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BDD Moderators: Keif’ Richards
klonopin..What to do now?? advice please
- Thread starter momof2003
- Start date
GOM
Greenlighter
That looks fine -- you can try some Valerian Root before bed to help you sleep (if you do not wish to pursue the Ambien).
Tripman
Bluelight Crew
Perfect.
Honestly you haven't been on the clonaz long enough or at a high enough dose for there to be any real issues anyway.
Due to some personal reasons i have not been able to start my taper til now. Does the shedule still look good to due being its been about 4 months on this stuff??? And what should i expect as far as withdrawals? I am mainly worried about seizures i think i can deal with anything else. Thank you
Pjkt2501
Bluelighter
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- Dec 5, 2011
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- 2,879
If you're still at the same dose level as you were before, you won't have any issues following the taper plan shown above. I also doubt you're in risk of seizing.
In terms of WD - restlessness, insomnia / trouble staying asleep, rebound anxiety - but this will all pass once the drug is fully out of your body and you can re-acclimate to "normalcy."
In terms of WD - restlessness, insomnia / trouble staying asleep, rebound anxiety - but this will all pass once the drug is fully out of your body and you can re-acclimate to "normalcy."
ihatepipes
Bluelighter
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- Aug 12, 2010
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- 252
I am sorry if you thought this was overly harsh. I have seen multiple people give you the right information and you ask the same questions. I put a name to the terrible feeling you are having. That name is rebound anxiety. You are going to have to deal with it one way or another. The only way to not have to deal with it is to have never started taking them in the first place or continue taking them now. Please, if you don't believe me ask your doctor about it. I am not claiming to know exact figures but I am pretty sure the majority of people experience rebound anxiety upon cessation of benzodiazepine use.
God, I don't even know where to start. First of all do more research on clonazepam because your minimal usage of this substance is not going to cause you any significant withdraws unless you have a low seizure threshold or something along those lines. What you are experiencing when you don't take the clonazepam is rebound anxiety!!! People who take benzo's for a week are likely to experience some rebound anxiety. It is likely that you are making the problems you are going to have with rebound anxiety worse the longer you take this medicine. Please remember rebound anxiety is not fatal it is just uncomfortable. Your best bet is to stop taking the clonazepam, and suck it up and deal with the rebound anxiety because even coming off a .25 mg 2x a day will leave the user with some rebound anxiety. If you don't believe me talk to your doctor. All this talk about a taper off of your dose is kind of silly IMHO.
My P.S. was not directed at the OP but to anyone who thought I came across as harsh. I feel I did not sugarcoat what is really going on.
P.S. If you don't like my opinion go ahead and flame the fuck out of me I don't care. This is the third time I stumbled on this thread and I just think it is kind of silly to freak out about something like this. Benzo withdrawal can be hell but not at the doses OP is prescribed.
Edit* by the way I just reread your first post and your doc was absolutely right about just discontinuing the clonazepam. What he should have also told you is that you are going to experience more anxiety than usual and that this anxiety should return to whatever your baseline for anxiety is after a few days.
God, I don't even know where to start. First of all do more research on clonazepam because your minimal usage of this substance is not going to cause you any significant withdraws unless you have a low seizure threshold or something along those lines. What you are experiencing when you don't take the clonazepam is rebound anxiety!!! People who take benzo's for a week are likely to experience some rebound anxiety. It is likely that you are making the problems you are going to have with rebound anxiety worse the longer you take this medicine. Please remember rebound anxiety is not fatal it is just uncomfortable. Your best bet is to stop taking the clonazepam, and suck it up and deal with the rebound anxiety because even coming off a .25 mg 2x a day will leave the user with some rebound anxiety. If you don't believe me talk to your doctor. All this talk about a taper off of your dose is kind of silly IMHO.
My P.S. was not directed at the OP but to anyone who thought I came across as harsh. I feel I did not sugarcoat what is really going on.
P.S. If you don't like my opinion go ahead and flame the fuck out of me I don't care. This is the third time I stumbled on this thread and I just think it is kind of silly to freak out about something like this. Benzo withdrawal can be hell but not at the doses OP is prescribed.
Edit* by the way I just reread your first post and your doc was absolutely right about just discontinuing the clonazepam. What he should have also told you is that you are going to experience more anxiety than usual and that this anxiety should return to whatever your baseline for anxiety is after a few days.
