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