Using CBD oil to help taper off anxiety & depression meds?

I have been taking Clonazepam 1mg for 8 years. Last year I took part in the ketamine trial in Oxford UK. Whilst depression was not dealt with - as I had hoped- I noticed that I needed far less Clonazepam for GAD. I ended the trial and up until recently had been maintaining the 1mg dosing. Recently I have discovered CBD oil and as an experiment I cut my daily dose down to 0.75mg per day (this is a far higher taper in one go than I have tried before) and have not noticed any untoward symptoms. CBD oil seems to make me far calmer and anxiety seems to be being kept in check. I will try and taper down further to 0.5mg with the ultimate aim of coming off the benzo. I am taking 5% cbd - 10 drops morning & 10 at night.

Hi, @etranger - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I thought I'd suggest a couple of other discussion threads you might be interested in since you talked about CBD oil and also ketamine.

- On CBD oil for depression and anxiety, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/cbd-oil-and-depression-anxiety. This is a long discussion with many posts. You may want to read through them and/or participate in the discussion.

- On ketamine, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/ketamine/?utm_campaign=search. This is a bit older thread, but I think that those there and others we could bring into the conversation would be interested in your experiences with this medication.

Hi etranger,

How is your taper going? I've been slowly tapering for about 1year from 3mg Clonazepam (it's also been about 8 years at this level although I have been taking Clonazepam for about 20yrs total using 2mg as a maintenance dose) and have been steady for the last 6months or so at 1.5mg. I'm quite proud of that. Because I've noticed that I feel sharper and better without the higher doses of Clonazepam, I've decided to further taper down to 1.0mg last week with the help of CBD capsules (from Aurora). It has helped tremendously with both tapering and withdrawal symptoms. I'd like to know how your journey has been as we are both tapering from the same drug. Are you still taking CBD to help with your taper?

Hi, @gettingbetter75, and welcome to Connect. As you mentioned a taper from clonazepam, I'd like to suggest you also check out this discussion on tapering off that medication https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/tapering-off-clorazapam.

Hi there....I have been on valium for about 40 years for high anxiety. I'd like to switch to CBD but would have to wean of course. I have heard you cannot take valium with CBD...but you'd have to use the CBD in low doses at least in order to wean. I seems you did this with success with your weaning process, correct? The is not much written about taking CBD with RX drugs other than you should not mix it with any RX med that cannot be taken with grapefruit. Valium is one of those drugs.....Did your doctor approve the CBD with the benzo your son was taking while weaning ? Thanks.

My son was on valium also. Every day for 4 years. Hes been completely off of the valium now for 2 weeks using cbd. He weaned off of the valium over the course of one month using cbd. There is different strengths of the cbd. Our local cbd dispensary has a cbd that is relaxation. It has lavender in it. At bath and body works in the mens section i bought him calming lavandar bubble bath and lotion. It has a manly scent. He took baths using the bubble bath. Used the cbd calming and kept telling himself he dosent need the valium anymore. Hope some of this helps. 😁

CBD oil has really only showed effectiveness in some people with seizures. Not much else has been proven through controlled clinical trials. Also there is literally no regulation of CBD oil so each brand and batch can be totally different in amount of CBD, purity etc. Personally I have tried it twice for anxiety and it did nothing at all. I really wouldn't recommend it for trying to wean off of benzos. Let your physician tell you what to do.

@rescue2 - CBD oil works differently for everyone. So it could help with withdrawal symptoms. I use it for anxiety. It helps me. You are right, there are no regulations for how much oil or what other ingredients are in a bottle.
I always advise people to check with a doctor before adding or stopping a medicine.

Before discovering the wonders of CBD, tapering from Benzos have been difficult, to say the least. I've experienced almost all of the classical symptoms with the brief exception of nausea. CBD has helped alleviate, irritability, headaches, muscle pain and stiffness let alone the anxiety for which I was taking clonazepam. I was taking 3mg - 4mg at my peak and I'm now down to 0.75mg. I've been taking these drugs since my early 20's and I'm now in my early 40's. For whatever reason, I simply came across some online resources which were spelling out the benefits of quitting these drugs, mostly feeling ALIVE again and not in a constant state of drowsiness and emotional blunting. You don't know how deeply these drugs affect you until you get off of them. I'm also aware that I still have a substantial journey ahead of me but this is an amazing beginning.

I just started the most recent taper (1mg to 0.75mg) 5 days ago and I'm feeling OK. I do have a bit of trouble sleeping, especially after waking in the middle of the night. I should also add that I quit sleeping aids at this time also (Unisom specifically, 5 days ago). Through help from this forum, I've switched Unisom for melatonin. It knocks me out at night but as I mentioned, I'm working through falling back asleep after waking in the middle of the night. The fact that I've been able to maintain such a low dose of clonazepam (for me) along with complete elimination of Unisom is nothing short of remarkable for me and I'm quite proud of that. I've gone from 3mg to 1.5mg without CBD and it was extremely difficult with a very high level of irritability and insomnia. This most recent taper from 1.5mg to 0.75mg (in 0.25mg increments) was done with the help of CBD and there is a tangible difference.

CBD (tinctures/oil, caps and or dry flower (High CBD, negligible THC)) has helped tremendously to help deal Benzodiazepine withdrawal. If I'm having a particularly difficult day, I will use one of the above delivery methods depending on my environment. For example, if I'm at home, I will vape it as it's the quickest delivery method (seconds). If I'm traveling, I will use either the tincture or gelcap. I should also add that I live in Canada so I have access to regulated CBD flower, oils, and gel caps, although at a steep price. For those us actively trying to taper from these difficult drugs, I think we can all agree that it's difficult to put a price on alleviating withdrawal symptoms.

Hope this helps and please note this is my experience only.

@merpreb I tried it once maybe it wasn't the right dose but it didn't do anything for me how do you know what you need and how much I don't have any guidelines on it