1. < Depression & Anxiety

Tapering off clonazepam (Klonopin, Rivotril)

Posted by mmussak @mmussak, Dec 19, 2018

Hi my name is Mary and I am a first time user of ever using a discussion blog online but have felt in my heart I need some advice and help with an issue I am having. My dr I have seen for many years moved out of state and referred me to another phychiatrist within his office. At the time of his moving away he had me weaning off clorazapam slowly and doing it as slow to not make it not so difficult as you all know , and I was doing well at it until I was having extreme chest pain and they put me in the hospital for 2 days to check to make sure it wasn't my heart, with all this happening I knew it was the weaning off the meds that was causing it so i went back up in dosage and it all went away again, and I was almost off it...My old dr started me on this med 27 years ago and I had no idea what it was but my body anxiety was shutting down my body and it helped it all go away so i didnt question it, well not until I went to school for nursing did I find out what it was all about. He put me on .5 mg three times a day and that stayed that way for 27 years not knowing what It does later in years, so I asked my dr to help me with the weaning off it, so our weaning process was as follows: Take .5 in a.m. ,25 afternoon and ,5 evening dose for 2 weeks then cut morning dose to .25 afternoon to .25 and evening .5 for 2 weeks then finally .25 three times a day for 6 weeks and then starting the last of the wean at this point the same as we did the first .25 till i was off. My new dr went from .50 3 times daily to .25 two times a day starting right away to get off it, that is over 1.0 mg a day off it all in one day and forward , I am already sad and crying because I dont know what to do, I have been there and I know how hard it was just to get off the way my old dr did slowly.....anyone out there that can help me with what to do I am so scared and I don't think she knows how extremely hard it is to get off this stupid stuff or that I really do want to do it, but please make it as painless as possible if there is such a thing with these meds. At 56 I didnt think I would have to go through menapause and this hell(sorry about the word but so true) all at once...at times I think it would be easier to just get cancer or something and die. Sorry but its true if you have been there you will understand. PLease help me!!!

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Parus | @parus | Jan 7, 2019
In reply to @mmussak "I switched from prozac to trintellix fir yo prozac was way to stimulating for me with..." + (show)
@mmussak

I switched from prozac to trintellix fir yo prozac was way to stimulating for me with my anxiety even with taking clorazapam with it ....I wish u the best for finding the right meds is such a big part of the battle...bless your heart that u see the blessings in your life to struggle through...it does get better and life gets better...I believe people with mental illness are the strongest people for what they fight and struggle through!!!

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So agree. It has cost some of us many relationships with family/friends because of their own ignorance. Not feeling sorry for myself as I am far stronger than they will ever be as they live their perfect lives. Wishing all of us who have and are hurting because of ignorance and arrogance.

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elwooodsdad | @elwooodsdad | Jan 7, 2019
In reply to @elwooodsdad "I am switching from Trintillix to Prozac with the assistance of Clonazepam. Worst time of my..." + (show)
@elwooodsdad

I am switching from Trintillix to Prozac with the assistance of Clonazepam. Worst time of my life. I understand why people throw up their hands and quit trying. Insomnia, flu like symptoms, having to over-subscribe to companion drugs just to get by. Suicidal ideation is frightening and sometimes appealing, but not an option for me. I have a good psychiatrist, and a wife who is my greatest gift. This experience cannot be described in words. It just has to be endured, like any other torture. I am miserable, but know in my soul that there is light at the end of this very dark tunnel...

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I am on my third day on my change from Trintillix to Prozac. I have had insomnia issues during this. My prescribed dose of clonazepam is 3mg per day. I have taken the liberty of adding an added 1mg to address the sleep issues. I slept 101/2 hours last night in bed. Not in a chair in the den. Not wandering about the house. Not sitting or laying wide awake in the dark. This is scary, and very little scares me, but this has. Join my celebration of sleeping normally(with a little extra pharmacological assistance) one night in a row. Could it be a trend. I see my physician on the 10th.

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1 reply
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jan 7, 2019

@elwooodsdad- You are a hoot! yay for a good long sleep! All kidding aside I know that the lack of sleep can exacerbate every little symptom and add to them! I get edgy and shaky and just awful.

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GailBL, Alumni Mentor | @gailb | Jan 7, 2019

@elwooodsdad

My only concern for you is taking the extra 1 mg at night and then sleeping 10.5 hours. You need to be careful not to take so much that your respiration is decreased. Many deaths are the result of this cause. If you are taking other medications they may add a cumulative effect to your central nervous system slowing down. Be very careful and let your doctor know what you're doing.

