How does one know when it's the right time to taper?

[[cs...]]

I have only been on benzos for approx two mos. (and out of that, only a month of consistent use of Klonopin) and after all the horrible experiences I read left and right here even with short term use like this one [http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=69492.0], I am terrified and want to get off ASAP before I build tolerance, etc. But the bottom line question is: how do I know my original underlying anxiety is resolved or not so I can safely taper off? Here's my original post: http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=119085.msg1563435#msg1563435

 

If you read my story, you can see that I've already suffered enough with anxiety caused by interactions I had from blood pressure meds to begin with and now have to go through it even worse from another med? I never had any anxiety or mental issues before any of this. It was all caused from meds and now I inherit another problem getting offs meds to try an get relief from the original problem. Madness! 

 

I was also put on Lamictal as a mood stabilizer with the idea that the benzo (Klonopin) would only be temporary until the Lamictal kicks in. I've been on 100mg of Lamictal for a month now and can't tell if it's doing anything good or bad. My doc made one solid point in that the underlying anxiety symptoms need to be controlled first before attempting a taper and I needed to understand that, so, it wasn't until about 10 days ago that my symptoms finally started to stabilize, but we had to up the dose of the Klonopin to 0.5mg twice daily which I will have been on for two weeks by the time I have my next appt. with him which is this Fri. Prior to this, I had only been using Klonopin 0.25mg twice daily for two weeks and was symptomatic. He felt a lot of those symptoms were withdrawals from the prior benzos which I no longer use (Valium, Xanax took intermittently for about 6 weeks).

 

Every time it's time to take my dose, I feel like I'm putting one foot deeper in the rabbit hole. How much longer must I stay on it?

 

Trying to get a handle on this ahead of time and maybe putting the cart before the horse and worrying myself up a storm before it even happens as I realize that just the anxiety about coming off it will make it worse. Maybe I should stop reading these posts?

 

What would take 90% of that worry away is if I knew the underlying imbalance that caused my anxiety and nervous system to go out of whack in the first place was resolved and just manage the taper knowing any symptoms are NOT me.

 

Hate to be a whiner here, but all this is still scaring the is the sh*t out of me.

 

All advice & suggestions welcome.

[[be...]]

Benzodiazepines are not meant to take for more than a couple of weeks so several reasons. Long term they are not effective. Many of us got on such high does because we reached tolerance over and over and our doses had to be increased. Anxiety typically increases each time tolerance is reached. Secondly, they are highly addictive, and one can develop a dependency quite quickly. They sometimes can be very difficult to withdraw from. To minimize symptoms a taper should be done. The recommended reduction rate is 5 to 10 percent every two weeks.

[[ca...]]

Like  benzos-R -cruel has said they are for short term use i have been on Klonopin for almost 20 years and before i started my C/O and taper to Valium 2 months ago i was up to 4mgs of K a day and was actually having tolorance withdrawl so it was either start to get off it or up my dose !so i chose to start getting off so my advice is get off before you need more and more and end up like me  Best of luck !

[[cs...]]

Like  benzos-R -cruel has said they are for short term use i have been on Klonopin for almost 20 years and before i started my C/O and taper to Valium 2 months ago i was up to 4mgs of K a day and was actually having tolorance withdrawl so it was either start to get off it or up my dose !so i chose to start getting off so my advice is get off before you need more and more and end up like me  Best of luck !

 

Yes, know all this and more, however, how does one address the underlying anxiety if it remains??

[[ca...]]

csm2014,  ! Very good question alot of time no one seems to answer post kinda gets me wonder where is the support here ? !!!!!!