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Tapering off clonazepam (Klonopin, Rivotril)
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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Oh Mary, I'm so sorry you have experienced all this. I have been on clonazepam for many, many years and when I started tapering off I often feel like you, that I wish I had cancer or something so I could just die. You can do this and I can too. I'm rooting for you.
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2 Reactions@mmussak Hi Mary, how are you doing on your tapering. I know it can be hard. Both of my doctors retired and I had to find a new MD too. I have been on clonazapam 1.5 for 20 years. I decided to go off them.
My taper is very small each week or 2 weeks like 10% or less. I think your doctors cut yours too much and too fast. There is the liquid taper that I am going to start this week. I take .25 now. It consists of dissolving the pill in water 150ml and then take 1ml off with seringe each day and drink the mix. The next day you take 2ml off. And each day after that. I found the chart on the internet. And it looks very promising. It looks like it will take 2 months to taper this way but it so much better than larger cuts.
This is really slow but it gives you brain time to heal. I’ll post how it goes. Hope all is well with you.
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2 Reactions@lisalucier In Canada we call clonazepam Rivotril. Maybe some Canadians on here don't know that.
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2 ReactionsIf you do not feel withdrawal symptoms, then..is not too fast.
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3 Reactions@marife I have been reading everyone’s experiences on tapering. I had all your horrible symptoms before I started taking clonazapam. Now I am slowly going off 1.5 ml after 20 years. I am not experiencing any of these symptoms except ringing in my ears and waking up at night. I was so afraid to go off because those symptoms might come back.
But they have not. I am so glad. This is so strange that I asked my pharmacist today about it. He said about 10% don’t have these withdrawals. I’m not complaining but I would like to know if anyone else has had this happen. I’m down to .25 ml. I am just wondering what my body will do when the clonazapam in totally out of me. I still fear those symptoms could come back. Thank you all for sharing your experiences. Hope all goes well for you.
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4 ReactionsI came off of clonozepam 1.5 mg a year ago. I did not have any problems, but I did take months to do it. I have a body that apparently does not digest medicine efficiently so the 1.5 was not at all much for me.
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2 ReactionsI feel the same way you do. You are not alone. Hugs to you!
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2 ReactionsHi, I've been tapering off Klonopin myself extremely slow & it's been extremely tough biggest symptoms are insomnia, headaches, racing heart, tension & restlessness.. Should I keep tapering myself or should I go to a really good drug rehab center? I've never abused meds I'm just wondering what is safer & easier if im having really bad withdrawal symptoms?? Thanks
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1 Reaction@num1boxer1919 I think that if you can afford a rehab centre it may be easier. I am tapering at home and I also have insomnia, headaches, racing heart, tension, muscle spasms, extreme fatigue, and nausea. I'm hanging in there but it is hell on earth. Which ever way you choose to go I wish you the best of luck. I know it will be worth it in the end. Blessings.
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1 Reaction@num1boxer1919
Good morning,
I’d continue to reduce at home. I have yet to hear of a “Good” detox/rehab center, and I’ve heard and read about many. They will get you off your medication alright but it won’t be a pleasant experience. I don’t believe any rehab is willing to keep you there the length of time necessary to properly taper off without serious side effects. It would be cost prohibitive.
If your having such a difficult time your probably tapering to quickly. How much have you been tapering? What dose were you on when you started to taper? How long has it been since you started? What dose are you at now?
You may want to increase your current dose until your symptoms subside then restart your taper at a slower rate.
Before you get roped into a rehab call and find out exactly how the taper will work.
Good luck,
Jake
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