← Return to Do you need to taper Klonopin taken briefly for sleep, anxiety?
DiscussionDo you need to taper Klonopin taken briefly for sleep, anxiety?
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: Nov 6, 2022 | Replies (52)Comment receiving replies
Replies to "Can anyone provide me with a more definitive description of what it means to “ go..."
Also, your family doctor could help you. And, the internet could offer some guidance about tapering. Some meds take months. This site is very helpful for a lot of things because other people offer their views and you can apply them to yours. We all help each other.
@amdavis70
I’m elderly also, and yes it’s a living hell. It took me 2 + years to get off 2 mg daily. I tried to rush it and paid a hellacious price! I would say go slow as you need to, and stabilize at every cut, for as long as it takes. Even go back up if you need to. I know what it feels like and even though you want this crap away from you, just be as patient as you possibly can. You can do it. Others have. You’ll get there.
Also, I’m assuming you’ve read the critical parts of “The Ashton Manual”? The Gold Standard. Keep the faith, @amdavis70
I’m 76 and have just finished tapering off the benzodiazepine Clobazam. I had been taking it on and off since 1985 but a hiatus hernia operation left me in a bad way and I lost a lot of weight. I took clobazam three times daily from the end of November. I started to taper off in February, at first about a mg a week. I found that every time I dropped the dose I had many different side effects, some of them very depressing. I realised that they were side effects as they would come and go at random. I thoroughly recommend the Ashton manual which is available on line and has a tapering schedule for Klonopin. It is easy to read and extremely helpful. I also found it essential to do relaxation exercises on a far infra red mat (the warmth seeps into my old bones), followed by meditation on Bible promises. I am still finding it difficult but have come a long way since the beginning of the year when I felt totally desperate. If you follow the Ashton manual you will find a lot of encouragement there. I have also found great encouragement in reading books by Max Lucado like “Anxious for Nothing”. May God bless and help you to get through this.
What were the symptoms of tolerance withdrawal? What withdrawal symptoms do you experience as you reduce your dose? Don't be afraid to slow down. Your taper is going pretty fast. It took me 2 years to go from 1 mg to .4 - mine was a particularly tough (and failed) withdrawal, which is the last thing you want. Even the Ashton Manual protocol was too fast for me. You may need to reduce by even less than 10%, especially as you get closer to the end. Also, you should be taking 10% away from your current dose, so .125 was 10% of a dose a while ago, but is now a much higher % of your dose, 33% in one cut is probably way to much for you. There are ways to reduce by less than a whole pill, such as crushing (I use a mortar and pestle) and weighing and some do a water taper. Both take considerably more calculating than just taking a pill, but could address withdrawal and slow down your taper. Also holding at one dose until you feel "stabilized" - the idea is to cut the dose, ride out the resulting symptoms and cut again when they have subsided, and so on. This didn't work out so well with me because the symptoms never subsided, I had to hold for long periods and make minute cuts, and still experienced never ending symptoms from the very beginning. The more you can avoid this never ending array of withdrawal symptoms, the more likely you are to stick with it and complete the withdrawal. I admire that you are taking this on bravely and independently at this stage in your life.
Make sure friends and/or family are aware of what you are doing. Someone should check in on you regularly. God bless you! You can do this. Keep busy and drink lots of water.
Thank you for your encouragement. Having a really hard day today so it
was nice to read your comment
BEFORE any medication use, I ask: Am I taking care of myself in ways nature has intended? From me an Octogenarian.
1- That means: Am I eating a reasonably healthy diet? Yes starting with H2O!
2- Am I physically active enough each day without too long sedentary slots?
3- Do I use my time in intellectually/ emotionally/ spiritually rewarding acts?
Each of these points spans a whole gamut of life but we all come out of our mothers fairly well-equipped to stay the healthful life course.
So I rarely see doctors, nearly no meds, or tests, and sleep well because I am tired physically and mentally by the day's end AND know what Important work next day awaits me: To Live Purposeful Life.
Diseases and disabilities so far have spared me even though I am in among the financially privileged bu I know how to stretch dollar. I buy food on sale and have a wholesome food within $10 a Day.
I hope it helps to some of the queries here. Good Luck, Fellow Travelers.
That is a very fast taper. Unfortunately when you finish your last pill it doesn’t mean withdrawal ends. Your body needs time for your gaba a receptors to re-emerge. There is no way to make that go faster. You are right 10% a month if you tolerate it. Good luck with your doctors.
My Dr has only given me .125 mg to taper and the math just doesn’t work to be at 10% when my daily dose is now so low at .375 mg. His instructions to me were to go down .125 every two weeks. I’ve added a week to taper every 3 weeks but clearly he’s given me bad advice (what else is new) but other than adding weeks I only have the .125 to work with.
I am aware of the fact that this doesn’t end when my taper is done and protracted withdrawal really scares me. Trying to stay positive but it’s not easy. This past week has been really awful and don’t know what to do. That’s why I originally posted what does go slow really mean for me. Thanks for replying. I know I’m not alone in this struggle but lately I feel so out of touch with the world including my friends and family. Horrible way to feel.
Connect

I believe only you can determine what your body feels. Plus, being elderly makes a difference, I know. Klonopin was nasty for me. I took it off-label for a headache. Keep drinking lots of water. Good luck.