Thanks to Dreambirdie for starting this thread.
I must strongly disagree with Dr. Cheney.
With all due respect to Nielk, the information that Carol Sieverling posted 10 years ago on Cheney's behalf is in my opinion very disingenous and even possibly dangerous. Several points need addressing:
First of all, klonopin/clonazepam doesn't address WHY our brains are overstimulated -- it just temporarily provides a bandaid that suppresses the symptoms. A huge difference.
He says it's not addictive because there's no 'drug seeking' behavior. I say that's bull. If one's doctor threatened to stop prescribing klonopin (clonazepam), believe me, people would 'seek out' that drug in a heartbeat, especially if they'd been on it for longer than six months (with some exceptions of course). And comparing the "need" for klonopin to a necessity of taking thyroid meds is just bizarre. And finally, visit any benzo detox forum, and you'll find many folks who had to increase, or as he puts it "accelerate" their dose, in order to stop the symptoms of tolerance that can develop.
And this paragraph, well, this is just an incredible load of (fill in the blank): "Dr. Cheney said a case might be made that Klonopin is habituating. ...However, he was cautious about even calling it habituating." I seriously don't mean to be glib, but I'd like to see him tell that to Professor Ashton, who has experience with thousands of patients tapering off these dangerous drugs.
"Dr. Cheney has never seen a recovered patient have difficulty coming off Klonopin. He stated, "When you no longer need the drug, coming off it is very easy."
This is odd, because the interview/report was done in 2001. But when asked by the National CFIDS Foundation (ncf-net) in 2008, how many patients of his had recovered, he answered, "Zero".
And finally, what he COMPLETELY fails to mention is the fact that klonopin (clonazepam) is the ONLY benzodiazepine that can cause ANEMIA and LOW WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNT (neutropenia, leukopenia).
http://psy.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/40/5/414
"Thrombocytopenia has been described with clonazepam (KlonopinTM)22 and diazepam (ValiumTM)22,33 (see Table 6). Diazepam and chlordiazepoxide (LibriumTM) also can reduce platelet aggregation. There is no definitive relationship between the daily dose or total cumulative dose and the occurrence of hematologic side effects.4 Clonazepam can also cause anemia, eosinophilia, and leukopenia."
How in the world can our immune systems function properly if the drug he says is so wonderful, so protective, is causing low white blood cell counts?
Perhaps Dr. Cheney would like to answer this question?
d.
p.s. Sushi -- you're very fortunate to be able to get off the drug with relative ease.
I must strongly disagree with Dr. Cheney.
With all due respect to Nielk, the information that Carol Sieverling posted 10 years ago on Cheney's behalf is in my opinion very disingenous and even possibly dangerous. Several points need addressing:
First of all, klonopin/clonazepam doesn't address WHY our brains are overstimulated -- it just temporarily provides a bandaid that suppresses the symptoms. A huge difference.
He says it's not addictive because there's no 'drug seeking' behavior. I say that's bull. If one's doctor threatened to stop prescribing klonopin (clonazepam), believe me, people would 'seek out' that drug in a heartbeat, especially if they'd been on it for longer than six months (with some exceptions of course). And comparing the "need" for klonopin to a necessity of taking thyroid meds is just bizarre. And finally, visit any benzo detox forum, and you'll find many folks who had to increase, or as he puts it "accelerate" their dose, in order to stop the symptoms of tolerance that can develop.
And this paragraph, well, this is just an incredible load of (fill in the blank): "Dr. Cheney said a case might be made that Klonopin is habituating. ...However, he was cautious about even calling it habituating." I seriously don't mean to be glib, but I'd like to see him tell that to Professor Ashton, who has experience with thousands of patients tapering off these dangerous drugs.
"Dr. Cheney has never seen a recovered patient have difficulty coming off Klonopin. He stated, "When you no longer need the drug, coming off it is very easy."
This is odd, because the interview/report was done in 2001. But when asked by the National CFIDS Foundation (ncf-net) in 2008, how many patients of his had recovered, he answered, "Zero".
And finally, what he COMPLETELY fails to mention is the fact that klonopin (clonazepam) is the ONLY benzodiazepine that can cause ANEMIA and LOW WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNT (neutropenia, leukopenia).
http://psy.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/40/5/414
"Thrombocytopenia has been described with clonazepam (KlonopinTM)22 and diazepam (ValiumTM)22,33 (see Table 6). Diazepam and chlordiazepoxide (LibriumTM) also can reduce platelet aggregation. There is no definitive relationship between the daily dose or total cumulative dose and the occurrence of hematologic side effects.4 Clonazepam can also cause anemia, eosinophilia, and leukopenia."
How in the world can our immune systems function properly if the drug he says is so wonderful, so protective, is causing low white blood cell counts?
Perhaps Dr. Cheney would like to answer this question?
d.
p.s. Sushi -- you're very fortunate to be able to get off the drug with relative ease.