I don't know why there are so many that suggest speaking with your pharmacist. Even Package inserts will mention this... Has anyone tried to do that? Most Pharmacists are reluctant to render advice as they feel that they could be held liable, which is probably true. I have been a nurse for over 45 years and often times will be asked questions pertaining to a medical condition and/or medication and will preface my discussion "ask your Doctor what he thinks about this.......... At the end of the day the patient and physician have the ultimate decision.
I agree about not getting much help from pharmacists.
The oncologist says ask the pharmacist and the pharmacist says read the medication insert. And this includes many different pharmacists. I get much more valuable information on side effects and hints for reducing side effects from patient forums, medical websites, and medical webinars that provide patients telling their personal stories and real experiences.
Hi everyone I'm new on here hoping to encourage everyone and get some help too. I've been on 2mgs Clonopin am/pm for 20 Years now and I want to be done with this drug! My med Dr doesn't encourage me too, but I know my body and at 53yrs old now, I don't want this in my body anymore!
I don't know if I should go through my PCP and go through a "Med Wash" of the Clonopin and do it in a safe environment, I do have excellent insurance.
Or do it on my own and take half in the morning at night 1 mg for a week, then half both morning and night for the next week.
Then the following week split the half in half for a week.
Then a quarter in the morning and night for a week then stop.
Any suggestions???
I know how you all feel.... It's like being addicted to something that we are made to feel by our Dr we can never get off of and it's the worst feeling ever. Like we aren't in control and they are. My heart ❤️ goes out to all of you on this platform ❤️
Mama, your mentioned tapering dose plan is way too fast. The tapering should be at very low increments over a long period. Example is 10% daily reduction for 6 weeks then another 10% reduction for six weeks. This could take a year or more depending on your current daily dosage.
Print the "Ashton Method" for benzo tapering and take this plan to your doctor. I haven't started tapering yet but the Ashton Method is what I plan to use. The calculations and achieving the small reductions in the pill splitting can be challenging but doable with input from your doctor and pharmacist.
Withdrawal won’t be too bad if you take a low dose and don’t take it for more than a few months. Many compare gabapentin withdrawal to benzo withdrawal.
I have been on klonopin for 30plus yrs. After my Dr. moved out of the area my new Dr. in the same practice did not want to write a script for it so I went to a neurologist and at that point I had tried to taper down extremely slowly tiny amounts. I was taking 1.5mg at night. He ask me why I wanted off of the medication and I told him my new Dr wouldn't write a script for it. To my surprise he told me there was no reason to get off of it. So I have decided to stay on it. My withdrawals were so painful, it made my body hurt for 5months, at that point I was down to 1/2 mg. I was put on gabapentin 900 mgs that then gave me suicidal thoughts. So my advice is it everyone's option what they want to do. So what i take now at night is 1.5 klonopin, magnesium 500mg. and ramelteon 8mg. I take the magnesium at least 1 hr or more prior to my other meds. God bless
@kittymama Hi, I also am tapering off Klondpin after 20 years. I started around October 2018. I took 1.5mg at night. I just no longer need it but was scared to go off. But decided to taper and to my surprise I am still not having any withdrawals that are hard to deal with. I am going down 10% of the pill every 2 to 3 weeks. That is very slow, but with good results. Just a little sleeplessness once in a while. But I am also taking melatonin 5mgs at night. I am currently at .125mg. I am very happy with my taper. The slower, the better my doctor said. And when I get to the last dose, he said take it every other night. It’s tedious to cut that last 1/2 pill but so worth going slow. Best wishes to you.
Thank you for letting me know how you’re getting off Clonazepam. So happy for you and gives me hope that I can do the same! I had to up my dose because of insomnia, vertigo, migraines, extreme head pressure and anxiety had gotten worse. I was taking (2) 1 mg pills. I am now down to for instance; 1 today and 2 tomorrow. I do that every other day. Just about to start taking 1 pill everyday. God bless and let me know how you’re doing here forward when you can. ❤️🙏❤️
I agree about not getting much help from pharmacists.
The oncologist says ask the pharmacist and the pharmacist says read the medication insert. And this includes many different pharmacists. I get much more valuable information on side effects and hints for reducing side effects from patient forums, medical websites, and medical webinars that provide patients telling their personal stories and real experiences.
Mama, your mentioned tapering dose plan is way too fast. The tapering should be at very low increments over a long period. Example is 10% daily reduction for 6 weeks then another 10% reduction for six weeks. This could take a year or more depending on your current daily dosage.
Print the "Ashton Method" for benzo tapering and take this plan to your doctor. I haven't started tapering yet but the Ashton Method is what I plan to use. The calculations and achieving the small reductions in the pill splitting can be challenging but doable with input from your doctor and pharmacist.
Gabapentin withdrawals are bad.. But Klopenin & Zanaxs Withdrawals are Worse..
I have been on klonopin for 30plus yrs. After my Dr. moved out of the area my new Dr. in the same practice did not want to write a script for it so I went to a neurologist and at that point I had tried to taper down extremely slowly tiny amounts. I was taking 1.5mg at night. He ask me why I wanted off of the medication and I told him my new Dr wouldn't write a script for it. To my surprise he told me there was no reason to get off of it. So I have decided to stay on it. My withdrawals were so painful, it made my body hurt for 5months, at that point I was down to 1/2 mg. I was put on gabapentin 900 mgs that then gave me suicidal thoughts. So my advice is it everyone's option what they want to do. So what i take now at night is 1.5 klonopin, magnesium 500mg. and ramelteon 8mg. I take the magnesium at least 1 hr or more prior to my other meds. God bless
Thank you for letting me know how you’re getting off Clonazepam. So happy for you and gives me hope that I can do the same! I had to up my dose because of insomnia, vertigo, migraines, extreme head pressure and anxiety had gotten worse. I was taking (2) 1 mg pills. I am now down to for instance; 1 today and 2 tomorrow. I do that every other day. Just about to start taking 1 pill everyday. God bless and let me know how you’re doing here forward when you can. ❤️🙏❤️