Another increment down 2 to 3 days ago. In 5 weeks down from 2mg. to .25mg. Two more slow reductions of .125 mg. in next 11 days and ill be off of it after 2 years. Clonazepam/Klonapin is very, very potent and addictive medication widely prescribed and somewhat helpful. I peak withdrawals at 3 to 5 days and at about 7 days it pretty much subsides. Today I get to be nauseous, nervous, breathing labored, diarrhea, sleeping less and then anxious, sad and finally very deeply tired. Then I'm better. That's the cycle for me of getting off a powerful benzo. The Teledoc prescribed small dose of Trazadone. Only been 3 days on that. It does help already with some sedation at night dose. I'm not afraid of these changes although ditressing- I KNOW I WILL BE OKAY. I have a Teletherapy next week, start face to face new doctor & new therapist at local clinic first week in March. Definitely been a long strange trip. This is only tip of iceberg and no mention of the 45 years I utilized the Mental Health System while being a productive worker. Anyone else ever get off of a benzo that wants to share?
Klonapin down , down , down & almost ... - Anxiety and Depre...
Klonapin down , down , down & almost off... Anybody ever get off a benzo?
I am working on it. I went through a difficult time and was taking 4 one milligram Ativan per day. Am now down to 2 milligrams per day.
Ouch. I read Ativan taper/withdrawal is even more difficult than Klonapin. Did you get the night sweats much. Some nights I drench my bed. I know its just part of the process. I sometimes have to change night clothes, lay a beach towel over sheets and change pillows cause everything is soaked. I understand it is hormones adjusting to not having the medicine present. Anyway thanks for your response 👍 Hang tough bro ( assuming you are Male? )
I am a woman. I reduced it by one half a milligram every 14 days and have not had any problems or symptoms. Am sorry you did, but it sounds like you are doing very well.
Sorry ma'am for incorrect gender ID . I do know if it has any addictive potential I will get hooked. That's just me. Thank you for your comment. Stay well my friend. DV
The Ativan is also very addictive, but the worst thing is that if you keep taking it your body adjusts and you have to keep taking more. I want to stop so that I can take a occasional one and it will really work.
Hi getdowngetup I went through the experience in weaning off benzos after being left
on 0.25 mg of Xanax once a day for 30 years. Doctor kept telling me it was such a small dose
but apparently didn't take into consideration that any daily medication can allow the body/brain to get dependent on it.
My psychiatrist specializes in Benzo Withdrawal. When I told him I was ready, he guided me through the process using the Dr. Heather Ashton Method. It took me 2 years to completely be off benzos as well as another year in the brain healing with minor zaps and side effects.
The feeling now is amazing. Life is Good. I am Good. Wish you the same my friend 
xx
Medications are necessary at times and as difficult as it was to go through this weaning, I am not
against someone using a crutch to get through the beginning years of Anxiety.
Two years from .25mg ?I'm done with benzos.
There are many other ways and non benzo meds that really do the trick. Appeciate your posting. Stay well my friend.
DV
When Xanax no longer worked I was put on gradual increases of Ativan
which didn't help at all. So basically when I weaned off benzos, it was from
both Xanax and Ativan. Doctors don't seem to leave you on daily benzos anymore
I now use Meditation and Breathing and get relief instantly. There are always other
coping mechanisms that can be used. xx
Oh I get it.
Absolutely!However in my state Texas doctors here got no problem prescribing long term. I resisted them for over 40 years then caved. But I'm ok, was ok and will be ok. I like breath work too. Cardiovascular w/o calm me too.
DV
I'm here for you if you ever need to talk.
We do what we have to at the time and I've never regretted it.
I was non existent w/o some help from Xanax. Once it ran it's course
I found other avenues. Stay Positive, that's a big step in itself xx
I appreciate that and I appreciate you. I'll be around. Have a great day.Blessings...
