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  • BDD Moderators: Keif’ Richards

How to taper from 1 mg Clonazepam 1 -2 times a week, 6-7 times a month?

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jack v

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I've been taking clonazepam for a while occasionaly,no more than twice a week. Usually 6 times a month, though sometimes it has been 8 times a month last year. Usually I take 0.75 - 1mg. I've been taking clonazepam occassionally for 5 years.

Now I think it has caught up with me and I am hitting withdrawals. My last dose of 1 mg I have had severe anxiety today and vomited a few times. I took 0.75 mg before bed because the anxiety was unbearable. Yet I still can't sleep.

I was just wondering what is a good taper schedule because my use has been erratic.

I was going to wait it out and see if it passed but I know going cold turkey can be dangerous. But I thought because of my occassional use it could be okay. Now with my 0.75 mg tonight I have had three doses in the last week.

Just wondering what a good tapering schedule is because I am at my wits end.
 
If you aren't taking clonazepam every day, I don't think you should have to taper. You should be able to stop taking it at the dosage you are.

If you are having bad anxiety, try taking 0.5mg of clonazepam, and space it out to once a week or twice a month at the most.
 
Clonazepam is a benzodiazepene, which requires careful tapering off, to avoid abrupt discontinuation effects. I'd be wanting to taper off similarly to the following: first week 90% dosage; following weeks: 80, 70, 60, 50, 40, 30, 25, 20, 15, 10, 7.5, 5, & 2.5%
One way is to get a mortar, and pestle, and crush tablets to a powder; put it in a long, thin line, and work out correct proportions, perhaps cutting the line in half once, and then repeatedly (measurements need only be approximate). A more accurate way is to dissolve them in water, and use a graduated medication measuring container, from a pharmacy.
 
Even with its long half life, I wouldn't think you would experience withdrawals at less than 2 mg/week of non daily use. I could be wrong, certainly.
 
Thanks for the responses!

My symptoms gradually decreased for a few days and I was feeling fine yesterday.

But then last night I woke up at 4 am with heart palpatations, anxiety and major diarrhea.

The diarrhea has calmed down a bit but I'm still feeling anxious, but not as bad as last Sunday.

Could the 0.75 mg I took Sunday night have calmed me down slowly over a few days and now 5 days later I am feeling withdrawal symptoms or rebound anxiety again.

I also didn't drink much water yesterday and I take benadryl to help me sleep.
I know benadryl can dehydrate you, maybe that caused my episode last night and my anxiety today, cause dehydration can cause increased heart rate.
 
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It's not entirely impossible.

Drop your dose by by 0.250 milligrams every week. Since you dose twice a week schedule the dose drop for every first dose each week. Once you approach 0.250 start dropping by 0.050-0.100 milligrams every week.

Use hydroxyzine, magnesium, and valerian to help mitigate the withdrawal symptoms during and after the taper.

As someone else mentioned, if you carefully taper you will not feel any withdrawal symptoms.
 
hmm i like this thread, im thinking someone should make a taper guide and sticky it.
 
Hey guys.

I took some valerian last night like you suggested and I felt better after an hour or so. The symptoms almost all went away and I slept very well.

I feel a little anxious today but not as bad as yesterday and it is now 6 days since I have taken clonazepam.

Can valerian have this effect?

Maybe this isn't benzo withdrawal.

I just took some more valerian 20 minutes ago.
 
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Valerian operates on GABA receptors much like benzodiazepines but probably to a much lesser degree. It's very possible that it's mitigating your withdrawal symptoms, especially in your case where you have a relatively mild habit.

If you're feeling well after 6 days of not consuming clonazepam, I would consider the worst part over, and reccommend that you don't take anymore benzodiazepines.
 
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