Benzos Clonazepam WD - what to expect?

[Alex000]

So, a few weeks back I had my first meeting with a psychiatrist in hopes of getting a benzo to calm my nerves, and take the edge off of some of the anxiety I experience. I doubt I really do have GAD, or any other anxiety disorder, but I wanted a benzo script badly.

Anyhow, scripted # 60 0.5 mg Klonopin and # 15 0.25 mg Xanax, and told me to schedule an appoinment with him in a week. So it was, and then he wanted me to schedule another check in a week, and I did. That was the last time I saw him, and he wrote another script for # 90 Klonopin 0.5 mg increasing my dose, and another # 15 0.25 mg Xanax. I guess all this isn't so important, but I am setting up some back story. The important facts in all of this are that I have been using the Klonopin daily around the clock for three weeks, anywhere from 1 to 2 mgs, and nearly have finished the first 15 xanax in those three weeks. For a few days before these three weeks, I was also using unprescribed xanax daily, albeit rather low dose.

I didn't want to become dependent on benzos as I know all about the heinous withrawals, and have put off stopping my daily use by rationalizing it, but I know I don't want to become dependent on benzos, and I want to keep my tolerance nice and low. So I want to be able to use the K-pins "as needed", and actually enjoy them. My question is what should I do in my current situation, need I taper even if my use has only for 3-4 weeks? How long after stopping will I have to wait to use again so that all of the klonopin has gotten out of my system so that I don't prolong the constant exsistence of the drug in my system. Currently I am taking one 0.5 mg three times daily, a low dose I know, but I just want to be safe about this all. Will I be able to use them "occasionally" after stopping daily use? Any thoughts, advice, or information would be very appreciated.

-Alex.

 

[Pegasus]

Luckily, your dose was pretty low.

The good news first: You're not addicted to 15 0.25mg Xanax over three weeks, surely; however, the Klonopin is a bit trickier because 3-4 weeks at that dose is enough to produce some degree (probably fairly significant degree) of withdrawal symptoms most likely. I'd taper your dose of that one down as fast as is comfortable. Once you get down to around 0.5mg clonazepam a day, I suggest to start skipping gradually more and more days in between your doses. This prevents you from ever going one day from directly from daily dosing to not dosing again until (at least) you're totally clean.

Good luck, and if you have any questions on that, please ask! I'm in supermod mode tonight...

 

[Alex000]

Would it be reasonable to cut out the middle of the day dose (at 3 PM ish), and just take 0.5 mg in the morning and night to start, or would that drop be too fast? For the first two weeks after being prescribed it I would take 0.25 - 0.75 mg in the morning, 0.25 at 3 ish, and 0.5 - 1 mg later on in the evening. This last week I have been taking it exactly as he upped it 0.5 mg TID, and I do find to be most "sedated" in the afternoon/evening. I really like the idea of having benzos on hand as needed or for fun on occassion, but really don't want to take them every day.

 

[HdoubleODeezy]

Would it be reasonable to cut out the middle of the day dose (at 3 PM ish), and just take 0.5 mg in the morning and night to start, or would that drop be too fast? For the first two weeks after being prescribed it I would take 0.25 - 0.75 mg in the morning, 0.25 at 3 ish, and 0.5 - 1 mg later on in the evening. This last week I have been taking it exactly as he upped it 0.5 mg TID, and I do find to be most "sedated" in the afternoon/evening. I really like the idea of having benzos on hand as needed or for fun on occassion, but really don't want to take them every day.

that would be reasonable.. after doing that and "stabilizing" on the lower dose i would cut out the morning dose next after a couple weeks, and then cut the night dose in half and stay on that until you are comfortable to come off it completely.. at the end of the taper you could also take it every other day like Pegasus has said.. good luck, im doing a k pin taper right now also. im down to 2mg from 5mg k pin and 10mg phenazepam/daily.. it's challenging but it can be done

 

[Alex000]

Will coming off of the K-pins, even with a taper like this be painful considering my dose and length of use?

 

[HdoubleODeezy]

I'm not sure if your body has become addicted in that short amount of time as everyones body is different and some people get addicted to things easier or harder than others..
Have you tried just stopping cold turkey and seeing if you even get w/d symptoms?
If you can stop CT and not get sick i would highly recommend doing that and taking the benzos as needed, instead of stretching it out over a taper that would make you take it regularly longer and give you more of a chance to get addicted to them if you aren't already.

 

[Alex000]

I was kind of thinking CT would be best for the reason that I do want use them in the future occassionaly, and not daily. I don't know how I would feel just going CT, is there much danger in doing that in my situation? When would wd's start, peak, and end in a case like mine?

 

[HdoubleODeezy]

they would start after the drug is out of your system enough for you to feel you need it and be sick.. it would peak in probably 3 days in your case and last a couple weeks.. all since you haven't been on it too long.

But if you try to CT it and you get really sick then i would deff recommend doing a short taper than, benzo w/d can kill you (probably not in your case since it's a rather low dose and only a short time) but you could still risk a seizure. So my advice is try to CT, if you get sick than follow the taper i stated in my other post or do it as you feel is best for you.

