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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 25. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by capepuffin on December 18, 2003, at 19:50:02
Hi I am new to this board and any advice would be greatly appreciated!
I started taking Klonopin 9 yrs ago for anxiety/major depression. I am currently on .5mg daily. I tried 3 times now to get off of this and I can't! I have done it sooooo gradual cutting it in half and taking for a couple of months etc... When I completely stop it I get flu like symptoms, shaking that do not subside. I figured this one out myself after my 1st tapering off experience. After 2 weeks of being off of the klonopin I was still really sick and getting sicker. My husband suggested that it might be the klonopin that I had stopped. So I took .5mg and within hrs I was fine!
Now this really concerned me. I have gotten to the point where I think that I have to stay on this for the rest of my life! I don't know what to do. Please help!
Thanks!
Cape
Posted by krazybirdlady on December 18, 2003, at 20:17:57
In reply to Klonopin withdrawal HELP!, posted by capepuffin on December 18, 2003, at 19:50:02
yes, for benzos, two weeks is the rule of thumb..not like opiates where 48 to 72 hrs. is the worst. benzos take about 2 weeks...if flu-like symptoms are your worst..then that's not that bad...ride it out...after 14 days it will start to improve....
Posted by judy1 on December 21, 2003, at 19:57:06
In reply to Klonopin withdrawal HELP!, posted by capepuffin on December 18, 2003, at 19:50:02
I agree with riding it out. klonopin is a benzo with a very long half-life and once you get down to the lower doses (and 0.5mg/day is low) all you can do is quit and ride it out. I've taken as much as 6 mg/day and tapered down 10% week until .5 when I quit (I was pregnant). Except for insomnia and some nausea it wasn't too bad. You have to taper at the higher doses because of risk of seizures, but at your dose most docs will either say go to .25 and quit or just stop at .5
best of luck- judy
Posted by capepuffin on December 21, 2003, at 20:30:09
In reply to Re: Klonopin withdrawal HELP! » capepuffin, posted by judy1 on December 21, 2003, at 19:57:06
Thank you for your responses! My doc seems to think that my withdrawal is due to me being overly sensitive to meds. I know that I am on a low dose, but I still get bad withdrawal symptoms. I will try again after the holidays. Thanks for your support!
Cape
Posted by Phil on December 24, 2003, at 22:40:47
In reply to Re: Klonopin withdrawal HELP!, posted by capepuffin on December 21, 2003, at 20:30:09
There was a Klonopin thread a few years ago that someone mentioned sanding down their pill a little more each week. You might do that and escape most WD.
Posted by krazybirdlady on December 26, 2003, at 17:08:08
In reply to Re: Klonopin withdrawal HELP!, posted by capepuffin on December 21, 2003, at 20:30:09
benzos can be a real pain. even if you are on a relatively low dose (which you are), it can still take up to 2 (even 3) weeks to completely get over the withdrawl. considering that you were on them for so long (9 yrs.), then your body will fight against giving them up. they are funny as you can feel better after 3 days without, then feel horrible for 1 week, then feel better, then feel horrible...etc. they don't give up their grasp easily..if after 3 weeks without, and you still feel bad, then see a DR. for non-benzo relief...
Posted by capepuffin on December 26, 2003, at 17:25:51
In reply to benzos are tricky..., posted by krazybirdlady on December 26, 2003, at 17:08:08
What can a doc give for 'non-benzo' relief?
I like the sanding down the pill idea too! What a pain these meds are, wish I knew about this before I started on them!
> benzos can be a real pain. even if you are on a relatively low dose (which you are), it can still take up to 2 (even 3) weeks to completely get over the withdrawl. considering that you were on them for so long (9 yrs.), then your body will fight against giving them up. they are funny as you can feel better after 3 days without, then feel horrible for 1 week, then feel better, then feel horrible...etc. they don't give up their grasp easily..if after 3 weeks without, and you still feel bad, then see a DR. for non-benzo relief...
