Klonopin taper

I do not want to withdraw from Clonazepam (Klonopin) I have been on it for over 30 years, out of the blue my GP who actually put me on 6mgs. a day plus 60 mgs. of Prozac has decided to taper me off.( I weaned myself off the Prozac years ago).After 3 failed attempts I ended up in hospital twice! I wanted to die, the anxiety, heart palpitations, losing my mind, and could not manage to leave my home! Those were only some of the things I experienced. I recently asked him to refer me to a psychiatrist, but he ignored me. He left me at 5 mgs. which I can at least function on, I know it will be only for a few months, and then he will insist on another taper! Leaves me feeling hopeless!!!

I was on 1mg Klonopin 2-3 times a day and started sleep walking and waking up and falling backwards now I’m on 0.5mg of Klonopin and hopefully in a week or longer I’ll be down to none. But noticed some post on here about taking one every 6 months? I am coming off of Klonopin because I been on it for years and seem to be getting adverse effects. Help? How do I come off Klonopin the safest? My doctor isn’t very helpful. I’m on Paxil 60mg and Zyprexa 15mg they should help with the widthdraw of the Klonopin. Not sure though. My Pharmacist said I’m on a low dose and I could just stop but that didn’t work to well.

@bubble if you have Facebook, there are really good groups that can give you the information to taper according to the Ashton Method, that is most recommended by Dr. Heather Ashton. It is a very slow taper over several months, depending on how much you take, and how your tapering symptoms are, and when to HOLD (temporarily stop reducing) your decrease in dosage. It is tailored to each individuals needs, and allows you to decide when to go slower than the recommended taper. There is also microtapering, Benzodiazepine liquid tapering. You can look into each method and decide what is best for you. Best wishes and prayers for you. I have been tapering for the last 5 months and doing well, with minor side effects.

For @lorraine59. I can understand what you are going through because I have myself been through a Klonopin taper 4 years ago, and failed. I was on Klonopin 1 mg [plus many antidepressants] for about 2 years. Then my psychiatrist prescribed Venlafaxine 75mg/150 mg for three weeks. It did not suit me at all and my anxiety increased to an extent that I became suicidal. I took the decision to stop Venlafaxine Cold Turkey AGAINST the advice of my doctor. That saved my life. But the withdrawal from Venlafaxine was so severe that I had to increase my dosage of Klonopin to 2 mg. That helped me to gradually return to normalcy. Then I thought that I could reduce Klonopin to 1 mg, which was my earlier dosage. It was a very slow taper--0.25 mg every 2 weeks. The first taper of 0.25mg went off well. but when I started the second taper, I began experiencing severe anxiety and restlessness. After a few days, my doctor restored the dosage of 2mg/day of Klonopin, but he also had to increase my antidepressant dosage to bring me back to normalcy. Four years later, I am still on 2mg/day Klonopin. I am prepared to continue it for the rest of my life.

Therefore, since you have taken a dosage of 6 mg/day of Klonopin for 30 years, I am not sure why your doctor is insisting on tapering it now. I am not sure if it is safe for you. I don't know how old you are; the safest thing may be to continue Klonopin indefinitely, because tapering it might result in a great deal of suffering. But then I am not a doctor who can prescribe anything for you. All I am doing is sharing my experience with you. The final word in the matter probably belongs to a qualified psychiatrist. Hope this helps. God bless you.

I am a 59 year old woman, who has been to hell and back the last 2 years of tapering! At this stage of my life I just don't get why my GP is doing this. The first time he started tapering me, I got down to 3.5 mgs. I knew something was terribly wrong, I could not keep a thought in my head. I could not go outside on my own, fearing a panic attack, and to stop my heart from pounding out of my chest, I would have to have a couple of alcoholic drinks! After a few weeks I could not get out of bed, I just laid there suffering! I could not walk, barely talk, eat or drink, knew I was dehydrated and probably dying! I called 911 and just said "help me" They arrived and could not even move me until they could get an IV inserted.This took over 45 minutes because I was so dehydrated my veins kept collapsing. After 6 days in hospital they could not keep me any longer. I came home only to discover my GP put me back to 5mgs for two months but another taper after that! I can't help but wonder, if GP's went through this for one or two days themselves, how quick would they begin to understand how lethal, withdrawal can be. I actually prayed to die!

Dear Miss,I am terribly sorry you went through this horrific withdrawal.I can relate.I have my 2 sons,who are loving,yet very young to understand.I have no other family or support while I go through this.I also suffer from PTSD.I can only take it one day at a time .Inch by inch,step by step.A multivitamin,an extra niacin and potassium along with lots of water(and cut the sugar down in my diet)helps a bit.I pray that it gets better and better for you.

