Klonopin Withdrawal

[johnny5isalive]

I am looking to get of Klonopin. I have been taking .5ml in the morning daily for a little over a year for anxiety. I started to cut the .5 in half and I'm wondering if this is ok?

[lynn57]

I have been on and off Klonopin for years and I take .5 in the AM am and .5 in the PM.  Tolerance does not always build if you do not abuse Klonopin.  When I just took ativan in the PM for sleep I was finding that I needed more.  After switching to a maintenance dose of Klonopin I know that it was the best choice for me.  Everyone is different and a Dr. is needed in all cases where meds are being used to treat anxiety.

[CanuckGuy42]

I know that I tried Lexapro (cipralex here in Canada) and within the first 3 days I wanted off it. Side effects seemed to hit me hard and for someone with health anxiety who wasnt 100% convinced at the time that my physical symptoms weren't some life threatening disease, to see them get worse because of the side effects was not very helpful. But I spoke with doc again yesterday and she is recommending that I try it again only this time on a much more tapered increase than last time...so seriously considering doing that cause i know you need to give it a few weeks for the side effects to subside and up to a month before any therapeutic effect takes place..... and I intend to keep the Klonopin for use while i ramp up out of the side effects from the Lexapro....

[JGF25]

I have to take it every night to sleep and it was prescribed to me as such.  I am not saying it is a good thing but it works for me.  I don't take it during the day at all now.  Even when the Wellbutrin was kicking in, I was very stingy to myself with taking Klonopin.  I tried very hard to self-communicate my way through the bad parts of the day.  But there were just times when I couldn't get past a certain point.  Now I feel absolutely great however I still take it to sleep.  When things calm down (I have teenagers) I will try cutting the dosage in half and see if I sleep.  It worked at half dose for a while but then the anxiety came back for a different reason and I was back to full strength to sleep.  

[lynn57]

Klonopin is the safest and most prescribed benzo for long-term use.  Sometimes after trying everything else, benzos are the last resort.  Klonopin isn't a very good PRN drug and really needs a chance to build up in your system.  It has been a God-send for me and many others.  Not my first choice but certainly my best choice.

[CanuckGuy42]

Wondering why your doc put you on Klonopin for such an extended time. It's widely known that that and other drugs of that category are guaranteed to create a dependency if you use them for an extended period of time and can be very rough to get off of.

Did you not respond well to SSRI's which are meant for longer term use for anxiety and do not risk forming a dependancy the way the benzo tranquilers like Klonopin do. My doc controls very tightly the klonopin she gives me (a few days worth only at a time) and I was told only to use it as needed in the case of high anxiety levels... she told me if it became clear I needed it everyday then I would have to go on another type of non-addictive anxiety medication.

I'm on .25mg's taken as needed (not everyday)....

As far as tapering off....as someone already said here...you are the best judge as to whether the tapering is too fast. My understanding from reading online is that Klonopin has a longer time that it lasts in your system than other drugs in the same category so supposedly it is supposed to be easier to taper off.

Good luck....

[johnny5isalive]

I spoke to a couple of doctors... One said to skip days and take .5 every other day and the other said to cut them in half. I figured I would ask people who actually take the med . I was also given and still have Xanax .25mg which I only took about 4 times over the past year. So I don't know if it would be counter-productive to take them as needed while wheening off the Klonopin. I am on day 4 of the half of the .5mg of Klonopin. Should I just go back to the full pill or am I almost through the woods? I am going to visit another doctor tomorrow just in case but like I mentioned before I would like opinions of people who have actually taken it. I had one dr. ask me what I think would happen if I stopped..... And when I told him he never said what of if there were any real dangers in discontinuing this med. I asked him on a few occasions...


I appreciate all the responses.... Thanks

[john248]

I had the worst time getting off(clean for about a year). I would tell your doctor first. tell them you want a reducing schedule. Go slow. If you have problems you help cover yourself "with a doctors" order. Some people have little problem, I was not one of them. Good luck.

[lynn57]

Definitely see your doctor.  That taper may not be slow enough.

[BluCrystal]

I don't recommend any change in medication until consulting with your doctor.  I suggest you do this right away, so that the doctor can give his professional advice.