Aa
Tapering off Klonopin
I REALLY need off this stuff : ) Unfortunately I know it will take time....I know I need to confer with my dr. on this as well, but I look to find out others experiences too.
I currently take 0.375 every 8 hours (3/4 of a .5 pill).
I am wondering if it is typically reasonable to cut down to 0.25 every 8 hours, or do people usually begin by cutting down the amount of only 1 of their doses?
I have been taking this in this fashion for about 4 mos. Should I anticipate a long taper time with taking it this amount of time and at a low dose?
Thanks!
I currently take 0.375 every 8 hours (3/4 of a .5 pill).
I am wondering if it is typically reasonable to cut down to 0.25 every 8 hours, or do people usually begin by cutting down the amount of only 1 of their doses?
I have been taking this in this fashion for about 4 mos. Should I anticipate a long taper time with taking it this amount of time and at a low dose?
Thanks!
I am feeling OK... I still have headaches but I think that they are lessening...more like sharp twinges now rather than constant pain. I have some muscle twitches...some strange feeling on my face like somebody is poking me with a hotpoker...odd. But my anxiety levels are ok.
No I swear this stuff has made a lot of things WORSE. I have gastric issues I wasn't having before, more headaches, definitly more anxiety in the last 4 mos on Klonopin than I ever had before that. And this is despite finally doing cognitive behavioral therapy in that timeframe too. I will be happy when it's over....
No I swear this stuff has made a lot of things WORSE. I have gastric issues I wasn't having before, more headaches, definitly more anxiety in the last 4 mos on Klonopin than I ever had before that. And this is despite finally doing cognitive behavioral therapy in that timeframe too. I will be happy when it's over....
How are you feeling today? I've been reading a lot about tapering, and my doctor's 25% rule may be too aggressive. It worked for me for 8 weeks, but then it didn't after I hit .5mg. I'm going to go at a 10% cut rate ... The site www.benzosupport.org, which Gingin told me about, is awesome. You'll find great ways to get off of klonopin the right way ... Oh, and to answer your questions, I do think klonopin can give headaches, depression, etc. That's why I want off. I was prescribed klonopin for my migraines, and my migraines didn't get any better. I'm convinced klonopin made me feel worse, but my doctor doesn't agree. ...
One more thing I forgot to mention. Try to stay away from any stimulants while weaning and healing. Caffeine, sugar, cold meds, etc will all make w/ds worse because your nervous systems is already sensitive from weaning off the benzo. Some people even find that vitamins and minerals make them feel bad. I personally don't take anything extra right now as far as supplements except for fish oil and a natural melatonin for sleep. Vitamins cause me anxiety as does sugar and caffeine.
I would wait until you are off klonopin to stop smoking. Only because it will be really hard on your body both physically and mentally to try to stop both at the same time and yes melatonin in low doses is fine while on klonopin.
I am taking fish oil in higher doses and started 5-HTP. I do also take a multi-vitamin and extra magnesium and calcium as reccomended by my Neurologist for prevention of headaches. I realized 6 mos ago that the caffeine had to go...next is the smoking. I am not sure if I should just give that up right now as I go through the Klonopin and get it all done and over with!
I have been watching the sugar too, easier said than done sometimes though : O
So the Melatonin is ok to take while you are still on the Klonopin?
I have been watching the sugar too, easier said than done sometimes though : O
So the Melatonin is ok to take while you are still on the Klonopin?
One more thing I forgot to mention. Try to stay away from any stimulants while weaning and healing. Caffeine, sugar, cold meds, etc will all make w/ds worse because your nervous systems is already sensitive from weaning off the benzo. Some people even find that vitamins and minerals make them feel bad. I personally don't take anything extra right now as far as supplements except for fish oil and a natural melatonin for sleep. Vitamins cause me anxiety as does sugar and caffeine.
