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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by 13beans on December 14, 2003, at 18:23:05
I am hoping that someone out there can please give me some advice on how I should taper my klonopin and/or whether or not I am doing o.k.! I am having horrible panic attacks/episodes of frequent and debilitating anxiety attacks which involve dizziness, muscle pain all over, but primarily in the arms and legs, visual disturbances, decreased tolerance to bright lights, etc...you name it - I probably have it...I am panicking even more now, because I am wondering if it even is the withdrawal, or if I have some type of disease, etc. I have been to so many doctors who send me here and there but nothing ever turns up. (Anyone with similar stories PLEEEEEEASE respond...I am desperately lonely and feel I have abandoned my family and friends as I don't even feel like leaving the house anymore.)
Back to my story...I have been on klonopin for 3 years. I had been taking 3 mg/day and decdided it was time to try to get off...I felt it was no longer helping me. I started tapering about 8 weeks ago, eliminating 1/2 mg. a week for the first three weeks. I have been on 1 1/2 mg.s for the past 5 weeks, but the horrible side effects have not subsided one bit, in fact the other night I almost took myself to the emergency room due to the muscle pains I was having all over my body. I am often dizzy and hear a high pitched ringing in my ears which is driving me to the brink. (I am not threatening to harm myself...I just don't know what to do anymore...I have been to so many bad and misleading doctors who only want to increase my dosage...)
If anyone out there has any input at all it would be greatly appreciated.
Posted by Emme on December 14, 2003, at 19:24:10
In reply to klonopin withdrawal/need advice on tapering, posted by 13beans on December 14, 2003, at 18:23:05
Hi. If you are sure you want to stop it, then you need a good doctor to guide your getting off. It sounds like you took the first three weeks *way* too fast. My doctor says she recommends tapering off 1/2 mg per month.
Even though you've been at your current dosage for five weeks, it sounds like you are miserable and you might in fact need to increase your dosage a bit for a while. I am getting off of it myself. My doctor has given me Xanax, which is shorter acting, to smooth the transition. Good luck.
Emme
Posted by Girl1969 on December 15, 2003, at 13:32:04
In reply to klonopin withdrawal/need advice on tapering, posted by 13beans on December 14, 2003, at 18:23:05
13beans...I feel for you! I went through this myself two years ago. I abruptly stopped taking klonopin after being on 5 mgs per day for 3 years. I thought I was going to lose my mind. By the time I got to the doctor (who informed me that I should have tapered very slowly), I was deep in withdrawal. I finally went back on and tapered off slowly, but it took several months before I totally felt like myself again.
During the first few weeks, I had terrible anxiety, wanted to withdraw from life completely, and found myself distracted and scatter-brained. I also had physical symptoms like you described; primarily muscle pain and tightness in my jaw.
I don't have any real advice to offer you other than go slowly with the taper and go easy on yourelf. I wanted to write mostly to let you know that you aren't alone...I know your pain.
Best of luck...
Posted by 13beans on December 15, 2003, at 13:57:48
In reply to Re: klonopin withdrawal/need advice on tapering » 13beans, posted by Emme on December 14, 2003, at 19:24:10
Thanks to you both for your input. I think that I have tapered too quickly as well. Have any of you suffered from severe muscle pain (concentrated primarily in the legs/arms...) or visual problems (blurry eyesight, sensitivity to lights, etc.)? I have read on some sites that this is a side effect but would like to hear from someone who has actually experienced it. Good luck and many many healing thoughts to all of you out there suffering and trying to find answers, etc. At least we are made stronger as we endure. I hope that you all have "hope"...Thank God I still have that!!
Posted by sac on December 15, 2003, at 21:55:52
In reply to Re: klonopin withdrawal/need advice on tapering, posted by 13beans on December 15, 2003, at 13:57:48
I was on Klonopin several years back for a short period of time and only at 1mg/day. However, I do remember very well the visual disturbances I had when I stopped taking it. That was the main withdrawal effect I remember. Good luck to you.
Posted by girl1969 on December 16, 2003, at 16:36:19
In reply to Re: klonopin withdrawal/need advice on tapering, posted by 13beans on December 15, 2003, at 13:57:48
13 beans...
Mostly what I remember was all-over body pain, as if I had been run over by a truck. I also suffered headaches as a result of clenching my jaw. I did have increased sensitivity to lights and noises - everything seemed too bright and too loud. Miserable experience.
I'm glad to hear that you have hope...you WILL get through this. As much as you can, rely on a good doctor to help you. I did it cold turkey and I shiver to think of what I put myself through.
Be well...
