Klonopin taper

Thank you, Lisa

Jump to this post

@chrpeters23 -I have slowly begun my taper after 10 years of Klonopin also. I am dry cutting, but knowing the microtaper methods have the most success, am looking into the home LT taper. How have you been tapering, and how have the withdrawals been? I have been fairly well, going from 1.25mg to about .90mg. Thanks for posting!!

Jump to this post

@lizaa
Hi there,
I’m concerned your decreasing your dose to quickly. Your decrease is about 28%. I’m not sure how you decided on that amount but my concern is as you continue to make cuts and if you continue to cut by that same amount (.35mg) the actual percentage cut will actually increase and decrease significantly. So if you choose to decrease by 28% always do so based on your current dose. Don’t continue to decrease by .35mg. Personally I believe your tapering to fast considering how long you’ve been on the medication.
I wish you the best luck,
Jake

Jump to this post

@lizaa, have you considered the Ashton schedules?

Jump to this post

@chrpeters23 -I have slowly begun my taper after 10 years of Klonopin also. I am dry cutting, but knowing the microtaper methods have the most success, am looking into the home LT taper. How have you been tapering, and how have the withdrawals been? I have been fairly well, going from 1.25mg to about .90mg. Thanks for posting!!

Jump to this post

Hi Lizaa - I have been dry cutting, however I will be entering into powder form shortly as I decrease to 0.03125 mg. I understand some decide to go to liquid form (or other means) at this point, since it is difficult to cut this small of a mg. I am going to try crushing/splitting and see how this goes.

As far as my taper - I cant stress this enough...it is different for every individual. There is no "one size fits all" taper or general way each individual will feel while tapering. However, one notion we can all advise is going slow and steady is the safest and preferred method, with guidance from a medical professional.

Here is my individual experience, however do not let this influence your taper and stick with what is working with you. For me, it has not nearly been as tough and "hellish", as I've read in threads and chats. Which leads me to my first point: Do not dwell on others' experiences. Stay in your lane and continue the journey. Yes, always reach-out to those going through the same journey, but again, realize we are all different. Of course there has been some discomfort, but so much of it is mental (literally) that the last thing I needed was to fill my head with other's symptoms. I very much listen to my body and once I feel I have adjusted to the cut, I continued the taper to the next mg (that I see fit for me). This has roughly been 2-5 weeks for each cut (the first 2-3 months consisted of .25mg twice a day, then I really got into the taper). This may seem rapid to others, but as I mentioned, this is my experience-- with careful listening to my body and mind. The main symptom I have noticed are heart palpitations. My doctor prescribed me atenolol to help ease this.

Anxiety and panic disorder are what made me start taking klonopin in the first place. I have actually noticed both of these decreasing as I've been tapering. It's as if taking klonopin was increasing these symptoms in me over time - which my doctor said is very much a real possibility. Yes I have experienced brain fog and some irritability during the initial days after a cut -- but who is to say this is from the taper or these are feelings that initially got me on klonopin that I will be handling without this pill. I just don't know, but when I would feel this, I would remind myself this is my mind healing and adjusting to a new life.

I wish you the best of luck throughout your tapering journey. I really like Leonard's phrasing of "uneventful". I have stayed positive with an excitement of a benzo-free life and I am a click away from any further questions. Sound like you're doing great and should be very proud! Thanks!

Jump to this post

Yes, I have the Ashton Method-I just need to sit down and read it. I think at first I didn't want to go that route, when I first read that Dr. ashton recommended switching to Valium, but since I take the Klonopin for a myoclonic movement disorder, that is not an option for me. I just recently read that part of the method, is if a person opts not to do the switch. I haven't tapered too fast,..I started at the end of last summer. I held at 1mg in November until now, because it was the holidays, and a major change at my work, I didn't want to chance having any major withdrawal symptoms during that time. I haven't had any bad ones since I have been on Klonopin, or since I started tapering, other than the expected muscle spasms...which are definitely tolerable. But having to divide that tiny pill, I realized the guess-timating my cuts to 10% of the pill, is not a good idea. So I am certainly looking to the methods of Ashton, or liquid microtaper. Thanks Jake for your input! How did you do or doing on your taper? Hearing that not everyone went through hell, is helping me to continue my taper.

Jump to this post

@lizaa
I'd like to ask you a question if I may. Okay, maybe a few 😄.
What type of Myoclonus do you have? Is it an epilepsy syndrome? Did the Klonopin control the movement? I hope your taper is going as uneventful as mine did.
Jake

Jump to this post

Hi Lizaa - I have been dry cutting, however I will be entering into powder form shortly as I decrease to 0.03125 mg. I understand some decide to go to liquid form (or other means) at this point, since it is difficult to cut this small of a mg. I am going to try crushing/splitting and see how this goes.

As far as my taper - I cant stress this enough...it is different for every individual. There is no "one size fits all" taper or general way each individual will feel while tapering. However, one notion we can all advise is going slow and steady is the safest and preferred method, with guidance from a medical professional.

Here is my individual experience, however do not let this influence your taper and stick with what is working with you. For me, it has not nearly been as tough and "hellish", as I've read in threads and chats. Which leads me to my first point: Do not dwell on others' experiences. Stay in your lane and continue the journey. Yes, always reach-out to those going through the same journey, but again, realize we are all different. Of course there has been some discomfort, but so much of it is mental (literally) that the last thing I needed was to fill my head with other's symptoms. I very much listen to my body and once I feel I have adjusted to the cut, I continued the taper to the next mg (that I see fit for me). This has roughly been 2-5 weeks for each cut (the first 2-3 months consisted of .25mg twice a day, then I really got into the taper). This may seem rapid to others, but as I mentioned, this is my experience-- with careful listening to my body and mind. The main symptom I have noticed are heart palpitations. My doctor prescribed me atenolol to help ease this.

Anxiety and panic disorder are what made me start taking klonopin in the first place. I have actually noticed both of these decreasing as I've been tapering. It's as if taking klonopin was increasing these symptoms in me over time - which my doctor said is very much a real possibility. Yes I have experienced brain fog and some irritability during the initial days after a cut -- but who is to say this is from the taper or these are feelings that initially got me on klonopin that I will be handling without this pill. I just don't know, but when I would feel this, I would remind myself this is my mind healing and adjusting to a new life.

I wish you the best of luck throughout your tapering journey. I really like Leonard's phrasing of "uneventful". I have stayed positive with an excitement of a benzo-free life and I am a click away from any further questions. Sound like you're doing great and should be very proud! Thanks!

Jump to this post