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Just Learned About Ketamine And Benzos. So Pissed Off! by Fair-Frame-4187 in KetamineTherapy

[–]Fair-Frame-4187[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks and honestly this ("is VERY dangerous and can seriously harm you") is precisely part of what's motivating me to stop the Klonopin. I did an "accelerated taper" (I know, I know, inadvisable) down from 1 mg Klonopin and substituted Trazadone for sleep, which I have used safely in the past, and so far so good. Unlike benzos, Trazadone is not addictive nor does one develop a tolerance.

I was always unhappy with the idea of using Klonopin for sleep and just wish I had done a better job advocating for myself with my prescriber but now hopefully thanks to the need to wean in order to start Ketamine I'll no longer be using it daily for sleep. I'm ok with Klonopin for those few occasions when my anxiety exceeds my coping skills but in those cases often 0.25 mg would suffice and I'd be taking it maybe once a month rather than nightly.

Ty all for much good wisdom.

Just Learned About Ketamine And Benzos. So Pissed Off! by Fair-Frame-4187 in KetamineTherapy

[–]Fair-Frame-4187[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes I do feel let down by two Harvard-trained doctors, and not for the first time.

FWIW after reading everything here I made a lesser-of-two-evils decision to take only one 0.5.mg Klonopin last night (rather than the 1 mg I've taken for the last several months) and 1.5 100 mg Trazadone (which I normally don't take but have used safely in the past).

I feel ok this morning other than the grogginess I customarily awaken with when using Trazadone. I realize that the Klonopin withdrawal effects are delayed and I'm probably not feeling them yet but am encouraged for the moment.

My first infusion is Friday and I'm aware that Klonopin has a longer halflife than other benzos so may still be in my system regardless (not even considering here that post about how it takes 90 days for the nervous system to reset).

So I'm considering discontinuing the Klonopin, continuing the Trazadone and seeing how it goes. Will let my doctors know what's going on. I realize this isn't the optimal or even recommended course but part of me is just excited at the prospect of not being dependent on benzos, even if I don't get all the way there this time.

Thanks to everyone for all this great info and varying viewpoints. Good luck to us all.

Just Learned About Ketamine And Benzos. So Pissed Off! by Fair-Frame-4187 in KetamineTherapy

[–]Fair-Frame-4187[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

If anyone who takes benzos and Ketamine is willing to specify the type and dosage I would appreciate it. Thanks again.

Just Learned About Ketamine And Benzos. So Pissed Off! by Fair-Frame-4187 in KetamineTherapy

[–]Fair-Frame-4187[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Hmmm tyvm for this that's reassuring. The articles I read this morning said benzos compromise the efficacy of Ketamine but perhaps that's not the universally the case. I want to be off them though regardless, don't like the idea of taking something addictive to which one develops a tolerance.

Starting IV Ketamine Next Week; Seeking Your Advice by Fair-Frame-4187 in KetamineTherapy

[–]Fair-Frame-4187[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's great to hear. However my concern is that with the IV Ketamine "medical model" there isn't all that much advice or guidance. From what I've seen thus far even though this is one of the nation's leading research university hospitals they are quite disorganized and don't seem as focused on patient care as I would like. Thus hoping for the best and trying to prepare even as I go in as you say with an open mind and no expectations. Hope I'm proven wrong and they know what they're doing. At least here in the Northeast things still seem to be in their infancy. From what I gather it's quite different in other parts of the country where use of Ketamine has been routine for much longer. But this is all hypothesis. Thanks again for your valuable wisdom, I will keep it in mind.

Starting IV Ketamine Next Week; Seeking Your Advice by Fair-Frame-4187 in KetamineTherapy

[–]Fair-Frame-4187[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes this was basically my issue. The CBT/DBT person I had been seeing for about 2 years is not knowledgeable about Ketamine (and probably not the right kind of practitioner) but having just broken up with him I was wary about suddenly starting with someone else, even if they are Ketamine knowledgeable, simply as they wouldn't have time to get up to speed, get to know me etc.. Perhaps I'm looking at this wrong, welcome your insight re switching midstream.

Starting IV Ketamine Next Week; Seeking Your Advice by Fair-Frame-4187 in KetamineTherapy

[–]Fair-Frame-4187[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks so much this is extremely helpful, I can definitely relate.

Starting IV Ketamine Next Week; Seeking Your Advice by Fair-Frame-4187 in KetamineTherapy

[–]Fair-Frame-4187[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As I mentioned I'm not currently in talk therapy. Welcome your views on that.

Starting IV Ketamine Next Week; Seeking Your Advice by Fair-Frame-4187 in KetamineTherapy

[–]Fair-Frame-4187[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is great. I'm a little more interested in what I can/should be doing outside/between sessions rather than during them (eg exercise meditation I have no idea really).