Withdrawal Klonopine, Rivotril

[MiuMau]

Just wanted to ask if there are withdrawal symptoms when trying to stop taking Klonopine 0.5 mg. I started with over 2mg, for anxiety and agoraphobia, ten months ago, and weaned down since then to 0.5 a day. My doc told me to take 0.5mg every second day and then after three weeks stop taking it completely.
I immediately started feeling anxious while doing this, so I went to consult my doc about it. She says that I shouldn`t be experiencing any withdrawal symptoms, and that this must mean that there is an external cause to my anxiety ... I got better in the past week, so I started doubting what she said, and am more inclined to believe that what I`m feeling is withdrawal and that I have to go through every exercise I went through while on meds - only now without them, to get the full effect of cognitive behaviour therapy.
What I`m feeling now, without the Klonopine, is mild to moderate anxiety that usually goes away, I think it`s only the fear of anxiety returning .... My hands sweat, and that`s it I think...
Thanks

[MMahon]

Great news  MiuMau!!  
All you 'have to fear is fear itself'... wise words by a wise person.
Your fear will be replaced by hope and it sounds like you are well on your way there.

[MiuMau]

Feeling better as days go by, I only have the fear of anxiety returning... But I guess I`ll just try and stay active and see how the situation develops!
Thank you both for answering me!
:)

[veryworriedmomdad]

The best bet is to stop taking the klonopin as your doctor prescribed.  Give it at least two to six months before being re-evaluated.  Our daughter has been off the .5 mg of clonazepam(same as klonopin.).  Her anxiety and a whole host of other withdrawl systoms got worse before they got better. You can not trully know until you let all of the meds get out of your system.  Klonopin works in weird ways, some the doctors don't even know. Staying away from caffine and alcohol can help tremendously with withdrawl symtoms (these can actually make the symtoms worse).  Good luck!  
let us know how you turn out!  

[MMahon]

You may have had some withdrawal symptoms or you may  have been experiencing the return of the symptoms you had before starting on Klonopin.
If you followed your docs plan for stopping the medicine, I think you will be ok. You don't know if your anxiety is truly better until you try stopping.  
If the symptoms return, you know what to do to get better.
You seem to have a good handle on your condition. You are in the drivers seat...it's your car!
Proceed slowly and thoughtfully and I'm sure you'll wind up in the right place.
Let us know how you make out.