1. < Depression & Anxiety

Anyone had issues while tapering off of 1mg clonazepam (Klonopin)?

Posted by danielle78 @danielle78, Nov 8, 2024

I am coming off Clonazepam since July this year I am down to half a tablet every 2nd day I feel weird I see my doctor every week has anyone had the same problem with reducing

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ellerchim | @ellerchim | Dec 14, 2024
In reply to @firefly70 "I began tapering off 1 mg clonazepam in September. I have been doing well. My symptoms..." + (show)
@firefly70

I began tapering off 1 mg clonazepam in September. I have been doing well. My symptoms were manageable. I am now completely off. I have begun having withdrawal symptoms. Shaking and jerking movements, horrible tinitis, blurred vision. I feel like I’m in a funhouse. Vertigo, it feels like the ground is tilting, flu like symptoms. I went to the ER a week ago because I convinced myself I was dying. Was tested for flu and covid. Both negative. Has anyone else experienced this and if so, how long did this last?

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You don’t say how long you were on this. It sounds like you went way too fast, which is why you’re having so many problems, unfortunately. 5 to 10% a month should’ve been all you were taking off of this. I was on 1mg benzo for only four months because I couldn’t get help. Finally got help. Did a water taper, from some help on a benzo website on FB. Has taken me nine months and I’ve had no problems at all. If you need help, I suggest you get on.FB on BeatingBenzos . There are so many people on there that have had problems with these benzos and can help you out a lot.

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1 reply
firefly70 | @firefly70 | Dec 16, 2024
In reply to @kb2014 "Yes. Under my primary care provider and my neurologist. Begin in late summer of 2017. Completed..." + (show)
@kb2014

Yes. Under my primary care provider and my neurologist. Begin in late summer of 2017. Completed in January 2018. No problems. I was afraid. I had a seizure risk from the withdrawal and a craniotomy done in 2014. I have never gone back to this class of drugs.

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Thank you for sharing your experience. I feel somewhat better. I’m concerned the provider I am seeing for the tapering is not going slow enough. I started in September. I have felt pretty horrible the last couple of months but I knew I would. I was taken off cold turkey years ago. I lasted about 4 weeks. This is not nearly as bad. I find myself getting frustrated feeling like I have no control over what is happening

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1 reply
firefly70 | @firefly70 | Dec 16, 2024
In reply to @jakedduck1 "@firefly70 I was taking almost the maximum dose of Klonopin (18mg for seizures.) The maximum dose..." + (show)
@jakedduck1

@firefly70
I was taking almost the maximum dose of Klonopin (18mg for seizures.) The maximum dose is 20 mg.
I took a little over 2 years to discontinue it. The only withdrawal effects I had were very mild and only when I got to the end of my taper. To stop the effects I chipped off a tiny piece that stopped any withdrawal effects but tapering so slowly, at least for me prevented any uncomfortable effects.
Best of luck on your tape.
Take care,
Jake

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Thank you. Congratulations on your success!!!

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1 reply
kb2014 | @kb2014 | Dec 16, 2024
In reply to @firefly70 "Thank you for sharing your experience. I feel somewhat better. I’m concerned the provider I am..." + (show)
@firefly70

Thank you for sharing your experience. I feel somewhat better. I’m concerned the provider I am seeing for the tapering is not going slow enough. I started in September. I have felt pretty horrible the last couple of months but I knew I would. I was taken off cold turkey years ago. I lasted about 4 weeks. This is not nearly as bad. I find myself getting frustrated feeling like I have no control over what is happening

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It is very frightening to feel or know you have no control over and outcome. I understand well. It helped me to know I was in the hands of 2 good health care providers. I could have a seizure from my tapering but not long after it began my brain started " waking up". I already had neuroplasticity going from the craniotomy done in 2014. I did make some calls to my providers during the taper for their feedback. I mostly stayed in my apt except to walk my dog. I could legally drive had my license but kept it to a minimum . My biggest regret is being prescribed this drug in the first place. Life style changes therapy boundaries probably could have prevented it. Sometimes health care providers are too quick to use pharmaceuticals.

