Tapering off clonazepam (Klonopin, Rivotril)

JAke- Here is a great site that I found that tells about it: https://www.namaste.com/blogs/news/what-is-cannabis

I was on clonazepam for 15 years for panic attacks then put in a detox where they took me off c/t. I thought I was dying. I had brain saps, my face and parts of my body would go numb, my bp and pulse would skyrocket, felt like a rubber band was around my head and upper parts of my arms, my anxiety was tripled, i dread and am so scared i have some awful disease, my eyesite changed, my muscles are sore and hurt, etc. I am 19 months out and my neck and thigh muscles are so stiff and sore and I'm afraid it's something awful which puts me in a panic attack. Has anyone else experienced this? I think people get sick of me talking about it and saying I should just get over it..really makes you feel helpless and useless...
Thank you💕

I have my family for support and go outside and just breath the fresh and pray for God for help. Good luck

Yes, I am weaning off these MEDs and still feel sick but just do deep breathing and get fresh air, and pray to God for help!

My muscles in my head,neck,shoulders,,back and legs are so constantly contracted that it's now been 6 years since I had a life outside my recliner. Can't walk without hanging on to things for support and head pressure keeps me in a maddening state( tinnitus adds to that) . Most all say it takes only time ,nothing else will help,but I need to see some improvement,not worsening every year ! I just posted about the Ashton Manual and flumanizil as I am desperate and it's the only thing in her manual that was said to reset our damaged GABA ,yet no one seems to have tried it!

Hi @clonazepamxxx,

So sorry you didn't know about the need to taper, I've missed taking my Rx a few times in the 20 years or so I've been taking it and yes, looking back, just missing my dose by a day was agony. I could not imagine just quitting cold turkey off these potent drugs. I'm curious, what was your clonazepam dose before you quit cold turkey.

Cannabis has certainly helped me immensely on this second part of the journey (1.5mg to 0.75mg) which is the least amount of clonazepam I've taken since starting this drug in early 2000. You should consider looking up the benefits of CBD specifically. CBD specific strains, tinctures, and even gelcaps have helped curb the side effects of withdrawal almost entirely, I still working on my sleep but melatonin tablets are helping with that. Not sure where you live but if you're here in Canada, yes, there are many options available through the online government store. If you're in the US, there are some good brands that can be obtained through Charlotte's Web as well as Elixinol as a member here has already mentioned. Also look up the benefits of CBD online, there are a lot of good resources that deal with Anxiety specifically and you might find comfort that these are out there. I posted briefly about my experience so far up top about 24hrs ago.

Wishing you all the best with your withdrawal symptoms and also a return back to regular life for you.

@jennifersue1

I am so sorry you are still feeling so horrible. I have been going through the same symptoms but starting to feel hopeful they have peaked bc I do notice dissipation a little each day where I can function again for a few hours at a time... enough to get done what absolutely must get done day to day. I have to take lots of breaks... like I aged 20 plus years in less than 3 weeks... I hope that subsides too. I am only 41 years young 🙁

I do feel like the more active I am, the more I can do and get through the next day, so I’m trying to keep moving and active a few hours at a time... just so much fatigue no one would understand.

Right now, the following are what is providing me temporary comfort and relief to push through to the next day:

Planet fitness membership- I canNOT work out right now. There is no way today at least. I have to sit for a half hour just from doing a little laundry. BUT- my leg pains and arm numbness and tingling are better if I just walk on the treadmill at a super slow pace for 15 minutes or a few more if I can. Same if I just spend 15 minutes outdoors but it is SO cold this time of year. What has really helped is the red light therapy in their total body enhancement machine that comes with the upgraded membership. That ten mins a day has been wonderful. Then I do their hydromasssage lounge or chair for another ten min therapy session. For $20 a month, just using those has been so worth it and helpful.

Caffeine- I realized it really flames up my symptoms. I feel better substituting juice for coffee. Then I realized hydrating makes the symptoms lessen a lot too, even the head pain. I’ve been doubling my intake of fluids and it still seems like I could not get hydrated enough.

Pain relief and ability to eat dinner and sleep at night - small amount of marijuana before dinner and then early bedtime. Don’t do anything too stimulating after dinner until bed and take your sleep when you can get it.

Don’t turn back- those pills were killing us! Keep positive and hope you feel better soon!

I was prescribed only .25 mg in the AM and then .50mg at bedtime- so .75 mg total a day for a little over a year. I had no idea that a small dose for a somewhat short period would have resulted in any withdrawal symptoms. But this has felt like murder. That tells you how powerful this drug is. I will NEVER take any type of Benzo medication again!
I really think that patients that legitimately need such a medication are being done a disservice by doctors who do not try all other non addictive alternatives first!!! And warn patients about what really happens when you stop. This needs to happen upfront and have requirements for doctors and patients to sign an acknowledgment saying they have been properly counseled on how to stop being a junkie when you no longer need the meds. Because that is reality and what happens when they write you that script... they know you will have to withdraw one day and what that can do to people who they are supposed to be helping.

@clonazepamxxx

I agree with you 100%, a consent form should be filled out by both the patient and the prescribing doctor explaining how truly dangerous these benzo medications are. The extreme withdrawal effects should be reviewed with the patient quarterly at the least to help cement the fact that this a dangerous drug to taper from. So dangerous that it's often referenced against heroin as being worse. This is what got my attention when I switched doctors due to a move. He was very apprehensive about renewing my prescription on our first consultation. I was prescribed this medication in my early 20's for general anxiety disorder (GAD) and I'd be lying if I said they didn't work. I was in a negative loop of insomnia and anxiety. OTC sleep aids were making it worse and this was the only thing that helped. The worse my insomnia got, the worse my anxiety was.

So with that being said, these medications have their window of time in which they are truly useful and beyond that, they do more harm than good. Looking back, I can see so many times (years after initial Rx) where the medication was backfiring and making my anxiety worse. Without knowing any better I would up my dose on those occasions but I was never reckless with this medication considering the knowledge I had at the time. I was just trying to lessen the anxiety.

I would like to share I video I watched on the benefits of CBD which really got me interested in this plan. I'm not associated with any CBD company (although I wish I were, perhaps I could get free product!!).

I found this explanation and the 'mobile' analogy to be very clever and informative:

Thank you for your support and encouragement!