What is the best way to taper off Klonopin?

Posted by kittymama @kittymama, Apr 7, 2019

Can anyone tell me the best way to taper off Klonopin? I feel it does nothing for my anxiety

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Was on Kolopin for one month for sleep and anxiety .5 mg to 1 mg used about 35 pills been off three weeks starting to feel terrible headaches ringing in the ears anxiety should I have tapered off for that small amount Also started taking trazodone again for sleep when I stop taking Kolopim

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@jakedduck1

@janeee
Are withdrawl symptoms possible if not tapering?
Jake

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Hi do I need to taper only being on for .5to 1 mg a month for sleep been off for 3 weeks felt good but now not so much switch to trazodone for sleep after the kolopin Not sure why I feel so bad thanks

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Great thread. I'm wondering what if I've only taken 1/4 to 1/8 mg for sleep /anxiety since 2007? I've been tapering to about 1/8mg and yes I'm either fighting anxiety or depression or withdrawal with restlessness, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, anxiety, weakness, muscle twitching, jitteriness and the worsening of tinnitus. I started last week trying to wean myself off. I do also probably have anxiety left over from a separation and divorce which just was completed last week. We were together 10 years. I'm now living alone with about a half hour commute to work . Thank you

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@stuffedsoul

Great thread. I'm wondering what if I've only taken 1/4 to 1/8 mg for sleep /anxiety since 2007? I've been tapering to about 1/8mg and yes I'm either fighting anxiety or depression or withdrawal with restlessness, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, anxiety, weakness, muscle twitching, jitteriness and the worsening of tinnitus. I started last week trying to wean myself off. I do also probably have anxiety left over from a separation and divorce which just was completed last week. We were together 10 years. I'm now living alone with about a half hour commute to work . Thank you

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This stuff also did nothing for me after a year or two. I was on it for 20 years, taking .5 mg in the morning and another .5 mg at night. I am now off of it entirely but have experienced restless leg tremors at night before going to sleep and withdrawal symptoms such as pins and needles and cobwebs on my face. Those have lessened and now there are just leg tremors, but it's been an awful road. I'm told to walk and exercise before going to bed, and I'm taking gabapentin and CBD. It's sometimes helping. In this situation, I'll do anything for a good night's sleep. It makes all the difference in the world. Good luck with this!

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Since it is so easy to develop a dependence on this drug the company should be required by law to make their pills in smaller and smaller doses or at least make them easier to break into even Pieces by hand to make the weaning off easier.

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I took up to 3 mg K per day as needed for about 20 years. Started tapering in August of 2021 with great success. When I started, I took 1 mg 3 times a day to stabilize for 3 weeks. Then, I took .25 off the morning pill for 3 weeks. Took .25 off the afternoon pill for 3 weeks. Took .25 off the bedtime pill for 3 weeks. I continued this approach until mid March, and was doing fine. I was down to .5 mg at night with no side effects. Endured a horrible family argument and went back to 3 mg a day for 4 days, thinking I could go back to the .5 at night with no issues. Needless to say, this was a big mistake. I went to my doc, and he got me back down to 1 mg a day. I don't recall the taper schedule. I have restarted my taper. I started a week and a half ago. I have been on .25 mg in the morning and .5 at bedtime, holding for going on 3 weeks. Thinking it might be better to do .125mg cuts off the pills instead of .25 when it is time for my next cut since I am now in the lower doses. I have .5 mg pills, so it won't be hard to cut them. What do all of you think? So far, I'm doing well. Once I get to .125 at bedtime how will I know if it safe to "jump"? Thank you in advance for your help and for caring about me. I am a 64 year old woman. I really want to do this for myself. I believe I am worth it, regardless of the family drama I have to contend with! If this family mess hadn't happened, I believe I'd be K free now!!!

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@stuffedsoul

Great thread. I'm wondering what if I've only taken 1/4 to 1/8 mg for sleep /anxiety since 2007? I've been tapering to about 1/8mg and yes I'm either fighting anxiety or depression or withdrawal with restlessness, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, anxiety, weakness, muscle twitching, jitteriness and the worsening of tinnitus. I started last week trying to wean myself off. I do also probably have anxiety left over from a separation and divorce which just was completed last week. We were together 10 years. I'm now living alone with about a half hour commute to work . Thank you

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I'm new here and know that family issues can cause awful anxiety and depression. I was tapering off 3 mg K beautifully until an argument with my daughter. You can read about it in my comment. I can't help but think your divorce has a lot to do with your symptoms. I've never experienced that but can imagine it must be hard to deal with. Would talking to a counselor or therapist help? I care about you, and I am heading into the lower doses myself. We can do this for ourselves. We just need a little help and guidance from the nice people here.

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@stuffedsoul

Since it is so easy to develop a dependence on this drug the company should be required by law to make their pills in smaller and smaller doses or at least make them easier to break into even Pieces by hand to make the weaning off easier.

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Do what your doctor tells you

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@amberpep

I took Klonopin for about a year and all of a sudden I began to fall. Not over things you'd regularly fall over, just a bit of a stumble and I'd fly. This would happen several times a day. I sat down one night, being frightened of this, and did some research, and one of the side effects for older people is "possibility of falling." I called my Psychiatrist the next day and I slowly weaned myself off of it. It worked great up until then, but I like to always read everything about a medication .... guess I missed that one initially. Barb

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And you didn't have any withdrawals?

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Greetings Everyone! I'm new here. Going to do a cut and hold taper from .25/night for over 5 years. 1st cut was last night, to .125. I'm going to stay here and not make anymore adjustments for another 3 weeks at least. At first my doctor also said I could stop because of a low dose, but we agreed a slow taper would be best. Prayerfully I will have a successful taper. Prayers 🙂

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