Connect
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!!!
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Depression & Anxiety Support Group.
Connect
@meka have you been able to get an answer from your doctor yet about why your Sertraline was discontinued? Serotonin poisoning means you had too much Sertraline in your system so maybe the doctor felt discontinuing for awhile was the best way to get back to a starting point. It does take a while to get the serotonin reuptake inhibitors out of your system as they have a long half-life.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI know it’s a small dose, but I’m still afraid.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionAnyone here have any experience weaning of Klonopin (or any benzo)? I was on .25 mg 3 times a day for 2 weeks. I made the mistake of coming off on my own...too fast. Pure hell for 3 days. My Dr. told me to go back on, and another Dr. will set me up with a schedule. You must come off them SLOWLY. EVEN FROM A LOW DOSE LIKE MINE.
Hi, @doorman - wanted to let you know I moved your post to this existing discussion on tapering off clonazepam (Klonopin) so that you can talk with others discussing this topic.
Hoping that @meka @johnhans @1mountaingirl86 @jakedduck1 @amy10 and others will have some thoughts for you on coming off clonazepam (Klonopin) too fast and experiencing side effects.
What prompted you to decide to go off this medication, doorman?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI don’t want to get hooked on this stuff. Even the quick withdrawal was horrendous. I can’t imagine being on this stuff for years.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI came off of Klonopin by my doctor's direction. I came off by gradually tapering off and I had no problems. I took 1 mg a day for many years and then increased to 1.5 for a short time. After this I got the doctor who wanted me off the benzo. I do not recommend anyone making any changes to their medicine without doctor's direction.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsCan you remember any details? How long did it take?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI agree. Only a doctor should be involved.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionEveryone is different in how they respond to various meds. I am someone who does not absorb meds very readily so it was easier for me. I cut down by .5 each time and I had about 2 weeks between cuts. Others in here have had to cut much less at a time and for much longer periods of time between cuts.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsMost people do best by cutting their taper schedules by 10% or the nearest 1/4 tablet increment. I followed this schedule to get myself off of 2.0mg Rx for the last 20+ years. I also used CBD to help with side effects. I've been completely off since mid-June. My doctor also wanted me off Benzos. In retrospect, I'm glad I broke the dependence. Now I only need to deal with these sleep issues which I hope is only part of the process. I'm taking gabapentin 2 x 200mg + 1/2 tab of UNISOM + 5mg melatonin to help combat insomnia, it seems to be working to some effect.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions