1. < Depression & Anxiety

Starting Klonopin Taper, Scared of the Horror Stories

Posted by njp1013 @njp1013, Jan 26, 2020

Hi all- I am expecting to get a plan from my psychiatrist to begin tapering down .5mg of klonopin 2x daily that I have been on for 4 months (I have been taking buspar for a month and hope to use that as my anxiety med, also am on 225 mg effexor daily), the stories on the internet about doing this are horrifying and right now i feel like the prospect of doing this is the #1 cause of my anxiety, feel like I’m getting ready for surgery or something. Has anyone gone thru this process and found it manageable? I need to hear it’s possible. Thanks.

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sears | @sears | Feb 18, 2020

Yes I’ll be switched to diazepam. Feel better? That’s good news! Thank you!

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sears | @sears | Feb 18, 2020
In reply to @njp1013 "@sears be sure to start your taper with a doctor visit! Preferably a psychiatrist. Tell them..." + (show)
@njp1013

@sears be sure to start your taper with a doctor visit! Preferably a psychiatrist. Tell them you are very nervous about doing this and will need a lot of guidance and support. You will find you either need to be on it or you will be off it and both outcomes are ok. The important thing is that *you are ok

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Thank you. I’m working with a doctor now. We’ll be using the Ashton Method.

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Ellen | @helenfrances | Feb 18, 2020
In reply to @njp1013 "@helenfrances thank you for the encouragement! I’m on day 6/10 of my second cutdown, now taking..." + (show)
@njp1013

@helenfrances thank you for the encouragement! I’m on day 6/10 of my second cutdown, now taking .5mg/day split into two doses, so far it has all been manageable, there is some increase in anxiety for me but mainly just in the mornings when my cortisol levels are high, thank you for the kind words and your inspirational story! it means a lot!

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Stay the course! Try to be socially active.. take small steps… you will surprise yourself! I was out and about shopping, haircut, etc. and all was well. I did not think of myself, med or tremor…. don’t think I had one!
I tried to focus on others. I could write a book about the young people who talked to me about their future college plans, about a worker who was absent and why, an elder who needed help shopping, the beautician who told me about her children’s school .

It really helps ME to listen to others.
Let me know if you do the same or what makes you focus on something other than our challenges!

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1 reply
njp1013 | @njp1013 | Feb 19, 2020
In reply to @helenfrances "Stay the course! Try to be socially active.. take small steps... you will surprise yourself! I..." + (show)
@helenfrances

Stay the course! Try to be socially active.. take small steps… you will surprise yourself! I was out and about shopping, haircut, etc. and all was well. I did not think of myself, med or tremor…. don’t think I had one!
I tried to focus on others. I could write a book about the young people who talked to me about their future college plans, about a worker who was absent and why, an elder who needed help shopping, the beautician who told me about her children’s school .

It really helps ME to listen to others.
Let me know if you do the same or what makes you focus on something other than our challenges!

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@helenfrances thanks! I have a full time job and 9 and 6 year old sons, so staying busy is no problem for me 🙂 I agree though the less you think about it the easier it is. I’m encouraged to have cut 50% in a month and doing ok. I see my psych next Friday and hoping to cut successfully again following . If all goes well maybe be done by end of March or mid april. 🤞

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1 reply
Ellen | @helenfrances | Feb 19, 2020
In reply to @njp1013 "@helenfrances thanks! I have a full time job and 9 and 6 year old sons, so..." + (show)
@njp1013

@helenfrances thanks! I have a full time job and 9 and 6 year old sons, so staying busy is no problem for me 🙂 I agree though the less you think about it the easier it is. I’m encouraged to have cut 50% in a month and doing ok. I see my psych next Friday and hoping to cut successfully again following . If all goes well maybe be done by end of March or mid april. 🤞

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You have three full time jobs!!!
Big congratulations for cutting 50% a month!
Please let us know the next step.
It gives all of us hope.
Good job 👏🏼
We all should celebrate 🎉with you!
Please keep us posted.
Proud of you .🧑‍🎓.. and I don’t know you👏🏼

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njp1013 | @njp1013 | Feb 29, 2020

Hi all, I saw my psych yesterday and he wants me to continue to hold at .5 mg/day. Not really sure how I feel about that but I promised myself I would follow his advice. he said sometime in the next two months try another cut but there is no rush and that it’s not a race or a challenge. He also said at that low of a dose the klonopin isn’t really doing much for me and that it’s mostly placebo. so anyway that’s where it stands, I’ll probably give .25 mg a try before the end of March. it seems like the plan is cut, hold, adjust, recover and when I feel strong enough repeat. So I guess I’m ok with that.

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2 replies
sears | @sears | Feb 29, 2020

He sounds like a great doctor! Hang in there!

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thankful | @thankful | Feb 29, 2020
In reply to @njp1013 "Hi all, I saw my psych yesterday and he wants me to continue to hold at..." + (show)
@njp1013

Hi all, I saw my psych yesterday and he wants me to continue to hold at .5 mg/day. Not really sure how I feel about that but I promised myself I would follow his advice. he said sometime in the next two months try another cut but there is no rush and that it’s not a race or a challenge. He also said at that low of a dose the klonopin isn’t really doing much for me and that it’s mostly placebo. so anyway that’s where it stands, I’ll probably give .25 mg a try before the end of March. it seems like the plan is cut, hold, adjust, recover and when I feel strong enough repeat. So I guess I’m ok with that.

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@njp1013 – This is the best way to go about the taper! Good Job! Stick with it and I'm sure you will be happy with the results!
Jim@thankful

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1 reply
lindagirl | @lindagirl | Mar 14, 2020
In reply to @sears "Stay far far away from the internet. Go very slowly, listen to your body and your..." + (show)
@sears

Stay far far away from the internet. Go very slowly, listen to your body and your doctor. Take as long as you need to taper. Hope your doc is flexible and not putting you on a rigid schedule.

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right internet will just scare you, talk to your dr. you will come off it.

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njp1013 | @njp1013 | Mar 20, 2020

Just FYI to update I’m at .25 mg (about 10 days now, did a week at .375 before that) and holding until the world returns to somewhat normal. Hope everybody is staying healthy physically and mentally.

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