Tapering off Zoloft and Klonopin

[Theresa2]

I have recieved my tapering schedule from doctor for .50 zoloft----.25 every day for week, then every other day for week, then stop. My other concern is tapering .50 klonopin 3xday-----1/2 tablet 3x a day for two weeks, 1/2 tablet twice a day for two weeks, then 1/2 tablet once a day for two weeks, then stop. During this tapering, I will add 1/2 tab (.15) buspar 2 x/day for 7 days, then one twice daily. If this seems okay to you, do I take buspar same time as klonopin? Should I wait to taper totally off zoloft before tapering off klonopn??  Thanks for your help.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

If I were you I would taper off zoloft first to make it easier, then klonopin...by the way, I would add an additional week to klonopin of smallest dose every other day, then stop.

It doesn't matter what time of day you take the klonopin and buspar.

[Summer123]

Hi Theresa,
There is a Dr. called Dr. Ashton from the U.K. who helped hundreds of patients get off benzos (Klonopin is a benzo).  She suggested a 10% cut every week or two in dosage.  The cut your dr. suggests is a a 50% cut.  It may be doable for you, but then again, it might not. I would ask your dr. about going down in dosage slower.  I know some people switch to valium to decrease by 1 mg a week.   According to Dr. Ashton, 1.5 mg of Klonopin equals 30 mg of valium.  This would make a reduction in dose last at least 30 weeks, possibly 60 weeks in order to not experience withdrawl effects.  You can check with Benzobuddie or Benzoisland websites to see how other people did withdraw successfully and without much withdrawal.

[Theresa2]

Thank you for the advise. I am so scared about getting anxious again. I may try a slower taper starting with 3/4 tab 3 x/day for a couple weeks, then 1/2 tab for two weeks and so on. Will the Buspar still be okay as stated above with the 3/4 cut?

[Tiona32]

Theresa, I have been trying to taper off Klonopin since December. I was on Ativan before that and it was making me sick. I had a  spike in my blood pressure and I went to the ER last April and they gave me the Rx for Ativan (very low dose).  Why I was given that for blood pressure I'll never know, and wish I had never taken it. It literally made me sick, so i tried weaning off with bad results, so my doctor recommended I go on Klonopin since its "easier" to wean off of.  That was in November and I am still trying to get off it.  Its like its causing anxiety and problems I never had before.  My doctor had me trying to wean off too quickly, so I am now using the Point of Return (Label Me Sane) protocol, which is a very slow taper of 5% per week.  It also uses very good supplements to get you feeling normal before they even allow you to start the taper.  The testimonials are extremely positive.  Check out the Label Me Sane website if you want more information, and good luck to you.  These meds are indeed terrible things.

[Theresa2]

Thank you so so much for your advise.