Sent to FFUP 9 23, 2018. Writer long time FFUP friend, needs to remain anonymous

1) Notice of suicide

Suicide at Stanley “Something Occurred I think you should know about. A prisoner committed suicide in Stanley on Fri. Sept

21st. That in itself is not uncommon but the circumstances indicate tht it shouldn’t have happened. Most of my information

is second hand so it needs to be verified

The guy is allegedly someone named Koch, a person who looked like he was in his 20/s ( actually he looked about 16 but I

think he was in his 20’s), If it was Koch, then he was on some sort of medication since he was a juvenile. When he arrived at

Stanley they discontinued his medication. He had been up to the library several times asking for help and had made

numerous requests to HIS staff to give him back the medications but they refused. I think that’s what drove him to kill

himself.

Within a couple of hours of finding his body, they cleared his personal property out of his cell and made his cell mate go back

into the cell. I would have thought they would leave the cell empty for awhile after an incident like that.

I think somebody should alert the news media, senator Taylor and tony Evers, I am going to see the parole commission in

October and If my name comes up about this incident I know they will retaliate, against me by giving me a long defer. That’s

why I am telling you, not speaking out myself.

I spoke to Koch in the library about his problem with them discontinuing his meds. I know that much to be true. But whether

he is the one who killed himself is second hand knowledge which is why the above named parties should be notified and

given the secondhand information so they can verify whether it is true. If it is true, I expect the DOC to institute cover-up

about his pleas to reinstate his medication. The denial of which most likely led to his suicide. I’ll leave this up to you to

proceed on this matter however you feel fit. “ sent 9 23 18

2)

Below is response from prisoner litigator on Koch’s withdrawal of meds. He goes through history of the DOC cutting off this

medication- and he did a lawsuit on it- what the DOC did was illegal.

Reed Richardson, SCI Warden

Cathy Jesse. Secretary WI DOC

September 19,2018

Re: Abrupt withdrawal of Meds for Ian Koch #448308, SCI

Hello,

I just read a letter by Ian Koch who is in a crisis situation. He is not having any success in getting

help and I am writing to make sure his requests for help get to you. Upon transfer to SCI he was

abruptly taken off his meds- Klonopin. He has been having serious side effects for over 60 days

and has repeatedly asked for help which has been denied to the point that he was threatened with

a conduct report if he complained again. This guy is in panic and I quickly googled “side effects

with abrupt withdrawal from klonopin” and there are pages of sites on this replete with warnings

not to do it- that withdrawal must be done slowly and carefully.

I know well about the general scare and caution about using addictive drugs and suppose this is

an overreaction to that by your staff. What has been done in Ian’s case is brutal and dangerous,

however. If withdrawal is chosen, it must be done with real care. I also know how short of staff

the entire DOC is; however there is no excuse for the treatment Ian has received.

I ask you to look into this matter and see that Ian is given good care . and his progress is

monitored whether he is kept off this drug or its use is reinstated. There is so much literature on

how to handle Klonopin, please ask your staff to educate themselves on the subject. I am

enclosing Ian’s letter to me and one of the results of the google search I did.

I thank you for your attention.

Peg Swan

29631 Wild Rose Drive

Blue River, WI 53518

Clonazepam Withdrawal Symptoms, Length, and

Treatment

Learn If Detox Is Needed

Content Overview

What Are Some Clonazepam Withdrawal Symptoms?

Clonazepam withdrawal symptoms can include:

Headaches

Stomach pain

Nausea

Tremors

Sweating

Hallucinations

Dizziness

Fatigue

Confusion

Anxiety

Depression

Seizures

Thoughts of suicide

Acute withdrawal symptoms peak two weeks after stopping use of clonazepam, but subtle signs can last anywhere

from a week to a month.

Find Fast

Benzodiazepines are a class of drugs that act as central nervous system depressants, or sedatives and

tranquilizers.

Clonazepam, with a trade name of Klonopin, is an anxiolytic drug prescribed to manage seizure disorders and also

panic disorders by slowing down some of the bodily and brain functions related to anxiety and stress. Clonazepam

is thought to increase the presence of gamma amino-butyric acid (GABA) in the brain, which helps to slow down

heart rate and blood pressure, and calm emotional disturbances.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, warns that taking Klonopin can be habit-forming and that users

may become physically and psychologically dependent to the drug. Users should therefore not stop taking

clonazepam suddenly without medical supervision due to the dangerous side effects, or withdrawal

symptoms that may occur after the discontinuation of the drug. Side effects and withdrawal may occur in

users who take the drug only as prescribed.

