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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@clutch

@laurine7 , What’s the difference in the prescription Benadryl for sleep?

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Supposedly there is some benefit according to my Psychiatrist. Unfortunately I don't know, unless it is to support Pharma. I asked several times but never really got a definitive answer. I only know it has really helped. Good question and keeps me wonderlng.

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@jakedduck1

@josephinekjd
I believe thats very wise. I slowed my taper down even more towards the end. My Klonopin tapering was uneventful..
However, if I had it to do all over again I would definitely use a compounding pharmacy.
Good luck to you,
Jake

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We may never know what we coulda shoulda done better. I have gained so much knowledge about the drugs I was prescribed and we have to trust ourselves to research, research, and research. Easy to say now after the fact.

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@laurine7

I called the only COMPOUND PHARMACY in San Francisco and was definitely going to go that way. $100 per script, a small amount for peace of mind. I spoke to my Primary Doctor and my Psychiatrist, neither said at tapering from my .125 did not warrant to go that route. My Psychiatrist however never had me on a tapering plan, I just tapered myself. It is very easy to get discouraged and think it's me going through this, they do not understand. In the end, you know best, of course you do need guidance and knowledge. Again I recommend Ashton Manual Benzos.org if that is what you were taking. Being 78, on Lorazepam for over 10 years these past 9 months have been the worst time of my life. So, so many side effects, I had them all. I read, read, and read about withdrawing from Benzos and many times felt I knew more than the Doctor treating me. Unless they are very knowledgeable, which you do not really know, it's a hit and miss.

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I would bet you did know more than your doctors. Most don’t really care and they don’t research anything.

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@laurine7

Amazing how many drugs you have to take to get off one medication. After you look them up you find out they all had terrible side effects unless you taper. Makes you wonder! If you have HULU watch DOPESICK. ALL ABOUT OXYCONTIN, THE DOCTORS AND THE PRESCRIPTION COMPANY PUSHING IT. The families who lost loved ones sued the Drug company and it was just settle for BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. It really is an education about Pharmaceutical companies and how they push it on the Doctors who then push it on to their patients.

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I was one of the unfortunates who was once addicted to oxycontin/oxycodone. A victim of the greedy pharma companies. Dope pushers. I have been 3 years clean as of January 1st. My doctor truly believed she was doing the right thing when she gave me my first prescription in 1992. For fibromyalgia. I forgive her but oxy took years of my life away from me that I can never get back.

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@lindasmith1222

I was one of the unfortunates who was once addicted to oxycontin/oxycodone. A victim of the greedy pharma companies. Dope pushers. I have been 3 years clean as of January 1st. My doctor truly believed she was doing the right thing when she gave me my first prescription in 1992. For fibromyalgia. I forgive her but oxy took years of my life away from me that I can never get back.

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Congratulations! You are the first person I have contact with that got off Oxycontin/Oxycodone. Can't imagine what you went through. Hopefully you will be a testament to those now trying.

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@laurine7

Congratulations! You are the first person I have contact with that got off Oxycontin/Oxycodone. Can't imagine what you went through. Hopefully you will be a testament to those now trying.

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I went through h**** to be honest. The doctor who was prescribing completely cut me off. After years of use, I wanted to try medical marijuana. When I went to my appointment with the doc, I told her that I had tried it. She freaked out because using marijuana is a FEDERAL crime. She said I violated my signed agreement, which was true. She actually started screaming about she could lose her license if she prescribed oxy to me. I was not expecting this reaction at all. I'm dumb, I should never have told her about my marijuana experiment, which didn't work by the way. She refuse to refill my prescription. Luckily for me, I had started to take less than prescribed because I wanted to see if marijuana would work. I had about 90 pills. I tapered myself off. I am so glad I did. After the oxy got out of my system, my pain was unbearable, but I started what I finished. I am still in chronic pain every day, but I would never take oxy again.

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@laurine7

I called the only COMPOUND PHARMACY in San Francisco and was definitely going to go that way. $100 per script, a small amount for peace of mind. I spoke to my Primary Doctor and my Psychiatrist, neither said at tapering from my .125 did not warrant to go that route. My Psychiatrist however never had me on a tapering plan, I just tapered myself. It is very easy to get discouraged and think it's me going through this, they do not understand. In the end, you know best, of course you do need guidance and knowledge. Again I recommend Ashton Manual Benzos.org if that is what you were taking. Being 78, on Lorazepam for over 10 years these past 9 months have been the worst time of my life. So, so many side effects, I had them all. I read, read, and read about withdrawing from Benzos and many times felt I knew more than the Doctor treating me. Unless they are very knowledgeable, which you do not really know, it's a hit and miss.