DV
You are on an amazing pace that might not work for everyone. In 4 weeks I’m down from 1 mg to 0.62 of klonapin.so I’m taking it slower. It never did anything for me anyway, but getting off is making my insomnia worse. It will be worth the withdrawal symptoms when I’m off the stuff. I’d advise everyone looking to get off a benzo to do it with the guidance of a doctor!
I agree. Slower is better. My pace was partially set by remaining pill count and Teledoctor prescribing 2 weeks of 50 mg Trazadone with Liberty to then go up to 100mg. Trazadone has an immediate sedation. I could no longer " feel" the Klonapin effect after a month. Took a month to get up to and hooked on 2mg. And 6 weeks to come down. Potent medicine, federally controlled and definitely needs medical supervision the whole way!
DV
Good luck and how courageous you are! Some of us are forced to stop cold turkey, e.g. try telling your doctor you ran out of the benzo early. Mine said “I’m not a drug dealer” and told me to try alcohol bec. he wasn’t going to help me abuse meds. Whether you agree or disagree w/ his reaction use benzo cautiously. He put me back on half the dose once I won back his trust by learning other coping mechanisms. My memory/ function goes with anxiety- I once drove on the wrong side of the road unintentionally (thanks to a truck driver’s horn alerting me no one was hurt). Now I take benzo only for extreme situations/ panic attacks. If using more than prescribed it’s always better to let doc know what’s going on than to beg for forgiveness to get med. hugs to you!
AgreedMy first experience w/benzos and last.
Can't EVEN image cold turkey! After reading up on it , my main concern with Cold Turkin it was seizures. I had 1 seizure or rather a mental tumble into unconsciousness some years back as a side effects from a medicine. No fun.... I realize my taper pace could be slower , except I'm not paying out of pocket $150 for a doctor visit just for klonapin. After the first month of being on klonapin I couldn't feel it anymore and doc. assured me it was a daily medicine. That it really wouldn't help me to take as needed. Who's supporting abuse???
Anyway thanks for your post and encouragement. I'm beginning to have a welcome feeling of mild relaxation from trazadone and after today I have liberty to go from 50mg to 100mg. As I finish the 8 remaining days of tapering klonapin from.25mg to 00mg. Yippee!
Somehow , someway with help of my Maker I always manage to land on my feet even at 64yrs. Young. Take Care and stay well my friend
DV
I was having panic attacks for a while and so my doctor put me on Xanax temporarily and then he switched me to clonazepam once the panic attacks went away just to give me the stability that I did genuinely need help with during the day. Even though they were both benzo’s, when I stopped taking the Xanax and switched directly to the clonazepam I had the most bizarre withdrawal symptoms it was like being on a hallucinogen but not fun! I currently work as an addiction counselor and I see how hard it is when people stop taking their benzo’s for good and I think it’s incredibly sad that the medication that is so helpful and genuinely improved my life can also cause people so much pain. You really toughed it out though, congratulations!
Hey Sounds like you my friend definitely have some ducks in a row......ar ar arrr
Meant as a compliment as you turn your lemons into lemonade. Congrats back at
you
DV
I can’t tell you how many duck videos I’ve watched on Instagram in the last few days. There’s millions of them they’re burned into my brain! 🦆
Hey Stephread your profile. Very cool, Affirming-life giving-Blessings to you .....
DV
Ive been somewhat a Duck studier myself. The phrase "get your Ducks in a row" has truly taught me some things.
We see geese fly in formation. How do they know so well to "stick together" ?
Where does THAT grace and harmony seen in their flight come from?
When one observe Ducks on a pond or in the air are they all organized and line up "in a row"? Absolutely not!
That is analogous to the "process" of life.
It is not neat and tidy. It is not linear. It sometimes is all over. AND THAT IS OKAY BY DESIGN!
Anyway -just some thoughts........
Go in Peace and if you quack up---Its Okay!
DV
It would be terribly boring if life was in a straight line.!
Indeed! I'm I will admit I like my comfort- nice truck, hot coffee, smart phone & internet. But in all actuality- comfort or an excess there of is THE ENEMY DV
May the odds forever be in your favor.
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