Gabitrol and Clonazepam for prevention

[jenn3672]

2 years ago my MD placed me on bid gabitrol 4mg and 1.0 mg Clonazepam for migraine prevention.  Have had migraines since 13 yrs old and have tried various triptans, and tricylics.  Tricyclics were never helpful, and triptans were useful for awhile and then stopped helping (there were a few that causes severe SE).  I have no previous history of depression or anxiety.  About 3 weeks ago, I stopped cold turkey, as I didn't feel like this regimen was at all helping me.  The first week was OK, and then I started feeling like the worst flu of my life, which progressed to a migraine for 5 days, and then into severe muslce pain and what I think are anxiety attacks. During this time, I treated these symptoms with either one dose of benedryl or Ambien at night to help me sleep, or a dosage of vicodin during the day for muscle pain (therefore just temporarliy masking my withdrawals). After informing myself about Clonazepam, I believe that I am having withdrawal symptoms from that, and probably need to start a taper.  My MD informed me that since I never had any secondary gain from the Clonazepam (in fact, I never felt a thing until I went off!) that I wouldn't have any withdrawals and that I probably just have the flu.  I believe he is wrong about this one.
         SInce I have been off so long, where do you think an appropriate taper for the clonazepam would begin?  and how long will it take?    I took 0.5mg Clonazepam last night and was able to decrease the nausea significantly, as well as some of the muscle pain, but the insomnia is severe.  This morning I am back for feeling extremely tearful, anxious, and severe muscle pain.  I am extremely ashamed that I blindly took medications into my body for such a long time without finding more about them.  I was just so desperate to control my headaches that I was willing to try anything.  I even asked my MD three times about the addictive potential of the clonazepam since it is a benzodiazapine, but he reassured my husband and I over and over that the dosage was negligible and would cause to adverse side effects, just boost the efficacy of the Gabitrol.
Ashamed of myself!