Question: Hi,

I have epilepsy and have received Klonopin (up to 6mg per day for 7 years) and Ativan (as needed) in addition to Lamictal (500mg per day for 4 or 5 years) from a military treatment facility.

I no longer have insurance/healthcare through the military, but my boyfriend got me to go to Johns XXXXXXX for a consult a couple of months ago. They prescribed 1mg of Onfi and said that my use of Klonopin would naturally decrease.

Since the military insurance terminated recently and I believe I had a seizure, I called and updated Johns XXXXXXX University's neurology dept on these 2 facts. The nurse said that it will be a couple of months before I can get another appointment, and in the meantime that I should increase my Onfi dose to 2mg and decrease my Klonopin and Ativan intake to 0mg.

I am extremely concerned about the abrupt transition, especially given that I have only communicated with the nurse not the doctor. I increased my Onfi dose to 2mg as instructed for 2 nights, but felt extremely bad physically and emotionally and was unable to completely quit the other benzodiazepines. I have since reverted to the same regiment of medicines that I used under military care.

I am faced with a dilemma because I am extremely concerned both about the side effects (withdrawal, potential seizures) of the abrupt change as well as my ability to comply due to physical dependency. I would feel much better if I could speak to the actual doctors at XXXXXXX but due to their busy schedule, this is not possible.

I would appreciate any advice that you could give me.

Thanks,

XXXX