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Klonopin Withdrawal

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Chestnutmair

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Jan 23, 2013
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I have been on Klonopin for 3 months now. I was on .05 3x daily. I am now down to 2 tablets that I have gotten down to 3/4 each. Should I get rid of one of the doses? or should I keep going back and forth and reduce both at the same time? Also, as my dosages decline will withdrawal get any better? I have been taking off a 1/4 tablet once a week. I can't handle much more than that. I want to do it slow and safe. I have a baby to take care of during the day. Any help is appreciated.
 
Your doing the right thing!

The slower you taper the more time you allow your brain to perform GABAergic/glutamergic neuroadaptation, eventually leading to equilibrium and freedom of GABAergics.

I'm tapering clonazepam myself and the slower the better causing much less unpleasant withdrawal symptoms upon cessation. You can even taper down to 0.750 milligrams (or even less!) every other day due to clonazepams long half-life.

Good luck!
 
Hi there Chestnut, and welcome to bluelight! Firstly, may I congratulate you on your wanting to come off benzos. While it is a tedious and painful process, the end result will be fantastic and you'll finally be back to your normal un-dazed state soon.

As you have been on a relatively low dose of clonazepam over the course of 3 months, I think that you're doing great by tapering slowly. It's always the best method of coming of benzos. I believe that through your tapering method you'll probably experience the least amount of withdrawals possible. However, you could most likely speed up the process of coming off your benzos by cutting even half a tablet a week, as this will most likely not give you much withdrawal symptoms. Have you been experiencing any during your time coming off?

Have you considered using diazepam (valium) instead of clonazepam for your taper? I have found that when I withdraw from benzodiazepenes, be it any, they are the most useful and frankly brilliant ones in order to experience the least withdrawal possible. If however you cannot, then i'd continue to taper as planned.

You mentioned that you've taken a tablet out of that - so you're down to 0.75mg daily if I am correct? Please correct me if I am wrong. Your tapering schedule seems perfect to me, in reducing 1/4 a week of one tablet will let you come off benzos with much more ease. May I ask - at what time of day do you take your clonazepam?
 
I have to keep at this weekly schedule because of my husbands work schedule. I can't take care of the baby some days so I try to time it so when I fall apart he is there to take care of her. I just don't know if I should keep going back and forth because I take them 2 times a day. Or should I just get rid of one of the doses. It is a small reduction but the withdrawal is just suffering. I guess I am very sensitive to this poison. I have also had diareah since I started taking it and have lost 35lbs. It is very hard to eat but I drink boost or ensure to make sure I get something in me
 
Hiya chestnut, I just sent you a PM with information regarding tapering off. Could you give a check through and then post back here, or I could just copy it over. I'll do that actually.

I think that you should come off everything and don't give into the doctors advise about trying new meds to counter the benzo withdrawal it will not help at all and will most likely make matters worse as it does for many people. I am truly sorry for all the pain and suffering you've been through especially when it comes to a miscarrage, I can only imagine that to be one of the most horrible experiences in life but things will get better. Feel free to make a post in The Dark Side if you wish to talk to people about it, perhaps getting it off your chest would really help you

Anyway back onto the benzos. if you're really struggling at coming down and off them - have you talked to your doctor about switching over to diazepam? The equivalent doses would be 10mg at 9am and 10mg at 9pm. From there on in you can taper down 5mg every week, starting with the morning dose, and i'd continue doing so until the morning dose is eliminated. The same goes for it if you're using clonazepam too though. Continue to taper using 1/4 of a pill each week, and get rid of the morning dose first as you'll probably suffer from some insomnia I imagine. You could do 1/4 in the morning first week, then 1/4 in evening the week after, 1/4 in the morning 3rd week and 4th week 1/4 off at night and you'll finally be free. Keep your chin up, you're doing really well, and things will only get better from here on in.
 
