Hello,
I have been in Klonopin for over 20 years..
Was able to go down from 2 mg to 1 mg..
I use it mainly for sleep, and when I have a crying spell/panic attack.
I dont want to be so dependent on it and my husband noticed that it has affected my memory and concentration.
I am 54 years old, and am afraid of getting early dimensia..
I just noticed you are fluffykitty and I am kittymama! I have just starting taking a magnesium supplement called CALM. The reviews were really encouraging! I will let you know if it helps me.
Hi, I’m 61 and have been prescribed 0.5mg Klonopin to take as needed for anxiety and sleep for a few years now. I had periods of time where I only needed once or twice a month.
After recovering from Lyme disease I developed odd health issues that have gone undiagnosed. Mostly viral infections that won’t clear and sinus and sleep issues. My anxiety increased so I started using Klonopin more frequently about a month ago. 0.5mg daily.
I recently started with a new PCP who didn’t want to give me a refill and recommended I see a psychiatrist if I wanted to continue taking it. I figured since it was a small dose and I didn’t take it regularly until recently I could stop taking it. I was thinking it was time to get off of it anyways.
Well after 3 days I started to have the worst nightmares I’ve ever had in my life. I wake up every hour and have a headache and blurry vision all day. I’ve only been off it for week. At this point I want to try and just get through the rest of this cold turkey.
After reading through this thread I’m wishing I had done a taper. I'm hoping at this point I can tough this out without going back on it. Has anyone had success stopping a 0.5mg PRN dose? I’m wondering if these symptoms are going to improve or get worse. I’ve read so many different things about this and understand everyone is different.
Hi, I’m 61 and have been prescribed 0.5mg Klonopin to take as needed for anxiety and sleep for a few years now. I had periods of time where I only needed once or twice a month.
After recovering from Lyme disease I developed odd health issues that have gone undiagnosed. Mostly viral infections that won’t clear and sinus and sleep issues. My anxiety increased so I started using Klonopin more frequently about a month ago. 0.5mg daily.
I recently started with a new PCP who didn’t want to give me a refill and recommended I see a psychiatrist if I wanted to continue taking it. I figured since it was a small dose and I didn’t take it regularly until recently I could stop taking it. I was thinking it was time to get off of it anyways.
Well after 3 days I started to have the worst nightmares I’ve ever had in my life. I wake up every hour and have a headache and blurry vision all day. I’ve only been off it for week. At this point I want to try and just get through the rest of this cold turkey.
After reading through this thread I’m wishing I had done a taper. I'm hoping at this point I can tough this out without going back on it. Has anyone had success stopping a 0.5mg PRN dose? I’m wondering if these symptoms are going to improve or get worse. I’ve read so many different things about this and understand everyone is different.
Klonopin has the longest half life of any other benzodiazepine. It takes over 24 hrs for half of it to leave your system, another 24 hrs for half of that to leave your system and so forth. Speak with the prescribing physician on how to do this SAFELY, PLEASE. I was a detox nurse for over 20 yrs.
I suffered panic attacks my whole life..Klonopin was the only med that helped..I took it for 40 years..I am now 71 and feel it's time to get off of it..I am tapering 1/4 tablet every 2 weeks..so far so good..it was easier than getting off lexapro...GL
I suffered panic attacks my whole life..Klonopin was the only med that helped..I took it for 40 years..I am now 71 and feel it's time to get off of it..I am tapering 1/4 tablet every 2 weeks..so far so good..it was easier than getting off lexapro...GL
I took Klonopin for almost 20 years - just 1mg at bedtime, sometimes 1.5 at the most. At 64, no doctor would prescribe it any longer so I had to taper off. It was ok up until the last .25mg and after that, was very hard. It has been 14 months since my last dose. It has not been good, yet I feel better in so many ways. I no longer have stupid falls, I am mentally sharper. I would never go back. It was a 10 month taper, very slow. Just take your time.. You can do it! Sounds like you might be going a bit too fast. I did an adjustment every 6 weeks in .25mg increments. Worst part was the psychiatrist doing the taper downplayed the withdrawal and did nothing. I had insomnia for 9 months until I got into a sleep dr. who prescribed Lunesta. At least now I sleep.
I took Klonopin for almost 20 years - just 1mg at bedtime, sometimes 1.5 at the most. At 64, no doctor would prescribe it any longer so I had to taper off. It was ok up until the last .25mg and after that, was very hard. It has been 14 months since my last dose. It has not been good, yet I feel better in so many ways. I no longer have stupid falls, I am mentally sharper. I would never go back. It was a 10 month taper, very slow. Just take your time.. You can do it! Sounds like you might be going a bit too fast. I did an adjustment every 6 weeks in .25mg increments. Worst part was the psychiatrist doing the taper downplayed the withdrawal and did nothing. I had insomnia for 9 months until I got into a sleep dr. who prescribed Lunesta. At least now I sleep.
