I have been taking clonazapam for about 6 years. I have severe panic/anxiety and depression. I was taking 1mg at bedtime until last year, when I went through a break up and a move. Due to increasing anxiety my dosage was upped to 2mg at bedtime. Clonazapam has definitely changed my life for the better. In December of 2013, I had an accident and broke my femur in 3 places. I was put on percocet, 2 pills 3x per day as needed for pain. On June 14 I stopped taking the percocet. Not knowing anything about tapering, withdrawals and things like that. The first week off was difficult, but I got through it and was very happy for a short time. Now I m into week 3 and my anxiety and panic is through the roof. I ve been to my doctor twice since I stopped the percocet. Last Monday and today. She told me last week tapering was the next step for me, but since I stopped cold turkey, keep pushing through. She prescribed clonidine for the anxiety which did not help. Discontinued clonidine because it made me feel worse. Today I broke down and cried to her that I was feeling super anxious and nervous, I ve lost 9 pounds in the last 2 weeks due to no appetite and I haven t been able to get good sleep. I wake up retching and almost throwing up because of the anxiety. Early. Every morning. As soon as I wake up I m in a panic. Today she prescribed mirtzapine to take at bedtime. She prescribed 15mg to take at bedtime with the clonazepam. I talked to the pharmacist and he advised me to take 1/2 that for the first week to reduce side effects. My doctor wants to see me back in one week and she wants me to make an appointment to get evaluated for counseling. My worry is that the mirtzapine will increase my anxiety and I ll be worse off. I feel like if I could just get some sleep, things will normalize and my anxiety will lessen. What are your thoughts? I know the withdrawal triggered this anxiety and panic, plus the fact that I went through a traumatic accident and I m spending too much time online reading about how terrible benzos are for you and how dangerous withdrawal is. I m terrified of this even though my doctor has assured me that she isn t planning on taking me off of it, I seem to ruminate over the worst case scenarios and I feel like I m losing my mind, or I m just going to die from my medication. Which causes me to be reluctant to try anything new, but I m DESPERATE for some sound sleep. Please help. I m a 45 year old female, 119 lbs.