Posted by JohnM on May 27, 2001, at 16:44:33
In reply to Re: Is there life after Klonopin? » lawrence s., posted by Paige on May 26, 2001, at 6:52:01
Lawrence and Paige:
Klonopin has never been known to have "anti-depressant" properties, to me at least. It has taken the "edge" off my anxiety, but it tends to flatten my emotions, which I've decided I don't want to tolerate anymore. I've tried other benzos but I like the longer duration of Klonopin. I just don't think benzos are a solution for the long run (say longer than 3 or 4 years).
You can get off Klonopin, but if you go too fast you will be left feeling neurotic. I believe the body has to be coaxed slowly into producing its own GABA (or whatever neurotransmitter it promotes) by backing off the dose VERY slowly.
I feel I have resolved most of my "issues" through cognitive (rational-emotive) therapy and I've learned to accept the limitations my life may have (social inhibition, etc.) Oh well, I can still lead a pretty good life--drug free.
I once stopped taking Klonopin when I had reached a dose of about 1/4 tablet of .5mg, 2 or 3 times a day.
IT DIDN'T WORK.
I hung in there for a year without returning to the Klonopin, waiting for my body to "adjust" and feel normal. IT DIDN'T HAPPEN. I was barely functional for work and felt quite "neurotic" the whole year.
Klonopin is a very potent medicine--it's really meant to control seizures.
At present I'm taking 1/32 of .5 tablet 3 or 4 times a day and I know I'm going to make it. I'm going reduce to zero pretty soon--I have a two week vacation coming up for the last step.
For some chance it doesn't work, I'm willing to look into "compounding" the Klonopin into liquid form (by way of a pharmacist) into perhaps 1/64th etc., but I don't think that will be necessary.
FYI - to cut Klonopin into 1/32: cut it into eighths with a pill splitter, bite the edge of the eighth off to give you 1/16th, take that piece and bite it in half again. Swallow. It'll be a crumb.
I would suggest taking your sweet time between dose reductions--I'm talking a month or more.
Additional advice: Come to peace with your life situation. Join a couple of clubs to meet people who might help you find that peace. SMART Recovery (a cognitive recovery group for dependency problems) would be one suggestion.
Good luck!
poster:JohnM
thread:64301
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010522/msgs/64441.html