Klonopin withdrawal

[bpchris]

So, I have been tapering down on my Klonopin over the past few months; I dropped from 1.5mgs to 1.0mgs. I have been cutting down by about .125mgs every few weeks. I was taking the dose three times a day: .25 in the morning, .25 at noon, and .5 at night. However, the noon dosage started to make me very edgy so I talked to me shrink and went to a bi-daily dosing schedule; .5 in the morning and .5 at night. My last drop in dosage was almost two weeks ago and I kicked over to the bi-daily dosing about 4 days ago. I am really, really ripped up right now. I can't focus, my mood is in the toilet, and I am just an all around wreck.

Now, I have had the normal Klonopin withdrawal issues with each reduction in dosage; but this is hitting me very, very hard. I am starting to wonder if cutting back to a bi-daily dosing schedule isn't adding to the issues. I talked to my shrink about it and she said that it was up to me; I can go back to the three doses a day or stick with it twice a day..I have been taking it three times a day since I started on it 2 years ago. Any thoughts on this? Could the change in dosing schedule be messing with me this much?

[bpchris]

My shrink gives me a free amount of say in my treatment. When I told her I wanted to taper, she just cut me my normal script, asked how I was going to do it and told me to keep in touch.

BUT, that's because I refused benzos for a very long time. Honestly, I only ended up on Klonopin because I was misdiagnosed with depression/GAD and I actually have BP2 disorder. I was having mixed episodes which my shrink though were panic attacks so she pushed benzos. I finally got it all cleared up but decided to stay on the Klonopoin which has proven to be a bad idea for me.

We'll see, I'll probably have to hand her highlighted portions of the Ashton Manual to get her to do it. Honestly, if push comes to shove, I'll probably take your advice and use the wafers; I think that's a better idea.

[lynn57]

You know I thought of the Valium crossover.  My doctor wasn't into that method and wasn't the type to let me make my own decision about my taper.  I did go quite a bit more slowly than he had planned but it worked.  If you go with the valium crossover let us know how you make out.  I am presently back on Klonopin .5 mgs two times a day.  I would like to try the valium cross-over the next time I'm ready to give up my Klonpin.  Good luck with your taper.  You'll do fine.

[bpchris]

Yeah, it's going to take me about 9 months total; if not a little more. I have been considering asking my shrink about the wafers or about switching over to an equivalent dose of Valium when I start to get down in those lower dosages. We'll see; I wouldn't mind giving the Valium cross-over a try because I'll just switch back over to Klonopin if it doesn't work.

[lynn57]

I have tapered off Klonopin and I took a whole year.  As I have said before it wasn't fun but far from "a living hell".  Like I said the last .5 mgs was the hardest for me and I really slowed my taper at that time.  I went to .25 wafers and actually split those.  It says you can't split them on the pamphlet, but my doctor said I could.  It worked for me.  

[bpchris]

I have to remind myself that it's all relative to the person. And, not just with their sensitivity to the benzos but with their reactions to the withdrawals and their history. I guess some of it could be that I am "battle-hardened" as I used to deal with BP2 mixed episodes. Those sucked. Plus. my girlfriend has MS; it's pretty hard to feel sorry for yourself when you see how debilitating that disease is.

[nursegirl6572]

I'm glad you're willing to share your story.  Those are the types of comments I get upset with.  While that may describe what someone else went thru, it won't apply to everyone.  I just wish more people who had good experiences would come to a forum like this and share.  It would provide some much needed balance!  Thanks again!

[bpchris]

Also, thank you very much for the calm phrasing (discomfort). I am getting very frustrated with people telling me that I am going to go through "pure agony", a "trip through h-ll" and that this will be a "low point in my life"(etc).It hasn't been fun but it also hasn't been anywhere near as bad as people keep telling me. In fact, nicotine withdrawals were far worse than this.

[bpchris]

Well, I think I am going back to three doses a day, starting tomorrow. That noon dose was uncomfortable but at least I was functional. I was a mess this afternoon; especially cognitively. I couldn't think or focus, at all.. I was swimming in wet cement... I teach math and I cannot be in that state again.

It's for the best; taking a full .5mg tab in the morning made the first half of my day pretty rough.

Thanks for the responses and I have been taking it very slowly. And, it looks like I will be taking it even more slowly; I will be cutting down by 1/8 of a .5mg tab in the next reduction..

[nursegirl6572]

The best advice I have for you is to keep doing what you're doing...which is keeping in close communication with your doctor and take your time during the taper.  The half life of the Klonopin could be why you were more affected by dropping your dosage frequency moreso than the actual dose.

"Slow and steady wins the race".  This is SO true with something like benzo tapers, especially Klonopin which tends to be a bit more problematic due to the long acting nature and long half life.

Don't rush things...listen to your doc, and remember that even if you do everything by the book, you still may very likely experience some discomfort along the way.

Hang in there!!

[lynn57]

At some point in time you will go to a bi-daily dosage during your taper.  You are still taking the same dose per day that you were taking on a three dose schedule.  You shouldn't be too bothered by the change.  Three doses a day does leave a higher amount in your system even with the same daily dosage.  You do need to try to stick with the bi-daily dosage to complete your taper successfully.  The last .5 mg will be the hardest.