Getting off Klonopin (clonazepam)

Ive been on 1mg of Clonazepam for about 8 to 10 years. I moved from my home state 4 years ago and ive had i couple of different drs where i moved that would continue my treatment plan but both Dr's have left the practices and its just getting hard to keep changing and finding a Dr who will prescribe it. Ive been on the same dosage since i can remember but now i feel like i should just come off of it instead of worrying whether im going to find a Dr who will continue with the treatment. Im just afraid i wont taper right or ill have extreme withdrawal and the thought of seizures is terrifying - ive never abused it - i have only ever taken what a Dr told me to take for anxiety and panic which has never been over 1mg. How should i taper?

Ive been on 1mg of Clonazepam for about 8 to 10 years. I moved from my home state 4 years ago and ive had i couple of different drs where i moved that would continue my treatment plan but both Dr's have left the practices and its just getting hard to keep changing and finding a Dr who will prescribe it. Ive been on the same dosage since i can remember but now i feel like i should just come off of it instead of worrying whether im going to find a Dr who will continue with the treatment. Im just afraid i wont taper right or ill have extreme withdrawal and the thought of seizures is terrifying - ive never abused it - i have only ever taken what a Dr told me to take for anxiety and panic which has never been over 1mg. How should i taper?

You have to find a psychiatrist who will help you taper off. I’ve been taking clonazepam for 30 years. We recently moved from Vermont to Pittsburgh. For 22 years in Vermont my PCP kept renewing my prescription. Now suddenly I’m in a system that insists that I have to get off it. I’m 73 years old and I have CFS along with many other health issues. I’m on a quest to find a psychiatrist who will let me keep taking it. At my age it would be sheer hell for years. I refuse to go through that. You can’t do it yourself.

It took me almost a year of a very slow taper of 1 -1/2 mg once a day. It was very hard and I had many bad withdrawal effects in the process. However, having been off the drug over a year, in hindsight, I’m better without it even though I have to work harder to manage my anxiety issues and sleep. I think this drug does some changes to the brain that may take years to fully heal.

@con123 I have come to the conclusion that at 74 I don’t want to go through a year and a half of hell.
As far as doing something to your brain show me a drug that doesn’t do something to your brain.
Drinking coffee, smoking or having a drink or two every day does something to your brain. I don’t drink or smoke and exercise two hours six out of seven days a week. I can tell you that two hours of exercise every day does wonderful things to your brain. They are called endorphins and they are free.
Good luck to everyone. Aging is not for the feint of heart but make sure you keep moving. That is the best way to age gracefully and it doesn’t cost you anything.

Ive been on 1mg of Clonazepam for about 8 to 10 years. I moved from my home state 4 years ago and ive had i couple of different drs where i moved that would continue my treatment plan but both Dr's have left the practices and its just getting hard to keep changing and finding a Dr who will prescribe it. Ive been on the same dosage since i can remember but now i feel like i should just come off of it instead of worrying whether im going to find a Dr who will continue with the treatment. Im just afraid i wont taper right or ill have extreme withdrawal and the thought of seizures is terrifying - ive never abused it - i have only ever taken what a Dr told me to take for anxiety and panic which has never been over 1mg. How should i taper?

Ive been on 1mg of Clonazepam for about 8 to 10 years. I moved from my home state 4 years ago and ive had i couple of different drs where i moved that would continue my treatment plan but both Dr's have left the practices and its just getting hard to keep changing and finding a Dr who will prescribe it. Ive been on the same dosage since i can remember but now i feel like i should just come off of it instead of worrying whether im going to find a Dr who will continue with the treatment. Im just afraid i wont taper right or ill have extreme withdrawal and the thought of seizures is terrifying - ive never abused it - i have only ever taken what a Dr told me to take for anxiety and panic which has never been over 1mg. How should i taper?

I am tapering off Clonazepam. I had been on Clonazepam 1mg for over five years taking it nightly for sleep. I tapered to .75 MG for 15 days and then 3-weeks at .5 MG. Tonight I start at .25 MG and will stay at that level for 3-weeks. I am under a doctor's supervision and have had NO side effects. My doctor has advised that tonight I can also take Gabapentin 100mg which should help with sleep. I'm having second thoughts about adding the Gabapentin .... especially on my FIRST night at .25 MG. I am in my eighties and I have read that there could be serious problems with that combination. Any advice would be appreciated.

@robair - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. It's always fine to ask your doctor to check on a certain combination of prescriptions. After all, it's your body and your life. If that's uncomfortable, perhaps contact the pharmacist who filled the clonazepam and check with them on this combination.

What did you end up doing last night?

@lisalucier Hi... thanks for your reply ... well ... last night I didn't start the Gabapentin and I didn't start Clonazepam .25MG. I have been quite comfortable at .5MG and last night I decided to stay with .5mg. (at least for a while) Today I am going to speak with my pharmacist (thanks for suggesting). I am new to Mayo Clinic Connect. Is there a way to find a Doctor who can manage my tapering schedule ... perhaps via telehealth?
Once again ... THANKS!!!