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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 johnLA on November 14, 2013, at 16:14:33
hi all-
i am curious if anyone has a 'non-horror' story of coming off long-term klonopin use?
i have been using klonopin for 3+ years now ranging from 1mg to 3mg per day.
i have dropped my usage down to 1mg over the last several weeks and have not really had any severe effects. i use remeron (7.5mg) a few times a week to help with sleep. i think the remeron may also be helping with anxiety. or, my anxiety has finally calmed down.
i plan on tapering slowly, but am curious if anybody has had a relatively smooth taper? all i read are nasty stories it seems.
i seem to be waiting for something to happen; it has yet to. if anything i am feeling more awake and less drugged, save for when i use the remeron.
also, i have read here in the archives about people having brutal withdrawals from remeron. i have had a easy time tapering off it a few times. i guess our mileage varies. just wanted to let those on remeron know that my experience was pretty easy.
thanks for any replies.
john
Posted by Phillipa on November 14, 2013, at 17:33:45
In reply to any non-horror stories of coming off klonopin?, posted by johnLA on November 14, 2013, at 16:14:33
Welcome and isn't it interesting that some of us can just drop a med and others Can't. Many times in the past I've dropped benzos. Till I started hearing this stories also. So always afraid not to take them. Maybe will always need a low dose? How is your depression Also? Phillipa
Posted by Christ_empowered on November 14, 2013, at 17:50:09
In reply to any non-horror stories of coming off klonopin?, posted by johnLA on November 14, 2013, at 16:14:33
My Klonopin taper was rough because of bad doctoring. I had to take Midrin to take the edge off the headaches.I think you're supposed to convert to valium and taper off that. Niacinamide can help, too.
Posted by johnLA on November 14, 2013, at 18:07:58
In reply to Re: any non-horror stories of coming off klonopin? » johnLA, posted by Phillipa on November 14, 2013, at 17:33:45
thnx phillipa-
yes, strange how different we all are.
my depression is still bad. but! relatively speaking i am in a better place since it all started. maybe i have just gotten used to it, or i am ever so slowly getting better.
my brain was pretty ok for 47 years. i am hoping it can return, not to who i was before depression (we all change over time regardless if one is depressed or not), but to a place where i can work, feel joy, and be among the living.
hope you are ok or even better phillipa.
Posted by johnLA on November 14, 2013, at 18:11:34
In reply to Re: any non-horror stories of coming off klonopin?, posted by Christ_empowered on November 14, 2013, at 17:50:09
thnx ce.
did you do a slow taper? it seems many of the stories i read about are from people that went too fast. i am hoping to go slow and try and limit any suffering.
i have read sooooo much on this subject, so i am pretty well-versed on the different strategies. i am hoping to simply reduce with klonopin ever so slowly w/a bit of help from remeron.
thnx again for your reply.
john
Posted by Christ_empowered on November 14, 2013, at 18:48:39
In reply to Re: any non-horror stories of coming off klonopin? » Christ_empowered, posted by johnLA on November 14, 2013, at 18:11:34
my taper was too fast. not the best pdoc ever. Klonopin *can* be a pain to taper off of, but it seems that a slooooow taper, with non-benzo meds for sleep and anxiety, helps a lot of people.
Try not to fret over the horror stories. I mean, think about it...of course horror stories are over-represented on the net and in books. Those are the people who are most motivated to write about their experiences. For most people, benzo tapers aren't the worst thing ever (maybe high dose Xanax would be an exception...).
Anyway, I think you'll be fine. You'll be in my prayers. I hope you consider doing some Orthomolecular stuff during your taper. Its worked so well for me, and I used to be state mental hospital material, that I'm pushing it on everybody, for just about everything.
www.doctoryourself.com
Posted by Phillipa on November 14, 2013, at 20:27:28
In reply to Re: any non-horror stories of coming off klonopin? » Phillipa, posted by johnLA on November 14, 2013, at 18:07:58
John you know that klonopin can also be depressing was for me. So what ad are you now on? Phillipa
Posted by Dinah on November 15, 2013, at 6:31:42
In reply to any non-horror stories of coming off klonopin?, posted by johnLA on November 14, 2013, at 16:14:33
I did it enormously slowly. I finally ended up with only a 1/2 of a .5mg tablet every other day, then none. I may have even broken the half in half. That was several years ago. It was smooth as could be.
None of my doctors cared if I got off, so I was able to do it at my own pace. But I don't think I'd ever taken more than 1 mg at a time, and nightly I only took 1/2. Still, the hardest part was stopping that last bit. There were a few physical symptoms that I found annoying. But nothing remotely nightmarish.
I'd say think months rather than weeks, unless there is reason to do it faster. Reduce it only as fast as you can tolerate it.
I once stopped it more quickly in some anti-medication surge, and ended up with the strangest temporal lobe experiences. Straight lines being not straight, that sort of thing. I wouldn't advise that. It can't be good for the brain.
Posted by doxogenic boy on November 15, 2013, at 13:38:14
In reply to any non-horror stories of coming off klonopin?, posted by johnLA on November 14, 2013, at 16:14:33
> i am curious if anyone has a 'non-horror' story of coming off long-term klonopin use?
I tapered slowly from long-term use of clonazepam (Rivotril/Klonopin) 1mg or 1,5 mg at bedtime. I tapered with one quarter of a 0,5 mg tablet for a week or two at a time, and had no withdrawal. When I tapered off clonazepam, I was less depressed too.
- doxogenic
Posted by johnLA on November 17, 2013, at 2:25:47
In reply to any non-horror stories of coming off klonopin?, posted by johnLA on November 14, 2013, at 16:14:33
Posted by johnLA on November 17, 2013, at 20:00:07
In reply to Re: any non-horror stories of coming off klonopin? » johnLA, posted by Phillipa on November 14, 2013, at 17:33:45
hi p-
thanks for your response.
i am on no other medication right now. i see my prod tomorrow. my depression is still bad.
i have windows, very short, of no depression, but i am still in a dark place.
i haven't tried 'everything' yet. i might revisit ect, try some maoi's, even try some mild opiates. also, trying talk therapy again. curious about emdr.
i am still hoping that my mind can heal. my friends seem to think i am better. in some very small ways i am. i do know that i am extremely sensitive to these meds so far. and, i am extremely tired of it all. i'd rather choose depression than how i feel on the medication i have tried so far. not sure how long i can last with that practice.
thanks again for your message.
hope you are doing ok or even better.
john
Posted by Phillipa on November 17, 2013, at 20:06:20
In reply to Re: any non-horror stories of coming off klonopin? » Phillipa, posted by johnLA on November 17, 2013, at 20:00:07
John sounds like you are doing really well no meds at all? Klonopin have you tried any other benzos Xanax is known to have slight ad effects. You did ketamine too didn't you? And to be on none is awesome. Will you return to teaching? P
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on November 19, 2013, at 18:06:45
In reply to any non-horror stories of coming off klonopin?, posted by johnLA on November 14, 2013, at 16:14:33
Google the Ashton Protocol (a protocol for painless withdrawl of benzos developed by Professor heather Ashton, an eminent Britis psychiatrist)
What it involves is basicly transfering to an equivelent dose of diazepam/Valium, then reducing in baby steps, say 1mg per week.
The withdrawl takes a while, but its totaly painless because it is done slowly.
This is the end of the thread.
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