1. < Depression & Anxiety
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I am having a VERY difficult time with Klonipin withdrawal

Posted by lisalynn @lisalynn, Jun 29, 2023

I have been on Klonipin for a BIG Panic disorder for over 15 years. I recently had to wean down off of 3 to none fast. The withdrawal was the worst thing that has ever happened to me. I have my normal prescription now. However, at a lower level. But, I am still having a withdrawal symptom that is plaguing me. I am still taking it, but half of what I had been. I hear my Heart thumping in my ears, very loud and fast, 120 beats per minute. Did anyone else have that symptom? Or describe their withdrawal? Oh, and I NEVER want to speak to that new and cold Psychiatrist I have.
Struggling. Thanks.

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sears | @sears | Aug 28, 2025
In reply to @mcoleman1971 "After my appointment on Tuesday I will most likely be stressed out if I can't find..." + (show)
Profile picture for mcoleman1971 @mcoleman1971

After my appointment on Tuesday I will most likely be stressed out if I can't find any help. After that I will message you if the offer still stands?

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Message me anytime.

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sears | @sears | Aug 28, 2025
In reply to @mcoleman1971 "I have my appointment with my GP that hopefully help me with my taper. But, if..." + (show)
Profile picture for mcoleman1971 @mcoleman1971

I have my appointment with my GP that hopefully help me with my taper. But, if not he has another doctor on staff that is an osteopathic doctor, or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO). That might be a angle that I should try as a lot of this type of doctor will help with tapering using other meds like valium to help with the physical pain.

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Just make sure your doctor plans on doing a really long taper. Most doctors have no idea how to taper a benzodiazepine. Even the physchiatrists don’t have a good understanding.

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mcoleman1971 | @mcoleman1971 | Aug 28, 2025
In reply to @sears "Just make sure your doctor plans on doing a really long taper. Most doctors have no..." + (show)
Profile picture for sears @sears

Just make sure your doctor plans on doing a really long taper. Most doctors have no idea how to taper a benzodiazepine. Even the physchiatrists don’t have a good understanding.

Jump to this post

Yes, I will do that. He doesn't prescribe benzos that often so, last time he told me that he was unsure of how to help me. I forwarded him a link to the Ashton Manual. Hopefully he will ready it.🙄

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beracha | @beracha | Aug 29, 2025
In reply to @mcoleman1971 "After my appointment on Tuesday I will most likely be stressed out if I can't find..." + (show)
Profile picture for mcoleman1971 @mcoleman1971

After my appointment on Tuesday I will most likely be stressed out if I can't find any help. After that I will message you if the offer still stands?

Jump to this post

I was prescribed gabapentin to help with withdrawal. I also am going to weaning off gabapentin and use hydroxyzine. Its RX allergy medicine that can help withdrawal. Good luck

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mcoleman1971 | @mcoleman1971 | Aug 29, 2025
In reply to @mcoleman1971 "I have been on Klonopin for 25 years at 2mg per day and want to get..." + (show)
Profile picture for mcoleman1971 @mcoleman1971

I have been on Klonopin for 25 years at 2mg per day and want to get off of this horrible medication. My GP here doesn't know how to help me and since I live in a small town we don't have any therapists that would be able to help me as well. I do not wish to go to a rehab center and need support through what I am going to be going through over the next year.

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Thank you...this gives me another option to talk about with my GP. Did both of those help?

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daveshaw | @daveshaw | Aug 29, 2025
In reply to @sears "Just make sure your doctor plans on doing a really long taper. Most doctors have no..." + (show)
Profile picture for sears @sears

Just make sure your doctor plans on doing a really long taper. Most doctors have no idea how to taper a benzodiazepine. Even the physchiatrists don’t have a good understanding.

Jump to this post

I swore I would never post again but as I continue to read about people suffering from withdrawal from Klonopin I must ask how many people have overdosed while taking it.
It is labeled a controlled substance along with OxyContin and yet it helps millions of people with anxiety and along with SSRI’s can be effective at helping treat depression.
I know withdrawal is difficult but at 74 I would prefer not going through the terrible withdrawal process.
I hope there are other people that agree with me.
I have no balance issues and exercise 6-7 days a week. My PCP has a practice that caters to seniors and if they refuse to give up drinking she takes them off it.
Since I don’t drink or smoke and I have never increased my dosage for over thirty years she says to ignore these posts and look at each individuals situation. That what makes her the excellent PCP that she is and I am so happy I have seen her now for almost twenty years.
I welcome feedback.

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2 replies
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sears | @sears | Aug 29, 2025
In reply to @mcoleman1971 "I have been on Klonopin for 25 years at 2mg per day and want to get..." + (show)
Profile picture for mcoleman1971 @mcoleman1971

I have been on Klonopin for 25 years at 2mg per day and want to get off of this horrible medication. My GP here doesn't know how to help me and since I live in a small town we don't have any therapists that would be able to help me as well. I do not wish to go to a rehab center and need support through what I am going to be going through over the next year.