 

[caseface99]

Pardon my lack of knowledge on the subject as i have never dabbled in daily benzos, but SURELY .5mg daily for 3 weeks is no where near enough to be substantially dependent if at all?

 

[HdoubleODeezy]

the only thing keeping me from telling them that 3 weeks is too short to get addicted is the fact that i can't speak for others bodies as everyones is different.. one person could get addicted in 3 weeks while it takes another 3 months. It's really just about being cautious just in case they did in fact get addicted in a short time.

That is why i said to try CT first because odds are they will be able to stop since it has been so short of a time taking regularly.. but just in case they DO get sick, then the safest and best way to stop would be to do a taper off of the drug.

EDIT: and it wasn't .5mg/day it was .5mg 3x/day = 1.5mg/day for 3 weeks. Also with xanax as needed.

 

[caseface99]

Ahh ok, thanks for the clarification. i guess it does generally depend on the person.

 

[slowpoke1967]

I'm not sure if your body has become addicted in that short amount of time as everyones body is different and some people get addicted to things easier or harder than others..
Have you tried just stopping cold turkey and seeing if you even get w/d symptoms?
If you can stop CT and not get sick i would highly recommend doing that and taking the benzos as needed, instead of stretching it out over a taper that would make you take it regularly longer and give you more of a chance to get addicted to them if you aren't already.

I think i would have to agree with this statement,,,its pretty much what i would have said,speeking from someone on 8mg kpins per day..

 

[london2010]

You should visit you doctor or better still your local drugs centre. Addiction to medicinal drugs can be even worse sometimes and can lead to bigger problems in the long run. Seek help before its too late.

 

[london2010]

And better still...don't migrate on to stronger and better things as this is usally the pattern for most.

 

[AfterGlow]

Having taken benzos myself for many years and suffered the consequences, my advice would be to always be working on the root cause of your anxiety if it's serious enough to warrant taking benzos. The drugs alone will not cure you or solve your problem. They will only make it tolerable for a period of time. If you take them long term, you will have to deal with benzo withdrawal and rebound anxiety that is far worse than the anxiety you originally sought relief from.

If you need drugs to relieve your anxiety, please use the time to also reflect on your situation and consider what you're going to do about your situation so you won't need the benzos. They won't work forever without causing you some serious issues. Good luck!

 

[Alex000]

I want to know if I have become dependent on benzos yet, if, and how I should stop taking the k-pins daily, and if I will be able to use them PRN after stopping daily use. I would do CT, but I am afraid it might cause nasty withdrawals, I know it has only been like 3 weeks on the k-pins, and a week before using low dose xanax daily, but I am still afraid of cessation without taper. How uncomfortable would this be? And after the worst is over, can I use the k-pin occassionally without suffering wd's?

 

[NeighborhoodThreat]

It shouldn't be that bad, I'm gunna agree with HdoubleODeezy, I would try and quit cold turkey, or at least fix the Xanax (the more addictive of the two) and see where you are. I will echo what other posters have said, the worst thing about coming off of using benzos for a while is it makes your anxiety come back with a vengance.

Somehow or another after getting scripted lorazepam I can still only take it as-needed. That is, of course, because I did NOT follow my doctor's instructions to take 1mg a day..

 

[chuchu]

Given the dose you have been taking id go ct a 2mg and .5mg habit will not cause significant withdrawal maybe only rebound anxiety nothing worse. Its better this than dragging it out and for GAD the kpins are superior to xanax at least IME.

 

[Alex000]

Clonazepam Withdrawal (?) What am I in for?

So, a few weeks back I posted thread expressing my wish to stop taking my clonazepam daily. I had the best of intentions, but made excuses for myself, and continued to take clonazepam on a day to day basis. I have only been on clonazepam for five weeks, but have been taking every single day, and every day at least 1 mg. For the past two and a half weeks I have been taking at least 1.5 mg a day, and a few days indulging in more. I have also worked my way through about 30 .25 mg's alprazolam in the last five weeks.

Anyhow, I want off now, before I become even more dependent. I asked this question a few weeks ago, and got responses, but I am worried as my duration of usage has increased. So, having taken the clonazepam as I have, is it probable that I am dependent? Would it be unsafe for me to cold turkey at this point, because it has only been 5 weeks, or should I still taper? I just want to get it over with, and not prolong the dependence. I'd still like to have clonazepam for when I truly need it, but don't want to be on it daily, and certainly don't want to be dependent on it. I have a few Fiorinal and Lopressor (Beta-Blocker) if those would help, or hurt for wd's I don't know? Will I even suffer wd's, and if so when will they begin after last missed dose if I do cold turkey? How bad will they be?

Sorry for having made two threads on this, but do need advice as benzo wd's are potentially fatal, and want off clonazepam now.
Though, would still like to have it to use PRN. Thank you all, Alex.

BTW: I take it at least 3 times a day (.5 mgs). Today is the first day I've skipped a dose (my afternoon one).

 

[hydrochron]

At those doses and the amount of time 5 weeks on klonopin, I dont think you have much to worry about. I would do a quick taper down to half a .5 tablet. A quick taper should work fine, as for the xanax you took that shouldn't be a problem as it was a low amount.