@lorraine59

I've been reading your posts about trying to withdraw from klonazapam and the terrible time you've been having. My doctor prescribed 1 mg. Lorazapam for me over 20 years ago when I was having panic attacks every time I had to fly. He only prescribed 10 at a time which I only took when I had to fly in a plane. A few years ago my new doctor prescribed 30 at a time, which surprised me. I told him that I never needed that many before, but he said not to worry about it and only take what I needed. My panic attacks increased over the years, and at one point I was taking 1/2 mg (.5) to go to work some days. My job was compromising my integrity but since I was an executive, I couldn't just quit, or so I thought.

Two things happened:
1. I had tachycardia one day and ended up in the ER to get it stopped.
2. I decided to quit my job.

Then, we moved back to our home in rural Missouri. I understand now that I was talking so much that if my husband wouldn't engage, I just talked to myself. He was really getting upset with me and I knew something was wrong. I was having multiple panic attacks, but fortunately I didn't turn to the benzos all the time. When I was in a really bad attack, I would take a half pill.

Finally, I saw a former co-worker at the grocery and she seemed so relaxed and happy I asked her what was going on. She told me she had started taking Celexa and it had really made a difference. I told my PCP that I wanted to try the anti-depressant. He interviewed me for quite a while and then agreed to prescribe Citalopram, 40 mg. I found out that I reacted violently to the first 40 mg dose, so I cut the pill in half and told my doctor what I was doing. Next prescription was for 20 mg. I began to feel the difference after a week, and after a month I began feeling like I had some joy.

I also learned that taking Ibuprofen nearly daily over a long period of time had added heart palpitations to my issues, so I stopped taking it. I tried Tylenol, but I didn't think it worked. I discovered that I was having migraines, so taking the proper med for that (Imitrix) when I felt one coming made my daily headaches go away. I cut back on caffeine intake as well.

After 6 months of taking the Citalopram I realized that my headaches were gone and I hadn't had one panic attack! I've been taking Citalopram for 7 years now, and I am stable on it. I have flown in airplanes multiple times for 8 hour flights and at 68 years old I zip-lined 7 lines in Costa Rica and loved it! Being rid of panic attacks and fear has given me freedom and joy in life. I think my brain chemistry just hasn't been right for most of my life and the antidepressant filled the void. I'll be taking it for the rest of my life.

I had stopped using the Lorazapam, but didn't even notice at the time. I still have about 30 pills but haven't needed them. I don't think I had withdrawal symptoms when I stopped. I wasn't taking them all the time as I knew they could be addictive so perhaps I just wasn't using enough to reach that point thankfully.

@lorraine59, I recommend that you research all medications when they are prescribed. You can't rely on your doctors to know how the med will affect you. Also, ask for a DNA test to determine which antidepressants will work best for you. Also I used CBD to help my anxiety when I was withdrawing from pain meds after back surgery. It absolutely worked to relieve the symptoms of withdrawal. CBD is not addictive and since your doctor recommended it to you, please try it. You should buy one that has no more than .25 mg THC in it. Too much THC can add to panic attacks, CBD with 0 - 25% THC are your best bet. I have no fears about using CBD, no side effects, and I only use it or THC for occasional back pain along now with 2 Tylenol. It works for my pain.

You have decisions to make about your addiction to the Klonazapam. Talk to your pharmacy about how you can slowly, slowly, slowly cut back on the amount you are taking. Any reduction in mgs. will be helpful for your body. You may find that you must continue at some level for life, which (In my opinion and I'm NOT a medical professional.) is OK as long as you aren't having organ damage from long-term use. Pressuring yourself and worrying about what might happen, won't help you. Learning to take life 1 day at a time will help. Go to talk therapy if you can.

Would you please share how old you are? It's helpful for us to know as much as you are willing to share so we can relate better to your situation. I hope you can have a warm and safe Thanksgiving with your family. With love, Gailb

Gailb, Thank you for your suggestions. I am 58 and I live in Canada where unfortunately I have to abide by what is suggested by my GP. I had no idea what I was in for when he suggested the taper.I have researched this drug in every site I could find! No major side effects to any organs. It gives me much hope to read your story, with so much success. That is the only drug I am on, and two of my siblings suffer with panic disorders as well.(Both of them still medicated) I read that these disorders can be genetic. I was happy to comply with my GP the first taper, because I loved life, and could not see it being a problem for me.I am a care giver now, love my job, love people, life could not have been better! after 6 months I tapered down from 6mgs to 3.5mgs, then came the shock to my body! Right now I am on 4.5 and coping.I have contacted Mental Health, and asked to see a Clinician, who gave me an appt. for Nov.30th. If I still have the underlying issues of Agoraphobia, panic attacks, and anxiety, then add withdrawal, I will need to talk to someone who can provide me with some avenues to take! Thanks again, Happy Thanksgiving, With love, Lorraine

@lorraine59 Thanks for the update and information. I will write more tomorrow. Enjoy your Thanksgiving evening. Gailb

@lorraine59 keep in mind that even in Canada, patients have the right to a second opinion. Naturally this is more easily done in urban areas or areas where doctors are taking patients. Have you considered getting a second opinion?