Hello everyone, i haven't been here in a longtime. I am 60 years old and been on antidepressants and anxiety medication for about 23 years.
I was taking 0.5mg clonazepam for 1 to 2 years. My Doctor stopped the Clonazepam 7 days ago. Initially I felt better inner energy and better mood until the 6th day when things went completely terrible. Difficult to describe but I was just not myself. I went to the American Addiction Centers website and read an article which says that sudden withdrawal from clonazepam can be life-threatening and that it can lead to coma and that clonazepam can cause changes to the brain that cannot be reversed.
I took this information to my Dr yesterday. He agreed to it but added that i was on the lowest dose so stopping at once should not be a problem. Nevertheless he adviced me to continue the weeding off and take it only when I can't bear the withdrawal symptoms.
Now I am coughing and having runny nose, fever, bodyache and headache since yesterday. Throughout today i was having diarrhoea (watery stool). I went to toilet 4 times today. So far am just laying down and telling God to show me mercy and heal me. My wife and kids are all gloomy because I am ill and I don't know how i can make them feel better.
Meanwhile I come from a rich West African country where poverty abounds, healthcare system has collapsed and everyone is on his or her own. Those who are rich go to Europe and America for health care but for those of us who are poor we are left with the non functional healthcare system.
As for me I am even lucky that I found a Psychiatrist Doctor that I see and who has been managing.
So the Summary is that can you stop taking clonazepam? Any success experiences?
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Atenns2
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Hi Atenns2, you can slowly and safely wean off any benzo with the guidance of yourpsychiatrist. I too was on a real small dose 0.25mg of Xanax once a day but for 30 years.
My psychiatrist is a Benzo Withdrawal Specialist using the Dr Ashton Method.
Because of the length of time I was on that small dose, it took me 2 years to successfully
wean of this benzo. The changes were subtle but they were there, so I'm not surprised
in what you are experiencing.
Were you on this small dose for 23 years? Or 2 years?
It could very well make a difference in how your doctor is addressing the weaning process.
I wish you well. Since being off the benzos, I feel amazing. Wish you the same xx
Hi it’s Shnookie. I’m on Klonopin. Because of a mix up with my pharmacy, I went cold turkey off my 1 mg doseage for aboutn5 or 6 days. I was very sick and when the Med was ready for me, I couldn’t drive my car. My friend had to come pick me up and drive me to the pharmacy. When I started back on the Med, I felt strange for a few days until my body became used to the Med again. I agree with Agora re slowly weaning yourself off the meds. I’m here 4 U hugs 🤗 S
Thank you Shinookie. I appreciate. I am determined to ho off this drug. I have started my Tapering. I feel terrible. But am going all the way, not looking back.
There are quite a few breakthrough cases even in vaccinated people. Also, you are probably now eligible for a booster shot, although you should not get it until you are feeling better. You might want to check with your gp about your symptoms.
Oh my goodness you poor man! You never go off Clonazepam or any Benzodiazepine full stop. The Doctor shouldn't have done that to you but at the very least you're back on it and can wean off. If you just stop taking these meds, you can have seizures and severe withdrawal. Please be careful, take care of yourself, feel better and GO SLOWLY with the weaning! You'll be ok!!
It’s Shnookie. I totally agree with U. I was really sick when I went cold turkey off Klonopin for about 5 or 6 days involuntarily. I couldn’t drive and my friend needed to pick me up to go to pharmacy to pick up my Med
Yes, you can come off Clonazepam, even after many years. I know because I did it. I was on it for about 30 years, with my average daily dose at over 1.0 mg.
I weaned off over the course of about 2 to 3 months. I cut the dose in about half first, then waited a couple of weeks before halving again. At some point I started taking the reduced dose every second day. If I struggled, I either went back up to the previous dose for a few more days, or I waited extra time before reducing again. Even the last little bit (I was breaking one 0.5 mg tablet in 4 pieces by then) was a challenge. But eventually I stopped taking it completely.
I wouldn't listen to those scare stories about permanent brain damage. They are just that - stories. Not a prediction of what will happen to you. As I was and am OK, I'm sure you will be too. You are on a lower dose than I was, and for less time.
Take your time to wean off, no need to hurry. And do so with the support of your doctor/psychiatrist. All the best.
Keep in mind that when you come off, you will experience more intense emotions. This is normal since the benzos suppress them. So I think it really helps if at the same time as coming off the meds you learn how to allow and tolerate these emotions - fear, sadness, anger, loneliness etc. etc. (whatever shows up).
If you fight the emotions, trying to change them or suppress them, then you will cause anxiety, which is why you went on the meds in the first place.
So really try to allow and not react to the increase in emotions or physical symptoms. These are not dangerous, just unpleasant.
Yes you can, Atenns2, providing you go at a snails's pace. It must be a marathon, not a race, this is very important. Let your body and its symptoms dictate how slow you withdraw.
I, personally, don't believe that there is a low dose of Clonazepam. It is a very powerful Benzodiazepine with a long half life.
Please check out this website, it was instrumental in helping me to come off of Clonazepam.
That is such a small dose . But if it makes you feel better, break the pill in half and then break it in 1/4. Take 3/4 of a pill for 2 weeks then half a pill for 2 weeks. Then 1/4 pill 2 weeks and you should be good. I think they want us to wean off all benzodiazepine or antidepressants.
If you can find a pill cutter, you can put your pill inside it, and it will precisely cut your pill for you without it crumbling, even if it's small. Can come in handy when you are reducing your dose. As the others said, take it very slow. Give your body a chance to adjust to one change before reducing again. If it were me, I'd be on the tiniest of doses before I stopped altogether, and even then I'd probably do an every other day sort of schedule. That's because I hate feeling shaky and anxious and want to reduce those symptoms as much as possible. It sounds like you will feel wonderful once you are off of it. I have nothing new to contribute but do wish you the very best and congratulate you on your courage and determination.
The Ashton method Agora mentioned is an absolutely trustworthy method of safely getting off Benzos. I've given you the link, share it with your doctor too.
I see you haven't locked your post. It'd be a good idea to lock it for all of our protection.
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xx
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