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.

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@annako

Thank you so much for your response.
Today is day 9 after I stopped taking Klonopin and anxiety is touch better. Other symptoms seem to be a little better. I take LTheanine with magnesium and Holy Basil and GABA- one at night and half in the morning. Taking one day at the time.
The doctor who told me to stop taking Klonopin did not have a clue how slowly we have to stop. I am angry that she was incompetent like this.
Yes,we are strong and slowly It will get better

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Awe believe me I feel your pain. I still have bouts of extreme anxiety but I just try to hold on and get through it. My doctor told me just to keep in mind that you know at some point it will pass. It’s great that you are trying to do the natural way instead of taking more drugs. That’s what I did. Drugs and alcohol feed the GABA part of the brain is what my doc said, so taking GABA is probably helpful. A great app for meditation that is mostly free is “Insight Timer”. I use that when I wake up in the middle of the night and it helps me go back to sleep many times. Jason Stephenson is really good. Good luck to you on your journey. You can do it. And yes, your doctor was definitely wrong with the 2 week time frame!!!

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@cinrose

Awe believe me I feel your pain. I still have bouts of extreme anxiety but I just try to hold on and get through it. My doctor told me just to keep in mind that you know at some point it will pass. It’s great that you are trying to do the natural way instead of taking more drugs. That’s what I did. Drugs and alcohol feed the GABA part of the brain is what my doc said, so taking GABA is probably helpful. A great app for meditation that is mostly free is “Insight Timer”. I use that when I wake up in the middle of the night and it helps me go back to sleep many times. Jason Stephenson is really good. Good luck to you on your journey. You can do it. And yes, your doctor was definitely wrong with the 2 week time frame!!!

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Thank you very much.
Yesterday I thought I felt a little better but today is not so good. I feel anxious and my blood pressure is higher. There are moments when I feel I should have done differently. I am much smarter now after reading more online. I did not know how slow I should go.

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@annako

Thank you very much.
Yesterday I thought I felt a little better but today is not so good. I feel anxious and my blood pressure is higher. There are moments when I feel I should have done differently. I am much smarter now after reading more online. I did not know how slow I should go.

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You could probably still go to a psychiatrist and taper off more slowly but now that you’ve done 9 days, you might as well stick with it! You will have good and bad days. Just realize if you can wait it out, some day you will feel much better. It took me several months so I am not sure how long it will take you after all that time of taking it. That was super irresponsible of the prescribing physician.

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@cinrose

You could probably still go to a psychiatrist and taper off more slowly but now that you’ve done 9 days, you might as well stick with it! You will have good and bad days. Just realize if you can wait it out, some day you will feel much better. It took me several months so I am not sure how long it will take you after all that time of taking it. That was super irresponsible of the prescribing physician.

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I am going to see Psychiatrist in few days. I know it is horrible journey. You are right about physicians, I am not the only one who was on it for a long time. I think it was just reality at that time. I was on very low dose, can’t imagine how people feel on higher dose.
I use LTheanine Serene and Calm magnesium supplements now to help with all the withdrawal symptoms .

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@annako

I am going to see Psychiatrist in few days. I know it is horrible journey. You are right about physicians, I am not the only one who was on it for a long time. I think it was just reality at that time. I was on very low dose, can’t imagine how people feel on higher dose.
I use LTheanine Serene and Calm magnesium supplements now to help with all the withdrawal symptoms .

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I am 67 yrs old and all my life I was sensitive person.
Anxiety was part of the picture. I experienced multiple losses of loved ones. Few close to me people gone one by one. This medication was helping me to survive and never was good time to quit.I thought I will be on it until the end. Never imagine this horror

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@annako

I am going to see Psychiatrist in few days. I know it is horrible journey. You are right about physicians, I am not the only one who was on it for a long time. I think it was just reality at that time. I was on very low dose, can’t imagine how people feel on higher dose.
I use LTheanine Serene and Calm magnesium supplements now to help with all the withdrawal symptoms .

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You poor thing. Just be careful with the psychiatrist because their main purpose is to prescribe more drugs . 😬. I wish you the best of luck. Stay strong!

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@cinrose

You poor thing. Just be careful with the psychiatrist because their main purpose is to prescribe more drugs . 😬. I wish you the best of luck. Stay strong!

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Thank you

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@annako

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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I understand your struggle as I have gone thru it myself. Have you considered a good quality CBD supplement? That helped me a lot! Also, short exercise routines...15 minutes is enough. When I felt the "bad" time coming on, I put on you tube and found an aerobic or dance workout. The results are quite amazing, as it produces some natural endorphins and gets you out of your head. I wish you the best, and know that what you're going thru is not forever. Once you get thru it, there is a better, more peaceful place waiting for you.

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@maureenanne

I understand your struggle as I have gone thru it myself. Have you considered a good quality CBD supplement? That helped me a lot! Also, short exercise routines...15 minutes is enough. When I felt the "bad" time coming on, I put on you tube and found an aerobic or dance workout. The results are quite amazing, as it produces some natural endorphins and gets you out of your head. I wish you the best, and know that what you're going thru is not forever. Once you get thru it, there is a better, more peaceful place waiting for you.

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Thank you so much for your post. I go swimming and I walk twice a day. It helps.
I am going to try CBD supplement. Many people recommend it.
It has been interesting journey. I will never forget this experience.

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@maureenanne

I understand your struggle as I have gone thru it myself. Have you considered a good quality CBD supplement? That helped me a lot! Also, short exercise routines...15 minutes is enough. When I felt the "bad" time coming on, I put on you tube and found an aerobic or dance workout. The results are quite amazing, as it produces some natural endorphins and gets you out of your head. I wish you the best, and know that what you're going thru is not forever. Once you get thru it, there is a better, more peaceful place waiting for you.

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Do you remember how long the very bad days lasted?
I will look for dance videos. Great idea. Thanks again

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