need help with taper

[[br...]]

Hello all,

 

I have been taking 8-10 mgs of clonazepam for a long time and have just begun my taper period.  I am very worried about how this is going to go.  Any help would be appreciated.  I suffer from panic disorder but am aware that the amount I am taking is excessive.

[[br...]]

Also, I know that the dose I am taking is no longer helping anyways and I am constantly anxious.

 

[[be...]]

Hi brad114411 Welcome to BenzoBuddies!

 

It sounds like you perhaps have reached tolerance....where the dose that you once took no longer has the same effect. Yes, you are on a high dose, but many of us here got to a dose that high because of long term use. I took benzodiazepines and by the time I got off I was on 8mg of Ativan, which is equivalent to your dose. I got off the wrong way and that was a cold turkey withdrawal. I promise you that you do not want to do that. I think that if you come up with a slow sensible taper that you can help minimize withdrawal symptoms.

 

You might like to check out The Ashton Manual it 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.

 

Please feel free to post to any of the dedicated boards, we have a wonderful community of people here, who will give sound advice. Members have been through all aspects of benzodiazepine use and withdrawal and are more than willing to share their experiences.

 

Withdrawal Support (during your taper)

 

 

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! 

 

benzos-R-cruel

 

[[ba...]]

Hi Bradley

 

i hope your having a good day so far i was successfull quitting xanax 7 weeks ago i made it by reducing my dose really small like  0.125 or smaller decreases activating and exercise helped me alot for withdrawals to be not so bad , welcome again i wish you the best of luck . i think you'll enjoy being here bradley its a nice friendly community here.nice to meet you,

katie

[[De...]]

Hello brad114411,

 

I too would like to welcome you to the forum 

 

Quite likely you have reached tolerance with your clonazepam dosage. This is quite a common scenario with benzos and dose escalation often results so beginning a taper would be a good option for you at this stage.

 

General tapering guidelines for somebody who has been taking benzos long term, that is a few months or more are to reduce the daily dose by between 5% and 10% every 10 to 14 days according to how you are feeling. Some members taper a little quicker than this and some slower but certainy slow tapering is the way to go to ensure that the withdrawal effects are kept minimised.

 

Here is a link to The General Taper Plan board where you can post for assistance with a tapering plan :

 

http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?board=56.0

 

 

Please try not to worry about the taper in advance, I know that's quite a normal thing to do, I was also very wary before I began tapering wondering what to expect and how I'd cope but truthfully my taper overall was very manageable and I remained functional throughout. As long as you take it nice and slowly I'm sure you'll fare well.

 

I'm glad you found us and I wish you success with the taper.

 

Debbie

[[ME...]]

Hi brad114411,

 

I am still taking Clonazepam.  I am doing direct tapering.  Now at 0.375 mg.

 

Two years ago, I was taking 1 mg daily, after 2 years I develop tolerance, and I am taking 2 or 4 mg sometimes.

 

I decided to quit (by slow tapering).

 

When I reached 0.5 mg,  I speed up and had serious withdrawal symptoms again.

 

When I took 2 mg of Clonazepam, it is effective again.  The tolerance was "reversed".

 

I am not telling that we should go back again to high dosage.

 

I just want to share one of the good things that tapering could bring. 

 

It will allow our brain to heal slowly.  Needs time.

 

MEexpat

 

 

[[br...]]

Thank you all for the warm welcome and helpful suggestions.  I actually was taking about 11 mgs per day for a 20 day period before realizing that I could not function.  I am now at 6-7 per day and am really motivated but afraid.  I really dont like the shortness of breath and heart palpitations much. 

 

Love to you all and best of luck!

 

Brad

 

[[ca...]]

Wellcome~ Brad, i have been on 4 mgs of Klonopin for almost 20 years and started a taper with Valium added was doing ok but was feeling a withdrawl but no managable but today i hit the hell of withdrawls i believe i am going to fast so from what i hear is go slow and your body will tell you when it`s time to move on or hold . I am on a smaller cut right now as went down over half my Klonopin dose with a little Valium thrown in in 2 months and i think i went to fast ? So my advice is slow !!!! And i have a good Doc but i swear she is trying to kill me lol ! Any questions you can allways PM me ! Remember we got ourselves in this mes we CAN get ourselves out !

[[ME...]]

Brad,

 

As the dose goes higher, the backlash gets more intense.  High dosage sometimes does  not give benefit anymore other than being drowsy and oblivious to anything.  4 mg made me feel like intoxicated. 

 

Try your best to regain balance (for now I think it is still by using Klonopin, at the dose that will help you).

 

I failed 15 times, but I guess I had some degree of healing on every attempts to taper down.  Then finally, my taper went slowly and smoothly from 1 mg downwards.

 

Expat