1. < Depression & Anxiety

Klonopin taper

Posted by dawgbone @dawgbone, Jul 31, 2017

I have been on some kind of benzo for almost 40 yrs. I am trying to taper from 1.5-2 mgs of klonopin daily . Began in mid may 2017 and my last cut was very small on 7-2-17 to get to 1mg. Honestly feels like i am dying. I also take trazodone 75 mgs and 4 drugs for high blood pressure. I have been researching gabapentin and seroquel to help with the withdrawal symptons. Please offer any suggestions or help. I am 69 yrs old and cant even leave my house to visit my kids and grands. Thank you for any help!

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Apr 28, 2021
In reply to @sears "Excellent method and the method allows you to hold for awhile if needed." + (show)
@sears

Excellent method and the method allows you to hold for awhile if needed.

Jump to this post

Hi again @katj77

It has been a couple of weeks since you posted about tapering off of Klonopin. Have you found any medical professional to help you with this process?

I hope you are doing better. Will you post an update as you are able?

REPLY
sears | @sears | Apr 29, 2021
In reply to @jakedduck1 "@hopalongnm3 Based on what I remember I believe the Ashton manual recommends using other meds to..." + (show)
@jakedduck1

@hopalongnm3
Based on what I remember I believe the Ashton manual recommends using other meds to help people taper then people often have another med to taper off of. But whatever works.
Jake

Jump to this post

Jake, the Ashton method suggests you begin taking a benzo with a longer half-life making the taper easier. I started diazepam when tapering Xanax.

REPLY
cduncan123 | @cduncan123 | May 18, 2021
In reply to @martyman "Hi. I have taken Klonopin for 25 years, mostly 3 milligram a day. A year ago,..." + (show)
@martyman

Hi. I have taken Klonopin for 25 years, mostly 3 milligram a day. A year ago, because of studies done on the tie of Klonopin to dementia in older folks, I am 66, I have tapered down to 1 mg with the goal to get completely off it. I saw a psychiatrist foe medication in DC who gave me some useful suggestions that have helped for me. Once I got to 2 mgs, I would taper off as follows: reduce .25 megs by reducing this amount every other day for at least 2 weeks. Stay at the reduced level for 2 weeks. Don't reduce if anxiety is up or life events are difficult. The plan now is to reduce 1/8 mg. using the same routine. It has helped me to follow the routine with very little impact. Some added anxiety for a few days, but nothing significant. It helps to know the anxiety is part of the drug withdrawal, not psychological issues. So, this has worked for me so far. Down from 3 milligrams to 1 and continuing .

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Hello I’ve been on a .25mg for sleep for over 20 years. I’m wanting to come off but I’ll need something to help me sleep. How do I taper this? Any advice will be appreciated

REPLY
cduncan123 | @cduncan123 | May 18, 2021

I’ve been on .25 Clonazepam a night for sleep for 20 years. I am wanting to stop. How do you taper this and what can I use for sleep?
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1 reply
clutch | @clutch | May 19, 2021

Have you read through The Ashton Method? Its the gold standard for tapering benzos.

REPLY
2 replies
donnacarp | @donnacarp | May 20, 2021
In reply to @cduncan123 "I’ve been on .25 Clonazepam a night for sleep for 20 years. I am wanting to..." + (show)
@cduncan123

I’ve been on .25 Clonazepam a night for sleep for 20 years. I am wanting to stop. How do you taper this and what can I use for sleep?

Jump to this post

oh my goodness. I don't sleep worth a darn and I'm in "treatment" for PTSD, a zoom therapy group. I tapered off Wellbutrin 300mg and also Topamax 200mg. I'd been taking the generics, Wellbutrin since about 2008 when 2nd husband died and Topamax for over 20 years. My body functions are better overall with a change to a close to vegan diet but my migraine MAIN issue is kicking my butt. Daily migraine as long as I can remember. The Topamax sort of blunted my nerve endings it felt like and now they are frayed as usual. Topamax never stopped the headaches nor does Botox for migraine which I still get every 3 months. I have no stress daily. My stress comes from POST traumatic events, death of 2 children, one of whom was missing for 12 years, (he died about 9 years after he came back home, death of my 2nd husband, home burned completely. 2007 first son died, 2008, husband died, 2009 father died, 2010 missing child after 12 years gone, returned and lived with his father, 2013 remarried and moved to NYC, vaginal prolapse surgeries in 2013, 2014 and 2015, home burned in 2016, then in 2018 the returned child died 2 days following the death of my children's father whom he was living with, 2 months later my mother died. I trust myself but I sure don't trust my LIFE. When I have no migraine, I also have no depression which I didn't realize until I was off the meds. I use 4 different triptan meds to manage the migraine pain. Someone suggested the Clonazipan (sp) but I wasn't about to try another medication to get dependent on. I weaned myself but my docs did know and were available if I needed to make any changes or have assistance.

