clonazepam

Is being on clonazepam 1 mg for 2 years at nite .How do I get off it ?

[J T Junig, MD PhD]

That is not a huge dose, but if you stop it abruptly you will have some significant insomnia for a few weeks, and maybe some anxiety as well.  In general, benzodiazepines (medications that include valium, xanax, ativan... or using generic names, diazepam, alprazolam, and lorazepam, respectively.  And Klonopin, or clonazepam) should be tapered and not stopped abruptly.  They have a withdrawal syndrome similar to alcohol, and can cause 'DTs' including seizures that can even be fatal.  But clonazepam has a long 'half-life'-- the time for half to be removed from the body-- and so it tends to taper itself to some extent.  Your doc can give specifics-- you may need to be very careful in the case of some other illnesses, particularly seizure disorders.  A 'slow taper' would be to reduce by about 0.25 mg per night every few days.