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I had a similar experience after taking klonopin for 18 years. My doctor had me very slowly reduce the dose (0.5 mg every 3 weeks) but I had awful tremors, shaking and twitching movements anyway. At times the shaking was so violent that it made me fall out of bed. My husband would hold me down during the times when the shaking was at its worst. These shaking and jerky movements involved my entire body. Then I had my first, and only, panic attack. We were not prepared for any of this and felt lonely and very scared.. We went to the er one night but they heard about klonopin withdrawal, put me in bed in a hallway and ignored me. And no, they were not very busy. It was at 3a.m. and after 12 hours of these shaking and jerky movements and the panic attack I still have some tremors after 3 years and am on 2 meds to help control it. I had bad headaches and nausea too. I would still be taking the klonopin if I had known it would be like this. I'm sorry I took it at all. But for me, the outcome was not worth what resulted.

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@mlmchem1

I had a similar experience after taking klonopin for 18 years. My doctor had me very slowly reduce the dose (0.5 mg every 3 weeks) but I had awful tremors, shaking and twitching movements anyway. At times the shaking was so violent that it made me fall out of bed. My husband would hold me down during the times when the shaking was at its worst. These shaking and jerky movements involved my entire body. Then I had my first, and only, panic attack. We were not prepared for any of this and felt lonely and very scared.. We went to the er one night but they heard about klonopin withdrawal, put me in bed in a hallway and ignored me. And no, they were not very busy. It was at 3a.m. and after 12 hours of these shaking and jerky movements and the panic attack I still have some tremors after 3 years and am on 2 meds to help control it. I had bad headaches and nausea too. I would still be taking the klonopin if I had known it would be like this. I'm sorry I took it at all. But for me, the outcome was not worth what resulted.

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I am so sorry to hear of your absolutely terrifying experience while withdrawing from Klonopin. Many times I told my Dr. I was a happy, healthy, social person before stopping Lorazepam after taking at least 10 years. I was put on Klonopin to withdraw from Lorazepam 6MG. I am 9 months into the tapering from .5 to now 1/2 of .125. I cannot believe your Dr. had you withdraw so quickly. I still have tremors in my mouth and jaw but am so happy I have gotten this far. I have to say tho every morning I worry about what my body is going to do to me. Definitely my body turned against me. I lost my hair, went down to 106 pounds, my skin still hangs off my bones. One week ago all of a sudden my upper and lower gums were all swollen (not bleeding) and were receding. I won't belabor the side effects. I'm now a JUNKIE reading and researching Benzodiazepines and wish there was something I could do to get them off the market. I had never heard the word Benzodiazepine 10 months ago, I knew the word Lorazepam that's all. Many websites say you can have side effects for many, many years. Also, all have said you need a Psychiatrist not a GP to help with the withdrawal, although not all are really familiar with withdrawing from Benzodiazepines. I just do not know what to say, you are still suffering and it's a sin what has happened to you. Sounds like you are still having withdrawals, those are many of the symptoms. I cannot believe there is nothing out there that can help you. I will get back to you if I hear any successes with new trials. Keep up with connect.mayo, it is my new best friend. By the way you were not on a slow taper which research says is a must. Go on Line to Ashton Manual on Benzos.org. This will give you knowledge and hope. Laurine

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@laurine7
“wish there was something I could do to get them off the market.”
I don’t understand why people are insistent on taking drugs off the market because they had bad experiences with them which is more often than not the person's own fault.
Not everyone has withdrawal problems. I withdrew off Klonopin with no problems. Although the medication wasn't helpful in controlling my seizures it is very helpful for many. Is it fair to want to deprive those patients who have fewer or no seizures?

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@lindasmith1222

I went through h**** to be honest. The doctor who was prescribing completely cut me off. After years of use, I wanted to try medical marijuana. When I went to my appointment with the doc, I told her that I had tried it. She freaked out because using marijuana is a FEDERAL crime. She said I violated my signed agreement, which was true. She actually started screaming about she could lose her license if she prescribed oxy to me. I was not expecting this reaction at all. I'm dumb, I should never have told her about my marijuana experiment, which didn't work by the way. She refuse to refill my prescription. Luckily for me, I had started to take less than prescribed because I wanted to see if marijuana would work. I had about 90 pills. I tapered myself off. I am so glad I did. After the oxy got out of my system, my pain was unbearable, but I started what I finished. I am still in chronic pain every day, but I would never take oxy again.

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I don't know why she told you she could lose her license if she prescribed Oxycodone, they give it to you after surgeries today. OxyContin is off the market, I believe. I am in California and Marijuana is not illegal. I can't believe she yelled at you, very unprofessional. Look up what you were prescribed on line. Read what is out there about her losing her license, print a copy and send it to her. The pharmaceutical company that marketed it to Doctors just lost a multi billion dollar lawsuit to all the families who were lost taking Oxycontin. What state do you live in? Can you get CBD OIL to rub on you anywhere. That has a really good track record and it is even recommended for dogs who have separation problems when their owners leave them alone at home. Good luck and keep the faith. The worst you have gotten through, getting off Oxy. sure a winner.

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