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Tapering off clonazepam (Klonopin, Rivotril)

Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: Mar 30, 2023 | Replies (236)

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@gettingbetter75

Hi @annfsd,

I'm currently tapering from 2.0mg of clonazepam (original dose) taken at bedtime only for GAD and insomnia. My most recent taper was from 1.5mg (3x0.5mg) and I'm currently down to 1.0mg (2x0.5mg) for the last month which is a big taper and the lowest dose I've been on for perhaps the last 20 years (I'm 43yr male old BTW). I feel great overall and quite proud of holding this lower clonazepam dose which I plan to hold for a little while longer until I can resolve my sleep quality.

Thanks for sharing your success with CBD for daytime anxiety. Could you please share what brand/company you are using as it's the wild west out there for authentic CBD products, even here in Canada where THC is legal. I've been using CBD gelcaps from Aurora here in Canada which provide 8 to 10 mg/pill of CBD to help offset the anxiety and sleep issues. They come in 30 caps per bottle and cost about $40. I take about 2x per bedtime which seems to work but I often wake up in the middle of the night and take another gel cap to help me fall back asleep which works sometimes but not always. I've also been vaping high CBD strains from Aurora also (strain is called Temple and costs $9.99/gm) which is quicker acting and also great to combat anxiety. I'm also trying CBD tincture from a company called CBD Move ($60) which provides 500mg of CBD and has a 1ml dropper. I've taken a full dropper with varying results (none bad just varying degrees of effectiveness). My biggest issue is falling and staying asleep. As you can see, I'm self-experimenting with varying CBD delivery methods to determine which is best for CBD absorption. Right now, I would say vaping it seems to work best for me (about 0.5 - 1.0gm) per night.

Unfortunately, our medical benefits will not cover CBD for anxiety here in Canada so all this self-experimentation is getting quite expensive although so much better than the original 2.0mg dose of clonazepam.

Do you or anyone have any advice for falling back to sleep? Have you ever tried Valerian Root? I read this could help however it can apparently increase the drowsiness side effects of clonazepam (or any benzo) which can be both good and bad because I'm wondering if I would become reliant to the Rx/Supplement marriage I just created? Also, if you could share the CBD brand you're using as well as the delivery method would be highly appreciated.

Thanks!

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Replies to "Hi @annfsd, I'm currently tapering from 2.0mg of clonazepam (original dose) taken at bedtime only for..."

Hello,
I use the elixinol brand, 3600 bottle in tincture. That is a 120ml (4oz) bottle, that I order directly from the company. I use about 1.5 bottles per month. I pay 224.00 per bottle including a10% discount for being a repeat customer. Free shipping in the US, not sure about Canada tho. I know they do ship to Canada tho.
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.
I have found that sticking to a consistent dosing schedule works best for me and if I’m having an anxiety issue I dose a .5ml extra at that time, that generally doesn’t happen as I avoid any stress I can. Btw the melatonin helps greatly at night and I use a melatonin tincture 3mg at bedtime as well. So a total of 13mg melatonin at bedtime. I am not using any other meds for sleep and refuse to take any other psychotropic meds other than the Klonopin & CBD.
I would be very careful with valerian root, Passion flower, etc. They act the same as benzodiazepines so yes you will sleep but those supplements will not help you upregulate your GABA receptors. Do some deep research on any supplement you take. I have gotten myself into real trouble with them...
Best,
Ann