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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
KLONIPIN/CLONAZEPAM TAPER
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
KLONIPIN/CLONAZEPAM TAPER
by RUNNER55, Feb 12, 2002 12:00AM
Dear Dr. Gould,
I have taken for almost three years, clonazepam for panic attacks. One .25 mg in the a/m and one .25 mg. p/m. I notice so many times you recommend klonipin to taper off xanax. Well,I'd like to know how to taper off of this amount of clonazepam. I no longer feel the need to take this drug, but I am like so many others who write in as far as being terrified of having a seizure. Especially since I live alone. My doctor says, no way, the dosage has been too low. (I've never had a seizure disorder) Can you give me your thoughts , and how you'd advise a taper schedule? This medicine was very useful for me, but I now feel I've resolved all issues and no longer wish to take it. I also feel it's beginning to give me memory problems. (forgetfulness). I am on 25 mgs. of Zoloft which has helped greatly with all anxiety/panic problems. Any advice will be appreciated. Thank you.
R/55
I have taken for almost three years, clonazepam for panic attacks. One .25 mg in the a/m and one .25 mg. p/m. I notice so many times you recommend klonipin to taper off xanax. Well,I'd like to know how to taper off of this amount of clonazepam. I no longer feel the need to take this drug, but I am like so many others who write in as far as being terrified of having a seizure. Especially since I live alone. My doctor says, no way, the dosage has been too low. (I've never had a seizure disorder) Can you give me your thoughts , and how you'd advise a taper schedule? This medicine was very useful for me, but I now feel I've resolved all issues and no longer wish to take it. I also feel it's beginning to give me memory problems. (forgetfulness). I am on 25 mgs. of Zoloft which has helped greatly with all anxiety/panic problems. Any advice will be appreciated. Thank you.
R/55
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Feb 13, 2002 12:00AM
, Feb 13, 2002 12:00AM
Because of your low dose, you are not at much risk, but to eliminate all the risk, you should ask your doctor about starting klonopin o.5 mg, at night, and taper your xanax 25% each week...when you are through with that, do the same for klonopin. That's about as safe as you can get...should be done under supervision of doctor.
Thank you,
R/55
Good luck.
PS It feels better to be off the drug, & my memory has definitely improved.
I just now noticed your comment to my clonazepam posting. Would you mind telling how many mgs. you took per day. How many years/months you were on the med? And just what kind of withdrawl symptoms did you go thru?
Hope you see this posting, it's been so long ago that you wrote.
Thank you for responding earlier.
R/55
Good luck.
Anyone in a similar situation? What is a good procedure? down .5/week, .5/2weeks .25/week, .25/2weeks....etc???
Dave
http://benzo.proboards12.com
Hope that helps :)
All the best.
Peagee