I was on 0.5 mg Klonopin for about 10 yrs. Going through withdrawal

Posted by annako @annako, Oct 2, 2023

Hi everybody
I just joined this forum and I am very grateful.
I was on Klonopin 0.5 mg for about 10 yrs. My family doctor prescribed it because I had experienced multiple losses one by one and had anxiety issues.
Long story short- my family doctor retired and new doctor on our first visit told me - no more Klonopin and to stop it in 2 weeks. She prescribed Wellbutrin,which I don’t want to take.
I took a month to tapper it down and stopped a week ago. Having hard time with withdrawal symptoms.
My question is about LTheanine Serene Supplement.
It was recommended to me by grief counselor some time ago.
I know I will need help with my anxiety.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Depression & Anxiety Support Group.

Thank you again for your reply.
The supplement recommended by counselor is called Theanine Serene with magnesium , GABA,Taurine ,L- theanine and Holy Basil leaf extract.It is made by Source Natural,Serene Science.

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A month is not a long enough taper for long term use of Klonopin. It should be done over many months just a little bit at a time. I had to taper off 1mg and did it over about 8 months, and I still take a 0.125mg occasionally. I was taking it a bedtime for 15 years. Wonder drug until it wasn't allowed. Apparently several years back, it was given a black box warning and that makes it much harder to get. However, the brain changes that occur with long term regular use need time to heal and very slowly. I tried L-theanine and it gave me hives. I'm finding acupuncture helpful. Best of luck.

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I have taken L theanine 200mg for well over a year, also for anxiety. It really does help and I've had no negative side effects. It works gradually, not like a benzo...and you need to take it every day to keep it in your system. I take mine now at night with 2mg melatonin for sleep, but have taken it during the day as well and it won't make you groggy. Best of luck to you, dealing with anxiety is awful!

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Interesting how different physicians view these meds. in different ways, isn't it? That alone should be alarming in my opinion. You can go to 3 different physicians for the same concern and get 3 different opinions and often 3 different scripts written as well. So whats one to do? Only thing you can do is be your own advocate and try and find a physicain you can trust. Klonopin was only meant for short term use, per the manufacturer. Long term use can lead to consequences, such as cognitive decline, thgat to me is concerning enough, not to mention dependence, whether one realizes it or not. That's why one has withdrawal symptoms, your body becomes dependent on the medication, go figure. Best of luck to you on your withdrawal.

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@arthur57

Interesting how different physicians view these meds. in different ways, isn't it? That alone should be alarming in my opinion. You can go to 3 different physicians for the same concern and get 3 different opinions and often 3 different scripts written as well. So whats one to do? Only thing you can do is be your own advocate and try and find a physicain you can trust. Klonopin was only meant for short term use, per the manufacturer. Long term use can lead to consequences, such as cognitive decline, thgat to me is concerning enough, not to mention dependence, whether one realizes it or not. That's why one has withdrawal symptoms, your body becomes dependent on the medication, go figure. Best of luck to you on your withdrawal.

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Thank you for your comment. You are right 100 %. Seems that older doctors were more likely to prescribe benzodiazepines. Now in general these meds are less popular.
All meds have side effects and in my case I had very hard time with antidepressants and Klonopin in very small dose worked great for my anxiety.
Withdrawal is very hard and I go through it one hour at the time.

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@maureenanne

I have taken L theanine 200mg for well over a year, also for anxiety. It really does help and I've had no negative side effects. It works gradually, not like a benzo...and you need to take it every day to keep it in your system. I take mine now at night with 2mg melatonin for sleep, but have taken it during the day as well and it won't make you groggy. Best of luck to you, dealing with anxiety is awful!

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I started this LTHEANINE supplement and seems to help. I know I have to be patient and take one at the time but it is very hard process to go through withdrawal from Klonopin.

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@con123

A month is not a long enough taper for long term use of Klonopin. It should be done over many months just a little bit at a time. I had to taper off 1mg and did it over about 8 months, and I still take a 0.125mg occasionally. I was taking it a bedtime for 15 years. Wonder drug until it wasn't allowed. Apparently several years back, it was given a black box warning and that makes it much harder to get. However, the brain changes that occur with long term regular use need time to heal and very slowly. I tried L-theanine and it gave me hives. I'm finding acupuncture helpful. Best of luck.

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I agree with you about slower tapering off . This new doctor told me to quit taking it in 2 weeks. I extended it to a month.
Thank you for your comment.

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@mitfit

A family member was on it for 8 years and experienced difficult withdrawal as well. He has been prescribed Wellbutrin. Tapering off the K gradually.

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Thank you for your comment.
Can I ask question? How did he react to Wellbutrin?

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@scolio

How awful. Your medication decisions should be your decisions!
I don't know a lot about theanine, and I've never tried it.
Is there any way you could get a second opinion, get a refill of the Klonopin, and taper off more gradually?
What have you learned or read so far about theanine? Do you see any pros or cons that might influence what you decide?

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I am in process of changing health care provider. After this new doctor’s decision about Klonopin and practically I had no chance to express my concerns, I decided to look for another physician.
Now I have to wait 6 weeks for new doctor.
Yes, I read a lot about L Theanine and most comments are positive.
I ordered it on Amazon and tried 0.5 tablet this morning.
It is hard journey

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@annako

Thank you for your comment. You are right 100 %. Seems that older doctors were more likely to prescribe benzodiazepines. Now in general these meds are less popular.
All meds have side effects and in my case I had very hard time with antidepressants and Klonopin in very small dose worked great for my anxiety.
Withdrawal is very hard and I go through it one hour at the time.

Jump to this post

You are correct about mostly older physicians being the culprits lol. My young guy couldn't believe it when I told him sleep doc. prescribed this. And the sleep doc. obviously had no clue of what he was handing out. I developed bad tremors and body buzzing 6 weeks or so into taking this med at only .5 mg per day. He was clueless when I told him and just stopped taking it cold turkey after 7 months. Withdrawal was noticeable for months after. Went to a neurolgist as the tremors were alarming and just wanted to be certain something else wasn't going on. He found nothing but also said klonopin was a drug I should have never been prescribed, in his opinion. Told me to stay away from physicians. Thought he was kidding but then realized he wasn't!

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