Horrid Clonazepam addiction. Advice needed.

[Greenies]

I have been using Clonazepam for around 8 months now. I started with .5 in the morning. It worked very well at first and lasted all day. All my anxiety was washed away.

Then I started to need more. I was experiencing withdrawal symptoms while I was on the Clonazepam. So I started taking more. Anyways, I am up to 1 mg in the morning and 1 mg at night. Whenever I try to stop, it is hell on earth. I tried to stop for 8 days and it was hell on earth. If anyone could give me some advice I would be very thankful.

 

[Jabberwocky]

That not all that high of a dose. I'm no expert on doing tapers but on way one could do it w/ clonazapam is to extend the dose time by one hour or two hours everytime you take it. The prescriber of the clonazepam may have advice on how to decrease.

It is possible some of what you are considering withdrawal is actually breakthrough symptoms, especially since you say "I was experiencing withdrawal symptoms while I was on the Clonazepam." withdrawal symptoms while you are on a similar dose as always are unlikely to be withdrawal symptoms.

If your doctor goes along with it a gradual washout on the clonazepam and re-evaluating your situation might be a good way to go about things. Sometimes meds are initially good or symptom relieving but over time become symptom worseners or bad in some ways. Long term benzos make some people worse rather than better. I'd really prefer you work with a doctor on this if at all possible.

 

[Captain.Heroin]

Start tapering; go to 0.5mg instead of 1mg, and stay at 0.5mg as long as you need to (or maybe just a few weeks - eventually you'll feel better again), and then after 0.5mg, you can go down to 0.25mg, and then maybe you can take it once every other day instead of once a day.

By tapering, this will help you get off of it without feeling the worst possible withdrawal symptoms.

During this process, focus on eating as much as possible, getting enough fluids, and make sure you exercise as much as you feel you can. To promote good sleep, avoid using other benzodiazepines, alcohol, and if you need to, you can use antihistamines such as doxylamine. Ideally you won't need to take drugs for sleep. However, if you are having unpleasant insomnia due to the withdrawal effects, antihistamines can be really helpful and they are not as bad to come off of in the short term.

Making sure you get enough physical activity is really key though, this is the number one thing I would advise.

 

[Greenies]

Thank you for the quick replies! I have about 20 Atarax pills from when I ran out and had to go to the ER. They injected me with 2 mg Ativan.

Enki, I don't see a doctor. I have no prescription. I have also been abusing alcohol. Thank you for the quick replies. I will take your advice Caption Herion. I can tell that the medication is no longer giving the fully desired effects.