Hi, I was put on Clonazepan over 20 years ago for Restless leg syndrome.
I was younger and busy with family and work never really thought about this medication.I only knew that it helped me.
Now after seeing and hearing about this drug,I am scared and nervous about weaning off it.
I been reading about tapering off and I’m going to start . I’m seeing my PC this week and I’m going to discuss this with him.
I am so embarrassed that this has happened to me.
Has anyone successfully weaned off Clonazepan? Judy

Ativan is another benzo; this is how I tapered as recommended by a sleep medicine doctor. I really took my time. Successfully off it for a year.

@hiker2024 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect!

@kawanhee has offered a very sound tapering schedule in their post. My question to you, is if you have discussed this with your prescribing doctor, and the reason for the taper and elimination of this medication? Are you replacing it with something else? As you read through the posts, you will find that as people change off medications, doing so in very slow changes has the best outcome.
Ginger

I tapered off with my provider. Everyone is different but i used liquid clonazepam and eventually did switch to Diazapam. it has a long have life, also comes in liquid and as your dose goes lower and lower it’s easier because of how diazepam dosing is lower

Also, the Benzodiazepine Information Coalition provides a list of benzo informed providers. I checked into all and the price was not affordable, short of digging deep into resources intended for retirement. Believe one was 550.00 per month and another required a 12 month commitment, under 30,000 and over 20,000. We have to educate ourselves through reputable sources, I have found, if unable to afford such treatment.

That's such a terribly lose dose, I don't see why you need to taper off of it. What is the risk for stopping cold turkey much higher doses --? It's seizures. You're not going to see seizures. If you must taper off, try to cut or crush the tablets and taper off over 10 days or so. I'd never bother doing that if it were me.

I have recently started a taper off 5mg after 10 yrs use. Educate yourself on the options via reputable resources, The Benzodiazepine Information Coalition. I want to use a micro taper and holding after, not recommending in any fashion, a cut from .5 to .375mg, much more than the recommended 5 - 10% per month hold. I took a calculated risk, however will not take such a large cut again as previously made the mistake of cutting to .25mg which was completely unsustainable and returned to .5mg relatively quickly, stabilized, and tried again 6/1/24 and still on .375mg. May hold another 30 days, unsure as yet. Would not give credence to any recommendation that tapering isn’t necessary at a low dose, given physical dependency most assuredly has developed after 5 years. Seizures as pointed out in one response is one of a multitude of possible side effects resulting, for many, from cold turkey, rapid taper, etc. Unless, perhaps, you have been taking extremely sporadically over the course of 5 years. Even then, would still taper. Consult with a reputable doctor, if you can find one. Mine is not knowledgeable about tapering but is supportive of a patient led taper.

Tapering is absolutely necessary for you and any medical professional would attest to that! I tapered off after only two months of use and it was still really very difficult physically and emotionally for about a month. Try meditating and exercise and just know that eventually you can do it. I worked with a psychiatrist for help to do it. Good luck to you. ❤️

been on benzo for 15 years I am down to 0.25.mg day sometimes I need to take a other 0.25 more but only take 0.25 if can help it. how do you taper off that low of a dose and what sub meds would help

I’m not sure if this is the right forum/group but I am needing and seeking hope and help to taper off 9 years of clonazepam.