By the time I was prescribed Klonopin, I was entering my fifth year of prescription drugs.

Over those five years, I had been prescribed ten different drugs, with frequent adjustments to both the dosages and the instructions for how to take them.

At one point, I was on five different drugs simultaneously, taking them at various intervals throughout the day. 

In January of 2015, I once again changed my healthcare practioner to another highly rated psychiatrist. When I began treatment with him, I was taking two medications – Lithium and Abilify – which was considered my base medications.

As usual at my initial appointment, my wellness and past treatment history was discussed with my new healthcare practitioner.

I shared my belief that these medications, particularly Abilify, were negatively impacting my physical and mental health.

It was at this time, I openly omitted to him that I was an alcoholic and was sober since November of 2014.

His professional recommendation was to maintain my base medications, Lithium and Abilify, and introduce Klonopin (Clonazepam), a controlled substance, into the regimen. 

My starting dose of Klonopin was a 1 mg pill which I was advised to cut in half.

My initial reaction on Klonopin was a positive one. I felt good on it. It gave me a high.

However, it wasn’t long before I began experiencing breathing difficulties, leading to the immediate discontinuation of Klonopin. I was never informed of an asthma warning. The fact was I used a prescribed albuterol inhaler for asthma symptoms for years.

Since Klonopin didn’t work, he started to approach my treatment like everyone else, a game of drug roulette. He changed my dosages, adding a thyroid drug, supplements, and valium to the mix.

Eventually, he began stepping back from my treatment, delegating my appointments to another practitioner in his office. 

By this point, my hope for achieving wellness had all but vanished.