Preparing to get off Klonopin

[Steven]

I've been taking 1 mg klonopin for 3 years.[started at 1/2 increased to 1 mg.] for depression, anxiety, and to sleep. This drug has done wonders for me in many ways, but now its time to come off. I've tried to taper off 1/4 at a time, but the hyperacusis [intolerance to loud sounds], lack of sleep, unbelievable groin itching, and my almost uncontrollable talking [feeling high, motor-mouth etc} made me go back on, now I take
1 1/4 at night to feel normal. Since I work as a waiter, I'm going to have to stop working to get off this. Please tell me what to expect, and how long I should plan on being out of work. Also has any one noticed an increase in rate of hair loss from Klonopin?... WILL THE HYPERACUSIS GO AWAY? this is my biggest concern at this time. Please help me. Thank you, Steve.

[Nevering]

Klonopin has some very important uses for some people.

http://www.prohealth.com/library/showarticle.cfm?id=3154&t=CFIDS_FM

[squidubz777]

I am 20 years old, and I have GAD,Panic Disorder,Social Phobia since I was 10 years old. Clonzepam is the only anti-anxiety that has worked for me. I was recently put on 8mg a day due to my severity. Prior to that it was 3mg a day. I got bothered when, I hear people saying getting off this is equal to Opiates/Herion, If you have ever seen someone getting off Herion it is disgusting they puke/dry heave,diahrea,dizzy,faint,there heads pound like a drum and feels like a vice, their is hot flashes and cold sweats. I am well informed I have had sessions with the man who wrote the book "Do not panic" The Anxiety guru guy and, this is not abuse if it is to correct the minds irrational set that is has naturally. But back to withdrawl the worst thing that will happen is you will shake, puke and dry heave.. if your on a low dose like 2mg a day you can get off that easy in a month. There is hope for everyone and it is not as bad as some off these people say. First of all they dont take it and dont suffer from mental illness other than ignornace, so its not their place to gauge another suffering. If you need this to function BIG DEAL, would you take a diabetic of insulon...NO because they need it to function.
God Bless

and my best advice is the internet is a alright place to talk about this stuff but talk to a vet. shrink that knows their stuff and they will draw up a plan for you to detox. Good Luck and it wont be to hard bro.

[socal351]

I have been on Klonopin for almost a year now. Recently I have tapered my daily dose by 50% over the course of three months. I have had no withdraw symptoms at all. I know that everyone is different and no one really knows your body but well your body. For me my panic and anxiety came from to much energy. I'm not saying this is right for everyone but I began to substitute the medication for exercise. I am still decreasing my dose about 1/2 mg every two weeks. I have struggled with anxiety and panic my whole life, I have even been hospitalized for it. Recently I have found that the best sleeping pill, and the best anti anxiety drug, is to get off the couch and go run five miles until I'm to exhausted to even think about the side affects. (I've been on a huge list of anxiety medications) Having an anxiety disorder naturally makes me anxious about what might happen. instead of stressing, I go running, or lift weights, it really works for me.

[Mercedes175]

I just wanted to add my comments about your rebuttal to Rand.  I feel you are misreading his post.  I agree with him that Valium should be used to "taper" off Konapin when it gets down the lowest dose you can get with Klonpin as that is equivilent to 20mg of Valium.  When he recommended it would take a good year to taper off of Klonapin...he ment just that  "taper".. You response that is ridiculous confused me.  All tapering takes time.  If this person is down to 1mg of Klonapin..(atleast what I got from Rands post) is that his withdrawals from that point would be unbearable.  Again, to you 1mg is nothing but that is because you take so much.  1mg is actually alot compared to 20mg ov valium.

So his suggestion made sense (to me)..the half life and tapering quantities of valium proved far more manageable and tolerable to taper with from 1mg than just jumping off at that point or switching to worse benzo's.  

Anyway, the point may be mute now but I totally got what he was saying. He is not suggesting taking a drug for a year just to be on it..he is suggesting that 1mg is actually equivilent to 20mg of valium and you would taper off that amount if you want to lesson your w/drawals...1 year using valium made sense since you have the ability to go lower dose increments with longer half lifes and more time for your body to adjust.

Also someone asked about why get off Kloanpin..I thought Rand answered that too..you should not take Klonapin for anxiety...it has too many  horrible withdrawal symptoms for using it for that...I see good reason to get off.

[doc283]

klonopin  is a  good drug for panic attacks 1mg 3 times a day..i like 5 mg tabs better was working good but no sex drive..zanax was working well but i experienced pain in my side and hip really bad..now i take valium usually 30 mg a day seems to work well with no side affects but from my experience these drugs esp generic do not give same affect as the real deal....but i can tell you the best drug that works the best was klonopin but i did suffer no sex drive and didnt eat no different but weight gain set in so i  stopped went to valium dropped 10 pounds in 30 days..2 yrs ago was on klonopin worked all the time and i lost 40 pounds cant figure it out...they tell you generic is just as good in some cases yes but not in valium.. roche is deff the best......watson sux... malincroft worst pharmasutical company there is.. klonopin santos is best for generic.....valium generic watson good as u can get...zanax 2 mg bars is so much better than other brand unbelievable i know...but i dont drink and watch my diet in foods high fiber is the best for stomach problems...but out of all 3 klonopin has them beat but i suffered no sex drive so i give it up...seem to so very well on valium no side affects sometimes maybe a skin rash in winter but cold weather may cause that....buy ya i do misss my klonopins if u take klon deff get santos its 3 to 1 than watson...unless u can get the real deal...i wish i could get roche valium but cant afford my generic cost 13 dollars for 100... if i get roche its like 130 dollars with the v cut out iin the middle now thats 3-to 1 than watson....klonopin will stay in your body longer so if u have no side affects i would go with that....or generic zanax is really good too i guess everyone body is different and reacts different to these drugs my physicologist said zanax should not give me lower pain on my side but it does im 45 yr old guy...doesent figure....but fastest acting benzo is zanax i do now this i love it but it causes me alot of pain too bad...my experience with zanax and klonopin at my age seems like it slows my metabolisim down... valium doesent i mean who wants to be bloated from meds...everyone is different so if u have a problem tell your dr ..they usually say all the same but they r so wrong..benzo r benzos dont believe it. what works for others may not work for you....the doc...

[Nodrugs]

Well, I am taking a minimum ( I tend to abuse some days two at a time 2mg.) of 16 mg of Klonopin and 8mg of Xanax a day, for about a year and 1/2.  Tried to taper and immediately abused.   Problem.  My insurance runs out in 9 days.   What am I to do?

Addicted to Hell

Also taking 400 mg. of Demerol for a knee crush car injury since April 2008...

I'm screwed.

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