Klonopin and other benzodiazepines are commonly abused and even taken with other drugs and/or alcohol, which

may increase the withdrawal side effects. The Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) reported that over 61,000

people sought emergency department treatment for a negative reaction involving the recreational, or nonmedical

use, of clonazepam in 2011.

Clonazepam, when taken or abused for any length of time, can create chemical changes in the brain. Parts of the

brain that are normally suppressed by the drug may become accustomed to the interaction of the drug and stop

performing normally without it. This is when a dependence on the drug has been formed. When clonazepam is then

removed, these functions that were being dampened are suddenly not, and a kind of rebound may occur. The

symptoms that Klonopin may have been managing, such as anxiety, panic, seizures, and insomnia, may then be

magnified.

Withdrawal Symptoms

Withdrawal from clonazepam can be dangerous and even potentially life-threatening.

The drug should not be stopped suddenly or without the direct supervision and guidance of a medical professional.

Potentially fatal seizures or a coma may occur with the sudden cessation of Klonopin.

Catatonia is also a rare, but documented, side effect of clonazepam withdrawal, as reported by the

journal Psychosomatics. Vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate, respiration levels, and body temperature may

need to be monitored during withdrawal, as they can jump to unhealthy levels rather quickly as the brain and body

attempt to restore order without clonazepam.

Physical symptoms of clonazepam withdrawal may

include:

Headache

Stomach pain

Nausea and vomiting

Tremors

Short-term memory loss

Insomnia

Irregular heart rate or heart palpitations

Sweating

Increased blood pressure

Impaired respiration

Dizziness

Blurred vision

Fatigue

Muscle spasms and cramps

Impaired coordination and motor functions

Diarrhea

Feeling lightheaded

Seizures

Benzodiazepine withdrawal is also known for the debilitating psychological side effects that may occur after a drug

such as clonazepam is stopped. Perhaps one of the most serious emotional side effects of Klonopin usage is the

increased risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors, as the FDA even made a point to add warnings about the

potential for increased suicidal ideation to Klonopin labels in 2009.

Psychological symptoms of withdrawal from clonazepam may also include:

Hallucinations

Nightmares

Mental confusion

Short-term memory lapses

Difficulties concentrating

Irritability

Drastic mood swings

Trouble feeling pleasure

Anxiety

Panic

Depression

Drug cravings

Lack of motivation

Feeling “out of it” and disconnected from

reality

Anger and hostility

The emotional benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms will usually subside with time and psychological support.

Benzo Withdrawal Phases

Things Influencing Withdrawal

There are generally three main phases of benzodiazepine withdrawal: early withdrawal, acute withdrawal, and

protracted, or late withdrawal. Since Klonopin is a benzo with a long half-life of 18-50 hours, as published by the

journal Case Reports in Psychiatry, withdrawal will not usually start until about 1-3 days after the last dose, or

when the drug stops being effective.

Early withdrawal usually lasts about 2-4 days and is likely to include “rebound” symptoms, such as anxiety and

insomnia. Acute withdrawal usually peaks around two weeks after stopping clonazepam and may last anywhere

from a week to a month, according to information published in the Center for Substance Abuse

Treatment’s Substance Abuse Treatment Advisory. The bulk of the withdrawal side effects will likely occur during

acute withdrawal. Protracted withdrawal may include a continuation of psychological symptoms and drug cravings

that may appear without warning at any time for several months or even years after the cessation of Klonopin.

Not everyone will experience all three phases of withdrawal as addiction and withdrawal are unique to each

individual. For instance, protracted withdrawal is considered fairly rare; however, it may be more likely to occur in

someone taking clonazepam than someone taking a shorter-acting benzo such as alprazolam (Xanax). Protracted

withdrawal may be able to be avoided or controlled with therapy and mental health treatment.

Treating Clonazepam Withdrawal Safely

AS WITH ANY BENZODIAZEPINE, MEDICAL DETOX IS NECESSARY FOR THOSE WITHDRAWING

FROM CLONAZEPAM.

Medical detox ensures that trained professionals are on hand to monitor progress 24 hours a day, seven days a

week, and medical detox will often utilize medications to help control the more difficult withdrawal symptoms.

