Considering tapering off one of my benzos.. need help.

[Violenza666]

I take 2mg of Xanax a day and 1mg of klonopin a day for panic attacks. I have been panic attack free for some time and would like to drop one or the other. I find I only take 1mg of xanax a day... and on some days I only take .5 of klonopin. I feel I don't need the entire script anymore.. and I don't want to be dependant on benzos anymore. Has anyone sucessfully tapered off after 3 years? I would like to keep the xanax script as needed but not for daily use.. But I like the idea of the klonopin because of its long half life and over all help with anxiety. Any thoughts, ideas, or input would be greatly appretiated. Thanks in advance.

 

[skn]

Go up on your klonopin dosage and down on your xanax dosage, from my experience klonopin can cancel out the xanax withdrawl completely

 

[Violenza666]

Thanks, would I still have to taper?

 

[ro4eva]

I've been on Xanax for 4 and 1/2 years now. I've tried a couple of times to substitute other benzos (lorazepam and flurazepam) and also a z-drug (zopiclone) when I've run out of Xanax for whatever reason. I've found (for me anyways) that while there was a cross tolerance especially with lorazepam, it wasn't complete (even though I was taking the correct dosage to compensate for the Xanax dosage). I guess what I'm saying is, Xanax is probably one of the most difficult benzos to get off of and good luck.

And yes (in light of what I just said) you should probably taper at least a little even though you have the Klonopin.

 

[Tommyboy]

I was on 3mgs xanax for 4 years, then tapered down to 1mg xanax in january. From there I switched to 10mgs of valium a day, and just dropped to 7.5mgs of valium by taking one of the 5mg pills, and breaking the second in half to take around 6pm to ensure sleep that night.

The dosages of xanax and klonopin are equivalent on the charts. So you are for the sake of giving an example taking 3mgs of xanax (I know klonopin has longer half life)... I personally switched to xanax xr to taper down b4 switching to valium, but I think you should just swap the xanax n kpin doses, work your way off the xanax, take the klonopin and taper from there.

I would do 2 mgs of klonpin, and 1mg of xanax a day to start, and only take the xanax if you cant sleep. I would also break the xanax in half after the 1st week to see where you stand with it.

I couldn't stand having to worry about having my xanax w/ me at all times, and if I didn't having to deal with panic attacks or seizures sucked. When my panick attacks went away over the summer I figured it was time to get off. The only panic attack I had was when I forgot my xanax at home, and had to work driving from queens to connecticuit all day for work and was worrying about seizing behind the wheel.
Atleast with the valium I have been able to go over 24 hrs without taking another pill, for the first time in over 4 years.
I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, so hang in there and so will you.

 

[Violenza666]

Thank you so much for your words of support. I am going to start lowering my Xanax on my own, which I kind of already have.. I rarely take my afternoon 1 mg dose. And I know what you are talking about when you say you cant stand making sure you have your xanax with you.. now it's more like a security blanket... if I forget it at home I get all anxious.. it's annoying. So when I go into my dr, I am going to talk with him about it. Last time we discussed trading my Xanax for valium so maybe that is a good option. I also can take .5mg of klonopin without flipping out during the day. I have defeated panic disorder, so now it's time to defeat benzo addiction. I thought I would never defeat panic disorder, so with the right attitude I am sure I can do this!! Thanks so much, there is a light at the end of this tunnel!!

 

[ro4eva]

Thank you so much for your words of support. I am going to start lowering my Xanax on my own, which I kind of already have.. I rarely take my afternoon 1 mg dose. And I know what you are talking about when you say you cant stand making sure you have your xanax with you.. now it's more like a security blanket... if I forget it at home I get all anxious.. it's annoying. So when I go into my dr, I am going to talk with him about it. Last time we discussed trading my Xanax for valium so maybe that is a good option. I also can take .5mg of klonopin without flipping out during the day. I have defeated panic disorder, so now it's time to defeat benzo addiction. I thought I would never defeat panic disorder, so with the right attitude I am sure I can do this!! Thanks so much, there is a light at the end of this tunnel!!

I'm not sure I'm as far along as you are, but Xanax has definitely helped me with my Panic Disorder (or panic attacks) and I can say I've progressed and am not nearly as panic prone as I used to be. So I guess I'm getting somewhere as well. Yea I hear people saying it's the Xanax and it partly is, but it's time and other therapy as well, not just the Xanax.

 

[unsettled]

I just recently stopped taking my Xanax cold turkey, I was taking approximately 1mg a day, I'm also on Klonopin so I raised my Klonopin dose to 2mgs daily from 1.5mgs daily. I was definitely uncomfortable the first week but my body seems to have adjusted well. I still trip out not having xanax on me, but I felt it was an important step for me, and my doctor told me as long as I'm taking my Klonopin I'm not at risk of having a seizure, I still have mild panic attacks on the Klonopin but they're not as bad as they used to be. My panic attacks are actually less severe since I cut out the xanax because the rebound anxiety was really bothering me, I'd take one and feel relief for an hour or so but then I'd be twice anxious the second it wore off.

I'd taper the xanax for the sake of comfort if I were you but you could just raise your Klonopin dose and stop the xanax and it's not too bad, although you will most likely feel some sort of adjustment happening. I think it's a good move over all to switch to just taking one or two pills a day, it helps you build your own coping skill during the day when you feel some panic coming on.

 

[Tommyboy]

I just wanted to point out that they make valium in 2mg doses.... Alot of people don't know about this when tapering. I am switching from 2 5mgs a day to 4 of the 2mgs a day.... Just giving you the heads up for when you get to that stage.