Easing off clonazepam (3 mgs/day)

[TennTom]

Well, it got to where 3mgs was not working anyway. Tolerance and all that I reckon.  But I am on Suboxone for a horrific opiate dependence.  Benzo's are not allowed.  I started taking the clonipin AFTER iI was inducted on Suboxone therapy.  The Dr. frowns on it.  But he is also very understanding. When I failed my drug screen for benzo's the other day,  I was sitting in the exam room waiting for him to come and bawl me out.  But he was understanding.  He told me that it would take more than a month to properly titrate down.  I simply told him that I would do whatever it took to become compliant. (I have been going to him for Suboxone for about a year.  I stabilized at 8 mgs of the stuff. The stuff gave me my life back. In due course, I will taper from Suboxone.....but not right now)

   Anyway, I got to reading all of the stuff on the Benzo boards and even some Youtube vids about detoxing from clonazepam and by the time I was finished......I felt UTTERLY hopeless about successfully detoxing from Clonazepam. I feel that the Dr is going to give me two months to get clean from the clonazepam. 

   That should be enough shouldn't it??? I have already read two  posts on here where the poster quit 3 mgs of clonazepam with no withdrawals.  That boosted my confidence.  I really needed that. 

    I am down to 1.5 mgs now (over the last 5 days) and I have felt no bad feelings (until last nite when I read all of that stuff on those other boards.).   In a week.....I will drop to 1 mg. Then a half.  Then a quarter.  Then I will jump.   Hopefully, I am being sensible about this.  I have OCD really bad so it will be quite a challenge to go through with it but I have the motivation of being kicked off of the suboxone if I don't succeed.  That is when the hell will REALLY start. So......I need to get a grip. A good, firm grip.  And the good, positive posts that I have read on here have been VERY helpful. Thank you. TT

[Aurochs]

You've already cut your daily dose in half. That's a big deal right there.

 

Yes, it does take time. The time is necessary to avoid rebound seizures and anxiety. But you're making good progress, and the timetable seems to be sensible. Just call your doctor if you run into any problems and you'll be fine. And for God's sake, don't let fucking Youtubers scare you - they're all attention/drama whores, and they don't have anything in mind other than juicing their view counts.

[melissaw72]

When I weaned down to 1 mg/day of Klonopin from 3 or 4 mg/day, it was hard.  I had to lower the dose by 0.25 mg for 1-2 weeks at a time, before lowering it 0.25 mg again.  So it took *forever* to lower the dose. 

 

If I weaned down any faster I was irritable, edgy, angry ... not myself.

[lysergia]

it sounds like you're doing great so far.  i've come down from 4-5 mgs/day, and the best advice anyone ever gave me (that i didn't listen to) was to go as slowly as your situation will allow.  i experienced terrible withdrawal because i was stubborn and wanted off the drug NOW.  take your time, stay in touch with your doctor, and i'm sure it will be okay.

[TennTom]

You know, fellow forum members........it just dawned on me.  But reading these very encouraging words are like a soothing balm or something.  Sometimes I wonder  if I, or thousands or others,  had never heard the horror stories about benzo detox, or never heard about withdrawal symptoms....there would be far fewer people who experienced them.   In other words.......we can talk ourselves into a tizzy.   But I certainly DO NOT want to downplay anyone's testimony who really did have "PURE HELL"   coming off of benzos. I know that EVERYONE cannot be exaggerating.

    To be honest.....before I got on the clonazepams, I was feeling anxious and in need of calming.   So I realize that when I discontinue the clonazepam, at least THOSE symptoms will return.

    I am NOT a Dr.  but I  think that a good rule of thumb for Benzo tapering is  take the same time tapering off as it took to get hooked. But my situation demands a 2month titrate.  (Disclaimer)  Please do not follow my advice as I am but a lowly addict who is groping his way towards the light (freedom).   I took 1.25 mgs this morning since I have been  on 1.5mgs (clonazepam) for over a week.  I also take 6 to 8 mgs of Suboxone per day.   Suboxone, by the way, does NOTHING towards soothing the nervous system.......in MY body.   I am sticking this through!!!!!!! And when the clonazepam is history......I shall start a SLOW titrate from Suboxone.    My ultimate goal is becoming drug free.  And THEN I will let a PsychDr treat my OCD/ADD symptoms....the way I should have done to begin with. But 25 years ago, I began self-medicating. I was trying to treat my own symptoms. Thus....I became an addict of the first order.   I am tired of this crap.  (Moderator, if this thread belongs in the Substance Abuse forum.....please move it there.)  Thank you all for your kind words.  I am going to plan a good day.    I INSIST on having a good, tolerable day. By the way, I am actively seeking out God's help in my endeavour.

[San]

You're halfway there. That's the toughest part!

 

People tend to only post about the very worst or very best with medications. You don't often see in betweens, especially on youtube and such. There are a lot of anti-benzo websites out there. I can imagine you ran into some of them.

 

It generally takes a couple of months to taper off a benzo, depending on which one you take and how high the dose is. 2 months sounds reasonable, but if you feel its too fast, be open with your doctor and say something. 

 

For anxiety, there are other options than just benzos, if you're looking for something to treat it. That's something to discuss with your treatment team as well, if you definitely can't take benzos. Many SSRI's help, there are also meds like beta-blockers, and so on.