Posted by krazybirdlady on December 26, 2003, at 18:01:17
In reply to Re: benzos are tricky... » krazybirdlady, posted by capepuffin on December 26, 2003, at 17:25:51
well...over the counter sleep aids..(MIGHT) do something..but probably not..the DR> might prescribe a tricyclic anti-depressant at a low dose. this should work considering that you are on such a low dose of benzo now. are you still suffering the effects? or are you taking your benzo regularly again? a tricyclic antidepressant is probably not habit forming at the dose you would require it at..
Posted by capepuffin on December 29, 2003, at 23:37:46
In reply to Re: benzos are tricky..., posted by krazybirdlady on December 26, 2003, at 18:01:17
I am still taking my benzos! I just started reducing 2 nights ago. I use to be on anti trycles a long time ago. I use to take pamelor. I will see how this goes. If I can just get through those couple of weeks! Last time I was completely off for a good 2 weeks! But as the 2 weeks progressed I was getting worse not better! At that time I did not even relate it to withdrawal (as I stated in original post) just the flu but it was horrible! More than just your average flu, shaking and sweating and nervousness, dizziness that was untolerable! I thought that I was gonna die! That is why I am here asking so many questions.
I don't want to be on this med for the rest of my life! The doc says that it is helping me even if I don't realise it! That is crap because I know that after 9 yrs it is doing nothing, it does not even show up in my blood! I feel that now it only has a neg. impact on me and my body!
Posted by krazybirdlady on December 30, 2003, at 19:37:16
In reply to Re: benzos are tricky..., posted by capepuffin on December 29, 2003, at 23:37:46
wow, that is a long time to still be feeling that bad. there is one other possibility out there. it is called trazodone..it is an AD, but has very sedating properties so alot of docs prescribe it to people who are coming off benzos. may be worth a shot..
Posted by nobodyz on January 5, 2004, at 3:19:32
In reply to Re: benzos are tricky..., posted by krazybirdlady on December 30, 2003, at 19:37:16
Just an idea: I went off Klonopin after 14 years of use (lowering doses down to .5 2x a day for last 5 years) by going on a medication called neurontin. Neurontin happened to be a total failure for me (extreme constipation) but I never had such an easy time going off Klonopin!
Always always always check with your prescribing doctor as well as your pharmacist for drug interactions with ALL meds you take. Great link for checking drug interactions on this site.
http://health.discovery.com/encyclopedias/checker/checker.jsp:)
Posted by capepuffin on January 5, 2004, at 23:00:10
In reply to Re: benzos are tricky..., posted by nobodyz on January 5, 2004, at 3:19:32
Thanks for all of the advice and support!
No did you ever try to go off of klonopin before or was this your first time going off it? If it wasn't your first time did you have any withdrawal problems prior to you final farewell to klonopin?
My doc did prescribe Nuerotin for me once but I never filled the prescription. I am to scared that I will get addicted to something else! As I recall My doc said that you tend to lose weight on nuerotin. For me that would be an advantage. Did you lose any weight or did your doc ever say anything to you about this?
Posted by Mandybella on January 25, 2004, at 19:46:50
In reply to Re: benzos are tricky..., posted by capepuffin on January 5, 2004, at 23:00:10
I just finished detoxing from ambien and klonopin. I was on a phenobarb withdrawal protocol that also included the drug neurontin and had very little withdrawal problems. But seizures can be a concern with withdrawal and klonopin is listed as one of the hardest drugs to withdraw from. So I would get a doctor's advice before trying to get off this drug. I am home and 25 days later I am ok but still with headaches and body aches and a feeling at times of being "spacy'. I am told this will all go away with time. I am still on neurontin for another month.
Posted by shiraz on March 6, 2004, at 14:07:34
In reply to Re: benzos are tricky..., posted by Mandybella on January 25, 2004, at 19:46:50
My 2c: There have been several periods lasting a
few months where I have been on small daily doses
(usually 0.5 mg) of Klonopin. I have always
found it difficult but not impossible to withdraw.