Hi. In answer to your post about taking your klonopin 3 times a day. I have been cutting from 3.75 mgs. for about 3 years. I am now down to .75 mgs. What I did was cut out my mid-day dose and then cut out my morning dose. Klonopin has a long half-life so once a day should be ok for you. I take all my dose at night and do fine. I highly recommend going to this website and getting some suggestions from the people on this board. They are all coming off benzos and are very knowledgeable of how to do it as painless as possible.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/benzo/
BTW, you are rigth, benzos are NOT the best med for long term anxiety as you eventually do have to keep upping the dose to get the same benefit. Then you are setting yourself up for lots of side effects and a hard time coming off the drugs. There are a very few who get lucky and can w/d pretty quickly with no problems but that is not the majority. I personally think Dr's WAY overprescribe it because it is the easy way out. I think it should be used for emergency only and then no more than a few weeks.
Hope this helps some.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/benzo/
BTW, you are rigth, benzos are NOT the best med for long term anxiety as you eventually do have to keep upping the dose to get the same benefit. Then you are setting yourself up for lots of side effects and a hard time coming off the drugs. There are a very few who get lucky and can w/d pretty quickly with no problems but that is not the majority. I personally think Dr's WAY overprescribe it because it is the easy way out. I think it should be used for emergency only and then no more than a few weeks.
Hope this helps some.
Oh yes, one of the main reasons for wanting to go off that I am wondering if anyone else has experienced...feeling totally stupid. My husband will ask me a question about something a few hours beforehand and I am clueless. I feel like I can't remember things and am clumsy.
I also wonder if my headaches have been made worse by the Klonopin....
I also wonder if my headaches have been made worse by the Klonopin....
Thanks for the advice. I have been down to .25 every 8 hours for 5 days as opposed to .375 every 8 hours. I think the advice I have seen on this forum as far as waiting until your stabilized on a dose before making another cut is great. Sometimes I start feeling like, this is going so great, maybe I can get off this pretty fast...but I know that going slow is the best option overall.
My reasons for going off...it isn't helping anymore, and I am not willing to increase my dosage and run into bigger problems down the road. My belief...this stuff should have never been prescribed to be taken regularly. I have had such horrible problems with anxiety meds that I will treat mine naturally from now on, and continue with the therapy.
So once I hit the point of taking .125 3 times a day, do you start cutting to 2 times a day on that dose, down to 1 time a day, and then out from there?
My reasons for going off...it isn't helping anymore, and I am not willing to increase my dosage and run into bigger problems down the road. My belief...this stuff should have never been prescribed to be taken regularly. I have had such horrible problems with anxiety meds that I will treat mine naturally from now on, and continue with the therapy.
So once I hit the point of taking .125 3 times a day, do you start cutting to 2 times a day on that dose, down to 1 time a day, and then out from there?
Cathy's advice is probably great but don't take it without consulting your doctor first. Coming off a benzo is difficult, and you would ideally do it under the supervision of a doctor.
One thing's for sure: you cannot go as fast as you're describing in the first post. Like Cathy says you have to stay at a dose for a while and then step down. It's a lengthy process.
One thing's for sure: you cannot go as fast as you're describing in the first post. Like Cathy says you have to stay at a dose for a while and then step down. It's a lengthy process.
My doctor has taken me from 3 mg to 2 to 1 to .5, in 8 weeks. I've been trying to go to .25 with no luck. I'm back at 1 mg. Basically, he told me that you have to feel comfortable on your dosage before trying to cut down the dosage. Cut down by 25%, and try it for a week. Once you feel comfortable there, cut down by 25% again. He said that you should go back to a comfortable dosage the second you get the shakes. Hold your hands in front of you, and if you're shaking, go back to the comfy dosage. ... I just went from .5 a day to .25 to 1 mg. I messed up by going from .5 to nothing. I didn't follow the 25% rule.
search klonopin there is great advice from ruan on how to taper off of it , but yes check with your dr. why are you going off of it , does it not help yoou anymore .
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