quitting clonazapam

[melaniemaywatkins]

I have been on 6 mg of clonazapam for 10 yrs. I am quitting cold turkey. What are the risks?

[ImDONENoMore]

I agree with your Dr.  You need to be on an AD - I understand you've had a lot of stuff going on in your life, but your words indicate this is even deeper than the problems you now have.

Listen to the doc - and give the AD a try.  I think it will help.

[melaniemaywatkins]

no no its ok guys....trust me, i appreciate alllllllllllll opinions and suggestions. im basically going to camh to learn how to live again, and yes to keep tappering off this crap, its making me so high and so emotional...my family disowned me, and its making me feel low....im draining my poor new husband...i feel so sad, i need to learn how to deal with life, on lifes terms, as my life is a mess....i also had quit a chronic weed abuse, its been almost a week, and coffee.....i had to delete my account on face book, as i see my family photos, and there all happy without me, and im missing everything. i feel worthless....useless....i wish i was never born....my family hate my guts and i feel like garbage, i cant shake this....im so depressed, i dont even care what happens anymore...i appreciate this site and all of you here, and i do thank you all from the bottom of my heart  for listenning to my ********....i feel my life is worth nothing...i dont know how to snap out of it...doctor thinks i suffer with depression  but i dont, just depressing things keep happenning, coming from an alcoholic family....im so bored without my weed, i feel like someone died...im so confused, my life is worth nothing.....

[ImDONENoMore]

You're right vicki - I'm wrong and didn't do what I should have and get all the facts before I chimed in.  I'm sorry melanie.. I promise I meant no harm!   :)

[vicki595]

Hey Guys-

Melanie is already tapering per her doctor's instructions. She told us that up above. The detox is in January where she'll continue to wean off and get
aftercare support as an in patient...I really think she's on track here.

[ImDONENoMore]

I agree w/avisg - benzo tapering must be slow (I was too stupid when I uit cold turkey over a year ago - so SO stupid and dangerous) - so be mindful of that okay?  And congrats for wanting to quit!!  :)

[avisg]

If you have been on it for years 21 days is very fast taper.  You can have seizures you really need to work with a doctor.dr heather Ashton she is the top in the field and she has a web site. I suggest you read threw it. I think it will help a lot .hopefully it will help prepare for when you to taper down keep in touch let u know how it goes .

[melaniemaywatkins]

Thank you to everyone who has helped me here on this site....I am going to detox in Jan and program for 21 days......I appreciate all your help and wish all the best, especially those whom are suffering as much as myself......god bless and take care....

[donewitis]

To all benzodiapins users: xanax, klonopin, ativan:

Education is key. I have been tapering for a little over a month. I decided, like you, after coming here to begin tapering and to get a bit of an education regarding this drug I was prescribed for four years. Check out Professor Heather Ashton on youtube..she is world reknowned..she opened the first Benzo clinic becuase patients wanted to get off these meds in 1982..they had no where to go and no information. trying to get off these med and created the Ashton Manual, Which is what I am doing. Another great source of info is Benzo Buddies dot org.
As others stated above this can be a long journy...slow and steady tapering is the ONLY way to go. I hope everyone reading this who has been using benzos does get educated on what it is they are taking.

[loddi123]

congrats on going to detox. i hope it is a good one. i was in rehab six weeks ago and it wasn't good. i was called a f_b_ so many times it wasn't funny. but there were good speakers. remember to care for yourself and stay focused on yourself and stay in the solution, not the problem. good luck to you. you deserve the best.

[melaniemaywatkins]

wow...thats scary...i really can relate...i have been battleing this addiction and marijuana for yrs....my memory is gone...my sex drive is gone.....i just feel totally lost....i hate this medication......i dont even think it works anymore...i dont even think i have hddt, that was 45 yrs ago, diagnosed...im going to detox and program in the new yr, already packed, i need to be re-assessed and want to find out how to deal with the panic attacks , if i have them at all anymore....dunno...been on this crap so long, i dont know what to expect....i was inspired by your story, and my heart goes out to you, as i know quite well this medication is deadly....thank god i have a decent husband who understands me, not the addiction....

[melaniemaywatkins]

took my meds ....went to sleep....i feel like a new person...all the uncomfortable feelings are gone...i feel normal again....sheesh.....what a trip....wow....thanks for  all the help here, u guys saved my life.....