Posted by jbs on December 16, 2003, at 20:48:07
In reply to klonopin withdrawal/need advice on tapering, posted by 13beans on December 14, 2003, at 18:23:05
Yes, sounds like two things: re-emergence of your anxiety and withdrawal symptoms. Go slow! on your taper. 1/2 mg per month sounds right--maybe longer.
Posted by cubbybear on December 17, 2003, at 2:23:54
In reply to Re: klonopin withdrawal/need advice on tapering, posted by jbs on December 16, 2003, at 20:48:07
Hi,
I realize now how important it is to keep checking this board on a daily basis. I got sidetracked for a couple of days and would have responded sooner for you.
I started taking Klonopin at a 4 mg/day dose back in Aug. 2002 in order to cope with insomnia during worsening depression. I got to a point in which I felt I could start a taper. I got down to 3.75 mg, then when the depression intensified, my doctor kept me on that dosage for a few months. Finally the depression went into remission and I began to taper again. I started doing something like .25 mg every week, then hit a wall of anxiety at something like 2.75 mg. I went back up to 3.0 for about a week then started an ultra-slow taper. In no way do I want to encounter that miserable anxiety again so I've long accepted the fact that I have to go at the rate of .125 mg. every 10 days- 2 weeks. I'm now down to .375 mg (that's 3/4 of a .5 mg pill) and have been doing well for the past few months. At worst, I will experience a couple of nights of insomnia when I begin a new, lowered dose, but I can deal with it.
I also use a pill cutter since the only way to come up with .125 mg increments is to cut the pill twice.
When I get down to my last .125 mg., I plan to do something like this: take it for 14 days, skip one day, take it the next, skip 2 days, take it the next, skip 3 days, etc. etc. Assuming I'm feeling OK when I can go perhaps 10 days without any, I will say, that's all folks! No more Klonopin. . .and hope I don't get any delayed reactions later.
So, the answer to your original question is, try going down very, very slowly and get yourself a doctor who can help you along with it. (I just don't like the idea of your doctor having you take Xanax during the tapering, since you're merely replacing one problem with another potential one).
Feel free to ask me anything elsecubbybear
Posted by Emme on December 17, 2003, at 9:07:31
In reply to Re: klonopin withdrawal/need advice on tapering, posted by cubbybear on December 17, 2003, at 2:23:54
> (I just don't like the idea of your doctor having you take Xanax during the tapering, since you're merely replacing one problem with another potential one).
I'm not so sure about that. It seems to me that the shorter acting benzo might allow tighter control in handling periods of increased anxiety while you taper down the clonazepam. At least it seems to be doing that for me. Will I develop physical dependence on Xanax? I'm hoping that the varied low dose usage for a limited period of time might keep that to a minimum. I'll let you know how it goes.
Of course I went on a benzo because of an anxiety disorder and the fact is I might want or need to stay on one benzo or another. Maybe I'll decide I like Xanax enough to keep it. :) I'll see. The main reason I'm trying to get off clonazepam is because of the possibility that it's increasing my depression. I don't know that this is the case, but I wanted to give it a shot and if it doesn't end up being the case, I'd consider going back to it.
Emme
Posted by Viridis on December 17, 2003, at 13:33:09
In reply to Re: klonopin withdrawal/need advice on tapering » cubbybear, posted by Emme on December 17, 2003, at 9:07:31
It sounds like you should try it (cautiously) and see how it works out.
I've done very well with Klonopin and have not tried to discontinue it -- I've been on 1 mg/day for quite a while now and that dose has continued to work for me. I do take Xanax as well, for occasional "breakthrough" anxiety. One thing that did get me a little concerned, though, is that after using Xanax sporadically (usually not more than once a week, sometimes not for two weeks or more), I became tolerant to the very low dose I was using. I still take it, but have to use quite a bit more to achieve the same effect.
I don't consider this a "problem", in the sense that I don't use Xanax any more often or feel any craving for it, and I'm definitely not dependent on it. My pdoc is OK with this -- basically he prescribes the same small amount and allows me to use it as needed. So far, my tolerance seems to have plateaued (and the most I take is still only 1.0-1.5 mg), but I am using it very sparingly.
Anyway, this is just me, but my pdoc has told me that this sort of thing happens more often with Xanax than other benzos, in his experience.
Xanax is a great med and does seem to have antidepressant properties for some people. I'd just be careful with it, especially if the goal is to discontinue another benzo. But it sounds like you and your doctor are approaching this sensibly, so good luck!
