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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@reese1

This is a very good link from The Ashton Manuel: https://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/

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Do you have anything on an American Medical Association or a American Hospital that recommends stopping a Klonopin when you've been taking it for over 20 years and it still helps you

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@cgs

Do you have anything on an American Medical Association or a American Hospital that recommends stopping a Klonopin when you've been taking it for over 20 years and it still helps you

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I do not have that information, but you can do an Internet search and call them to see what the protocol is for that, since everyone's situation is unique.

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@cgs

I have a really good psychiatrist that for that I've had for 10 years that I trust very much and he keeps telling me not to go off of the Klonopin so I'll just keep taking it he says take his little as you can I used to be on 3 mg and now I only take two one in the morning and one at night I do not take the middle of the day dose any longer and he said that was just fine take his little as you can he does not ever recommend that I quit taking it though so I probably won't I don't see any reason to so far I'm not led to take less or to go off of it all together it doesn't seem to be harming me and I don't seem to need to take any more than what I do so I'm just going to go with his advice he's been a very good doctor for over 10 years

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I am so glad to hear that you have a good doctor. I would continue taking his advice and if you ever have a problem with it, be sure to let him know. I wish you the best.

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@g0ldengirl1952

I was talking about the article's "taper schedules" and substitutions Reese, not sure where I said you "suggested " anything to me did I?? I have to look back and read, I'm sorry for anything I said that sounded like that 🙁

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Please don't feel badly about anything. I hope that you don't feel like I was angry with you. I wasn't angry. I was concerned that you would misunderstand and think that I was telling you how to taper. I know I really cannot do that. All I can do is explain my experience with my tapering and why I chose the route that I did. I am not a doctor and therefore, I cannot tell anyone how they should taper. I know that so many of us are desperate to do the right thing because we are anxious to accomplish our goals with being benzo free, but it all comes in time, and I do think that I should have tapered more slowly. I went into a panic to get off of the Xanax because I had hit tolerance and it had started to cause me anxiety rather than relieve it. If I learn of anything new, I will let you know.

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..oh gosh its not only doctors but government Health Canada if you ever feel like making a quick web site check; yes the dr. I saw wanted me off after my last five pills, and only 0.5 mg Clonazepam/Rivotril/Klonopin with no support and when i was ill with c.diff and knocked glass of water over my pill holder later that year, after family dr put me back on half a pill a day!... my pills for 2 days were melted with water, my Rivotril and Zoloft and Imodium, I even took pics..... he said he didnt care if I had dropped them down the toilet, I was mis managing my pills and was angry and I phoned College of Physcians and surgeons to see what I should do and next appointment he said its not because you reported me, I said I didn't report you but wanted to know what to do... and he admitted to them he got angry at me yelling etc., anyway, long story short he dismissed me from his practice...this is the truth! Then I had no Dr. for 2 yrs where I live and had to go to virtual clinic which did not want to prescribe the Rivotril, just for 2 weeks and then emerge. dept and as I said, I was made to feel like a drug seeker: yet my husband is on 17 meds for his heart, diabetes, cholesterol, etc. etc. yet no one blinks an eye and some of them have horrendous side effects and interactions! Sorry to vent but these meds were given to me 15 yrs and then all of a sudden expected to stop taking with no help as a Senior, its wasnt right and it still isnt. Even my Mum in UK who has now passed, her dr had her on sleeping pills for many months if not years then took her off leaving her with none, and would not reissue... I was told she hardly slept for 2 weeks after that, and probably longer... again as a Senior. OK, IF a doctor takes patient off a med, make sure they have support services and are taken off slowly!!! This is happening to many people in Canada and its not fair. Street drugs etc. are a problem but so are prescribed drugs to innocent patients..... maybe start educating doctors about the pros and cons and tell them how to get patients to stop without going into withdrawal and thanks to the drs who do understand addiction .... ugh!!

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p.s. Health Canada site: Benzodiazepines are a class of substances often used as sedatives and tranquilizers. Although they are some of the most commonly prescribed medications, there is still a risk of overdose and substance use disorder associated with them.

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@g0ldengirl1952

Hi Jake, I had done this 2 summers ago and I think I went to fast, had to because my doctor was deciding for me, but now I'm deciding for me.

The 1/4 works very good, I just went a month with no ill effects, but I felt unsure going down to .5 so I'll stay another month at .75 mg and see how I feel at that point end of April.

What is a compounding pharmacy Jake? I'm guessing you mean can they give me .5 tablets, but the pharmacies here don't go lower than ,5 size. I need to get a pill-cutter, that's for sure.

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@g0ldengirl1952
When a drug doesn't come in the strength the doctor wants a patient to use it can be made at a compounding pharmacy.
I use a sterile compounding pharmacy for a drug I inject.
Jake

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