Posted by cubbybear on August 2, 2003, at 7:49:44
In reply to Re: Can we talk about Klonopin? correction » Squiggles » cubbybear, posted by Squiggles on August 2, 2003, at 6:45:27
> Good luck cubbybear,
>
> I didn't mean to scare you. If you have
> not been taking it as long, and you take
> a very slow taper, it is unlikely you will
> get those w/d symptoms. If you are under
> the care of a dr., perhaps he or she can
> help you with the aid of another benzo
> to withdraw.
>
> If you like, send me a copy of your progress
> as you get there. I would be happy to
> see how you are doing. Again, i think
> i am the exception for *such* a bad withdrawal.
>
> SquigglesThanks so much for your caring. We haven't communicated in the past, so I'll give you the scoop on the Klonopin for me. I presently live in Thailand (and plan to return to L.A. by early next year. Klonopin is called Rivotril here.) I was put on 4 mg/day for my insomnia exactly one year ago (when I was severely depressed). Initially, I was tapering at the rate of .25 mg every 7 days but ran into a rotten kind of anxiety withdrawal when I got to 2.50 mg. I had to quit on this idiot doctor,who was hell bent on rushing me along, and he refused to write a script to let me backpedal or even stay at that dosage. My present pdoc is just the opposite of a benzophobe: he's a real cold fish who seems like a big nothing and he sees nothing wrong with a person who's prone to anxiety to stay on Klonopin indefinitely. I personally want to quit it so I can rely entirely on the anxiolytic qualities of my anti-depressant, Parnate and to be free of having to make the Klonopin purchases and spend money for the doctor visits.
I got a bit off on a digression here--but the thing is, that when I encountered the withdrawal anxiety, I decided to cut the tapering to .125 mg every 7 days. I'm now planning on going to 1.625 mg tonight and spacing my decreases to every 10 days. You can see how slow a taper this is, but I seem to be quite sensitive. Apparently this drug really got a hold on me and so I want to go at a snail's pace to avoid withdrawal anxiety or other problems as much as possible. Now you know the story. Thanks again, Squiggles.
poster:cubbybear
thread:246977
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030802/msgs/247541.html