Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 241978

Shown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Klonopin Withdrawal--Going Nicely (Backwards)

Posted by cubbybear on July 15, 2003, at 6:01:40

I'm feeling a bit ignorant of how to best manage benzo (Klonopin) tapering anxiety. I don't get to see my pdoc for another couple of weeks, and surprisingly, I got few replies from a previous post; so here I am, posting again.

I was doing fine for two months straight-- tapering at a slow rate of .125 mg once a week, until I started feeling anxiety when I reached a dose of 1.75 mg/day. I decided to try going back to 1.875 mg a few nights ago, (before resuming my taper at some future date), but am still feeling (mild) on/off anxiety. Is backpedalling to the previous comfortable dose "the recommended" way to go? And do I then start extending the time between reductions? I can't cut the .50 mg pills any smaller than .125 mg pieces.
Is this what benzo tapering is all about--sometimes having to go backwards in order to go forwards? *Please* share your ideas and let me know what worked best for you.

 

Re: Klonopin Withdrawal--Going Nicely (Backwards)

Posted by Guy on July 15, 2003, at 16:07:15

In reply to Klonopin Withdrawal--Going Nicely (Backwards), posted by cubbybear on July 15, 2003, at 6:01:40

I would try adding a small amount of Remeron (a new AD). The remeron will help you sleep and will eventually be easier to discontinue than the clonazepam. 7.5 mg (half a pill) should make a considerable difference for your tapering.

 

Re: Klonopin Withdrawal--Going Nicely (Backwards)

Posted by kaybo on July 15, 2003, at 20:05:36

In reply to Klonopin Withdrawal--Going Nicely (Backwards), posted by cubbybear on July 15, 2003, at 6:01:40

I had major trouble getting off the Klonopin and still wake with anxiety nearly every morning but it goes away once I take a shower. Now I can't tell if it's withdrawal, or standard B.P. symptoms. I tapered off of it to almost nothing. Once you are down to a very small amount, you can just use your teeth to break powder off, the taste is fine. Then just say you're done. At the smallest doses, I think it starts to be more psycholigal than anything else. I was using Trileptol and then added Seroquel to sleep. Now I am trying to lose the Seroquel. I'm on 900mg Trileptol and 125mg Lamictal. Seem to be stabalizing. I found many nightmare stories about the Klonopin and new I had to get off of it. Trileptol or Tegretol supposedly help stem the anxiety and get you off of it. Good luck.

 

Re: Klonopin Withdrawal--Going Nicely (Backwards) » Guy

Posted by cubbybear on July 16, 2003, at 5:01:21

In reply to Re: Klonopin Withdrawal--Going Nicely (Backwards), posted by Guy on July 15, 2003, at 16:07:15

> I would try adding a small amount of Remeron (a new AD). The remeron will help you sleep and will eventually be easier to discontinue than the clonazepam. 7.5 mg (half a pill) should make a considerable difference for your tapering.

Thanks for the advice, but I'm also taking 30 mg. MAOI Parnate for depression and definitely can't use Remeron (as well as countless other meds out there) along with it.

 

Re: Klonopin Withdrawal--Going Nicely (Backwards)

Posted by BCI on July 16, 2003, at 9:13:02

In reply to Klonopin Withdrawal--Going Nicely (Backwards), posted by cubbybear on July 15, 2003, at 6:01:40

I have tapered off several benzodiazepines over the years. You have to expect some rebound anxiety when tapering. It's just part of the process. It WILL go away. In my case, it always diminished over a two-week period after my last dose.

 

For me, latent withdrawal symptoms

Posted by MB on July 16, 2003, at 13:40:19

In reply to Re: Klonopin Withdrawal--Going Nicely (Backwards), posted by BCI on July 16, 2003, at 9:13:02

Once when I quit cold turkey (no taper) a 2mg/day Klonopin regimin, I went five days thinking I was in the clear. I honestly felt fine. Then, about five days later, I developed this *horrible* clonic jerking. It was almost funny: I'd go to lift a cup of camomile tea to my mouth, and I'd spaz out, throwing the hot tea all over the place. I definitely couldn't drive, because I was jerking so badly. I'd be steady one minute, and then my arm would just shoot out, or my head would fly to the side. It was weird. Looking back on it, I guess it's not funny...I could have had a seizure, I guess.

But my point is: these symptoms didn't show up until *five* days after I quit taking it. That's something to keep in mind when doing a taper. After lowering your dose, it really might take longer than you think before you know how that dose decrease is going to affect you.

MB

 

Re: Klonopin Withdrawal--Going Nicely (Backwards) » BCI

Posted by cubbybear on July 17, 2003, at 0:20:41

In reply to Re: Klonopin Withdrawal--Going Nicely (Backwards), posted by BCI on July 16, 2003, at 9:13:02

> I have tapered off several benzodiazepines over the years. You have to expect some rebound anxiety when tapering. It's just part of the process. It WILL go away. In my case, it always diminished over a two-week period after my last dose.

Thanks much for the reassurance!


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