Jump to this post

You certainly don’t have to discontinue your benzo as long as you have a doctor that will continue to prescribe for you the rest of your life and your benzo doesn’t stop working as they do for everyone sooner or later. There’s a reason people go through withdrawal. It’s not because they want to. You seriously think people just decide one day that they want to go through the misery of benzo withdrawal? I don’t think so, Dave. It’s because we have no choice.

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mcoleman1971 | @mcoleman1971 | Aug 29, 2025
In reply to @daveshaw "I swore I would never post again but as I continue to read about people suffering..." + (show)
Profile picture for daveshaw @daveshaw

I swore I would never post again but as I continue to read about people suffering from withdrawal from Klonopin I must ask how many people have overdosed while taking it.
It is labeled a controlled substance along with OxyContin and yet it helps millions of people with anxiety and along with SSRI’s can be effective at helping treat depression.
I know withdrawal is difficult but at 74 I would prefer not going through the terrible withdrawal process.
I hope there are other people that agree with me.
I have no balance issues and exercise 6-7 days a week. My PCP has a practice that caters to seniors and if they refuse to give up drinking she takes them off it.
Since I don’t drink or smoke and I have never increased my dosage for over thirty years she says to ignore these posts and look at each individuals situation. That what makes her the excellent PCP that she is and I am so happy I have seen her now for almost twenty years.
I welcome feedback.

Jump to this post

I have not had any problems with it like balance issues but, when I was in the hospital for a surgery that went horribly wrong...my doctor and staff had to figure out how to give me medication as to not cause me to go into respiratory distress and after that experience it got me thinking that I need to get my life back. It is a personal decision as I feel that it has placed a veil over my eyes and I want to be in control of myself as I am tired of being dependent on this medication. When my doctor retires here which will be in the next couple of years I will be hard pressed to find someone that will take me on as a patient. A lot of doctors in my town are running scared and not prescribing any type of benzo. So, for me it's personal and I want to get ahead of the situation before this happens. I don't want to know what a seizure feels like or a painful withdrawal.

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daveshaw | @daveshaw | Aug 29, 2025
In reply to @mcoleman1971 "I have not had any problems with it like balance issues but, when I was in..." + (show)
Profile picture for mcoleman1971 @mcoleman1971

I have not had any problems with it like balance issues but, when I was in the hospital for a surgery that went horribly wrong...my doctor and staff had to figure out how to give me medication as to not cause me to go into respiratory distress and after that experience it got me thinking that I need to get my life back. It is a personal decision as I feel that it has placed a veil over my eyes and I want to be in control of myself as I am tired of being dependent on this medication. When my doctor retires here which will be in the next couple of years I will be hard pressed to find someone that will take me on as a patient. A lot of doctors in my town are running scared and not prescribing any type of benzo. So, for me it's personal and I want to get ahead of the situation before this happens. I don't want to know what a seizure feels like or a painful withdrawal.

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You don’t mention how old you are and I am sorry the surgery went horribly wrong.
I don’t feel the medication has put a veil over my eyes and I have had conversations with my PCP. Unlike so many PCP’s that are running away from prescribing it she actually encouraged me to stay on it. After 30 years and at my age I don’t want to go through a painful withdrawal. One post said it took him or her six years to get off it. That would make me 80 years old.
Do you know of any way to get off it without suffering terrible withdrawals? If so I am all ears.
Do you think the opioid epidemic has all the doctors running scared? I have never heard of anyone overdosing on Klonopin. Have you? Also why does everyone on this site focus on Klonopin when there are so many other benzo’s out there?
Like I said my PCP for the last 20 years has a practice comprised of only senior citizens and she is careful not to prescribe it to anyone with a drinking problem.
Just looking for answers.

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2 replies
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mcoleman1971 | @mcoleman1971 | Aug 30, 2025
In reply to @daveshaw "You don’t mention how old you are and I am sorry the surgery went horribly wrong...." + (show)
Profile picture for daveshaw @daveshaw

You don’t mention how old you are and I am sorry the surgery went horribly wrong.
I don’t feel the medication has put a veil over my eyes and I have had conversations with my PCP. Unlike so many PCP’s that are running away from prescribing it she actually encouraged me to stay on it. After 30 years and at my age I don’t want to go through a painful withdrawal. One post said it took him or her six years to get off it. That would make me 80 years old.
Do you know of any way to get off it without suffering terrible withdrawals? If so I am all ears.
Do you think the opioid epidemic has all the doctors running scared? I have never heard of anyone overdosing on Klonopin. Have you? Also why does everyone on this site focus on Klonopin when there are so many other benzo’s out there?
Like I said my PCP for the last 20 years has a practice comprised of only senior citizens and she is careful not to prescribe it to anyone with a drinking problem.
Just looking for answers.

Jump to this post

I will gather my thoughts and give you all the responses tomorrow the best that I can to explain my situation without hopefully not overwhelming you. Give me 24 hours and I will explain everything.

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