I am currently going through a taper of Klonopin after about 15 years - maximum dose 1.5mg at bedtime - only for sleep and usually just 1mg. My PCP stopped prescribing, sending me psychiatrist, and he told me first visit 7 months ago that is was a bad drug and I needed to get off it since I'm looking at 65 years of age soon. For me, it was a wonder drug for my long-term insomnia. I had used antihistamines, pot, alcohol, ambien, sonneta, and this was the best thing ever for sleep and didn't use any of the former except alcohol in moderation. I didn't increase the dose for 15 years. Had a lot of trauma and stress and it did the job to help me get 8 hours of sleep almost every night. My last psychiatrist told me to also take magnesium and zinc and a small dose of melatonin (.5mg) at bedtime. I tried essential oils as well. New psych kept on me about getting off it and I finally was forced to start a taper. He agreed to go really slowly and I am happy to say that I am doing well at .5mg at bedtime. He gave me .75 per night but after a month, I took myself off the .25 - I think I can do this. I do appreciate his very slow approach and letting me guide it. Feeling good about it. It is like saying goodbye to an old reliable friend, and my sleep has not been great - but I'm trying some new non-drug things.

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