Tapering Klonopin: What helps insomnia, night sweats and leg cramps?

I desperately want to taper of 1mg of klonopin. I had no idea that the drug should not only be used for a short period of time, but tapering can cause insomnia. After 11 years I am starting to have cognitive issues. I have epilepsy and lack of sleep is my trigger for a seizure. I’m between a rock and a hard place. Looking for help to avoid the insomnia so I can start taper. Did the insomnia start after fully finishing the klonopin or did it start while still tapering?

I started having sleep issues and increased anxiety when the dosage got to .25mg. I suffered for many months until I got in with a sleep specialist neurologist. She prescribed Lunesta, and while it doesn’t help with anxiety and I still have some night sweats, I am able to sleep. After two years, I miss my klonopin at times. But, I no longer have stupid falls, forget things, and I’m mentally sharper.

It matters why you have night sweats. Mine are from my terminal lung infection of pseudomonas so benzo or not, I will have them. As far as how I sleep with chronic insomnia? I have had to admit that the following combo works: 300 mg gabapentin, 8 mg Low dose naltrexone, 10 mg cyclobenzaprine, 10 mg THC, and .25 alpraz only when needed. I have tried DayvGo OMG and Qviviq OMG and lunesta and all the others and I have horrible reactions!

I also am tapering a benzo, Valium. I was tapering Klonopin but became tolerant, so I swapped out the Klonopin for doing a micro-taper on Valium. You need to be very careful. You can’t taper off of Klonopin quickly especially after having used it so long. You can acquire “protracted withdrawal” by tapering too fast. I hope it’s not your doctor pushing you. When you taper off of benzos, the lower you get on your dosage the more challenging it becomes. I am working with a group called Taper Clinic that are very professional and know what they are doing when it comes to getting people of this poison. Generally the rule of thumb is to cut 2.5 to 5% of your current dose. Not your starting dose, your current dose. If you do it too fast you will run into problems and the problems you took the drug for can resurface. You have to give your body time to heal. It’s not linear. Everyone is different. I’m not a professional just passing along my experience.

@beejenigma sorry for your challenges. Dayvigo put me in a trance. I think it is nasty stuff.

@jso15
I also am tapering a benzo, Valium. I was tapering Klonopin but became tolerant, so I swapped out the Klonopin for doing a micro-taper on Valium. You need to be very careful. You can’t taper off of Klonopin quickly especially after having used it so long. You can acquire “protracted withdrawal” by tapering too fast. I hope it’s not your doctor pushing you. When you taper off of benzos, the lower you get on your dosage the more challenging it becomes. I am working with a group called Taper Clinic that are very professional and know what they are doing when it comes to getting people of this poison. Generally the rule of thumb is to cut 2.5 to 5% of your current dose. Not your starting dose, your current dose. If you do it too fast you will run into problems and the problems you took the drug for can resurface. You have to give your body time to heal. Sometimes you just need to go slow. It’s not linear. Everyone is different. I’m not a professional just passing along my experience.

@stevej940
Thanks for the info on Taper Clinic. I will check them out. My Dr is not pushing me. I’m on a 10 -12 month taper schedule. The range I have heard to start taper is from anywhere between 5% - 10%
I haven’t heard of tapering on such a low of a dose. I will def check out Taper Clinic. Whatever it takes us to get to the end is all that counts.
Wishing you the best.🙏🏻