1. < Depression & Anxiety

Klonopin taper

Posted by dawgbone @dawgbone, Jul 31, 2017

I have been on some kind of benzo for almost 40 yrs. I am trying to taper from 1.5-2 mgs of klonopin daily . Began in mid may 2017 and my last cut was very small on 7-2-17 to get to 1mg. Honestly feels like i am dying. I also take trazodone 75 mgs and 4 drugs for high blood pressure. I have been researching gabapentin and seroquel to help with the withdrawal symptons. Please offer any suggestions or help. I am 69 yrs old and cant even leave my house to visit my kids and grands. Thank you for any help!

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Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Nov 6, 2018
In reply to @lorraine59 "I now am suffering only mild symtoms, but am feeling anxiety, and heart palpitations, and afraid..." + (show)
@lorraine59

I now am suffering only mild symtoms, but am feeling anxiety, and heart palpitations, and afraid of going outside! But I know my next taper (which is a week away) a whole new set of issues! This fear that comes will prevent me from working, which it has in done in the past. The thought of sitting on my sofa and trembling so bad,not being able to concentrate, heart racing, I feel that my life has no meaning if I have to suffer so severely, what is the point of my livingÉ

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Hi, @lorraine59 – I appreciate the update about the mild symptoms you are experiencing now, while anticipating a lot of fear and physical symptoms with the taper your doctor has scheduled for you. I’m so sorry you are going through this, and I hope you find Connect a safe place to talk, even about the tough stuff. It’s important to know you are not alone and that the Connect community is here for you.

If at any point you start to feel like you may consider hurting yourself, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline https://988lifeline.org for immediate help. Your safety is the most important thing to us. Needing to talk to a professional doesn’t show weakness, it shows strength.

I’d be interested in hearing how your appointment goes today. What are you considering saying to him about the anxiousness you are experiencing with starting a clonazepam taper again?

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1 reply
lorraine59 | @lorraine59 | Nov 6, 2018
In reply to @lisalucier "Hi, @lorraine59 – I appreciate the update about the mild symptoms you are experiencing now, while..." + (show)
@lisalucier

Hi, @lorraine59 – I appreciate the update about the mild symptoms you are experiencing now, while anticipating a lot of fear and physical symptoms with the taper your doctor has scheduled for you. I’m so sorry you are going through this, and I hope you find Connect a safe place to talk, even about the tough stuff. It’s important to know you are not alone and that the Connect community is here for you.

If at any point you start to feel like you may consider hurting yourself, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline https://988lifeline.org for immediate help. Your safety is the most important thing to us. Needing to talk to a professional doesn’t show weakness, it shows strength.

I’d be interested in hearing how your appointment goes today. What are you considering saying to him about the anxiousness you are experiencing with starting a clonazepam taper again?

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My first question will be why after 30 years are you taking me off this medication?I will remind him how I ended up in the hospital the first 2 tries. Then I will ask him, that if he can't help me then refer me to a psychiatrist.But with all the research I have done, I will take it all with me. The side effects of not taking this drug far outweigh me not taking them. This drug keeps me from losing my mind as well as my job and leaves me unable to function as a normal human being! Wish me luck

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1 reply
Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Nov 6, 2018
In reply to @lorraine59 "My first question will be why after 30 years are you taking me off this medication?I..." + (show)
@lorraine59

My first question will be why after 30 years are you taking me off this medication?I will remind him how I ended up in the hospital the first 2 tries. Then I will ask him, that if he can't help me then refer me to a psychiatrist.But with all the research I have done, I will take it all with me. The side effects of not taking this drug far outweigh me not taking them. This drug keeps me from losing my mind as well as my job and leaves me unable to function as a normal human being! Wish me luck

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Lots of luck with your doctor visit and conversation about why he wants you to taper off the clonazepam, @lorraine59. A psychiatrist would also be an option for working with appropriate medications for your needs - you are right.

Will you post an update about your appointment when you get the chance, @lorraine59?

REPLY
2 replies
lorraine59 | @lorraine59 | Nov 6, 2018
In reply to @lisalucier "Lots of luck with your doctor visit and conversation about why he wants you to taper..." + (show)
@lisalucier

Lots of luck with your doctor visit and conversation about why he wants you to taper off the clonazepam, @lorraine59. A psychiatrist would also be an option for working with appropriate medications for your needs - you are right.

