Posted by yxibow on October 18, 2008, at 19:29:39
In reply to Re: Want to taper down on my valium- Advice, posted by cactus on October 18, 2008, at 6:35:16
> Does anyone else know much about the phenobarbital detox program? I'd like to reduce my 6mg of clonazepam a day, down to .5 or 1 mg and I was wondering if this is a good method to do so. I will probably need to stay on some kind of dose for medical reasons but I'd like to do it quickly. Does anyone think this is a good idea or should I just do a slow taper. I generally don't suffer to badly from benzo withdrawals, I'm very lucky in that respect compared to SSRI withdrawal. SSRI withdrawal is always living hell for me. I did manage to get to 4mg of clonazepam a while back but it took 2 month and I had no side effects/withdrawals at all during that time.
>
> Is it worth looking into? Slow or fast, what do you think?I'm not quite sure what you're referring to about the "phenobarbital detox" -- you want to replace klonopin with a rather dangerous medication while withdrawing ? There's a reason why benzodiazepines were created so people wouldn't overdose or commit suicide -as much- on a prescribed dose.
As for wanting to reduce the klonopin, if you feel you've habituated and it isn't useful any more or you don't like feeling overmedicated, I don't see any reason why not.
You're not going to be able to do it "quickly" and be able to withstand the anxiety or even possibly have seizures. 6mg is a considerable dose, I have gotten up over 4mg before switching to Valium and it hasn't been easy to taper.
Realistically, unless you want to be in a hospital for many weeks to an unknown period, its something that will have to be tapered outpatient, by yourself, over months. You just can't go down like that especially after being on it for a period of time.
Hot flashes from the fight or flight system, diarrhea, neurological problems, all sorts of things can happen dropping something fast or even cold, which would be playing with fire.
The best rule is still about 10% per week, give or take, maybe more if you can stand it, maybe less if you have to backtrack, and there is -NOTHING- wrong with having to go back up because your functionality has reduced so much that you cannot stand it. It will still be there, and you'll just have to go slower.
Is this something your doctor recommended or you just feel that it is time. Because you should do it with your doctor if that is what you wish to do.
Its what I have anyhow, and yes, it has taken months to half my Valium.
-- best wishes
Jay
poster:yxibow
thread:856627
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20081016/msgs/858163.html