Having trouble with the last step of taper

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Hello,

My name is Katie.  The most inspirational and helpful info throughout my taper journey has come from reading various posts on this website as a guest.  I decided to join today because I need some advise and support as I finish the last step of my klonopin taper.  I was prescribed xanex 3 times a day indefinitely for anxiety and insomnia in December 2013 following my daughter's surgery to remove a brain tumor.  I was first prescribed lexapro but experienced extreme sleeplessness and strong palpitations within 2 weeks of starting the medication.  I was labeled

'Allergic' to lexapro by my provider and stopped immediately.  The insomnia did not resolve and after 2 weeks I was put on 3 times a day xanex.  I quickly started experiencing withdrawl symptoms between doses and wanted to stop the med.  iInstead, my psychiatrist upped the dose and said 'be strong and take it.'  I did a lot of research and after almost 3 months of feeling terrible I changed doctors and was switch to klonopin to begin a taper.  I received little direction on how to taper and my first attempt was much too fast...about 4 weeks to taper off from an original dose of 3mg a day.  After 12 days off klonopin I developed severe insomnia that was accompanied by all over muscle twitching.  I was put back on a dose (can't remember exactly how much...about 1.25 mg per day) until I stabilized and then I resumed the taper.  I have been completing the 2nd taper since may.  I am now taking half of .125mg tablet per day.  The last 2 dose reductions have resulted in a lot of withdrawl symptoms....primarily insomnia which presents as physical over excitation and causes me to be unable to fall asleep and need to pee sometimes every 30 min.  Last night I slept for an hour.  I am 4 days into my current dose.  What should I do?  Is it common to have such trouble at the end if taper.  My reductions have been by 1/2 of a .125mg tablet every two weeks...sometimes a bit longer if I did not feel stable.  Thank you very much for reading my story.  Taking and stopping this medication has been the hardest personal struggle of my life.

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Hi In the home stretch.  Welcome to the forum, we're glad you found us!  It is very common for people to start having symptoms as they near the end of their taper. Some will taper even more slowly at that point. But these symptoms are temporary, and will go away as you heal.  Here are a few links you'll find useful:

 

General Taper Plans

 

Withdrawal Support (during your taper).

 

The Ashton Manual is an authoritative source on what to expect in withdrawal and recovery.  Dr. Ashton is an expert in the field.  She describes and explains withdrawal symptoms, and there is also a section with withdrawal/taper schedules.

 

Please take the time to Create a Signature.  This will allow others to see where you are in the process so they can better support you.

 

Again, welcome!

 

 

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Hi In the Home Stretch,

And congratulations on doing such a great job tapering so far.  You have come a long way!

 

I understand about how difficult it is trying to make small enough cuts from Klonopin once you are down to a very low dose.  It is for this reason that some members follow the Ashton Manual recommendation to cross over to valium in order to have an easier taper than from very potent drugs like Klonopin.  I strongly suggest reading about this so that you have information on another option rather than trying to continue tapering from the K. 

 

I personally found tapering from the valium after crossing over from K the right choice for me, and though there are many members here who have successfully tapered all the way down from Klonopin, I wanted you to have another option to consider.  If you want to ask questions from some members who have made the cross over and find out about their experiences you can find it in the Support Groups Board at this link http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?board=147.0

 

Whatever method you choose I hope the rest of your taper goes well and that you are free from benzos soon