Tapering off clonazepam (Klonopin, Rivotril)

@mmussak I'm so glad the doctor worked with you... I'm a believer in "if it ain't broke don't fix it! "

What kind of doctor are you seeing? With all due respect, general practitioners likely are not as aware of the issues as psychiatrists, who make their living dealing with these medications. No good reason to be this miserable. I'm transitioning from one anti-depressant to another and increasing the dose of clonazepam to counter some side effects, all done under the guidance of a very understanding psychiatrist. I hope the same for you.

I have the blessing of the psychiatrist to bump the clonazepam to 4mg daily to deal with the insomnia. I started yesterday spacing them out over the afternoon and evening vs. all at once. Still slept, but awoke with a much clearer head. One day at a time...

I have NEVER seen a general practitioner for my meds....always a psychiatrist from start but just recently had to change to a new one and she had no idea about my past...the the one I saw for 8 years and previous to that day same one for 20 years...this new one just is no where near the intelligence of past 2...very frustrating for she is one that wants what she thinks is right now what works for me!!

Hi, I am tapering and using Melatonin and CBD oil ( Elixinol brand). I was prescribed Klonopin 12 years ago after I started having panic/anxiety attacks after improper treatment for c-dif colitis, which left me with 2 ulcers and a hiatal hernia. Also I was involved in a terrible car accident, not physical injuries from that but the accident played havoc with the anxiety I was already dealing with. Anyway I was tapering quite slowly and it was going ok but I was having issues w sleep. I read ashwaganda would help with withdrawal and it did, but still sleep was not good. I added 150 mg valerian root and 200mg Passion flower. Very low doses and tapered completely off the Klonopin . However I abruptly stopped the the other supplements and within 24 hour I was in major withdrawal. I didn’t know that the supplements were actually acting as a benzo. My dr told me to reinstate the Klonopin, which I slowly did trying to find a tolerance level. My dr wanted me to take .5 mg 3x daily, which was double my original dose I had taken for 12 years. I more I increased the sicker I got and I was pretty sick to start with. So I stopped up dosing and started cutting very small cuts. After 3 psychiatrists I found one who is benzo educated, I refuse to take an antidepressant which the first 3 said I needed. My pcp and psychiatrist both approve of the CBD and the melatonin. Here is the dosage I take:
10am- 30 mg CBD
2pm- 30mg CBD
8pm- 60 mg CBD
10pm- 60 mg CBD
10pm - 10mg Naturol extended release melatonin.
If I wake up during the night, I take 15-30mg CBD and drop back into sleep.
Current Klonopin dosage is 1.095mg per day at this point in my taper.
.175mg in the morning
.170mg late afternoon
.75mg at bedtime
The CBD works wonders for the anxiety I have during the day, which I didn’t have before I began tapering. The extended release melatonin helps keep me sleeping. I usually get 7 hours of sleep and I’m up once during the night to relieve myself.
The day time doses of Klonopin kick my butt and make me very ill, nauseous, stomachache and migraines. I’m guessing I kindled on my first taper and that is why the taper is making me sooo sick now. If I’d done my research and found a dr who had experience treating benzo users who wanted to get off I would have done things much differently, but I trusted my pcp and he didn’t know anything. I gave every dr I saw a downloaded printed copy of the Ashton manual. Most thought I was crazy and said this was in my head. It took my pcp 4 months to understand it was the benzo not my gallbladder, pancreas or liver making me sick all the time. Best advice, go slow and do your research. I do think the CBD and melatonin are the 2 things keeping me sane. I have developed lots of sensitivities to things and I do have to be very careful about what I take especially for the nausea.
Best wishes and a big hug!
Ann

Ps. I use a combination of pill and liquid suspension(simple syrup) Klonopin currently. The cuts are easier to make with the liquid suspension, that’s why the dosages look weird but exact.

Mary,
Google “Benzo information collision” they have a small list of benzo educated drs in some states, perhaps there is someone near you. You are being required to make huge cuts and that’s really playing with fire. Your new dr sounds uninformed, you can download the Ashton Manuel and give her a copy. It’s about 75 pages, the recommended cut is 5-10% every 2-4weeks max. I can’t even handle that large a cut now. I’m at about 2% about every 2 weeks. Try to stay strong and know you aren’t alone.
Best wishes
Ann

Ann....you are a gift from God...I have been searching for something like this to use and show my dr....I feel so much more at piece now with this. Thank you so much for taking the time to care!!!

Mary

Mary
You are welcome, I am still learning as I go. Everybody is different and you need to go at a pace you r comfortable with. Your dr needs to understand that. Benzo taper is not “one size fits all” I have been heartbroken by how slowly I have to cut now. But at least I can sorta function and stay moving. For me the nausea is really harsh and it’s hard to function when it’s bad. I use a combination of liquid Klonopin and pills. My cuts are made from the liquid suspension part of my dosage, so they are accurate dosage cuts bc I can see the actual measurement. Cutting pills can be hugely inaccurate and the pills just crumble and get wasted. I try to cut .0625mg each month now and that’s pushing it for me. .0625 is 1/8th of a .5mg tablet so it’s impossible to taper a pill cut that small. If you do taper with a liquid suspension make sure it is a simple syrup suspension. No suspensions with artificial flavoring as they will/can affect the CNS and throw you into an awful withdrawal. I found that out the hard way as my first suspension script was made with a suspension that had Sucralose in it, even after I told the pharmacist no artificial sweeteners. I was sick for 20 days, so question and double check again!! Also transitioning from pills to suspension should be done gradually as it can make withdrawal symptoms more intense. So transition in increments or part of a dose. Until you fully make it over to liquid. You will have to use a compounding pharmacy to convert to liquid. This is the hardest thing I’ve ever done and I’m glad to know that what I’ve learned might help someone else learn what’s right for them. Best advice...Google and read, research, research, research! Don’t get discouraged by what you read, think about your situation and what might work for you. Try to stay calm and try not to overwhelm yourself
Best wishes and big hugs!
Ann

Ann....first off do I get a prescription from my dr fir liquid and how would I transition to liquid from using .5 mgs 3 times a day pills to liquid...I'm a bit confused on that....I get so much nausea and I thought it was from my menapause bit it did start when i started the first .25 mg cut off mid day pill...omg some days i just want to lay there and do nothing due to nausea...i do have some pills for nausea from a different Med I was tAking which helps but only have 2 left..grrrrr what can I do to learn how to go from pill to liquid??? And at what point do I do that...ty for ur help ann!!!😁😁