Clonazepam taper

I was on the same .5 mg dose and when I mentioned the low dose to my doctor, he said, that is NOT a low dose. Maybe lower than most here as everyone seems to unknowingly become dependent on it and needs higher doses over time. And after just one month on .5mg it was screwing with my CNS in a major way. Now I suppose I am an anomaly perhaps but .5mg is probably the intended dosage from the manufacturer of this crap. And anyone on it for more than 2 weeks (which is what is recommended - same as proton pump inhibitors) becomes dependent on the meds. and never realize it. That's the reason why you need to do a long taper, its because without the long taper you really can get messed up. If your body wasn't dependent they wouldn't tell you that tapering was highly recommended.

So what is the half life of clonazepam in the body? I think I read where it is 12 hours. So, tapering off does not need to be such long duration if you do some math on it. I rely on it for relief of my symptoms of general anxiety disorder (GAD). I was just in yesterday to see my PCP and I asked outright to recommend a replacement for the clonazepam 2 mg. There was no viable alternative on which the doctor was willing to spend time working out a program. Why? Because the 2 mg dose is so low, along with the risk of side effects. If a patient just wants to avoid a dependency for that purpose alone, I think that a marvelous objective.

So what is the half life of clonazepam in the body? I think I read where it is 12 hours. So, tapering off does not need to be such long duration if you do some math on it. I rely on it for relief of my symptoms of general anxiety disorder (GAD). I was just in yesterday to see my PCP and I asked outright to recommend a replacement for the clonazepam 2 mg. There was no viable alternative on which the doctor was willing to spend time working out a program. Why? Because the 2 mg dose is so low, along with the risk of side effects. If a patient just wants to avoid a dependency for that purpose alone, I think that a marvelous objective.

With all due respect, there are no alternative meds to a benzodiazepine, precisely why your PCP gave no such recommendation, and the 2mg dose is not relevant. As well, 2mg is not a low dose. It’s your prerogative to taper as you wish, even if not guided by the latest research supporting a slow taper. I’m rather unclear on the purpose of the post, presumably to share an opinion that is not backed by evidence. Calculating a taper plan is quite a bit more complicated than doing some half life math in the absence of physical dependency considerations, etc. etc. As well, PCP’s are generally not knowledgeable about safe benzodiazepine taper methods, nor are many psychiatrists for that matter.

You obviously don't understand this medication. Why don't you read the Ashton Manual on this subject. Read about withdrawal symptoms and how long they can persist in some people, especially those who stop cold turkey. This medication can stay in ones tissue for long periods of time, months and even longer. Research is still trying to figure out for how long. I'm not sure where you've heard 12 hour half life but thats BS. Why do people have withdrawal effects for weeks/months, even longer from being on this med. if it's nowhere to be found? Like I said - most people on this med are addicted (but nobody wants to use that term since it correlates to street drugs) so they say dependent which they are unknowingly. Why do you think people need to have their doses upped to get the same effect? Luckily some people deal with this potent benzo just fine while others do not. But many are stuck and experienmce issues long past 12 hours after stopping the med. The taper recommended alone should speak volumes.

https://cbhphilly.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Helping-Patients-Taper-from-Benzodiazepines-FINAL-3.pdf (This is all you really need to know).

https://cbhphilly.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Helping-Patients-Taper-from-Benzodiazepines-FINAL-3.pdf (This is all you really need to know).

I'm not sure you are entirely accurate in your comments, but I'm not one to argue about it. There is viable info so easy to find on the internet, for instance: https://cbhphilly.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Helping-Patients-Taper-from-Benzodiazepines-FINAL-3.pdf This will answer the tapering off periods, the half-life I mentioned, and alternative to clonazepam. So, there it is. Clonazepam can have as little as a 20-hour elimination half-life. If you're saying that doctors do not have this information readily at hand, I think you are mistaken. But I've been on and off cold turkey from my 2 mg daily clonazepam several times, and the doctors/interns are only worried about seizures upon withdrawal. Let the poster's doctor decide whether a slow versus abrupt withdrawal of 0.5 mg of clonazepam is risky or not. Try helping out the original poster here rather than giving me grief. I have my own extensive experiences with clonazepam which means nothing to anyone else.