1. < Depression & Anxiety

Starting Klonopin Taper, Scared of the Horror Stories

Posted by njp1013 @njp1013, Jan 26, 2020

Hi all- I am expecting to get a plan from my psychiatrist to begin tapering down .5mg of klonopin 2x daily that I have been on for 4 months (I have been taking buspar for a month and hope to use that as my anxiety med, also am on 225 mg effexor daily), the stories on the internet about doing this are horrifying and right now i feel like the prospect of doing this is the #1 cause of my anxiety, feel like I’m getting ready for surgery or something. Has anyone gone thru this process and found it manageable? I need to hear it’s possible. Thanks.

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Mentor
Jim, Volunteer Mentor | @jimhd | Feb 17, 2020
In reply to @thankful "@jimhd- What I began doing when I would be putting myself into stressful situations such as..." + (show)
@thankful

@jimhd- What I began doing when I would be putting myself into stressful situations such as flying somewhere was to take along a 1 mg. Klonopin pill cut in half for "just in case" anxiety and 95% of the time I didn't use it. I think the fact that my anxiety often shows up when I put myself it situations where I feel I have lost control that just knowing I have a "back-up plan" helps me through those times.
I think this is very common for many that deal with anxiety as I've talked with many that deal with this and I encourage them as well as any of you to fight back and find a simple, but effective solution. Jim@thankful

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@thankful I carry a shoulder bag, more or less like a laptop bag, and keep bottles of a few medications that I might need when I'm not home. I don't use them much at all, so I have to rotate fresher ones and use up the to go ones.

Jim

REPLY
njp1013 | @njp1013 | Feb 17, 2020

I always carry 1/2 a pill with me for emergencies , never had to use it, some people carry a gun I carry a pill lol.

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2 replies
elwooodsdad | @elwooodsdad | Feb 17, 2020

Pills are safer...I live in an open carry state. I may pack a pill or two just to handle the reality of the numbers of untrained, unscreened pistol packers...

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1 reply
thankful | @thankful | Feb 17, 2020
In reply to @njp1013 "I always carry 1/2 a pill with me for emergencies , never had to use it,..." + (show)
@njp1013

I always carry 1/2 a pill with me for emergencies , never had to use it, some people carry a gun I carry a pill lol.

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@njp1013, @elwooodsdad, @jimhd- njp1013 you crack me up! I'm carrying! hah, ha! Sounds like you all have found your own ways as I have to fight back! I'm really proud of all of you and wish you all the very best! Way to go guys! Jim@thankful

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Parus | @parus | Feb 17, 2020
In reply to @sears "I’m trying to figure this all out myself! Tapering, not tapering, I’m a nervous wreck!" + (show)
@sears

I’m trying to figure this all out myself! Tapering, not tapering, I’m a nervous wreck!

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@sears Confused. Are you a nervous wreck as to whether discontinuing klonopin is necessary for you or the tapering? I know there are now concerns about we older folks taking benzos. I had taken klonopin for several years and started having macabre thoughts. Had no idea this could be the problem for me. I was switched to Valium and started having the same issues.
My input when it comes to these type of meds-if it is not broke why fix it?? I am by no means against people using them. They had reached a point it was doing more harm than good. We are all wired differently.
I am sorry for your angst and hope things get settled down for you. I say do what is right for you.

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1 reply
Parus | @parus | Feb 17, 2020
In reply to @elwooodsdad "Pills are safer...I live in an open carry state. I may pack a pill or two..." + (show)
@elwooodsdad

Pills are safer...I live in an open carry state. I may pack a pill or two just to handle the reality of the numbers of untrained, unscreened pistol packers...

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@elwooodsdad ARGH!!! I know what you mean!!!

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sears | @sears | Feb 17, 2020
In reply to @parus "@sears Confused. Are you a nervous wreck as to whether discontinuing klonopin is necessary for you..." + (show)
@parus

@sears Confused. Are you a nervous wreck as to whether discontinuing klonopin is necessary for you or the tapering? I know there are now concerns about we older folks taking benzos. I had taken klonopin for several years and started having macabre thoughts. Had no idea this could be the problem for me. I was switched to Valium and started having the same issues.
My input when it comes to these type of meds-if it is not broke why fix it?? I am by no means against people using them. They had reached a point it was doing more harm than good. We are all wired differently.
I am sorry for your angst and hope things get settled down for you. I say do what is right for you.

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Thank you. I’m going to taper. Yes it does cause me angst not knowing what the future holds. During the taper and what will I do about my anxiety after the taper. I’m 67 and have had issues with overwhelming anxiety since I was a baby. I cried for two years non-stop. My poor mother took me to so many doctors! Yes I’m very worried. BTW it is Xanax not Klonopin. Yes Xanax the worst one. The one my physchiatrist and internist said I would never have a problem with. 😔😔

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2 replies
Lisa Lucier | @lisalucier | Feb 17, 2020
In reply to @sears "Thank you. I’m going to taper. Yes it does cause me angst not knowing what the..." + (show)
@sears

Thank you. I’m going to taper. Yes it does cause me angst not knowing what the future holds. During the taper and what will I do about my anxiety after the taper. I’m 67 and have had issues with overwhelming anxiety since I was a baby. I cried for two years non-stop. My poor mother took me to so many doctors! Yes I’m very worried. BTW it is Xanax not Klonopin. Yes Xanax the worst one. The one my physchiatrist and internist said I would never have a problem with. 😔😔

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Hi, @sears - if you've not already, you might look at this thread on going off alprazolam (Xanax) https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/going-off-of-xanax/

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njp1013 | @njp1013 | Feb 18, 2020
In reply to @sears "Thank you. I’m going to taper. Yes it does cause me angst not knowing what the..." + (show)
@sears

Thank you. I’m going to taper. Yes it does cause me angst not knowing what the future holds. During the taper and what will I do about my anxiety after the taper. I’m 67 and have had issues with overwhelming anxiety since I was a baby. I cried for two years non-stop. My poor mother took me to so many doctors! Yes I’m very worried. BTW it is Xanax not Klonopin. Yes Xanax the worst one. The one my physchiatrist and internist said I would never have a problem with. 😔😔

Jump to this post

@sears be sure to start your taper with a doctor visit! Preferably a psychiatrist. Tell them you are very nervous about doing this and will need a lot of guidance and support. You will find you either need to be on it or you will be off it and both outcomes are ok. The important thing is that *you are ok

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1 reply
njp1013 | @njp1013 | Feb 18, 2020

@sears also if you are taking xanax you may be having withdrawals between doses already it has a very short half life. If you taper they will probably switch you to klonopin or something with a longer half life and you may feel better not worse as you taper

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