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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I will never ever ever do it again.

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@sears

How do you feel about returning to this drug again?

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...which drug? J.

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@colleenyoung

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?

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There was always some part of my body not working well. Stevie Nicks has described Klonopin as a “horrible, dangerous drug,” and said that her eventual 45-day hospital detox and rehab from the drug felt like “somebody opened up a door and pushed me into hell.”

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@scruffy1

There was always some part of my body not working well. Stevie Nicks has described Klonopin as a “horrible, dangerous drug,” and said that her eventual 45-day hospital detox and rehab from the drug felt like “somebody opened up a door and pushed me into hell.”

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@scruffy ...makes me wonder why thousands if not millions of doctors started their patients on klonapin/rivotril/clonazepam to start with or it least put them on it short term... fifteen or more years for me and every 3 months 90 more pills... at 77 and with othr issues i dont think i can try going off it again, what other drugs are this bad i wonder? got blood tests back,alll ok except kidneys which are being watch by another dr.. i was almost hopingthey would find cause of internal shakes/tremors... hope it isnt the rivotril !! well i checked on internet and probably more like start of ms or md or something just as bad... again, Heaven Help Us !

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@lacy2

@scruffy ...makes me wonder why thousands if not millions of doctors started their patients on klonapin/rivotril/clonazepam to start with or it least put them on it short term... fifteen or more years for me and every 3 months 90 more pills... at 77 and with othr issues i dont think i can try going off it again, what other drugs are this bad i wonder? got blood tests back,alll ok except kidneys which are being watch by another dr.. i was almost hopingthey would find cause of internal shakes/tremors... hope it isnt the rivotril !! well i checked on internet and probably more like start of ms or md or something just as bad... again, Heaven Help Us !

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Clonazepam is a drug which evidently affects people differently. I have been prescribed it by four physicians over the years and have no issues. I have neither interest nor intent to taper off or quit.

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@elwooodsdad

Clonazepam is a drug which evidently affects people differently. I have been prescribed it by four physicians over the years and have no issues. I have neither interest nor intent to taper off or quit.

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@elwoodsdad .... thing is they (drs) are taking people off it left, right and centre, with no assistance. If someone wants to come off it, or for some reason dr. feels that way - knowing how hard it is for some people to come off it, provide the darn help for them. I am back on it and dont know what I will do if the dr takes me off with no help - jump in the lake I suppose (once the ice is off). Seriously though, my Mum was in UK and I was here and the dr. took her off her sleeping tablets cold turkey and my sister in law said my Mum - older by then - barely slept for 2 weeks.... how cruel!!! Do it if they have to but: what about "do no harm" J.

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@elwooodsdad

Clonazepam is a drug which evidently affects people differently. I have been prescribed it by four physicians over the years and have no issues. I have neither interest nor intent to taper off or quit.

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What will you do if your doctor decides for you that you need to taper and quits writing your script? More and more regulations are coming down the pike regarding benzodiazepines.

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@sears

What will you do if your doctor decides for you that you need to taper and quits writing your script? More and more regulations are coming down the pike regarding benzodiazepines.

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....just my opinion but people need HELP if their doctors decide to stop one of their patient's medications that is addictive, especially if that doctor has in the past been renewing prescription over and over!! This is not taking candy from a baby! I was taken off after 15 years, given by 2 subsequent drs., and a new dr at hospital took me off - didnt even give me any (none) idea that I even would go into withdrawal. It's totally wrong. Thing is I would love to get off this med but I cannot do it alone as some others, and I would need more than once a month chat on the phone with a social worker! Also, even when cut down on dose did not sleep hardly at all for months....If the government's want us off ... then they should ensure all doctors help or guide patients to help with withdrawal. We are not addicts but our bodies have become dependent on them. Someone here said a famous singer spent 45 days in hospital with withdrawal from a drug... but the average person has to try and deal with it at home with very little or no help: big difference!

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@lacy2

....just my opinion but people need HELP if their doctors decide to stop one of their patient's medications that is addictive, especially if that doctor has in the past been renewing prescription over and over!! This is not taking candy from a baby! I was taken off after 15 years, given by 2 subsequent drs., and a new dr at hospital took me off - didnt even give me any (none) idea that I even would go into withdrawal. It's totally wrong. Thing is I would love to get off this med but I cannot do it alone as some others, and I would need more than once a month chat on the phone with a social worker! Also, even when cut down on dose did not sleep hardly at all for months....If the government's want us off ... then they should ensure all doctors help or guide patients to help with withdrawal. We are not addicts but our bodies have become dependent on them. Someone here said a famous singer spent 45 days in hospital with withdrawal from a drug... but the average person has to try and deal with it at home with very little or no help: big difference!

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I am now about 2 months into tapering from 1 1/2 gram dose. I am currently on 1/4 gram and only had 2 withdrawal symptoms. I day I had a severe upper abdominal cramp that was shortlived but left me sore for 2 days. Another was both hands were completely numb one morning when I woke. It took a few moments of slapping, wringing and shaking my hands to get my circulation back. That happened a few day ago and no recurrence. Barring any other problems I will move down to 1/8 gram in about a week. Need to be off the drug entirely by May so I intend to only go two weeks at 1/8 as it takes about 4-10 days of quitting completely to see if I will have any adverse withdrawal effects. I am out of country and have no reliable source for helping other than researching the internet. I was forced to quit cold turkey as the doctor I had when I moved onto medicaid would not renew my prescription. The only adverse reactions was I would be insomniac for 4 days and then sleep for two from total exhaustion. RLS was constantly a bother and finally got back on the drug when I was able to change doctors and he agreed to give me the script. But I've been able to get the drug free in a public health system but when I get back to the States I cannot afford it with the other Meds I have to have and pay out of pocket, which is cheaper than paying Medicare Premiums on plan b.

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@stanof53

I am now about 2 months into tapering from 1 1/2 gram dose. I am currently on 1/4 gram and only had 2 withdrawal symptoms. I day I had a severe upper abdominal cramp that was shortlived but left me sore for 2 days. Another was both hands were completely numb one morning when I woke. It took a few moments of slapping, wringing and shaking my hands to get my circulation back. That happened a few day ago and no recurrence. Barring any other problems I will move down to 1/8 gram in about a week. Need to be off the drug entirely by May so I intend to only go two weeks at 1/8 as it takes about 4-10 days of quitting completely to see if I will have any adverse withdrawal effects. I am out of country and have no reliable source for helping other than researching the internet. I was forced to quit cold turkey as the doctor I had when I moved onto medicaid would not renew my prescription. The only adverse reactions was I would be insomniac for 4 days and then sleep for two from total exhaustion. RLS was constantly a bother and finally got back on the drug when I was able to change doctors and he agreed to give me the script. But I've been able to get the drug free in a public health system but when I get back to the States I cannot afford it with the other Meds I have to have and pay out of pocket, which is cheaper than paying Medicare Premiums on plan b.

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@stanof53
Hi stanof,
Klonopin can be a hard drug to come off of. I was on it for seizures and since it didn’t help we decided to stop it.
I was hoping you could explain something to me. You mention grams I thought 1 g was equal to 1000 mg and if you’re on 1/4 gram isn’t that a lot more than the maximum dose of 20 mg. although I wouldn’t bet the farm on my mathematical calculations.
Could you please tell me how many milligrams of Klonopin your taking?
Take care,
Jake

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