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ihatepipes
Bluelighter
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- Aug 12, 2010
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I AM on meds (one of them being clonazepam) that is how I know you are psyching yourself out kind of how a heroin addict is more afraid of the withdrawals then they really need to be. I am sorry you took my post as harsh but I know for a fact what I said in my post is more than likely true in your case based on over 12 years of on and off benzo use. The side effects (seizures etc.) you have most likely read about are meant for people taking over 3 mgs a day for an extended period of time definitely not short term use like you have described. I am not being a dick just being real with you about what you are experiencing (at least from the info you provided that I have read in this thread). Everybody who replied to this post has already told you you are in no danger to discontinue your use of clonazepam so what is the continued issue here?
Edit* Someone please chime in and explain rebound anxiety to the OP. I would except I have to go to work.
Also, OP did you read my whole post or just decided I am a dick before you even finished reading it? If you did you would know that I am in fact trying to be of assistance to you by telling you what you are most likely experiencing based on the information you have provided.
Edit* Someone please chime in and explain rebound anxiety to the OP. I would except I have to go to work.
Also, OP did you read my whole post or just decided I am a dick before you even finished reading it? If you did you would know that I am in fact trying to be of assistance to you by telling you what you are most likely experiencing based on the information you have provided.
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I totally agree with not sugar coating stuff. My problem with your post was the way you worded things. People with these issues need the support of others not to be talked to like a child or to basicly be told they are stupid!!! But its all good i do think i am freaking myself out mainly i think because and another board they were telling me bad it was that i was in risk of seizures ect....thats why i deceided to come here and get 1 more opinion. Even on here i have got some private messages about the seizure risk so like i said that in its self would freak me out also! I know my dose is not high but i start getting kinda shakey when its close to my next dose. I am new to this stuff so just wanted to talk to people who have been through it themselves. Like i said i am a straight forward kind of person also just didnt like the way you put it! Thanks for atleast trying to explain.
Pjkt2501
Bluelighter
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You aren't risking seizures from this dose level. If it was enough to cause it, between me cutting clonazepam out cold turkey and taking Tramadol, I'd have likely had a seizure (though I wasn't taking much Tramadol - it does still lower the seizure threshold).
You say you're getting shaky - how is your blood sugar / pressure? I bet this is more a factor than anything. You have all the info you need on page 1 of this to infer everything for tapering correctly for your situation. I went from ~1.5mg/day (.5-2mg, depending how I was feeling) to 0mg because I just didn't feel like taking them any more (lasted a few days, then family knows best - at least how to best give me a panic attack), and had no real issues aside from slight rebound anxiety (google it if you're still unsure what this means) and insomnia / inability to stay asleep well.
You say you're getting shaky - how is your blood sugar / pressure? I bet this is more a factor than anything. You have all the info you need on page 1 of this to infer everything for tapering correctly for your situation. I went from ~1.5mg/day (.5-2mg, depending how I was feeling) to 0mg because I just didn't feel like taking them any more (lasted a few days, then family knows best - at least how to best give me a panic attack), and had no real issues aside from slight rebound anxiety (google it if you're still unsure what this means) and insomnia / inability to stay asleep well.
You really need to explain all this to your doctor. In essence, I agree completely with ihatepipes. You are psyching yourself out. You must have had anxiety in the first place to be sctip'd the meds. Coming off the k-pin will lead to rebound anxiety. If you are already an anxious person (which it seems you are) that can be difficult to deal with. You can use it as needed (which is what I do) but until you get over your rebound anxiety how can you know when you need it?
I am on an SNRI daily for anxiety and have a scrip for 2 x .5mg k-pin each day. I would love to just benzo myself out all the time to avoid discomfort but I fear and respect benzos enough to keep some self control. If you stop taking the drug altogether (as well as the ambien) and you are still shaking and unable to cope a week later then you should see a psychiatrist and have your medical issues and needs properly addressed.
I am on an SNRI daily for anxiety and have a scrip for 2 x .5mg k-pin each day. I would love to just benzo myself out all the time to avoid discomfort but I fear and respect benzos enough to keep some self control. If you stop taking the drug altogether (as well as the ambien) and you are still shaking and unable to cope a week later then you should see a psychiatrist and have your medical issues and needs properly addressed.