Tnx for the reply...I am down to .50 clonazepam and I am not sleeping very well and I am hesitantly back on a very small dose of Lexapro..I wish I can fight my depression and anxiety drug-free..I am 71, live alone and have fallen several times..not good
Klonopin has the longest half life of any other benzodiazepine. It takes over 24 hrs for half of it to leave your system, another 24 hrs for half of that to leave your system and so forth. Speak with the prescribing physician on how to do this SAFELY, PLEASE. I was a detox nurse for over 20 yrs.
You are not correct! Valium, Clorazepate and Librium have MUCH longer half lives than Klonopin, MUCH longer. That’s why the Ashton Method for withdrawal of Benzos recommends switching to Valium to withdraw. Valiums half life is over 100 hours and its active metabolite is around 300 hours.
Tnx for the reply...I am down to .50 clonazepam and I am not sleeping very well and I am hesitantly back on a very small dose of Lexapro..I wish I can fight my depression and anxiety drug-free..I am 71, live alone and have fallen several times..not good
The falls might stop when you get completely free from clonazepam. They did for me anyway. I haven’t come close to falling on over a year. But I do need a sleep medication. I tried everything behavioral and natural and could not sleep. Lunesta works pretty well.
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Hello,
I have been in Klonopin for over 20 years..
Was able to go down from 2 mg to 1 mg..
I use it mainly for sleep, and when I have a crying spell/panic attack.
I dont want to be so dependent on it and my husband noticed that it has affected my memory and concentration.
I am 54 years old, and am afraid of getting early dimensia..
is that calm with ashwaganda? when do you take it? thanks
Hi, I’m 61 and have been prescribed 0.5mg Klonopin to take as needed for anxiety and sleep for a few years now. I had periods of time where I only needed once or twice a month.
After recovering from Lyme disease I developed odd health issues that have gone undiagnosed. Mostly viral infections that won’t clear and sinus and sleep issues. My anxiety increased so I started using Klonopin more frequently about a month ago. 0.5mg daily.
I recently started with a new PCP who didn’t want to give me a refill and recommended I see a psychiatrist if I wanted to continue taking it. I figured since it was a small dose and I didn’t take it regularly until recently I could stop taking it. I was thinking it was time to get off of it anyways.
Well after 3 days I started to have the worst nightmares I’ve ever had in my life. I wake up every hour and have a headache and blurry vision all day. I’ve only been off it for week. At this point I want to try and just get through the rest of this cold turkey.
After reading through this thread I’m wishing I had done a taper. I'm hoping at this point I can tough this out without going back on it. Has anyone had success stopping a 0.5mg PRN dose? I’m wondering if these symptoms are going to improve or get worse. I’ve read so many different things about this and understand everyone is different.
Thanks in advance for any feedback.
Klonopin has the longest half life of any other benzodiazepine. It takes over 24 hrs for half of it to leave your system, another 24 hrs for half of that to leave your system and so forth. Speak with the prescribing physician on how to do this SAFELY, PLEASE. I was a detox nurse for over 20 yrs.
I suffered panic attacks my whole life..Klonopin was the only med that helped..I took it for 40 years..I am now 71 and feel it's time to get off of it..I am tapering 1/4 tablet every 2 weeks..so far so good..it was easier than getting off lexapro...GL
I took Klonopin for almost 20 years - just 1mg at bedtime, sometimes 1.5 at the most. At 64, no doctor would prescribe it any longer so I had to taper off. It was ok up until the last .25mg and after that, was very hard. It has been 14 months since my last dose. It has not been good, yet I feel better in so many ways. I no longer have stupid falls, I am mentally sharper. I would never go back. It was a 10 month taper, very slow. Just take your time.. You can do it! Sounds like you might be going a bit too fast. I did an adjustment every 6 weeks in .25mg increments. Worst part was the psychiatrist doing the taper downplayed the withdrawal and did nothing. I had insomnia for 9 months until I got into a sleep dr. who prescribed Lunesta. At least now I sleep.
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1 ReactionTnx for the reply...I am down to .50 clonazepam and I am not sleeping very well and I am hesitantly back on a very small dose of Lexapro..I wish I can fight my depression and anxiety drug-free..I am 71, live alone and have fallen several times..not good
You are not correct! Valium, Clorazepate and Librium have MUCH longer half lives than Klonopin, MUCH longer. That’s why the Ashton Method for withdrawal of Benzos recommends switching to Valium to withdraw. Valiums half life is over 100 hours and its active metabolite is around 300 hours.
The falls might stop when you get completely free from clonazepam. They did for me anyway. I haven’t come close to falling on over a year. But I do need a sleep medication. I tried everything behavioral and natural and could not sleep. Lunesta works pretty well.
I am on a very low dose of mirtazapine, 7.5 mg, for sleep after a very slow taper off of Ativan. Has been working well for me