Klonopin taper

Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect, @tkdaydreamer. Whether tapering off an antidepressant or a benzodiazepine, it is important to taper slowly and under the guidance of a qualified medical professional. I recommend consulting with your doctor before stopping both drugs at the same time. Here more information:
- How to Taper Off Klonopin https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/klonopin-addiction/klonopin-taper/
- Pristiq Withdrawal & Detox https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/pristiq-addiction/withdrawal-detox/

Remember, it's not a race. Slow, slow, and safely is important. While it might seem counter-intuitive to take one drug while weaning off another, it is also important to consider the underlying condition, namely the panic and withdrawal symptoms. How long have you been on Pristiq and when did you start the taper?

I hope someone is regularly monitoring these groups as it is my only source of emergency assistance and advise. I posted earlier with a semi-complete rundown on my battle with the use of Klonopin (Clonozepam). This morning (late afternoon/early evening in the US) I experienced an extreme deadness in my hands (left more severe than right) worse than them feeling like they were asleep. I immediately wrung my hands, slapping them and getting circulation back to them. No light so I couldn't see what color they were but once I turned on the lights they seemed normal, but I never experienced any part of my body being totally numb. I was able to restore them to normal with only a few moments of shaking, slapping, and rubbing them together. I am now down to 1/4 gram dosage and have been for about 7 days now. I'm sure withdrawal symptoms is going to be part of the process but being alone and experiencing what I just went through has me a bit wary if I should continue, or is it something I can expect and it will pass once I'm completely off the drug. I intend to continue at 1/4 gram (thinking maybe going back to 1/2 gram for a couple of weeks to avoid any serious withdrawals) for another 21 days. I want to be drug free by end of April and if what I just went through is as bad as it gets, I will stay on schedule with the 1/4 gram. Anyone with like experiences or perhaps a moderator can advise?

Hi @stanof53, yes these groups are monitored by members and moderators, who are fellow patients and caregivers - not medical professionals. In case of medical emergencies, please seek medical professional advice. Please read the Disclaimer https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/about-connect/tab/disclaimer/

I'm sure this was rattling to suddenly have no feeling in your hands. Perhaps @jimhd @thankful @lizaa @parus @scruffy1 and others will share if they've experienced numbness in their hands when tapering off Klonopin (clonozepam).

Stan, did you report this side effect to your prescribing doctor?

@stanof53
Contrary to what you seem to believe withdrawal symptoms don’t always have to be a part of getting off Klonopin. I tapered off it very slowly and had NO withdrawl symptoms except some very mild ones at the very end. I added small chips to the amount and had an uneventful taper.
Jake

I am out of country and using the public health system so I don't have a regular GP. I have not had good experience with the public system being adequate to handle issues I've had in the past and seemingly not knowing how to deal with issues like bridging my Warfarin with Heparin before surgery, so I have zero faith in the system and i cannot afford to use the private system. I am returning to the States in May and that's why the need to get off the Klonopin as my experience with medicaid that abruptly did not allow me to continue Klonopin forced me to quit cold turkey (a previous post gives a more descriptive detail of that encounter). Until I return to the States, I really have no trusted source and basically doing the research and going on the understanding of that information. I guess I'm seeking advice or suggestion in regard to whether I should slow my progress down or is it the general consensus that if I stay on the current taper of 1/8 gram per month (currently at 1/4 Gram dosage) and be off the drug by time I return to keep my out of pocket cost for healthcare to a minimum In order to be able to return to my homeland. Quitting cold turkey was certainly harder and I never recovered from insomnia issues until I saw a doctor that agreed to resume my Clonozepam. Muscle craps were a regular episode throughout that year but I did manage to survive (that was 8 years ago).

That's encouraging to hear Jake. Hopefully I will have the same results. From what I understand in my research is tapering at a rate of 1/8 gram a month should be sufficient, and being that I have actually tapered from 1.5 grams to 1/4 gram for the past couple of months (starting with a 1/2 gram taper the first round) perhaps I'm still ahead of the recommended taper but I've only suffered 1 severe and shortlived muscle cramp and now the event with my hands. Maybe I should slow it down some and take longer to get off the drug since I do have a back stock that will easily get me through. I do intend to use it occasionally on those nights I know I have to get my sleep and especially while flying to ease the restless leg syndrome that the drug was originally prescribed for. Just don't want to get back into that daily regimen and get addicted again.

...am happy for you... I was taken off Klonopin(Rivotril in Canada) after one .5 pill every night. I had five pills left, brand new dr at emerge: said break in half, take half tomorrow and next day, then none next day and then half every other day. til gone... e.g. a few days. My reg Dr. said too fast and put me on half a pill a night: even then it was awful. Even I could not believe halving a drug would have such a bad effect; I had been led to believe it was for sleep so took a pill every night, no wonder my body got used to it. Hardly any sleep for months until full dose restored.
However, at same time same new dr. (after my taking MYSELF of Zoloft for about last 5 months after I was diagnozed with Glaucoma) he put me BACK ON.... even tho I told him over and over that Glaucoma Specialist in Toronto said NO, it would raise my eye pressure - narrow angles - and I could lose vision. New dr. disagreed. But I went along with it and after 2.5 months of heart pounding at least 3 times during EVERY night without fail, and one trip to emerge, I again took myself off and within 2/3 days the heart pounding stopped!!
Now this is weird, I had taken Zoloft for 15 years too; took myself off for a few months but when put back on I had daily reaction of heart poiunding at night til I went off it again. I searched and searched internet (what was I taking now with zoloft that I hadnt been taking with it for past 15 years) and came to the conclusion it was the Glaucoma Drops: Latanoporost. Was having a drug interaction! (I did one of those searches you list drugs on and they say if reacting with each other)
My reg Dr.left town and then I was going around to various Drs./clinics asking for the Rivotril - at 75 years of age , cancer survivor, and never abused a drug in my life! I told one Dr.: I feel like a drug seeker! .... "You are," she said! How crushing..... No one, no one, no one ever told me the Clonazepam was habit forming (and although needed to get back on Rivotril , again, NO ONE told me it also raises eye pressure!) * And people say: dont check Dr.Google???

To my mind, and I have no medical training etc, I feel its like cigarettes; alcohol and such (even coffee to a lesser extent). Some people can quit cold turkey; some people have a moderate time quitting; some people have a terrible time; and some people, like me, go back on the substance that our bodies are DEPENDENT upon, through no fault of our own except for being naive.... now I question every med I am given and have lost my trust that it will not either harm me or addict me. JMO

For those who are being made to stop taking; or those who have decided to stop taking for various reasons: I wish you the very best.... and hope you get support while doing so. For those who have had an easier time, I am truly glad for you because it can be a very bumpy ride. Kolonapin/Rivotril/Clonazepam

Thanks for you response. yes, I've learn to trust no one and that applies to the credibility of medical websites. Even before I left the states and had health issues I often relied on WebMD and the Mayo Clinic for edification. My GP at that time was prescription happy and I often rejected prescriptions over finding other natural remedies. I really need to use the clonazepam to get relief from RLS and it was a better alternative to Leva/Carbidopa which I firmly believe led to my mothers dementia while treating a tremor in her hand. Just like anything, all things in moderation and if you don't depend on it as a nightly regimen you should be able to keep from being addicted. As it now with the health services available to me, I pretty much depend solely on my internet research, just stay away from sites that are not certifiable or credible.

Please please do your research if a doctor ever tells you to take Seroquel. Very dangerous drug.

How do you feel about returning to this drug again?