Going from 0.25 mg every 24 hours
to 0.25 every 48 hours as my doctor suggests is
too drastic for me. But this type of taper works:
if I am taking, say, 0.5 mg every
night then I will switch to 0.25 mg every 12 hours
and eventually stop taking the morning dose.
Then when I am ready I will reduce from 0.25 mg
every night to half that in the same way.
I wonder why the pills don't come in smaller
denominations?
Posted by capepuffin on March 6, 2004, at 19:51:27
In reply to Re: slow taper, posted by shiraz on March 6, 2004, at 14:07:34
That is a great idea. I never thought of that and it makes perfect sense! Thank you I am going to do just that.
Posted by rianna on March 9, 2004, at 20:26:53
In reply to Re: slow taper, posted by shiraz on March 6, 2004, at 14:07:34
That is great advise. I am stuck at .5 somedays can go to .25. I have a problem ever since I started going off this. I am dizzy and foggy headed 24/7 no joke. 24/7. Has anyone felt like this while going off Klonopin?
Posted by capepuffin on March 9, 2004, at 23:56:35
In reply to Re: slow taper, posted by rianna on March 9, 2004, at 20:26:53
Yes very common! Klonopin is highly addicting and when you try to taper down your mg's you may experience unwanted withdrawal symptoms. Just make sure that you taper very slow! Do not just stop the klonopin cold turkey! You will regret it!
> That is great advise. I am stuck at .5 somedays can go to .25. I have a problem ever since I started going off this. I am dizzy and foggy headed 24/7 no joke. 24/7. Has anyone felt like this while going off Klonopin?
Posted by rianna on March 10, 2004, at 19:53:04
In reply to Re: slow taper, posted by capepuffin on March 9, 2004, at 23:56:35
> Yes very common! Klonopin is highly addicting and when you try to taper down your mg's you may experience unwanted withdrawal symptoms. Just make sure that you taper very slow! Do not just stop the klonopin cold turkey! You will regret it!
>
> > That is great advise. I am stuck at .5 somedays can go to .25. I have a problem ever since I started going off this. I am dizzy and foggy headed 24/7 no joke. 24/7. Has anyone felt like this while going off Klonopin?
>
> Thankyou I am tappering slowly how long does this foggy head last?
Posted by capepuffin on March 10, 2004, at 20:02:02
In reply to Re: slow taper, posted by rianna on March 10, 2004, at 19:53:04
Everyone is different so that is hard to say. It could be a couple of weeks or months or years. It depends on how long you have taken the Klonopin and your body makeup.
> > Yes very common! Klonopin is highly addicting and when you try to taper down your mg's you may experience unwanted withdrawal symptoms. Just make sure that you taper very slow! Do not just stop the klonopin cold turkey! You will regret it!
> >
> > > That is great advise. I am stuck at .5 somedays can go to .25. I have a problem ever since I started going off this. I am dizzy and foggy headed 24/7 no joke. 24/7. Has anyone felt like this while going off Klonopin?
> >
> > Thankyou I am tappering slowly how long does this foggy head last?
>
>
Posted by shiraz on March 11, 2004, at 7:26:42
In reply to Re: slow taper, posted by capepuffin on March 10, 2004, at 20:02:02
Your symptoms sound like they could be just a result of long-term
Klonopin use rather than withdrawal.Klonopin has
a short half-life compared to valium so tapering
is probably more difficult but the hang-over after
you are finished should be much shorter. I have
never had any long term effects from withdrawal
myself but withdrawing from a 0.5 mg dose takes
me several weeks. A practical point: you need a
very sharp knife (eg an exacto) to cut a 0.5 mg
pill in 4.
> Everyone is different so that is hard to say. It could be a couple of weeks or months or years. It depends on how long you have taken the Klonopin and your body makeup.
>
> > > Yes very common! Klonopin is highly addicting and when you try to taper down your mg's you may experience unwanted withdrawal symptoms. Just make sure that you taper very slow! Do not just stop the klonopin cold turkey! You will regret it!
