Tapered off of Klonopin and now I am in perimenopause hell!

Women's health
1

Every month towards the end of my period, I wake up with anxiety and depressionand cry for a few days,

(also have developed a rash like I did in withdrawal) I feel like Iam losing my mind, I don't know how to put up with this.  It feels for those days like it did when I was withdrawaling from klonopin, which is a horrible thing to go through. Anyone else out there that have dealt with a drug liek klonopin and then enter perimenopause and have these syptoms?

I attached a photo of the rash which has spread some now.

2

Kay it looks like a ring worm to me which a fungal cream would kill out. 

3

No its not ringworm, I had this two years ago while tapering, antifungals didn;t do anything, its back and same thing antifunal is not doing anything and it is not spreadable, it lookslike ringworm but it is not ringworm. 

4

I'm pretty sure that rash is ringworm ,

5

I had a rash very similar to this last year, started as a small speck and spread. I was treated for Lyme. Athough 3 doctors weren't sure. I didn't have a blood test but chose to take the doxycycline strong antibiotics which cleared it. Could you have been bit by a tick?

6

No I don't think so, I had this two years ago, when I was tapering klonopin and was really sick, then in December my Mom had a stroke and I have alot of stress, then my periods started to change, I get anxiety and crying and this rash, I went to the gyn he said it was the change, but it seems as if he does not want to deal with it. I have three more small ones now, I get one with each passing period. And the anxiety and depression is bad.

7

Plus I don;t have the blull's eye on any of them.

8

I would try a cream like Lamisil, (terbinafine hydrochloride) for the rashes. or a antibiotic cream. Maybe your chemist can help.

Which creams have you tried?

For the stress and anxiety try passionflower or rhodiola. Read up on them they may help you through this bad patch.

9

I went through Klonopin withdrawal. It was hell and it almost killed me. I had rashes all the time.

 I am not sure how old you are but the anxiety might just be protracted withdrawal. Mine lasted 2 years from the start of tapering. I had to be very carefull not to use anything to make it worse, coffeee, ibuprophen, stimulants etc.I took nothing for 6 years, only Tylenol twice. 6 years after the withdrawal peri started. I think it is peri, I am 50 still mestruate but I do get tons of morning anxiety, day anxiety, feeling of ddom, headaches-tension, allergies, asthma, MS like symptoms etc. I am not sure how to get through this, taking it day by day. I guess it all started because of my life situation, whisch is very diorganized and unstable. I command you for getting of the hellish drug!!!! There was nothing like the hell I saw then. I hope you do not take anything else?  Write to me anytime.

10

I had one on the back of my neck and pure bleach dried it up and then I just peeled off it never ever returned! 

11

Thanks so much for commenting, you are exactly who I wanted to hear from. Having gone through benzo withdrawal and then at some point slammed with perimenopause. 

I am 51. I tapered klonopin for 18 months and my last dose was two years ago last month. I cannot beleive how much this feels like withdrawal. 

I had normal peri stuff in the two years free of klonopin, I had shorter periods closer together and some spotting. But this crazy anxiety, depression and getting hysterical and frightened started in December. My Mom had a stoke in front of me and I had to call 911, it shook me up and have been going downhill since then.

Each period is alike now excpet for the flow, sometiems it is thin and watery but heavy no cramps, and sometimes it is clotty and thick with cramps. always starts with spotting for days and I wait for the period to start, then it starts and it is not to bad, then when it would be winding down it has the last day it suddenly gets heavy and that is when the hysterical crying begins, all day and all night, like withdrawal I have that sick energy runnning through me all day and all night, can't sleep, heart is racing. Then the next day the flow had just stopped and I am wiped out and depressed trying to figure this out. Plus the rash I freak out about the rash or fear cancer. I cry for all this day also. 

Right now I am on the day where I'm tired from what just happened, depressed about all this and have no hope for any furture releif. So far this is how it has been since december.

Like you I have a very disorganized life and very unstable which is putting me on edge. My Mom needs care and I can barely function. I have  Brother who helps be he has serious, very serious health issues, in fact I am very lucky that he is still here. So even that is hard.  

I can't work because I can't function, when i got done with my taper, I started to try and get my health back and I was just about to be at my best when all this happened. Which I sm not sure what the heck happened. Now I am writing out all that needs to be known for accounts and bills and such, just in case because it feels like I will die at some point if I don't get releif. I don't think my heart can take it if it has to be for years like this. 

I feel like my brain was damaged with the klonopin and anything that would help will cause more problems with the perimenopause.

I would like to keep in contact and maybe we can help each other or just be there for each other because of our common suffering.

Kay

12

Thats interesting, I used apple cider vinegear on one and it scabbed and is healing. But I am also worried about why I ahve it and what I am doing to keep it around. (shurgs)

13

Yes, tha brain was damaged by the stuff. I started benzos years before Klonopin and I was barely functional from there on. I could never keep a job and I have an MS in Pharmacy. I might have Lyme's disease as well, hence the need for sleeping pills years ago. Unfortunately I was told too late, that I was addicted and never to touch the more powerful Klonopin.  The moring anxiety was HORRRIBLE during withdrawal. It lasted 24 hours really, and I slept for 2 hours a night every second or third night only.  Now it is very bad, but there are ways to curb it. Unfortunately I have moved to Florida, and I think that triggered multiple allergies nad asthma which precipitated my anxiety now. The suicidal depression came back, because I feel so bad. But, I had wonderful 7 years after the withdrawal, I am grateful for that. I am not sure what the future brings, unfortunately i have multiple problems now, who knows whether they are peri- related or not. I take life day by day. I do not have much faith in future, but I hope that my body will find a way to survive and heel whatever this is. Hang in there. I live in PA now, if you need any support write to me anytime.  Investigate the rash, but it might as well be immune system problem, just like during withdrawal when I used to scabies like rashes every couple of weeks. They went away right after the worst withdrawal and were never a problem bigger than just a nuisance. Be careful with steroid creams etc!

14

And remember! Anxiety fuels itself. It finds ways to get us, once we get used to some symptoms and become resistant it will come up with another one not known to us yet. We have to learn to not pay attention, this way it will go away. even if i is peri.

15

Yes I am seeing a new doctor and they prescribed a steriod and antifungal cream which I have not used, I'm afraid to. Since this is a new doctor I have to go in and get a full physical and then tell him my story. I already saw the nurse practicer. She took blood for thyroid and a few other things, I call tomorrow to set up something. I jsut don;t think they will understand, she said I should see a GYN who deals with hormones. 

Is every cycle the same? It is hellish every month? This time I also had food poisoning  also so it has been one hell of a time.

 

16

I hope so. I know what you mean though, I'm freakign ont he rash, then when I think I ahve that under control I'm scared of the doctor, its just so odd.

17

For about 2 years I noticed increase anxiety before a cycle. For a day or two. Now it is 10 days for me, but my life has taken a turn for worse as well. It might be the reason for an increase of anxiety.  I also had some stomach bug, or flu about a month and a half  ago which triggered severe nervous nausea. I have horrible problems with my intestines and stomach as well. Sometimes I think that it is all intestine related.

 

18

What does the doctor say?

 

19

I no longer go to doctors since I cannot take anything they prescribe because of anxiety side effects. I only see them in extreme cases when there is no other way. I used to have Graves Basedow symptoms years ago, I think this stays with you till the end and causes symptoms after every stress.

20

I have a feeling I will be in that boat because I will not take anything that will hurt my tapering recovery, but I guess knowing certain tests results will help with the health anxiety.