Yes - as suggested read my above post. I think you're on the right tracks to coming off your meds, have you considered switching over to diazepam?
 
No more meds. I don't want to have to wean off of something else. This whole escapade has been too much for me. Just gonna ride it out. My Psych says to get rid of daytime dose first, primary doc says get rid of night time. I am really confused. I need to fuction in the morning and it is my toughest time of the day. I am thinking of getting rid of am dose. I flip back and forth. Very confused

Sorry. My cognitive is really off today. I'll get the hang of this soon!

Will the withdrawal lighten up as my dosages get smaller? I can handle feeling bad but the diareah and when I get manic or feel crazy that is hard!
 
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Don't worry, it's okay. The withdrawals will unfortunately not lighten up s you continue to taper, but once you're off the meds completely you'll start feeling much better.
 
Moving this BDD --> TDS as it's the feeling of the moderation that the OP may now benefit from some moral support that can be offered there. :)

Best of luck with a full recovery!
 
I'd just take your dose in the morning, clonazepam has a long half life that should last you well into the next day, if not longer. There's no need to dose twice daily really. Switching over to diazepam isn't trading addictions or anything, it's just a better taper drug because it has a longer half life keeping level of diazepam more even in your blood/brain, making it a smoother process. Diazepam also has some nicer properties for withdrawing, the added muscle relaxation will ease the klonopin withdrawal. I'd really recommend a diazepam taper over clonazepam, it's just overall a better benzo for tapering.

The withdrawal does unfortunately get worse and worse the lower you go and with each dose drop but it's the only way out and you can ease the pain by going slower and slower near the end and dropping you dose less each time.
 
Yeah, I agree with everyone else and think it might be better for you to taper using diazepam instead of clonazepam since it's got a longer half-life. I know it's annoying not to be able to just drop everything at once, but tapering is definitely the right way to go - getting off benzos cold turkey is an absolute nightmare.
To deal with the withdrawals, I suggest you try to find yourself a bit of time every day where you can relax yourself completely - lie down, breathe slowly and listen to music, take a nice bath...it'll really help you deal with it. I'm sure this'll be difficult considering you've got a baby but really try to make that time for yourself.
 
Switch to equal amount of valium. Now I am stuck with valium, but at 20mg. I feel feelings again. At 3mg of clonazepam I had no anxiety, but I also had no feelings, life was robotic and without any purpose so I switched to valium and tapered down. Still a 66% reduction in dosage. ffs, please do not stop cold turkey it will just psychologically damage you even when the physical part is over (6 months later...)
 
3 More weeks. 3 doses left. I hope I can make it. Palpatations have started now. I am still not sure if I should get rid of the morning dose or the night dose first but. Mornings are rough. Diareah is bad. Doc gave me lomotid for it. I hope it helps. Living on Boost or Ensure. Hanging on!!!
 
I have been using Bach Flowers Rescue Remedy and Calm Forte to keep my palpatations in check. They are both holistic and help with sleep as well. Benedryl at night to sleep. I am not a good sleeper anyway but if I don't sleep the panic attacks come on. I am so looking forward to the end. I know when all the pills are done it will be rough but it can't hurt worse than it already has. I have been meditating and watching this monk on youtube. Ajahn Brahm. He is pretty funny and calming as well.
 
FYI another perspective I don't read enough about.

I just finished tapering Clonazepam, and I've had zero effects. Nothing. Nada.

I didn't take alot--doctor prescribed 2mg, I did that for a week didnt like it so I changed it to 1mg, and took that every night for ~2 years (for sleep).

I decided to cut that in half several months ago. Then 4 weeks ago or so I cut that in half again to .25. Two weeks ago I cut that to .125 for just a few days. Stopped taking it a week ago.

If it weren't for people telling horror stories (which I believe, don't get me wrong), I wouldn't even know there are withdrawal symptoms.

Just offering another perspective: everyone is different. Some have withdrawal symptoms, some (like me) don't.
 
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