 

You're doing well so far. Keep us updated, and stay off youtube (for the benzo stuff, anyways!). I've never had a problem tapering off benzos when it's done correctly and under a doctors supervision. Some extra anxiety, but it does even out. Keep your doctors informed of anything weird, if it happens (which is rare) and keep moving on. Good luck with the suboxone treatment!

[melissaw72]

You know, fellow forum members........it just dawned on me.  But reading these very encouraging words are like a soothing balm or something.  Sometimes I wonder  if I, or thousands or others,  had never heard the horror stories about benzo detox, or never heard about withdrawal symptoms....there would be far fewer people who experienced them.   In other words.......we can talk ourselves into a tizzy.   But I certainly DO NOT want to downplay anyone's testimony who really did have "PURE HELL"   coming off of benzos. I know that EVERYONE cannot be exaggerating.

    To be honest.....before I got on the clonazepams, I was feeling anxious and in need of calming.   So I realize that when I discontinue the clonazepam, at least THOSE symptoms will return.

    I am NOT a Dr.  but I  think that a good rule of thumb for Benzo tapering is  take the same time tapering off as it took to get hooked. But my situation demands a 2month titrate.  (Disclaimer)  Please do not follow my advice as I am but a lowly addict who is groping his way towards the light (freedom).   I took 1.25 mgs this morning since I have been  on 1.5mgs (clonazepam) for over a week.  I also take 6 to 8 mgs of Suboxone per day.   Suboxone, by the way, does NOTHING towards soothing the nervous system.......in MY body.   I am sticking this through!!!!!!! And when the clonazepam is history......I shall start a SLOW titrate from Suboxone.    My ultimate goal is becoming drug free.  And THEN I will let a PsychDr treat my OCD/ADD symptoms....the way I should have done to begin with. But 25 years ago, I began self-medicating. I was trying to treat my own symptoms. Thus....I became an addict of the first order.   I am tired of this crap.  (Moderator, if this thread belongs in the Substance Abuse forum.....please move it there.)  Thank you all for your kind words.  I am going to plan a good day.    I INSIST on having a good, tolerable day. By the way, I am actively seeking out God's help in my endeavour.

 

Sounds like you are on the right path.  Good luck with it all ... I hope it all goes smoothly for you.  Keep up the good work!

[Energizerhoney]

Sounds like your doing great!

I've gone from 3mg a day of klonopin to none with no issues at all. I don't think I felt any withdrawal symptoms. I'm back on it now because it works great for me.

There's a lot of horror stories online about ANY med. Ppl tend to vent and want to share their bad experience (which I totally understand, I would also). But for the rest of us, who've not had any problems, we don't feel the need to post about it, because, well, what's there to talk about. I hope that makes sense?

Don't worry about issues that you may never experience at all.

[brooke]

Just wondering how you're doing.   I just quit 30 mgs of Valium after 10 years.   It was rough.  I went to rehab.  The only thing that is saving me from a trip to the ER is Neurontin.  Weird things were happening.....auras, tunnel vision, colors were brighter, sounds louder, everything was moving in slow motion   They put me on 300 mgs of Neurontin 3X a day in rehab and that helped a lot.  I just saw my psychiatrist today and she upped it to 600 mgs 3X a day.  I feel even better.  Just thought I would pass it on in case you're struggling. Hopefully you won't be.  I wish you all the best.  Stay strong.  You can do this.

brooke

Edited August 19, 2014 by brooke

[crtclms]

TennTom, FYI, being dependent on a medication is not the same thing as being addicted to it. There is a pin at the top of the forum distinguishing addiction, tolerance, and dependence on medications. Don't fall for the old stereotypes.

 

Your rule of thumb is questionable. I've been on Xanax eight years No rise in dosage necessary, so I am dependent, not addicted. Are you implying it would take me 8 years to get off of Xanax? Months and months and months, I'll grant you. But I don't crave Xanax. 

 

Are ACs addictive? Because going off some of those cold turkey could be pretty harrowing. Do you think ACs are addictive?

 

Also, ADs things like Paxil and Effexor have terrible withdrawals, even when done correctly. Are those people addicted to ADs?

[melissaw72]

^^ Great points.

[Equivilency]

Sometimes you have to tell your doc you need a slower taper. I've done this before with no questions asked.

[TennTom]

I appreciate all of the replies.   I am on 1/2 milligram per day now.  I had to slow  the taper down a bit or I feel like adrenaline has been shot into my system.  That feeling IS bearable.  But NOT desirable.  So I slowed the 'stepping down'  schedule a bit.  According to presenting symptoms.  So far, so good.

   I have also been taking in alot of protein and amino acids.  I assume that all of the re-working of the GABA receptors will require the "basic building blocks" that I learned about in high school biology.  I have no knowledge of a medical nature.  Just working with assumptions and prayer and seem to be doing fine thus far.

    A couple of months ago, a quarter milligram of clonazepam would have not had any noticeable effect on me.....including soothing anxiety.  But now.....a quarter milligram is effective.  I take it that this is a sign that my tolerance is lowering ......back to normal.......I hope.  But.....eyes straight ahead and onward I go.  Thanks for all of the replies.