Connect
Getting off Klonopin (klonazepam)
Would like information of others who have taken this medication. How long prescribed, how you got off this. Did you have side effects following. Any & all information is greatly appreciated.
Tysm!
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Depression & Anxiety Support Group.
Connect
I was on 1mg of Clonasapam for 15 years, tapered to. 50mg on my own, and began tripping, then falling.
I posted a lengthy reply last night.
Perhaps you can find it?
Yesterday was my first day in this forum and I am still practicing navigating it.
xvxbyq315
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions@xvxbyq315 Good evening. Yes, I have found your post from yesterday. Here is how you can find it. On the page, find your picture in the upper right hand corner next to the APPOINTMENT block. Now click on Profile. Then look down and you will see that all of your posts are listed by last one first. Let me know if this works for you. Chris . (PS...i have been on this forum for a couple of years and I still have to figure things out. Not to worry. It is good for me to review the processes.)
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 Reactions@rucyrious, Good evening. You have told your story well. What I hear loud and clear is that you are sailing this ship by yourself. Your intentions are clear, your goal is achievable. On the journey, you encountered numerous hurdles....culminating in a full-blown panic attack.
I can only remember one real panic attack and it was when I was coming off of Ambien after my reverse shoulder
replacement. It had been prescribed so that I could get some sleep while waiting for the surgery. I remember going outside and walking the street in front of my house hoping that someone would be available to help me. Of course, I survived and never want to feel that way again.
Your courage is evident and you will need it all. I do have some other questions if you don't mind. Have you ever had biofeedback training? After a horrible rear-ended accident, I was introduced to some nontraditional methods for relieving anxiety. Biofeedback was helpful in becoming aware of how our heart and mind react to trauma and then learning to measure the response and eventually control it.
Gratefully, I was able to master the technique. It came in handy later when I fell down the mountain and had a 45-minute ride in an ambulance to the ER. The crew told me they couldn't give me any more morphine because my blood pressure and heart rate were over the limit. My arm was tied to the light in the roof to keep it as straight as possible. So....I called upon my biofeedback knowledge to lower both my heart rate and BP. And it worked. Now, I can still call on that skill to keep anxiety at bay.
And here is question #2. Do you practice meditation, mindfulness and gentle yoga on a regular basis, like at least 5 days a week?
As I age....and my fascia gets all compressed and restricted at the same time that the needles and tingles from my small fiber neuropathy SFN) appear to be intensifying, I just hit the floor and begin my "practice".
I want to let you know that I leave tomorrow for 3 days of a retreat for mindfulness, meditation, and yoga. There will be 26 of us including my friend Betsy who does a heck of a good job managing her MS. And we practice noble silence and totally unplug from our digital devices.
So....let me know what might be possible for you and I will be back to read your thoughts and experiences on Monday.
Have a great weekend....find some joy and self-compassion.
I am going to tag John@johnbishop and Theresa @hopeful33250 and know that they will be here for you. Chris
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsHello @rucyrious, Sorry to hear about the panic attack side effects from tapering off of your medications. I'm not sure if this will help but it is a list of techniques to stop a panic attack.
11 Ways to Stop a Panic Attack
-- https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-stop-a-panic-attack
Another site that maybe helpful that has some short videos that may be helpful -- https://www.resilientoption.com/
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsHi and ty so much...I will find it once I navigate this forum. I’m a bit confused but will figure this out. Thank you so much for your input. Can’t wait too find it.
Debi
John Thank you so kindly. All information is welcomed...tysm 😊
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI'm reading a lot of questions about how to wean off of certain drugs. To me, the first resource I'd turn to would be my doctor ... talk to him about it, why you want to get off of it, and I'm sure he would give you good advice. I took Klonopin for 8 months and noticed that I had begun to fall a great deal. My first thought was "OH NO, now this!" Well, the next thing I did was look up all the side effects of Klonopin, and there, very close to the bottom, it said, "in older adults can cause falling." Bingo! I called him, and we started the process of weaning myself off of the Klonopin.
I know I've got a great Psychiatrist who is willing to work with me, but try your doctor first .... he's probably got the best and safest way to get off of individual medications.
Barb
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
5 Reactions@amberpep
Balance problems are a common problem with seizure medications and not only in older folks. I’ve taken them since I was 14 (55 years) and have had balance issues ever since.
I agree under ideal circumstances the best option would be to get advice from a doctor but unfortunately with the manufacturers doing little if any tapering research how can doctors be expected to properly advise patients to lower or get off their meds. Sadly, many doctors don’t listen to how badly their patients are suffering or worse yet, just don’t care.
Read more of this thread and see how many doctors stopped their patients meds cold turkey or had them decrease their dosages by huge percentages substantially increasing the probability of horrible withdrawals.
Have a blessed day,
Jake
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
7 ReactionsI’ve been on Lyrica ten Yrs and am trying to decrease the amount I’m taking. My rheumatologist advised me to decrease by 10mgs/mo. That’s what safe. If you titrate faster than that you will have awful insomnia , headaches, body jerking, depression and possible seizure activity.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI’m weaning off clonopin now. I was taking a low dose of 0.5 now just taking half for 2 1/2 weeks now . How long did you cut down between stages ?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions