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How to get off of Clonazepam Safely?

Posted by meingan @meingan, Dec 19, 2025

I’ve been taking Clonazepam for severe anxiety for 2.5 months and it’s no longer working as well as before. I take no more than 0.5 mg twice daily. Have taken 0.25 mg for about a month. My anxiety symptoms seem to be getting worse and I don’t want to increase dosage. I just want out.
Anyone with helpful suggestions to wean off safely without debilitating withdrawal symptoms, I’d really appreciate hearing from you. The problem with this drug is the pills are tiny so doing the 5-10% reduction is impractical. I’m currently also taking Effexor.

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daveshaw | @daveshaw | Feb 18 8:53am

Has anyone tried titration to get off Klonopin? If so could you share your experience. I don’t want to take a year or more to get off the drug. I am 74 and want to get off as gradually as possible.
Thanks.

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frouke | @frouke | Feb 18 9:51am
In reply to @daveshaw "Has anyone tried titration to get off Klonopin? If so could you share your experience. I..." + (show)
Profile picture for daveshaw @daveshaw

Has anyone tried titration to get off Klonopin? If so could you share your experience. I don’t want to take a year or more to get off the drug. I am 74 and want to get off as gradually as possible.
Thanks.

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@daveshaw, Getting off these drugs, Klonopin or other benzodiazepines is challenging to say the least especially when you’re older, it’s an individual thing depending on what you’re taking. The one that you take has a longer life in your body than Ativan which is what I use, usually the doctor puts you on Valium or diazepam but I don’t think you need to switch. Dave, the taper cycle is available online and quite successful, it’s really your best option. There’s really no shortcut to achieving your goal, if you go too fast you will most likely relapse and that’s a big waste of your time and energy, the biggest challenges in life are never a quick fix, best wishes.

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daveshaw | @daveshaw | Feb 18 11:30am
In reply to @frouke "@daveshaw, Getting off these drugs, Klonopin or other benzodiazepines is challenging to say the least especially..." + (show)
Profile picture for frouke @frouke

@daveshaw, Getting off these drugs, Klonopin or other benzodiazepines is challenging to say the least especially when you’re older, it’s an individual thing depending on what you’re taking. The one that you take has a longer life in your body than Ativan which is what I use, usually the doctor puts you on Valium or diazepam but I don’t think you need to switch. Dave, the taper cycle is available online and quite successful, it’s really your best option. There’s really no shortcut to achieving your goal, if you go too fast you will most likely relapse and that’s a big waste of your time and energy, the biggest challenges in life are never a quick fix, best wishes.

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@frouke I appreciate your insights.
Does anyone on this site know anything about titration. Someone mentioned it once and said they were working with their PCP and their pharmacy.
Hopefully the person that mentioned it will weigh in again.
Have a great day.

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sandwalk | @sandwalk | Feb 22 8:17am

Go slow, decrease by a quarter of a milligram. Perhaps every week. If you start to feel bad, go back up a quarter of a milligram you'll get there. I was able to do it but I'm back on to 1 mg and I'm happy with that.. as always, check with your doctor first. We are all different and how we react to The medicines right now. I'm having a big depression episode and I feel awful. I just wanted to be over

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