Will you post an update about your appointment when you get the chance, @lorraine59?

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As soon as I get home!

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lorraine59 | @lorraine59 | Nov 6, 2018
In reply to @lisalucier "Lots of luck with your doctor visit and conversation about why he wants you to taper..." + (show)
@lisalucier

Lots of luck with your doctor visit and conversation about why he wants you to taper off the clonazepam, @lorraine59. A psychiatrist would also be an option for working with appropriate medications for your needs - you are right.

Will you post an update about your appointment when you get the chance, @lorraine59?

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Lisa, just got back from my doctors office and was shocked at his response! He put me back on a higher dose of clonazepam, but also advised me to look into CDB oil! (It is legal here in Canada and can buy it at most liquor stores) I told him NO! I do not want another addiction, but he made me promise to check into it. I am just grateful that he saw how bad I was suffering and started me back on 5mgs.

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1 reply
Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Nov 6, 2018
In reply to @lorraine59 "Lisa, just got back from my doctors office and was shocked at his response! He put..." + (show)
@lorraine59

Lisa, just got back from my doctors office and was shocked at his response! He put me back on a higher dose of clonazepam, but also advised me to look into CDB oil! (It is legal here in Canada and can buy it at most liquor stores) I told him NO! I do not want another addiction, but he made me promise to check into it. I am just grateful that he saw how bad I was suffering and started me back on 5mgs.

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Really glad to hear you had an open and honest conversation with your doctor, @lorraine59, and that you then had the assurance that he truly heard you about your feeling that the clonazepam benefited you and your trepidation about trying yet another taper off of it.

There are a number of conversations on Connect on CBD oil, should you want to look at them. Here is an active one related to anxiety and depression: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/cbd-oil-and-depression-anxiety/?pg=1#chv4-comment-stream-header

REPLY
lorraine59 | @lorraine59 | Nov 7, 2018
In reply to @lisalucier "Thanks for starting this discussion, @dawgbone. Sounds like it is very difficult tapering off the Klonopin,..." + (show)
@lisalucier

Thanks for starting this discussion, @dawgbone. Sounds like it is very difficult tapering off the Klonopin, or clonazepam, and I’m sorry you are having such a challenging experience with it. I’m tagging fellow members @ujeeniack @jimhd @lauren123 @jimbourg8 and @cperaino to bring them into this discussion, as they have talked about taking clonazepam, or tapering from clonazepam, as well.

@dawgbone, you may also be interested in reading some information on Mayo Clinic Connect from a Mayo Clinic pharmacist related to clonazepam and tapering off. It’s under Burning Mouth Syndrome, but most of what is said here would be applicable to you, as well: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/60624/bookmark/?ajax_hook=action&_wpnonce=ff10bca678

When you mention you feel like you are dying, what symptoms are you currently experiencing as you taper off the clonazepam?

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Just wondering how many people have had any adverse effects on CBD oil

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LizAA | @lizaa | Nov 8, 2018

Has anyone tapered off of Klonopin without too many problems? I have tapered from 1.25 to 1mg after 10 yrs of being on it. I am doing well, with the exception of muscle spams, mild neuralgia, and blurred vision. I am worried it will get bad as I get closer to the end, but hoping to hear some success stories. I have been doing a super slow microtaper.

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Parus | @parus | Nov 9, 2018

@lizaa Sometimes keeping busy can help so you are not noticing every little change. A slow taper is the best. Give yourself some time and know that there are those of us that have done so successfully without all of the negative stuff. I can say the world is a brighter place without this medication. Hope it continues to go well for you. Anxiety is a tough thing as we know.

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1 reply
LizAA | @lizaa | Nov 10, 2018
In reply to @parus "@lizaa Sometimes keeping busy can help so you are not noticing every little change. A slow..." + (show)
@parus

@lizaa Sometimes keeping busy can help so you are not noticing every little change. A slow taper is the best. Give yourself some time and know that there are those of us that have done so successfully without all of the negative stuff. I can say the world is a brighter place without this medication. Hope it continues to go well for you. Anxiety is a tough thing as we know.

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@parus I totally agree. I thankfully am not suffering from the psychological symptoms. Only physicals ones as I mentioned, and are totally doable. It's just good to hear that some may have weaned off after long term use, and didn't have the horrible mental anxiety, agoraphobia, etc.

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