One other suggestion: some people here seem to do very well with Neurontin for anxiety. It's a very safe drug and might be worth a try. I had great results with it at the very beginning, but it quickly stopped working for me. However, some other people report more lasting results, and the side effect profile generally is minimal. So, it might be a worth a try as an alternate med to calm your nerves during Klonopin withdrawal, and I really doubt it would do any harm.
Posted by teffom on December 17, 2003, at 16:09:12
In reply to klonopin withdrawal/need advice on tapering, posted by 13beans on December 14, 2003, at 18:23:05
> I am hoping that someone out there can please give me some advice on how I should taper my klonopin and/or whether or not I am doing o.k.! I am having horrible panic attacks/episodes of frequent and debilitating anxiety attacks which involve dizziness, muscle pain all over, but primarily in the arms and legs, visual disturbances, decreased tolerance to bright lights, etc...you name it - I probably have it...I am panicking even more now, because I am wondering if it even is the withdrawal, or if I have some type of disease, etc. I have been to so many doctors who send me here and there but nothing ever turns up. (Anyone with similar stories PLEEEEEEASE respond...I am desperately lonely and feel I have abandoned my family and friends as I don't even feel like leaving the house anymore.)
>
> Back to my story...I have been on klonopin for 3 years. I had been taking 3 mg/day and decdided it was time to try to get off...I felt it was no longer helping me. I started tapering about 8 weeks ago, eliminating 1/2 mg. a week for the first three weeks. I have been on 1 1/2 mg.s for the past 5 weeks, but the horrible side effects have not subsided one bit, in fact the other night I almost took myself to the emergency room due to the muscle pains I was having all over my body. I am often dizzy and hear a high pitched ringing in my ears which is driving me to the brink. (I am not threatening to harm myself...I just don't know what to do anymore...I have been to so many bad and misleading doctors who only want to increase my dosage...)
>
> If anyone out there has any input at all it would be greatly appreciated.Important - I have been there - 3 mg per day was a lot - cutting in half is not the way to do it - you will have terrible side effects - It will take you many months to taper off - my advice is realize, if you want to discontinue, do it incredibly slowly - cut into quarters - are you taking .5 mg tabs? Lower dose a max of .25 every two weeks if you are a very sensitive person - do the math - it's a committment. Just my opinion, but I would almost start over - maybe go back to 2.5, but don't be so hard on your brain and body. I wish you comfort. Teffom
Posted by Emme on December 17, 2003, at 17:21:39
In reply to Re: klonopin withdrawal/need advice on tapering » Emme, posted by Viridis on December 17, 2003, at 13:33:09
> One thing that did get me a little concerned, though, is that after using Xanax sporadically (usually not more than once a week, sometimes not for two weeks or more), I became tolerant to the very low dose I was using. I still take it, but have to use quite a bit more to achieve the same effect.....
> Anyway, this is just me, but my pdoc has told me that this sort of thing happens more often with Xanax than other benzos, in his experience.Hmm...thanks for sharing your experience. I'll feel my way carefully with this drug.
> Xanax is a great med and does seem to have antidepressant properties for some people.
That wouldn't hurt! :)
> One other suggestion: some people here seem to do very well with Neurontin for anxiety. It's a very safe drug and might be worth a try.I was on Neurontin for a while. I liked it. Unfortunately, my white blood cell count dropped a bit. Nothing serious, but it persisted and my internist sent me to a hematologist and she said that neurontin can do that. She recommended that I stop the neurontin lest it turn into a larger problem. I was sorry to see it go. Oh well.
Emme
Posted by Emme on December 21, 2003, at 12:24:14
In reply to Re: klonopin withdrawal/need advice on tapering » Viridis, posted by Emme on December 17, 2003, at 17:21:39
> > One thing that did get me a little concerned, though, is that after using Xanax sporadically (usually not more than once a week, sometimes not for two weeks or more), I became tolerant to the very low dose I was using. I still take it, but have to use quite a bit more to achieve the same effect.....
> > Anyway, this is just me, but my pdoc has told me that this sort of thing happens more often with Xanax than other benzos, in his experience.
>
> Hmm...thanks for sharing your experience. I'll feel my way carefully with this drug.
>
> > Xanax is a great med and does seem to have antidepressant properties for some people.
>
> That wouldn't hurt! :)I'm off the clonazepam. Yesterday I took only 0.125 mg Xanax and nothing so far today, though it's still early. For the last few days I've been taking a break from selegiline to see what would happen. I don't seem to need much in the way of a benzo, my body feels better though tired, and I'm wickedly depressed. I'm thinking the selegiline is stimulating enough to make me need something calming and to make me think I was having withdrawal problems from the clonazepam...
This is the end of the thread.
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