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1 reply
pankaj | @pankaj | Jan 7, 2019

@elwooodsdad: In addition to what Gail said an hour ago, please don't take the extra 1 mg of Clonazepam for more than 1 or 2 days because then it will become very difficult for you to come off of it. In fact, stop taking it immediately, if possible.

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elwooodsdad | @elwooodsdad | Jan 7, 2019
In reply to @gailb "@elwooodsdad My only concern for you is taking the extra 1 mg at night and then..." + (show)
@gailb

@elwooodsdad

My only concern for you is taking the extra 1 mg at night and then sleeping 10.5 hours. You need to be careful not to take so much that your respiration is decreased. Many deaths are the result of this cause. If you are taking other medications they may add a cumulative effect to your central nervous system slowing down. Be very careful and let your doctor know what you're doing.

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I sleep with a cpap, so I breathe whether I want to or not. During this fiasco, I would have been pleased to stop breathing for good...I think I am close to transitioning and the extra clonazepam will not be an issue. Heck, after 25 years another 1mg has been earned. I have a friend whose wife is Ph.D psychologist, and she said take the pill. The lack of sleep is worse for you. And the beat goes on...

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2 replies
pankaj | @pankaj | Jan 7, 2019
In reply to @elwooodsdad "I sleep with a cpap, so I breathe whether I want to or not. During this..." + (show)
@elwooodsdad

I sleep with a cpap, so I breathe whether I want to or not. During this fiasco, I would have been pleased to stop breathing for good...I think I am close to transitioning and the extra clonazepam will not be an issue. Heck, after 25 years another 1mg has been earned. I have a friend whose wife is Ph.D psychologist, and she said take the pill. The lack of sleep is worse for you. And the beat goes on...

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@elwooodsdad: I fully understand your need for good sleep, and, therefore, need for extra 1mg of Clonazepam. But it would be good if you could stop it as soon as your sleep returns to normal. I will pray for you. God bless you.

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Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jan 8, 2019
In reply to @elwooodsdad "I sleep with a cpap, so I breathe whether I want to or not. During this..." + (show)
@elwooodsdad

I sleep with a cpap, so I breathe whether I want to or not. During this fiasco, I would have been pleased to stop breathing for good...I think I am close to transitioning and the extra clonazepam will not be an issue. Heck, after 25 years another 1mg has been earned. I have a friend whose wife is Ph.D psychologist, and she said take the pill. The lack of sleep is worse for you. And the beat goes on...

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@elwooodsdad- Although I want you to have a succession of good sleeping nights a PH. D psychologist is not an MD. She knows not to be giving medical advice. Please be very careful

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Jen, Alumna Mentor | @sandytoes14 | Jan 14, 2019
In reply to @elwooodsdad "I am on my third day on my change from Trintillix to Prozac. I have had..." + (show)
@elwooodsdad

I am on my third day on my change from Trintillix to Prozac. I have had insomnia issues during this. My prescribed dose of clonazepam is 3mg per day. I have taken the liberty of adding an added 1mg to address the sleep issues. I slept 101/2 hours last night in bed. Not in a chair in the den. Not wandering about the house. Not sitting or laying wide awake in the dark. This is scary, and very little scares me, but this has. Join my celebration of sleeping normally(with a little extra pharmacological assistance) one night in a row. Could it be a trend. I see my physician on the 10th.

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@elwooodsdad I'm very curious to hear how your appointment with the Doctor went on the 10th? Lack of sleep creates a monster in me after a week. I'm not on Klonopin or Prozac because of the opioids I take. I take Trazodone but often don't sleep. Such is life!

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2 replies
mmussak | @mmussak | Jan 14, 2019
In reply to @sandytoes14 "@elwooodsdad I'm very curious to hear how your appointment with the Doctor went on the 10th?..." + (show)
@sandytoes14

@elwooodsdad I'm very curious to hear how your appointment with the Doctor went on the 10th? Lack of sleep creates a monster in me after a week. I'm not on Klonopin or Prozac because of the opioids I take. I take Trazodone but often don't sleep. Such is life!

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Ty for asking....actually my appt went really well I just explained some things to her and we compromised and I will be going down to just two a day instead of three and we will leave it there....I dont take it for sleep...I have no problem sleeping usually but when my anxiety gets so high my body starts to shut down...this last time she had me try and wean off I was In Hospital for 2 days for my heart and severe chest pain and could not digest my food...she put me back to regular dose I have taken for 27 years and everything went away....I have never gone up on my dose it has stayed the same for all those years...

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