[loddi123]

i went off klonopin last year and went totally wacko. could not understand people and could not talk without sounding wierd. a doctor put me back on it and said your brain has completely changed chemistry and come off slowly over months. i was sober from benzos and alcohol for 8 years, then got serious pain and got hooked on opiates and klonopin. now i am fighting addiction again. i do know gabapentin helps with benzo detox. the first time i was hooked on benzos and alcohol, i had seizures in withdrawal, and withdrawal lasted 18 months. it is no joke.

[vicki595]

Okay good!!   I'm happy now!  ;)

Stay in touch so we know how you're doing...

[vagirl822]

HOW DID YOU COME TO REALIZE THAT YOU COULD FINALY MANAGE WITHOUT KLONOPIN?? DID YOU JUST TAPER DOWN AND DOWN UNTIL U JUST DIDNT NEED IT AND HOW DID U FEEL?/ WAS IT SCARY??

[jlannaa]

i was reading your story and i'm sorry you are having such a hard time but you did the right thing by calling the doctor i wish you all the best :)

[melaniemaywatkins]

thank you vicki.....i did talk just talk to him, i took my meds, and yes, i already feel much better....were not gonna do this again, thanks to all of you for all your help....i already feel relief.....sheesh...what a drug...omg....so were gonna half it every week, see how it goes......smile....thank you for careing, and this site is so kewl.....awwwww wow....that was so uncomfortable...u guys saved my life...so much appreciated....best of luck to anyone else here whom may be suffering as i am....god bless...

[melaniemaywatkins]

k....spoke to doctor....im going to taper...its getting to uncomfortable....ty top everyone who helped me here....i really appreciate allllllllllllllllllllllllll your help.....god bless

[vicki595]

This is not advice; it's an order: Call the doctor right now.

[melaniemaywatkins]

your scaring me, but only cause i think your right....what would be the signs of a seizure, how do you know if your in danger? i can see things are starting to happen, and the aches and pains are getting worse, and i got chest pains now, and just plain out terrified....

[melaniemaywatkins]

ty for your reply.....i appreciate your reply and kind words....ty

[vicki595]

Melanie-

You need to listen and read this: YOU CANNOT STOP THIS DRUG ABRUPTLY. YOU WILL HAVE SEIZURES. Period.

Call the doctor back and get on a taper schedule. You're alone and that's not good. It doesn't matter that you feel okay right now. The drug has a long half life which means it still hanging around in your system DAYS after your last dose.!  When it's completely eliminated or almost all eliminated you'll be a prime candidate for seizure activity.

Call the doctor.

[melaniemaywatkins]

hi...well, you could call telehealth, or emerg, or just keep watching what people are saying to me...just keep following these tips and conversations that we have here, and ask for help or advice....i hate this medication and im starting to get chest pains, and feel very emotional, crying and my husband is not sure what to say or do, and i yelled at him and called him a jerk, cause he called me and was distracted by workers, so i see im getting upset easy, and crying now.....i dunno, this is screwed..plus, i gave up a bad habit of chronic weed abuse, its been 4 days for that and coffee...im so uncomfortable, to many changes.....just ask here for help, they seem to be very helpful and nice....were not alone.....nice talking to you, i do wish you all the best..please reply, and thank you...all the best.

[melaniemaywatkins]

hi, and ty for replying.....im confused, and suffer with great memory lose, im not even sure if i got back to you yet or not...Im 45 yrs of age, and have hddt, and panic attacks, and thought i was on clonazapam for only 10 yrs, but thats not true. i have been on it for much of my life, and others before, but dont remember...i have a bad headache, and body aches, and feel tired, but not sleeping well.....i did put a call into my doctor, but he has not yet called...its been well over 24 hrs, and i feel ok, but im afraid this is the calm before the storm....half of the time im so confused, i dont even know what day it is....or what happens...my memory is gone, and i am suppose to go into detox but wanted to try this myself. im scard, i think that this is too good to be true, the way i feel and im afraid of something bad happenning to me...please reply.....ty

[pittsgrl]

i feel like i'm in the same place as you however i have only been taken .5 to 1 mg almost everyday for 6 weeks i needed them for a while for things beyond my control however i don't need them anymore i have one pill left don't know what to do i havent taken anything since last night