> > >
> > > > That is great advise. I am stuck at .5 somedays can go to .25. I have a problem ever since I started going off this. I am dizzy and foggy headed 24/7 no joke. 24/7. Has anyone felt like this while going off Klonopin?
> > >
> > > Thankyou I am tappering slowly how long does this foggy head last?
> >
> >
>
>
Posted by Rianna on March 11, 2004, at 9:53:41
In reply to Re: slow taper, posted by shiraz on March 11, 2004, at 7:26:42
Thank you both for your advise I feel much better now. I cut my pills in 4 last night and hopefully I can get through this. I have only been on it for 3 years. The fuzziness started a year ago when I started taking 2mg. I then cut back slowly over the last 6 mos to the .5 and that feeling never has gone away. It really is a pain because it keeps me from doing anything I like to do. Anyway Thanks again you all have been great.
Posted by shiraz on March 11, 2004, at 10:53:23
In reply to Re: slow taper, posted by Rianna on March 11, 2004, at 9:53:41
Rianna,
I never took Klonopin for more than a few months so
your experience may turn out to be different from
mine. Remember though that lots of people do succeed
in getting off benzos. Its unfortunate that the
horror stories get much more attention, but that's
just human nature :)
Posted by krazybirdlady on March 31, 2004, at 16:06:05
In reply to Re: slow taper, posted by shiraz on March 11, 2004, at 10:53:23
as we all know benzos are the hardest drug to come off of and the last cut is the deepest (so to speak)...as i have learned..valium is the best drug for vapering due to its very long half-life. as well it's very low dosage amounts. check out benzo.org.uk and click on the Ashton Manual for tapering schedules...
Posted by kaseyintrouble on July 12, 2006, at 15:15:02
In reply to Re: slow taper, posted by capepuffin on March 10, 2004, at 20:02:02
Hi,
I am 33 years old and was prescribed Klonopin in
December. I have suffered from occassional panic
attacks and minimal anxiety in the past. I saw a
commercial for paxil when I was 27 and decided to
try it. It simply caused weight gain and didn't really work so I took myself off it easily. I was doing fine, with maybe one panic attack a month, for three years and then had a major panic attack. I went to my regular doctor and he said let's try Lexapro. That made it worse so I called him and he called in a prescription for xanax. The bottle said take every 4-6 hours. It did work so I called him and asked if I should keep taking it. He said sure if it's working so I did for two years..but then it did not work as well and I decided to go to a psych. to go off it.
The guy talked me into not going off anything but trying Klonopin. He said it works longer and sleep won't be a problem. I actually thought I was switching to a low key drug. However, I have been on it since December and noticed a lack of sleep and more anxiety a month ago. I again asked to get off it but he said no let's just up your dose to 3 mg. I was on 2 since December and that was the starting dose. I hesitantly agreed and things went from bad to really bad. I didn't know why at first..but I was crying for no reason and felt weird, moody, and slept even less. I finally realized it must have been the dose increase and went to him two days ago to say I'm not staying on this drug. He tried to tell me I'm on such a low dose, which I have researched and I'm not, and then said you probably just suffer from depression. I had never been depressed before so I told him that is not the case it's got to be these meds. I said whether you like it or not I've read that a 10 percent decrease can get me off it. I have been doing that since; however, reading the mess. boards and doing more research has freaked me out. I already feel even more weird but am determined to get off it because I was so much happier before I took any drug. I used to be able to sleep and now I can't. It's weird because I am actually a psychologist and should have researched what the doctor's were putting me on but I trusted them. I am a school psychologist so I really don't deal
with meds. I just want to know is it possible for me to get off this in 30 days which is what I'm trying to do without feeling so out of sorts?
Posted by tug_slug on July 23, 2006, at 5:09:00
In reply to Re: slow taper, posted by kaseyintrouble on July 12, 2006, at 15:15:02
Kasey,
Klonopin is extremely hard to taper off of only because of the short half life.
Check out the site below, they should be able to point you in the right direction.
This is the end of the thread.
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