tapering off clonazepam (klonopin), how do you feel about the way I'm gonna taper?

[behindblueeyes]

I am currently on about 3mg of klonopin... with 2mg used for sleep and the other 1mg throughout the day for anxiety. I want to come off of it. My doc prescribed me mirtazapine for sleep and also atarax to help during the taper. I am also on citalopram.

So I am thinking... still take 1mg throughout the day for anxiety, and take 1mg along with a mirtazapine at night for sleep. Do this for 2 weeks.

Then, cut it to .75 during the day, and take .5 at night along with mirtazapine at night for sleep for 2 weeks. (also, take atarax as needed for anxiety or sleep).

Then, for 2 weeks, cut it to .5 during the day for anxiety, and .25 at night with mirtazapine for sleep.

Eventually, stop use altogether.

What do u think about my taper plan? And are the add on meds good to help with it?

 

[BrainstormWithJace]

seeing how your already on an ssri i dont understand the wanting to be dependant on another. ssri are bad enough let alone being on two seems like overkill for me. plenty of other options out there. as for your taper sounds alright with the kpins. maybe ask for clonodin think thats spelled right for sleep i know it lowers bp/hr and acts somewhat on anxiety. good luck

 

[behindblueeyes]

the mirtazapine is only being used at a low dose (7.5-15mg) to help aid in sleep during withdrawal, not at doses high enough to be an antidepressant.

And my doc didn't mention anything about the other med you mentioned, but scripted me atarax (which I never heard of before) to help with rebound anxiety. Heard it's non addictive and good to help with sleep too. Anybody who has any experience with atarax for help with benzo tapering, opinions would be great as I've never heard of this med. I know it's not a benzo and it helps with itching or something.

 

[behindblueeyes]

Also, I've been having problems with abusing alcohol too so I know during my taper I am cutting alcohol out of the picture completely as I know it will make things worse. Not that I drink everyday, but on like everyday off of work.

 

[Mugz]

If you are prescribed the mirtazepine aswell, I would probably go without the clonazepam at bedtime too, as the mirtazepine should cover the sleep and it will leave you with more clonazepam to use during the day for anxiety, and could help you come off it faster. Although beware that you may get a slight rebound anxiety in the morning when you wake up if you don't take the clonazepam as your body will be a bit short of it for a while, it shouldn't make too much difference though.

 

[behindblueeyes]

If you are prescribed the mirtazepine aswell, I would probably go without the clonazepam at bedtime too, as the mirtazepine should cover the sleep and it will leave you with more clonazepam to use during the day for anxiety, and could help you come off it faster. Although beware that you may get a slight rebound anxiety in the morning when you wake up if you don't take the clonazepam as your body will be a bit short of it for a while, it shouldn't make too much difference though.

Thanks that's a good suggestion too

 

[Addyman]

I remember going through withdrawal from daily use of Klonopin... my minimum daily dose was 3mg, up to 10-20mg

I surprisingly didn't have a seizure, but can you say "profuse sweating"?

Anyways, back on topic. I've done tapering plans
From 6mg one week, 5mg the next, 4mg the next, 3mg the next, 2mg the next, 1mg the next, 0.5 or 0 the next (but I'm also a person who doesn't get much of any withdrawal)

One thing I don't understand is why people seem to want to be done with it ASAP (not you), some people I know refused to let me suggest a tapering plan for them... they thought it could be done going down by 50% of the dose every day or two...

In any case... back on topic... again

Your plan seems solid, I say good luck to you... and you can always pm me if you want to know if your symptoms are from "too much" withdrawal at once... or it's just right... (don't want seizures now do we?)

Edit: I just remembered the 1.25mg daily, 0.5mg consisting for sleep... I would cut that 0.5mg out... first of all it can suppress REM sleep (could have a negative effect on energy levels) and... that's just a setback for your taper really

-Future Pharmacist, Daily Researcher