What is the best way to taper off Klonopin?

Posted by kittymama @kittymama, Apr 7, 2019

Can anyone tell me the best way to taper off Klonopin? I feel it does nothing for my anxiety

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chelle54
Excuse me for butting in but I just wanted to say that your most consistent option would probably be a compounding pharmacy. Your brain zaps may be a sign your tapering too quickly or the 2 weeks may need to be lengthened or both. I cut by approx 10% (11% in the beginning) but as I reduced my dose, especially close to the end was reduced at a much lower percentage.
I had virtually no withdrawals at all. But at the end of the taper I must have had very slight side effects so I cut tiny chips and kept cutting them smaller and smaller. I took nearly the maximum dose so I took two years or maybe more to get off it. It's been decades since I took Klonopin so my memory doesn't recall everything about my taper. I was taking it for seizures which didn’t help reduce them at all.
Good luck,
Jake

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Thank you I realize I’m going way to fast. My doctor wants me to go back to my original dose get stable and taper more slowly. This is definitely a learning process. I thought since I had only been taking the medication for three and a half months I could get off quicker. I realize that’s not the case.

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@tennisgirl6205

Looking for insight on quitting Klonopin. It's the weekend and I can't reach my dr. I have been taking Klonopin a couple times a week - .25 mg for about 7 months. Very low dose. I am wondering if I can just stop. It has four days now since I have taken a pill and I am noticing withdrawal symptoms. The most intense is my insides feel like they are on fire. It comes in waves. Wondering if I should just work through this or if I should have tapered to an even lower dose for a while.

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@archermac15
The best option for quitting in my opinion would be using a compounding pharmacy. Of course your doctor would have to be on board with that because he’d have to write a prescription and chances are he wouldn’t be willing to write it for a slow enough taper. Another possible downside is not all insurance companies pay for compounded medicine.
I was about 30-40 when I tapered.
I'd say it's a gamble on how long to taper. It also depends on your dose, length of use, age. Some say it depends if your male or female. At the end when I chipped off pieces it probably wasn’t necessary to do that as long as I did and it was a guess as to how much I was taking a that point but it was an infinitesimal small amount.
I usually don’t have any problems going on to her coming off medication and rarely have any side effects from them. Although I went off this medication slower than what I normally would it was because I was having so many status seizures at the time and when you have epilepsy you can’t just stop your seizure medication. also I was on an extremely high dose.
I don’t know if your other illnesses or medication would interfere in anyway that’s a question you’ll have to ask your doctor.
Take care,
Jake

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@tennisgirl6205

Looking for insight on quitting Klonopin. It's the weekend and I can't reach my dr. I have been taking Klonopin a couple times a week - .25 mg for about 7 months. Very low dose. I am wondering if I can just stop. It has four days now since I have taken a pill and I am noticing withdrawal symptoms. The most intense is my insides feel like they are on fire. It comes in waves. Wondering if I should just work through this or if I should have tapered to an even lower dose for a while.

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Depending on your age I would work through it. Your dose was very small. Call your pharmacist and see what he recommends.

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@tennisgirl6205

Looking for insight on quitting Klonopin. It's the weekend and I can't reach my dr. I have been taking Klonopin a couple times a week - .25 mg for about 7 months. Very low dose. I am wondering if I can just stop. It has four days now since I have taken a pill and I am noticing withdrawal symptoms. The most intense is my insides feel like they are on fire. It comes in waves. Wondering if I should just work through this or if I should have tapered to an even lower dose for a while.

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I have not posted anything here for nearly a month. However, I am more and more wanting to get off Klonopin after 6 straight years of taking it at a low dose. I have had no real success at tapering and ended up relapsing ( going right back on the medication) without my Doctor even knowing about it. My Doctor scolded me the last time I was in his office and asked him please, if I could taper. I do not have any health insurance coverage and will have to pay out of pocket for this medication. I find it is making me feel more depressed but my Doctor insists I keep taking it because I get such bad anxiety attacks. Anxiety can throw my life off balance and distort my thinking. I still want to taper! Leah09

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@leah09

I have not posted anything here for nearly a month. However, I am more and more wanting to get off Klonopin after 6 straight years of taking it at a low dose. I have had no real success at tapering and ended up relapsing ( going right back on the medication) without my Doctor even knowing about it. My Doctor scolded me the last time I was in his office and asked him please, if I could taper. I do not have any health insurance coverage and will have to pay out of pocket for this medication. I find it is making me feel more depressed but my Doctor insists I keep taking it because I get such bad anxiety attacks. Anxiety can throw my life off balance and distort my thinking. I still want to taper! Leah09

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@leah09
Would you mind sharing how you have tapered in the past.
Jake

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@chelle54
Are you currently having withdrawal symptoms? what dose are you currently on and what dose does your doctor want you to go back onto.

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I am currently taking 1.125 every day. I was at 1.5 for three and a half months. The doctor wants me to go back to the 1.5 get stabilized and taper more slowly.

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@chelle54

I am currently taking 1.125 every day. I was at 1.5 for three and a half months. The doctor wants me to go back to the 1.5 get stabilized and taper more slowly.

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My current withdrawal symptoms are upset stomach, lack of appetite and severe depression.

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@chelle54

I am currently taking 1.125 every day. I was at 1.5 for three and a half months. The doctor wants me to go back to the 1.5 get stabilized and taper more slowly.

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@chelle54
I would do as your doctor recommends. The best chance of not having withdrawal symptoms is a slower taper. Better to slow than too fast.
Jake

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