UPDOSING AND HOW MUCH

HELLO ALL MY NAME IS JENNY AND IM NEW TO THIS POST.I HAVE A QUESTION BUT DONT KNOW IF YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ANSWER.MAYBE JUST AN OPINION.I HAVE BEEN ON KLONOPIN FOR 8 MONTHS NOW. SOMEONE TOLD ME TO TRY AND GET OFF IT SO I PROCEEDED. I WAS PUT ON A VERY LOW DOSE TO BEGIN WITH 0.5 TWO TIMES A DAY. THAN I STARTED TAPERING DOWN OVER THE MONTHS BUT WITH NO LUCK REALLY HAD WITHDRAWELS ALL THE WAY THROUGH .AFTER 8 MONTHS I GOT DOWN TO .25 COULDNT DEAL WITH IT SO I STARTED UPDOSING TO .25 THREE TIMES A DAY.I SPOKE TO MY DOCTOR ABOUT THIS AND SHE SAID OH---THATS FINE.BUT I DONT BELIEVE THATS ENOUGH IM WONDERING IF I COULD UP MY DOSE TO 0.5 AGAIN BUT DONT KNOW HOW OFTEN TO DO THIS.PLUS I HEARD SO MANY HORRID STORIES ABOUT THESE DRUGS AFTER LONG TERM USE. I THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO GIVE ME........JENNY

[greenlydia]

Hi Jenn and welcome to the forum!
As you read through some posts here, you will see that there is much debate about benzo use on this site! Your insights and experience will be very valuable to many and I hope you stay with us and share your journey.
Klonopin is discussed here often, so you won't find any shortage of opinions and suggestions!
I personally don't have first hand experience with this particular med. but what I will advise you now is NEVER alter your dose of ANY  benzo without first discussing it with your doctor! And that means going either way.........up OR down! I'm glad to hear you spoke with your doctor about altering your dose the first time, but now you don't think it was enough and want to know if you can "up" it again. NONE of us here are doctors and we cannot tell you to alter your dose! You need to discuss that with the ONLY person who IS qualified.............your doctor! I know I am repeating myself, but you must be so careful with benzo use, please do not change the dose on your own! If your current dose is not working for you, your doctor will no doubt be happy to work with you until your symptoms are under control.
You WILL read many "horror" stories about benzo's here and that is why you need to educate yourself, and if need be, your doctor, about this class of medication. They are a very useful drug............when used correctly, but sadly, most GP's don't know how to do that.
Read some posts here and ask as many questions as you need. I'm glad you found us!
Peace
Greenlydia    

[suzi-q]

There are horror stories to all meds...the thing you have to look at is what is best for you.  I take paxil and buspar daily.  I know that they have side effects and terrible withdrawal, but I need them in order to function.  It is the quality of your life you are talking about.  It is great if you can do it with no medication at all, but some of us need to medicate in order to function and that outweighs the negative...Best to you on whatever you decide.

[jenn8]

   I THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR OPINIONS.I KNOW THE DRUGS ARE BAD FOR YOU BUT IF YOU MUST TAKE THEM BY ALL MEANS DO. I JUST HOPE AS TIME GOES BY I WONT HAVE TO INCREASE THE KLONOPIN. I HOPE I CAN JUST STAY ON THIS DOSE. AGAIN MANY THANKS TO ALL OF YOU.

[greenlydia]

If you added a few doses of therapy to that Klonopin, I have no doubt you would not have to "up" it again and, in fact, would probably be able to taper off it much sooner!
Meds are extremely useful, but they just mask the symptoms of anxiety and until you figure out why, the anxiety will stay with you. Meds will not cure it. They will allow you to function.
Best of luck!
Peace
Greenlydia

[jenn8]

I UNDERSTAND 1/4 EVERY SIX HOURS BUT WITH MY SCHEDULE I COULD NOT BE UP ONE OR TWO OCLOCK IN THE AM.MY SCHEDULE WOULD NE 1/4 6AM 1/412PM 1/4 6PM1/4 12PM THE 12 PM WOULD BE HARD BUT YET YOUR SAYING DOSING 4 TIMES A DAY IS BETTER THAN 1/2 TWICE A DAY.HOW WOULD I TAKE THAT LAST DOSE OF 1/4 AT 12 PM?JUST A QUESTION WHY WOULD THE AMOUNT OF DOSAGE BE MORE EFFICIENT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER JUST AN OPINION. THANK YOU JENNY