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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janopal | @janopal | Dec 10, 2018

Hi @dawgbone, how are you doing now? I am in the same situation with clonazepam and about your age. Do you have any advice for me from your experience? I don't want to give up but I am suffering badly with the side effects whenever I cut my doses mostly from hissing and burning in the head, insomnia and anxiety.

REPLY
1 reply
Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Dec 13, 2018
In reply to @janopal "Hi @dawgbone, how are you doing now? I am in the same situation with clonazepam and..." + (show)
@janopal

Hi @dawgbone, how are you doing now? I am in the same situation with clonazepam and about your age. Do you have any advice for me from your experience? I don't want to give up but I am suffering badly with the side effects whenever I cut my doses mostly from hissing and burning in the head, insomnia and anxiety.

Jump to this post

Hi, @janopal, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Sounds like you are tapering your clonazepam and experiencing a lot of side effects.

What has your doctor said about your taper and any possible adjustments or treatment for the side effects, @janopal?

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lorraine59 | @lorraine59 | Dec 14, 2018

Hi everyone, I just wanted to let people know that after much suffering, and terrified of my next taper,I decided to take things into my own hands. Since my GP ignored my request to refer me to a Psychiatrist, I got hold of Mental Health myself. I had an appointment last week to discuss what was happening to me with a clinician,and then she would get back to me after a discussing me with a team of professionals. She called me back and I have an appointment on the 31st.Yesterday, I had to see my GP for other reasons,( the same one who after 3 failed attempts of tapering me) brought up the subject of Clonazepam, I told him that I had my basis covered, that I had joined this forum, did much research on clonazepam, and had an appt. all set up with a psychiatrist. I was firm with him about not going through hell again, to the point of ending up twice in hospital for several days.He actually listened to me, as I reminded him he was the one who kept me so long on this drug, at the same dose for over 30 + years not knowing I was even on a benzo! I told him from what I have read, it would probably take me years to get off of this drug. He agreed with me!! Much to my surprise, he told me he would keep me on a dose that I was comfortable with, and let me decide how and when I felt if I wanted to taper this drug! He told me my health and happiness were more important than seeing me suffer. I was so shocked that he was actually hearing me.We had a discussion about how in the early 80's it was presented to physicians as a "wonder drug", until people had such a hard time coming off of it. and the longer a patient was on it the harder it would be! I looked at him and said "Welcome to my life".He smiled at me and said "I will not make it any harder for you Lorraine" and wished me a Merry Christmas! I left his office in a daze, but so grateful. I would not have gotten to this point without the encouragement from all of you! I am down from 6mgs. to 4mgs. and am feeling good! Thank you all, and Merry Christmas! Lorraine

REPLY
1 reply
dawna | @dawna | Dec 14, 2018
In reply to @lorraine59 "Hi everyone, I just wanted to let people know that after much suffering, and terrified of..." + (show)
@lorraine59

Hi everyone, I just wanted to let people know that after much suffering, and terrified of my next taper,I decided to take things into my own hands. Since my GP ignored my request to refer me to a Psychiatrist, I got hold of Mental Health myself. I had an appointment last week to discuss what was happening to me with a clinician,and then she would get back to me after a discussing me with a team of professionals. She called me back and I have an appointment on the 31st.Yesterday, I had to see my GP for other reasons,( the same one who after 3 failed attempts of tapering me) brought up the subject of Clonazepam, I told him that I had my basis covered, that I had joined this forum, did much research on clonazepam, and had an appt. all set up with a psychiatrist. I was firm with him about not going through hell again, to the point of ending up twice in hospital for several days.He actually listened to me, as I reminded him he was the one who kept me so long on this drug, at the same dose for over 30 + years not knowing I was even on a benzo! I told him from what I have read, it would probably take me years to get off of this drug. He agreed with me!! Much to my surprise, he told me he would keep me on a dose that I was comfortable with, and let me decide how and when I felt if I wanted to taper this drug! He told me my health and happiness were more important than seeing me suffer. I was so shocked that he was actually hearing me.We had a discussion about how in the early 80's it was presented to physicians as a "wonder drug", until people had such a hard time coming off of it. and the longer a patient was on it the harder it would be! I looked at him and said "Welcome to my life".He smiled at me and said "I will not make it any harder for you Lorraine" and wished me a Merry Christmas! I left his office in a daze, but so grateful. I would not have gotten to this point without the encouragement from all of you! I am down from 6mgs. to 4mgs. and am feeling good! Thank you all, and Merry Christmas! Lorraine

Jump to this post

Wow, Lorraine, I am so happy for you. I will be having the same conversation with my Doc soon. Hoping it goes as well as yours. I will be in touch by private message soon. Again, Phew!