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firefly70 | @firefly70 | Dec 17, 2024
In reply to @ellerchim "You don’t say how long you were on this. It sounds like you went way too..." + (show)
@ellerchim

You don’t say how long you were on this. It sounds like you went way too fast, which is why you’re having so many problems, unfortunately. 5 to 10% a month should’ve been all you were taking off of this. I was on 1mg benzo for only four months because I couldn’t get help. Finally got help. Did a water taper, from some help on a benzo website on FB. Has taken me nine months and I’ve had no problems at all. If you need help, I suggest you get on.FB on BeatingBenzos . There are so many people on there that have had problems with these benzos and can help you out a lot.

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I have been on them for years. Yes I have tapered too fast. I am seeing a nurse practitioner who is certified for medication management. I am holding at 0.25 mg / day. I have to talk to him about pumping the brakes on the taper. I am not confident he will listen. I found another NP who is experienced with benzos. I might be switching practitioners.

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1 reply
ellerchim | @ellerchim | Dec 17, 2024
In reply to @firefly70 "I have been on them for years. Yes I have tapered too fast. I am seeing..." + (show)
@firefly70

I have been on them for years. Yes I have tapered too fast. I am seeing a nurse practitioner who is certified for medication management. I am holding at 0.25 mg / day. I have to talk to him about pumping the brakes on the taper. I am not confident he will listen. I found another NP who is experienced with benzos. I might be switching practitioners.

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I wish you luck. Unfortunately, most in the medical profession have no idea how to successfully taper you off of this. They don’t understand how important it is to go very slow. Believe me I know, I have been to many of them. I still suggest you get on Beating Benzos website on Facebook. You will see many people like yourself who have been on for years and have successfully tapered off of them. That was my last hope, because I could not find one person in the medical profession that would help me the right way

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Moderator
Kelsey, LADC, Moderator | @kelseyt | Dec 24, 2024

@firefly70, I'm happy to hear that you’ve found an NP you feel comfortable with, someone who listens to your concerns and supports you in being assertive about asking for what you need. It’s also great that you have a backup plan with a possible new provider, just in case.

To help you connect with members and keep this topic in one place, I merged your 2 discussions into one that appears in both the Anxiety & Depression support group as well as the Addictions & Recovery support group. See the full discussion here:

- Anyone had issues while tapering off of 1mg clonazepam (Klonopin)? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/i-need-your-help/

@danielle78 asked a similar question about tapering with helpful responses from @jakedduck1 @kb2014 @londonex @ellerchim. I'd also like to bring @jimhd and @joeakel into the discussion to share experiences with 1mg clonazepam (Klonopin) and tapering.

@danielle78, how are you doing?
@firefly70. are you currently working with a therapist or other mental health professional as well as you NP?

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1 reply
yanks950 | @yanks950 | Dec 24, 2024

How long does it take for this to become a problem. I have only been taking .5-2mg a day for about two weeks.

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1 reply
danielle78 | @danielle78 | Dec 25, 2024
In reply to @kelseyt "@Firefly70, I'm happy to hear that you’ve found an NP you feel comfortable with, someone who..." + (show)
@kelseyt

@firefly70, I'm happy to hear that you’ve found an NP you feel comfortable with, someone who listens to your concerns and supports you in being assertive about asking for what you need. It’s also great that you have a backup plan with a possible new provider, just in case.

To help you connect with members and keep this topic in one place, I merged your 2 discussions into one that appears in both the Anxiety & Depression support group as well as the Addictions & Recovery support group. See the full discussion here:

- Anyone had issues while tapering off of 1mg clonazepam (Klonopin)? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/i-need-your-help/

@danielle78 asked a similar question about tapering with helpful responses from @jakedduck1 @kb2014 @londonex @ellerchim. I'd also like to bring @jimhd and @joeakel into the discussion to share experiences with 1mg clonazepam (Klonopin) and tapering.

@danielle78, how are you doing?
@firefly70. are you currently working with a therapist or other mental health professional as well as you NP?

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Hi I am currently down to half a tablet every second day it has been a long time coming off but with the help and support of my neurologist I will be off them by mid January thank goodness

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danielle78 | @danielle78 | Dec 25, 2024
In reply to @yanks950 "How long does it take for this to become a problem. I have only been taking..." + (show)
@yanks950

How long does it take for this to become a problem. I have only been taking .5-2mg a day for about two weeks.

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I have been on these tablets for over 20 years if your doctor keeps telling you to take them I would change doctors I should never been on them

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