Tapering off Clonazepam on your own?

[[li...]]

Going up and down is not recommended.

 

There is no absolute need for both doses to be the same.

 

You're not crazy to try, but you may want to consider getting off completely. Especially if you want children. You're still young. It gets more difficult when you get older.

In my experience, staying at a dose below tolerance (I'm not saying that applies to you) is rough and will set you back physically or mentally.

 

I'm the last person on earth to promote anti-anxiety drugs, but clonazepam is such a dangerous drug that you may want to consider a different kind of anti-anxiety drug. Like an SSRI. Although I can see how that would be an issue when getting childeren.

If you could get off without major protracted withdrawal symptoms there is a chance you could take a benzo PRN. Clonazepam has a very long duration of action and a very long half life, according to sources 24-48 hours or 40-80 hours. It's not a good PRN drug.

 

Of course, no drugs is better

 

Don't try, just do it Easier said than done, though.

[[no...]]

Going up and down is not recommended.

 

There is no absolute need for both doses to be the same.

 

You're not crazy to try, but you may want to consider getting off completely. Especially if you want children. You're still young. It gets more difficult when you get older.

In my experience, staying at a dose below tolerance (I'm not saying that applies to you) is rough and will set you back physically or mentally.

 

I'm the last person on earth to promote anti-anxiety drugs, but clonazepam is such a dangerous drug that you may want to consider a different kind of anti-anxiety drug. Like an SSRI. Although I can see how that would be an issue when getting childeren.

If you could get off without major protracted withdrawal symptoms there is a chance you could take a benzo PRN. Clonazepam has a very long duration of action and a very long half life, according to sources 24-48 hours or 40-80 hours. It's not a good PRN drug.

 

Of course, no drugs is better

 

Don't try, just do it Easier said than done, though.

 

No offence Liberty  but taking a Benzo PRN is a really bad idea  :D the same as taking the dose up and down, even people that take Benzos sporadically and sparingly run in to big problems too.  :'( And its too late when you find out you're now in more trouble with WD, tolerance, or kindling. I was prescribed yet another Benzo PRN while already  in unknown tolerance WD  and it added to the whole mess.  This is common thats why its definitely recommended that once you get off Benzos never take another one again as one is enough to put some people back in to hell for many year's, and in some cases indefinitely

 

Love Nova XXX  :smitten:

 

 

[[se...]]

Children aren't happening for at least 4 years, haha, I just know how long the process can take so I'm thinking ahead. There's no room for kids when I barely have time to eat a proper meal, ha. I just don't want it to be a rushed process when the time comes is all, but at the same time I don't want to fall apart in nursing school which happens to "normal" people. School is my trigger.

 

I chickened out and took the normal dose thinking it'd be best to start next week. I looked at the notes from my last taper and the first week is a little brutal so a clear schedule seems wise. I'd be happy to get it down to 0.25 mg at night as opposed to 0.375 mg but we'll see what my body says. I'm inclined to just go down 1/8th rather than another 1/4 to be safe.

[[sh...]]

Children aren't happening for at least 4 years, haha, I just know how long the process can take so I'm thinking ahead. There's no room for kids when I barely have time to eat a proper meal, ha. I just don't want it to be a rushed process when the time comes is all, but at the same time I don't want to fall apart in nursing school which happens to "normal" people. School is my trigger.

 

I chickened out and took the normal dose thinking it'd be best to start next week. I looked at the notes from my last taper and the first week is a little brutal so a clear schedule seems wise. I'd be happy to get it down to 0.25 mg at night as opposed to 0.375 mg but we'll see what my body says. I'm inclined to just go down 1/8th rather than another 1/4 to be safe.

 

The sooner the better.  I took clonazepam for 10+ years.  It was not easy to get off completely but I am feeling better everyday since I did.  My anxiety does come up and it is very hard sometimes but I am able to see it and take care of it as it comes instead of having to take a pill that made me feel worse in the long run.

 

Good luck and stay strong!

sharkey

[[ba...]]

Congrats on getting through your first year of nursing school  , and for continuing to stick with a slow taper; even though there's some decent info here  and 'there' on the 'net mostly, I find I've still had to be my own personal lil' guinea pig for the most part.

 

Key for me has been slowing down and really listening to my body (as opposed to following strict schedules), and taking things as they come (as opposed to having pre-conceived notions and expectations).

 

It sounds like you've adjusted to TO by now; I'm about an hour away, and had an outpatient intake app't at CAMH. It was really interesting, and if going to TO didn't stress me so much  I would definitely have followed through! 

 

I had a consult with an addictions specialist doc, who prefers to taper his patients from clonazepam; if you ever want to use CAMH as a resource, I'm sure they'd be discreet, and helpful. Hey, and if it's not like you've got much free time, but drop by the 'Canadian, Eh' thread in the support section if you feel inclined!

 

Good luck with everything  !

[[se...]]

Thank you for the supportive messages!

 

I'm sorry for this delayed reply.

 

I too have been sticking to my feeling as opposed to what us nurses would call best practice which is to give a medication within half an hour of a prescribed time. Oops. I've always done this and not really noticed the consequences if I'm a few hours late. I'll psych myself out for sure, though.

 

CAMH would be a wonderful source! I think there's a possibility of doing a placement there later in school so I'd be a wee bit nervous about that association but it's worth a shot.

 

I didn't end up tapering that night! My signature is incorrect and I remain at 0.5 mg in the morning and 0.375 at night. I knew semester 2 would be insanity and I'm barely holding it together to be honest. I don't think I can touch the dose until spring time. I don't find myself super anxious perse but I know withdrawal would be a beast in addition to the condensed and strenuous practical nursing program. There's never a good time, but I feel like I'm on the verge of dropping into part time. Given school is my trigger, this might be the worst time to try.

[[se...]]

^ Those were some dark days! I did cut my program to part time and am happy I did. I'm now an RPN and didn't lose my sanity (entirely).

 

I've started another cut and have found dropping by 1/8th, as I did last year, is fairly manageable. I kept meticulous notes on the last cut so I have an idea what to expect. At the end of Day 3 I'm feeling fairly strong. Anxious as heck, but that started before the cut so not related.