved one currently in Kolmac. Some of this is my loved one's level of committment (incredibly low), but the program has NOT impressed me. It's online, it's too easy to lie to them and yourself. Lots of counselor and staff turnover. There's more to my story, but it's too personally identifying to type it out. I think the program used to be great, but reviews indicate that ended when the management changed.

Do not recommend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe this is stupid though...

Yes, this is stupid. Benzos are horribly addictive, and the withdrawal is awful. You're an alcoholic. Stop drinking. Get therapy and address the reasons you drink instead of swapping in a cross-addiction. No benzos, no gummies, no cigs, no binge eating, no "retail therapy", no using people instead of substances...

You're an addict and you seem to be early enough in it that getting out isn't going to be life-shatteringly hard. Love yourself enough to kick the substances and stop looking for better drugs. Just don't do drugs, and yes, it really is that simple. You will not be the exception to recovery.

-7 years sober and counting.

Man, all of this is so spot on. Listen OP, please, for yourself. I wish the alcoholic in my life had been told this (and had the courage to follow through) years ago.

[Anonymous]

Not trying to high-jack the thread but I love me some occasional klonopin for sleep and anxiety. I have periods where I go for weeks/months without using any and some periods where I use it a little more regularly (but they are short periods). I do take a very low dose.

What is the issue with this exactly? I certainly don't feel addicted or have withdrawal. That said I have never taken it regularly (daily). Only if I have a super major stressor in life and even that, that only lasts days/weeks.

Because of my experience I have always found it overly dramatic when people caution against it because I have been using it this way for 15+ years without issue but I am open to the possibility that it could be an issue if not careful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not trying to high-jack the thread but I love me some occasional klonopin for sleep and anxiety. I have periods where I go for weeks/months without using any and some periods where I use it a little more regularly (but they are short periods). I do take a very low dose.

What is the issue with this exactly? I certainly don't feel addicted or have withdrawal. That said I have never taken it regularly (daily). Only if I have a super major stressor in life and even that, that only lasts days/weeks.

Because of my experience I have always found it overly dramatic when people caution against it because I have been using it this way for 15+ years without issue but I am open to the possibility that it could be an issue if not careful.

The key is that you don’t take Klonopin regularly. If you did, you probably would have withdrawal symptoms. And the whole idea of switching one drug for another without medical supervision is unhealthy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These drugs (benzodiazepines and alcohol) have similar targets in the nervous system, so you would not really be getting off alcohol as much as you’d be transitioning onto Klonopin.

Librium was what was used for this transition in the inpatient rehab my family member was in. It is also a benzodiazepine.

If you are not physiologically dependent enough to need that substitution (as your doing dry January suggests), you probably don’t need medical detox, but rehab would be a good choice for you, because willpower is not addiction treatment.

If you are in the DMV, Kolmac does this as an intensive outpatient treatment program done at night (so you don’t have to tell work).

Good luck, OP!

I have a loved one currently in Kolmac. Some of this is my loved one's level of committment (incredibly low), but the program has NOT impressed me. It's online, it's too easy to lie to them and yourself. Lots of counselor and staff turnover. There's more to my story, but it's too personally identifying to type it out. I think the program used to be great, but reviews indicate that ended when the management changed.

Do not recommend.

To make a gross generalization, most rehab programs are scams and AA or NA often is more effective for free.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not trying to high-jack the thread but I love me some occasional klonopin for sleep and anxiety. I have periods where I go for weeks/months without using any and some periods where I use it a little more regularly (but they are short periods). I do take a very low dose.

What is the issue with this exactly? I certainly don't feel addicted or have withdrawal. That said I have never taken it regularly (daily). Only if I have a super major stressor in life and even that, that only lasts days/weeks.

Because of my experience I have always found it overly dramatic when people caution against it because I have been using it this way for 15+ years without issue but I am open to the possibility that it could be an issue if not careful.

The key is that you don’t take Klonopin regularly. If you did, you probably would have withdrawal symptoms. And the whole idea of switching one drug for another without medical supervision is unhealthy.

Spouse of klonopin user here - my husband has been taking a very low dose every night (and I think every morning) for more than 12 years. It is a tiny dose, but he absolutely needs to take it. We aren’t sure what would happen, but it seems like insomnia and anxiety would be part of the reaction.

A couple years ago, he ran out and was able to quickly get another prescription, but the pharmacy was out of his smaller size pill. I begged the pharmacist to give me a couple of pills for him to cut in half to get him through the time until the smaller pills came in. I think the pharmacist technically shouldn’t have done this for me - but it resolved our emergency. I do NOT recommend daily klonopin use. I wish he had never started this drug. He couples it with a high dose of Zoloft for anxiety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It doesn't hurt to ask your dr. also ask if you should go to detox/ 30 day program, call your insurance, they usually cover 30 days.

BTW I started Zepbound about 8 weeks ago, it has taken away my urge to eat and shockingly drink. I drank wine at dinner and cocktails throughout the week. Since taking Zepbound I have had 2 drinks in the last 8 weeks. Maybe ask your Dr about that as well?

A lot of the weight loss drugs do this.

[Anonymous]

I'm on Zepbound and it has completely curbed any desire to drink, but I never had the strong desire to begin with. I'm not sure it would be the right way to address a deeper-seated craving. I think substituting in Klonopin is a bad idea. It is extremely addictive. It is great for what it is designed to do -- calms down an acute panic attack -- but it's not meant for long-term alcohol restraint.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not trying to high-jack the thread but I love me some occasional klonopin for sleep and anxiety. I have periods where I go for weeks/months without using any and some periods where I use it a little more regularly (but they are short periods). I do take a very low dose.

What is the issue with this exactly? I certainly don't feel addicted or have withdrawal. That said I have never taken it regularly (daily). Only if I have a super major stressor in life and even that, that only lasts days/weeks.

Because of my experience I have always found it overly dramatic when people caution against it because I have been using it this way for 15+ years without issue but I am open to the possibility that it could be an issue if not careful.

The key is that you don’t take Klonopin regularly. If you did, you probably would have withdrawal symptoms. And the whole idea of switching one drug for another without medical supervision is unhealthy.

Spouse of klonopin user here - my husband has been taking a very low dose every night (and I think every morning) for more than 12 years. It is a tiny dose, but he absolutely needs to take it. We aren’t sure what would happen, but it seems like insomnia and anxiety would be part of the reaction.

A couple years ago, he ran out and was able to quickly get another prescription, but the pharmacy was out of his smaller size pill. I begged the pharmacist to give me a couple of pills for him to cut in half to get him through the time until the smaller pills came in. I think the pharmacist technically shouldn’t have done this for me - but it resolved our emergency. I do NOT recommend daily klonopin use. I wish he had never started this drug. He couples it with a high dose of Zoloft for anxiety.

This is so unhealthy.

[Anonymous]

Klonopin should not be taken daily for most people, it is SO highly addictive... benzo withdrawal can kill you.