Since it may be dangerous to stop taking clonazepam “cold turkey” due to the range of withdrawal symptoms,

detox will often include a tapering schedule. This is a way to slowly lower the dosage over a safe period of time,

which can minimize potential physical and emotional side effects. The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology reports

that major withdrawal symptoms can be largely avoided with a gradual weaning, or tapering, of clonazepam.

Medical detox will usually last about 5-7 days until the peak of withdrawal symptoms has passed, and body is

100% clear of Klonopin.

There is no specific medication currently approved to treat benzodiazepine dependence directly; however, there are

several medications that may be useful during medical detox. Antidepressants may be helpful to manage depression

and suicidal behaviors that may occur during detox and clonazepam withdrawal, and other medications that work to

influence GABA levels, such as gabapentin, are also being studied.

Klonopin (clonazepam) is a benzodiazepine drug that has a number of therapeutic uses.

It is used to assist in the control of seizure disorders, assist in the control of anxiety disorders, and may be used as a

muscle relaxant or sleep aid. Klonopin’s primary action, like all benzodiazepines, facilitates the effects of the

inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma aminobutyric acid (often abbreviated as GABA) in the brain and spinal cord.

This action results in a decrease in the firing rates and excitation levels of all other neurons, resulting in sedation,

relaxation, and a sense of overall calmness. These effects are therapeutic at lower levels of the drug.

Benzodiazepines such as Klonopin also produce feelings of mild euphoria and wellbeing. They are classified as

controlled substances by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (Schedule IV controlled substances).

Klonopin and other Schedule IV substances have a potential for abuse and the development of physical

dependence. They can only be legally obtained with a prescription from a physician.

Withdrawal from Klonopin

Because Klonopin is a high-potency benzodiazepine with a relatively short onset of action, it is used in the

treatment of serious anxiety disorders, such as panic disorder.

However, these properties also leave open the potential for the development of a serious physical dependence on

Klonopin. The syndrome of physical dependence occurs as an individual’s system adjusts to the presence of a drug

in the system and in a sense learns to operate efficiently only when the drug is present in the system at certain

levels. Other system functions compensate for the presence of the drug, and the release and maintenance of

freestanding levels of neurotransmitters, hormones, and the functioning levels of all systems in the body are

adjusted according to the presence of the drug.

When an individual stops taking the drug or reduces the dosage of the drug significantly, and these freestanding

levels of the drug in the system decline, the individual’s system is thrown out of balance, resulting in a reaction that

leads to the release or inhibition of neurotransmitters, hormones, etc. This situation results in the physical

withdrawal symptoms that occur when one stops taking Klonopin. The physical withdrawal symptoms are

accompanied by emotional and behavioral symptoms that are very uncomfortable for the person.

Several variables affect the individual presentation of withdrawal from Klonopin in individuals who abuse the drug.

It is important to note that benzodiazepines like Klonopin are more often secondary drugs of abuse that are used in

conjunction with some other primary drug, such as alcohol or narcotic medications.

When there is polydrug abuse of substances that also carry a high risk for physical dependence, the withdrawal

process is much more complicated.

Variance in human physiology and psychological makeup can affect the intensity and length of withdrawal

symptoms.

The length of time the individual abused Klonopin will influence the length and intensity of withdrawal symptoms.

The frequency of use and dosage used also affect the withdrawal process.

The most often cited depiction of withdrawal from Klonopin (or any benzodiazepine) indicates that withdrawal

really occurs in two major steps. Some sources will increase this to three steps or even more to account for very

acute feelings of withdrawal and/or for a post-acute withdrawal syndrome. That being said, benzodiazepine

withdrawal is generally considered to occur in two stages:

Acute withdrawal: This period occurs within a period of 1-4 days following last use, depending on the half-life of

the benzodiazepine. Benzodiazepines with longer half-lives will result in the appearance of acute withdrawal

systems later than benzodiazepines with shorter half-lives. Klonopin has a half-life elimination of 30- 40 hours, so

individuals may not begin to feel serious acute withdrawal symptoms for a day or two following discontinuation.

The other variable that affects the onset of acute withdrawal from Klonopin is the frequency and dosage of use. The

more often and higher the dose used, the sooner the withdrawal symptoms will appear. Because Klonopin has a

high potential for physical dependence, it is quite possible that abusers of the drug were taking very high doses very

frequently, and withdrawal symptoms can appear sooner in these individuals.