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Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Dec 14, 2018

@janopal
Hi there,
Have you talked to your doctor and asked if you could increase your Klonopin by small increments until your symptoms go away then continue to decrease your medication? Remember, very very slowly!!!
Wishing you the best of health,
Jake

REPLY
chrpeters23 | @chrpeters23 | Feb 11, 2019

I have been tapering off Klonopin for the past 7-8 months. For 10 years I took 0.5mg once a day (in the morning). I have successfully tapered to 0.0625mg once a day. I have done a steady and careful taper, under doctor supervision.

However earlier today, I accidentally took the 0.5mg pill (uncut), as I was in a rush and thought it was a different medication. My doctor told me this is OK and I should continue with the taper and resume the 0.0625mg the next day. Obviously it was devastating to find out I accidentally did this, when I've been on this journey that has taken almost a year and have tried so hard. I feel as though I have gone back to the beginning.

Is my doctor correct in advising I am OK to resume back to the taper without any changes?

Thank you

REPLY
2 replies
lioness | @lioness | Feb 11, 2019
In reply to @chrpeters23 "I have been tapering off Klonopin for the past 7-8 months. For 10 years I took..." + (show)
@chrpeters23

I have been tapering off Klonopin for the past 7-8 months. For 10 years I took 0.5mg once a day (in the morning). I have successfully tapered to 0.0625mg once a day. I have done a steady and careful taper, under doctor supervision.

However earlier today, I accidentally took the 0.5mg pill (uncut), as I was in a rush and thought it was a different medication. My doctor told me this is OK and I should continue with the taper and resume the 0.0625mg the next day. Obviously it was devastating to find out I accidentally did this, when I've been on this journey that has taken almost a year and have tried so hard. I feel as though I have gone back to the beginning.

Is my doctor correct in advising I am OK to resume back to the taper without any changes?

Thank you

Jump to this post

@chrpeters23 If your Dr said it's o.k. To go back to tapering tomorrow I would trust your Dr .Tomorrow you may feel a bit different but that won't last since it was only one pill Yes I would say go with what the Dr said.

REPLY
1 reply
chrpeters23 | @chrpeters23 | Feb 11, 2019
In reply to @lioness "@chrpeters23 If your Dr said it's o.k. To go back to tapering tomorrow I would trust..." + (show)
@lioness

@chrpeters23 If your Dr said it's o.k. To go back to tapering tomorrow I would trust your Dr .Tomorrow you may feel a bit different but that won't last since it was only one pill Yes I would say go with what the Dr said.

Jump to this post

Thank you so much

REPLY
Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Feb 12, 2019
In reply to @chrpeters23 "I have been tapering off Klonopin for the past 7-8 months. For 10 years I took..." + (show)
@chrpeters23

I have been tapering off Klonopin for the past 7-8 months. For 10 years I took 0.5mg once a day (in the morning). I have successfully tapered to 0.0625mg once a day. I have done a steady and careful taper, under doctor supervision.

However earlier today, I accidentally took the 0.5mg pill (uncut), as I was in a rush and thought it was a different medication. My doctor told me this is OK and I should continue with the taper and resume the 0.0625mg the next day. Obviously it was devastating to find out I accidentally did this, when I've been on this journey that has taken almost a year and have tried so hard. I feel as though I have gone back to the beginning.

Is my doctor correct in advising I am OK to resume back to the taper without any changes?

Thank you

Jump to this post

@chrpeters23 - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I would trust your doctor in advising that the unintended way your taper off of clonazepam (Klonopin) went is okay. If you have any further questions, you might also check with your pharmacist.

REPLY
1 reply
chrpeters23 | @chrpeters23 | Feb 12, 2019
In reply to @lisalucier "@chrpeters23 - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I would trust your doctor in advising that the..." + (show)
@lisalucier

@chrpeters23 - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I would trust your doctor in advising that the unintended way your taper off of clonazepam (Klonopin) went is okay. If you have any further questions, you might also check with your pharmacist.

Jump to this post

Thank you, Lisa

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