How to ween myself off of Klonopin

[Bob192]

Here's my situation. I have asthma and it has deteriorated to the point where albuterol was not working and so the doc prescribed me klonopin because she said I have a case of asthma and a case of anxiety (I'm sure the forum can relate when you are having problems breathing, that anxiety can kick in). So here is what happened. I took Klonopin for over 8 months taking .5 mg three times a day. Then I said to myself, what will it take to ween myself off of it. So I went from three tablets to two tablets a day (now I'm down to 1 mg a day). Well after several weeks of being OK on two tablets, I decided to go from 2 to 1, and then about two days later something strange occurred in my body. I started getting cold sweats, my hands and feet started to tingle, meaning that I wasn't getting oxygen to my extremities, I started to feel pain in parts of my body, like my eyebrow, I thought a bug was biting into my eyebrow.
This is some weird medication, let me tell you. I couldn't take it anymore. I survived on 1 tablet for 4 days and I just couldn't take it. I honestly thought I was going to die. So on the fifth day I went back to 2 tablets (.5mg each) and have been on two ever since. What I am asking the forum is are there any holistic options, green pharmacy type herbs, vitamins or anything of that sort to help me get off of Klonopin. This is a very nasty drug to be on and I want to be very frank with the forum that this drug is extremely hard to get off of it. I hardly drink, every once in a while and I never took any kind of drugs before, other than prescribed albuterol and allergy medication. Can someone in this forum help me with this challenging situation?
Thank you so much,
Bob

[Bob192]

I've decided to follow my Doc's advice, instead of going green, I went with anti-depressant Lexapro to ween myself off of Klonopin. Withdrawal from Lexapro will be easier than Klonopin.
Thanks,
Bob

[Bob192]

My doc has put me on Lexapro 1/2 a tablet (each tablet is 10mg and I break it in half to get 5 mg worth) a day for the next 7 days, and continue with the two tablets of Klonopin (total of 1mg), then go for 6 weeks taking a whole tablet of Lexapro and slowly start weening off of the Klonopin by going to 1 1/2 tablets for two weeks, then 1 tablet for 2 weeks, then 1/2 tablet, until I'm finally off of Klonopin. She stated that once you are on Lexapro, it will be easy to taper off than Klonopin. I mentioned going green, but the Doc emphasized that using an anti-depressant is the best option as a substitute for Klonopin and eventual weening off of it.
Anywho, I'll let you know how it goes.
Thanks,
Bob

[damagedlife]

Kava Kava is a great herbal anti-anxiety agent, but from what I understand it should NOT, EVER, be taken while you're still taking any kind of Benzo.

It doesn't help detox, but once you have gotten off of the Klonopin for good, it might be something to look into, to help you when anxiety does erupt.

[Bob192]

Thanks for your info...I'm going to bring it up to my doc and see what she says. Maybe there are DO's out there that I can hook up with that are more holistic than Docs. Klonopin does what it's supposed to do, but I don't want to be on this stuff for too long (It's been over 9 months now). There has gotta be alternatives.
Thanks again, worried878, and I'll keep you posted.
Bob

[worried878]

Klonopin is not thought of as being as strong as xanax,,,but it is right uip there with xanax and ativan...valium being quite a bit weaker..can ur doctor help u with that?   also benzo dot org dot uk has some wonderful info on benzos

herbal remedies would be things that calm u like GABA, theanine, Kava kava...some antidepressents also lessen anxiety as well like the tricyclics...real green T from the oriental market helps too...not the t bags from walmart but the real stuff...a walk everytime u feel anxious can help as well....benzos are to be tapered...1 mg of klonopin is not huge and u should feel thankful that is all u r on right now...sometimes cutting 1/4 of a pill every several days is the way to go...most benzos are not time released so cutting them up is ok

and good luck..keep us posted