Acute withdrawal symptoms can be quite variable but most often will consist of some combination of:

Somatic symptoms (e.g., headaches, sweating, and tremors in the hands)

Gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps)

Cardiac symptoms that often appear as the result of an anxiety rebound syndrome (e.g., increased blood

pressure and heart palpitations)

Cognitive symptoms and psychological symptoms (e.g., confusion, irritability, mood swings, and rebound

anxiety)

The potential to develop seizures

A rebound effect refers to the return of symptoms that were controlled when one took a specific medication. Since

benzodiazepines like Klonopin are used in the control of anxiety, rebound, anxiety is a common acute effect of

stopping the drug. Some sources may recognize rebound anxiety as a first step in the withdrawal process from

Klonopin as it often presents early in the acute withdrawal process.

Protracted withdrawal: This refers to the symptoms that persist after acute withdrawal ends. People who abuse

Klonopin and were taking extremely high doses of the drug may experience more extended periods of withdrawal.

Individuals will experience general feelings of malaise, cravings, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and may continue

to experience some somatic symptoms, such as nausea, lightheadedness, headache, mild fever or chills, and so

forth. An additional period of rebound anxiety may also occur near the end of this stage.

There is a section of the literature regarding withdrawal from drugs in general, including Klonopin and other

benzodiazepines, that describes a third phase of withdrawal that consists primarily of psychological symptoms, such

as mood swings, periods of irritability, periods of anhedonia (difficulty experiencing pleasure), and depressive

symptoms that continue to present themselves on an intermittent basis for weeks to years following discontinuation

of the drug of choice. This post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) is not universally accepted as a stage of

withdrawal by many researchers, nor is it formally listed in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and

Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; however, the syndrome is accepted by some individuals in the field of

addiction as legitimate.

It is suggested that individuals who do not have the symptoms of PAWS addressed are at a higher risk for relapse

Medications Used to Assist with Withdrawal from Klonopin

Withdrawal from a benzodiazepine such as Klonopin can be potentially fatal due to the risk for seizures

(although this risk is rare).

As a result, medical detox is always necessary for benzodiazepine withdrawal. Several medications can be used to

assist in the withdrawal process, including:

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, such as Paxil and Prozac, may be useful in addressing some of the

symptoms of Klonopin withdrawal.

If an individual develops complications, such as seizures, physicians will use anticonvulsant medications

(e.g., Tegretol or carbamazepine to control the seizures). Some of these anticonvulsants may also assist with

the withdrawal process related to discontinuation of Klonopin.

The hormone melatonin has been useful in assisting individuals who develop insomnia during the

withdrawal process. Melatonin is a hormone that induces sleep. It also may address other symptoms of

Klonopin withdrawal and reverse tolerance.

Any number of medications could conceivably be used to address specific symptoms during the withdrawal

process. However, research indicates that using a tapering process, where the individual in withdrawal continues to

receive increasingly smaller dosages of the drug until formal discontinuation, is the most effective means to manage

withdrawal from benzodiazepines such as Klonopin.

Beyond Detox

After an individual is deemed physically stable, the emotional side effects of withdrawal are considered more

thoroughly. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI) are two forms of therapy that

may be used during benzodiazepine addiction treatment. Individuals usually attend both group and individual CBT

sessions, which may also include homework and educational sessions that strive to uncover the cause of addiction

and how to avoid potential stressors and triggers in the future. MI can aid in increasing an individual’s internal

motivation level by offering incentives for clean drug tests. Peer and family support groups are also useful aspects

of a comprehensive substance abuse treatment program. Levels of care may change throughout withdrawal as

individual needs and circumstances change as well.

Relapse is common in individuals addicted to benzodiazepines, and it is especially hazardous after detox. Someone

who has been accustomed to using drugs at a certain level, but has not used them for a period of time and then

returns to previous use levels, may end up suffering a fatal overdose. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

reported that benzodiazepine overdose deaths increased fourfold from 2001-2013, to close to 7,000 fatalities in

2013.

A relapse may occur as someone strives to self-medicate what may be uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.

Therapy and psychological support are vitally important during benzodiazepine withdrawal in order to reduce and

minimize potential relapse and avoid tragic consequences.

Clonazepam withdrawal is best managed with a combination of both pharmacological and therapeutic methods

starting with medical detox.

*