Stopping Klonopin

[enitsirhc]

Hi everyone,
I am currently tapering slowly off of the SNRI pristiq.  I am deathly afraid for day 3 after not taking them anymore that's when the withdrawals kick in!  I went through hell once but this time I am doing it very slowly breaking them in half.  Anyway despite that I was taking 2 Klonopin each day for almost a year and was able to cut it down to only 1.  Then eventually was able to do half a day then eventually not take any for a few days.  Well I can go about 4 or 5 days at most without taking any now and be ok and try to fight the panic.  After those days are up I think some crazy thought that my body needs it so i go and take it.  I want to just stop them and take whenever I need them or do I try and take ativan instead?  Am I thinking crazy here?

[benzo1961]

I WAS TAKING 2MGS OF KLONOPINS ADAY FOR 6 YRS SOMETIMES MORE,THE 5TH OF DEC I WENT DOWN TO .5 3 X ADAY  NOW I TAKE .5 2X ADAY. IVE DROPPED A MG IN LESS THAN A MONTH BUT THE WDS HAVE BEEN REALLY ROUGH, IM NOT BY NO MEANS TELLING YOU TO DO THAT. BUT WHEN YOU THINK YOU HAVE TO USE THINK AND SAY I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHICH STREGHTENS ME AND HE WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU. I SAY IT ALL THE TIME. IF IT WERNT FOR GOD I WOULDNT BE WHERE IM AT RIGHT NOW. :)

[enitsirhc]

Thanks very much guys...
The doctor told me to take the klonopin as needed now.  I know I confused you with the 2 drugs.  I am tapering off the pristiq right now I am taking half of the lowest dose each day.  
  I pray to God all the time to please help me get better and I know he is there listening to me and I know he watches over my health because I am a very healthy 27 year old woman physically.  Now I just have to work on my mind. You are right though I need to rely on God and not a pill!  I'm glad to hear you got off the drinking problem. :)
I have never tried meetings, but next week I will start talking to a Ph.D.

[Mercedes175]

BTW, I didnt understand completely your initial post which drug you are having issues with.  In my opinion, if you can go 3/4 days with nothing you are more than on your way with withdrwals and need to work on why you keep going back. However, if you are still withdrawing I don't mean to suggest you would not taper. Taper is good advice and I have heard Kloanpin is horrible to come off of. All anxiety drugs are...best anxiety drug to me is learning to rely on God and not a pill.  And that way you can learn to handle anxiety..and drepression, and relationships...and life.  Anyway..don't mean to sound preachy but that is what worked for me and I found it extremely helpful in meetings.  I had a drinking problem that I couldn't control..kept "going back" to that too..so I know what that is like to not be able to cope for too long...but that was a lie I believed.  You act on what you believe not what you know. I knew enough to stop drinking but didnt act on it so when it came down to it I didnt "believe" I could do it.  Until i truly believed I could through God I just did it..and now I totaly believe it.

The trick is to separate the truth from the lies in your thinking.  YOu said in your post..I go for awhile then I "think" I need it. That is a lie...act on the right decision then and not the lie.  Take care,

[Mercedes175]

I believe that your core issue is not the Klonapin but believing you need something to handle life.  You get to that point where you want to take control.  Learn to live life on life's terms.   Have you ever tried meetings?  I think they are awesome. You learn tools for life..you share, gain strength from each others experiences.  We all get stressed...learn to deal w/it.

In time, the stresses are not stresses anymore.  In the past I used to drink over boredom...or someone not saying hello...pretty pathetic right.  Now I put things in perspective and know there are times when feelings are just feelings and to let it go.  Wear life loosley we call it.  So your alittle anxious...get to know God...if you don't already.  All things work together for good to those that love Him..that comforts me.  He is with me always and nothing can separate His love for me.  I don't have to get upset...I realize that feelings ARE NOT FACTS.  Act your way into good thinking by making the right choices. Don't react on feelings.  I lived my life way too long doing just that..I was never happy...always chasing temporaries.

[road2recovery]

You are not  crazy...Klonopin w/d's are he ll!!!  IF i were you, i would not jump to the adivan, i would just keep tapering klonopin at a very slow pace...Are you doing this with a doctor?  Also you have to wean slowly off of pristiq...I would do this only with a doctor...
good luck and stay strong
r2r