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How to get off of Clonazepam Safely?

Posted by meingan @meingan, Dec 19, 2025

I’ve been taking Clonazepam for severe anxiety for 2.5 months and it’s no longer working as well as before. I take no more than 0.5 mg twice daily. Have taken 0.25 mg for about a month. My anxiety symptoms seem to be getting worse and I don’t want to increase dosage. I just want out.
Anyone with helpful suggestions to wean off safely without debilitating withdrawal symptoms, I’d really appreciate hearing from you. The problem with this drug is the pills are tiny so doing the 5-10% reduction is impractical. I’m currently also taking Effexor.

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laura1970 | @laura1970 | Dec 25, 2025
In reply to @frouke "The biggest rule of all with taking yourself off this medication is to go very slowly..." + (show)
Profile picture for frouke @frouke

The biggest rule of all with taking yourself off this medication is to go very slowly to avoid relapse. If you want to find a plan that works, go online and look into the book called the Ashton manual program, it’s been proven to work well with minimal side effects because it’s a very simple and slow process and reputed to be very effective.

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@frouke I concur with reading the Ashton manual. You can download a free copy here;
https://www.benzoinfo.com/ashtonmanual/chapter2b/
There is also another another string about clonazapam weaning here on mayo website that is very long with a lot of good insights. I briefly searched but couldn’t find it to send you a link.

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dreamspinner3 | @dreamspinner3 | Dec 26, 2025

I had to wean off of it slowly and under the guidance of my doctor. Ask your medical practitioner to help you set up a plan to gradually taper down your dose.

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cathyz57 | @cathyz57 | Dec 29, 2025

STAY IN THERE AND DON'T GIVE UP..
YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE ANSWERS WILL COME,, I CAN SYMAPTHIZE WITH YOU GREATLY,, I TAKE KLONOPIN AND FEEL THAT I AM BEING DISCRIMINATED FOR NEEDING KLONOPIN TO RELIEVE MY SYMTOMS.. BEST OF LUCK AND HAVE A HAPPY SAFE NEW YEAR. 🧡

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cathyz57 | @cathyz57 | Jan 7 8:49am
In reply to @randallshields56 "Welcome to the group and i am no doctor but have been weaned off a few..." + (show)
Profile picture for Randy Shields @randallshields56

Welcome to the group and i am no doctor but have been weaned off a few meds and it varies with the medication. some just take weeks some longer but ask your doctor before trying on your own, some can and will bite you pretty bad if done improperly when withdrawing from them. ill send a prayer for you------sent and have a blessed day and hope you find what your looking for.

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@randallshields56
Thank you so much💞

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Randy Shields | @randallshields56 | 5 days ago
In reply to @cathyz57 "@randallshields56 Thank you so much💞" + (show)
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@randallshields56
Thank you so much💞

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i especially liked hearts, have a great and blessed evening.

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Randy Shields | @randallshields56 | 5 days ago
In reply to @randallshields56 "Welcome to the group and i am no doctor but have been weaned off a few..." + (show)
Profile picture for Randy Shields @randallshields56

Welcome to the group and i am no doctor but have been weaned off a few meds and it varies with the medication. some just take weeks some longer but ask your doctor before trying on your own, some can and will bite you pretty bad if done improperly when withdrawing from them. ill send a prayer for you------sent and have a blessed day and hope you find what your looking for.

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appreciated the like and god bless

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bruizersmom | @bruizersmom | 3 days ago
In reply to @meingan "@bruizersmom What was your actual procedure on your last successful attempt? I found some info that..." + (show)
Profile picture for meingan @meingan

@bruizersmom What was your actual procedure on your last successful attempt? I found some info that suggested removing 0.25mg once per week, so I calculated that it might take 9 weeks. Thanks for sharing.

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@meingan that answer depends on which doctor gave me the taper-down. The first time it wasa psychiatric APRN who gave me a super-long schedule, while my epilepsy doctor, 2 years later gave me the much shorter schedule. With either it was first change from 0.5 mg 4/day to 3/day for 2 weeks. After that it was decreased to 0.25mg, 3 dose times. The long, slow taper was to decrease each individual dose by 0.125, then he cut out a dose, then again cut the 2/day dose to 0.125 !!! That meant I was snapping pills (0.5) into halves, then quarters, finally into EIGHTHS!!! I'll get back to you with the specifics on the faster taper. I just have to hunt it down.

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meingan | @meingan | 2 days ago
In reply to @bruizersmom "@meingan that answer depends on which doctor gave me the taper-down. The first time it wasa..." + (show)
Profile picture for bruizersmom @bruizersmom

@meingan that answer depends on which doctor gave me the taper-down. The first time it wasa psychiatric APRN who gave me a super-long schedule, while my epilepsy doctor, 2 years later gave me the much shorter schedule. With either it was first change from 0.5 mg 4/day to 3/day for 2 weeks. After that it was decreased to 0.25mg, 3 dose times. The long, slow taper was to decrease each individual dose by 0.125, then he cut out a dose, then again cut the 2/day dose to 0.125 !!! That meant I was snapping pills (0.5) into halves, then quarters, finally into EIGHTHS!!! I'll get back to you with the specifics on the faster taper. I just have to hunt it down.

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@bruizersmom Thanks so much for taking the time to give me this information! God bless you.🙏

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