10th October 2002
Dear not so Lucky
I say that because it sounds like you have fallen into the "lets wait till the symptoms are incurable before we diagnose" trap.
Well.... I think you could be having an adverse reaction to one or both of your medications.
Xanax is an anti-anxiety drug. It can cause dizziness, perceptual disturbances, photophobia, confusion, parasthesias, sweating, drowsinness,light-headedness, tremors and tachycardia.
It has also been known to cause de-realization, headache, chestpain, increased bilirubin, vasomotor disturbance.
It can also cause pshychological side effects ranging from irritability to psychosis.
It is an addictive medication.
Liver enzyme tests should be conducted when using this drug.... as, it is metabolized in the liver.
Klonipin is an anti-seizure drug. It lives in the same family as lithium and valium.
It can cause many of the same effects as the Xanax
and additionally: decreased attention span, sedation...
nausea, headaches, upper GI disturbance, and it too can be very addictive.
This medication is used to treat akinetic, absence and myoclonic seizures.
One drug or the other is usually prescribed, not usually both together, with liver enzyme tests and extreme caution.
The fact thqt both of these cause such side effects, it would be difficult to know which one is affecting you, if not both.... and I would imagine you are experiencing twice the amount of side effects than normal.
Your numbness could be isolated, or it could be a rare side effect of the medication.
BOTH ARE RESPIRATORY SUPPRESSANTS..... so I am not surprised if you are having difficulty breathing.
DO NOT stop either of these meds abruptly.
YOur side effects could turn into full blown seizures with the Klonipin, (if you are not having these already).
Please tell your doctor about these symptoms you are having.
It sounds like the meds are magnifying an underlying condition.
Ever hear of optic epilepsy?
Has your doctor tested you for epilepsy?
How about your blood coagulation?
Please let me know how all turns out!!!!
:)Blue
PS Just as a side note, I empathise with you deeply that your doc medicated you rather than finding the problem.
I say that because it sounds like you have fallen into the "lets wait till the symptoms are incurable before we diagnose" trap.
Well.... I think you could be having an adverse reaction to one or both of your medications.
Xanax is an anti-anxiety drug. It can cause dizziness, perceptual disturbances, photophobia, confusion, parasthesias, sweating, drowsinness,light-headedness, tremors and tachycardia.
It has also been known to cause de-realization, headache, chestpain, increased bilirubin, vasomotor disturbance.
It can also cause pshychological side effects ranging from irritability to psychosis.
It is an addictive medication.
Liver enzyme tests should be conducted when using this drug.... as, it is metabolized in the liver.
Klonipin is an anti-seizure drug. It lives in the same family as lithium and valium.
It can cause many of the same effects as the Xanax
and additionally: decreased attention span, sedation...
nausea, headaches, upper GI disturbance, and it too can be very addictive.
This medication is used to treat akinetic, absence and myoclonic seizures.
One drug or the other is usually prescribed, not usually both together, with liver enzyme tests and extreme caution.
The fact thqt both of these cause such side effects, it would be difficult to know which one is affecting you, if not both.... and I would imagine you are experiencing twice the amount of side effects than normal.
Your numbness could be isolated, or it could be a rare side effect of the medication.
BOTH ARE RESPIRATORY SUPPRESSANTS..... so I am not surprised if you are having difficulty breathing.
DO NOT stop either of these meds abruptly.
YOur side effects could turn into full blown seizures with the Klonipin, (if you are not having these already).
Please tell your doctor about these symptoms you are having.
It sounds like the meds are magnifying an underlying condition.
Ever hear of optic epilepsy?
Has your doctor tested you for epilepsy?
How about your blood coagulation?
Please let me know how all turns out!!!!
:)Blue
PS Just as a side note, I empathise with you deeply that your doc medicated you rather than finding the problem.