REPLY
1 reply
clutch | @clutch | May 20, 2021
In reply to @clutch "Have you read through The Ashton Method? Its the gold standard for tapering benzos." + (show)
@clutch

Have you read through The Ashton Method? Its the gold standard for tapering benzos.

Jump to this post

Sleep 3 is an OTC that I use for sleep. It has melatonin and other herbals and works pretty well. Also use 25 mgs. of benadryl some nights to get to sleep, but there are side effects, but non-addicting

Are you looking for script medications as well?

REPLY
1 reply
cduncan123 | @cduncan123 | May 20, 2021
In reply to @clutch "Have you read through The Ashton Method? Its the gold standard for tapering benzos." + (show)
@clutch

Have you read through The Ashton Method? Its the gold standard for tapering benzos.

Jump to this post

Yes, I read through that last night. Thank you for the reply

REPLY
1 reply
cduncan123 | @cduncan123 | May 20, 2021
In reply to @clutch "Sleep 3 is an OTC that I use for sleep. It has melatonin and other herbals..." + (show)
@clutch

Sleep 3 is an OTC that I use for sleep. It has melatonin and other herbals and works pretty well. Also use 25 mgs. of benadryl some nights to get to sleep, but there are side effects, but non-addicting

Are you looking for script medications as well?

Jump to this post

No script....meds. I was in the hospital with in Nov. Covid really sick. I had lots of steroids, antibiotics and a plasma transfusion. Now I am a long hauler and my body is rejecting meds. The Klonipin is making me burn and tingly all over. every time I take it now. I was also on Cymbalta for 15 years and they took me off that in the hospital cold turkey. I went through horrific side effects and it’s been 6 months being off that. Now I’m needing to come off this.

REPLY
1 reply
cduncan123 | @cduncan123 | May 20, 2021
In reply to @donnacarp "oh my goodness. I don't sleep worth a darn and I'm in "treatment" for PTSD, a..." + (show)
@donnacarp

oh my goodness. I don't sleep worth a darn and I'm in "treatment" for PTSD, a zoom therapy group. I tapered off Wellbutrin 300mg and also Topamax 200mg. I'd been taking the generics, Wellbutrin since about 2008 when 2nd husband died and Topamax for over 20 years. My body functions are better overall with a change to a close to vegan diet but my migraine MAIN issue is kicking my butt. Daily migraine as long as I can remember. The Topamax sort of blunted my nerve endings it felt like and now they are frayed as usual. Topamax never stopped the headaches nor does Botox for migraine which I still get every 3 months. I have no stress daily. My stress comes from POST traumatic events, death of 2 children, one of whom was missing for 12 years, (he died about 9 years after he came back home, death of my 2nd husband, home burned completely. 2007 first son died, 2008, husband died, 2009 father died, 2010 missing child after 12 years gone, returned and lived with his father, 2013 remarried and moved to NYC, vaginal prolapse surgeries in 2013, 2014 and 2015, home burned in 2016, then in 2018 the returned child died 2 days following the death of my children's father whom he was living with, 2 months later my mother died. I trust myself but I sure don't trust my LIFE. When I have no migraine, I also have no depression which I didn't realize until I was off the meds. I use 4 different triptan meds to manage the migraine pain. Someone suggested the Clonazipan (sp) but I wasn't about to try another medication to get dependent on. I weaned myself but my docs did know and were available if I needed to make any changes or have assistance.

Jump to this post

I’m so sorry for all that you have been through.... my goodness you are a strong lady to still be standing. I’m keeping a headache as well tapering off this meds. I also have migraines. I’m going to try the once a month shot Aimovig for Migraines and maybe some CBD oil with THC and CBN. I’m not sure about that yet. I just need off this med. because my body from being in the hospital really sick having to take antibiotics, steroids and a plasma transfusion has left my body a wreak and the Klonipin is making it burn and tingle.
Thank you for replying to me.

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