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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by john hines on March 18, 2005, at 15:45:17
I was on klonopin for 10 years at 1mg. I have been off since 01/31/05. I tapered off the klon in only one month. So...I have been off for 6 weeks and I am going crazy. I have anxiety, terror and fear etc. I was put on tegretol at 200mg a day. I want to know a couple of answers. Will the tegretol prevent my benzo recovery? Can a fast taper prevent someone from TOTALLY RECOVERING? I feel terrible. Do I need to re-instate or should I just hang in there for a few more months. I am having a hard time hanging on to life.
Thanks,
John
Posted by SLS on March 18, 2005, at 17:28:39
In reply to Re-instate, posted by john hines on March 18, 2005, at 15:45:17
Hi.
You might want to check out the Withdrawal board. I think much of what applies to the discontinuation of SRI antidepressants applies also to benzodiazepines.
I've discontinued Ativan and Klonopin in relatively short periods of time using a flexible dosing strategy.
- Scott
Posted by ed_uk on March 19, 2005, at 19:34:20
In reply to Re-instate, posted by john hines on March 18, 2005, at 15:45:17
Hi John,
Are you a friend of Neal McCoy?
Ed.
Posted by cache-monkey on March 20, 2005, at 0:59:40
In reply to Re-instate, posted by john hines on March 18, 2005, at 15:45:17
I would seriously consider going back on and doing a slower taper. A month is a relatively short time-span, given how long you were on the Klonopin. Actually if you're going to go that route, a better strategy might be to initiate a dose of Valium at or near the equivalent of the Klonoping dose you were on.
This can allow for a much more gradual and gentler taper due to a) Valium's longer half life and b) the smaller dosage increments in which Valium comes.
You might be aware of this, but there's a UK Doctor, C. Heather Ashton, who's developed tapering schedules (using Valium) for people having difficulty withdrawing from a benzo:
http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/bzsched.htm#s5(Be warned: the bulk of the site is generally benzo-phobic. However, the tapering schedules seem very useful.)
Hope this helps,
cache-monkey> I was on klonopin for 10 years at 1mg. I have been off since 01/31/05. I tapered off the klon in only one month. So...I have been off for 6 weeks and I am going crazy. I have anxiety, terror and fear etc. I was put on tegretol at 200mg a day. I want to know a couple of answers. Will the tegretol prevent my benzo recovery? Can a fast taper prevent someone from TOTALLY RECOVERING? I feel terrible. Do I need to re-instate or should I just hang in there for a few more months. I am having a hard time hanging on to life.
> Thanks,
> John
Posted by SLS on March 20, 2005, at 8:07:11
In reply to Re-instate, posted by john hines on March 18, 2005, at 15:45:17
Hi John.
These are two great questions.
I am working with a kindling model of withdrawal syndromes.
> Will the tegretol prevent my benzo recovery?
If anything, I believe that it might make it easier.
> Can a fast taper prevent someone from TOTALLY RECOVERING?
I think there is a theoretical possiblity that withdrawal phenomena would last longer if you were to taper too rapidly or to discontinue abruptly. I think it is desireable for several different reasons to taper in a fashion that avoids inducing a withdrawal state - not the least of which is your comfort.
- Scott
Posted by Racer on March 20, 2005, at 21:01:54
In reply to Re-instate, posted by john hines on March 18, 2005, at 15:45:17
While it won't answer your question, exactly, I did stop several mgs per day of Xanax (dose was 3mgs at a time, fwiw) about a year ago -- cold turkey.
All I can tell you is that I was totally miserable for a few days -- which was complicated by other meds I quit at the same time, the side effects from which were why I quit them all -- but once the initial physical stuff wore off (within about 5 or six days), didn't notice any other problems.
I hope that's helpful for you, just wanted you to know that there is hope -- even with a short taper. But for the real story, I strongly suggest you try the withdrawal board.
This is the end of the thread.
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