Klonopin dependant and being forced to stop

[[wa...]]

Hello. I have been taking klonopin for nearly 6 years now. I started at 1mg back in early 09, then moved up to 2-4mg/daily. Presently, I am being prescribed 30-2mg per mth. I got into some legal problems and am being forced to stop taking them. Currently, I am fluxuating between 1mg to 2mg per day, depending on my anxiety level. I ran out of them several times in the 6 years and after about 2-4 days I was completely unable to function. I felt like I was losing my mind. Extreme paranoia, inability to concentrate on the most basic of tasks, totally unable to have any type of social interactions (much less work), unable to sleep or eat for days at a time, sweating, more. I was literally in hell. I have until around the 15th of January to be clean of them and I am terrified. If it were up to me, I would take them for the rest of my life, but the legal system here is very strict and will not even allow me to have a drs note to continue taking them so I have no choice but to stop. I also have paxil, which I rarely take. Klonopin take care of all of the issues so I see no need to take them. However, given this current situation, I am trying to ween down on the Klonopin and start the paxil. In anyones opinion, is this a good way to help with the nightmare when the klonopin is gone?

[Guest [Mi...]]

Hi, warbird281.

 

Welcome to benzobuddies. 

 

A month is not a long time to do a taper. I'm sorry you're in this situation. Are you able to stabilize on just 1 mg to start your taper? 

 

I'm not sure that Paxil will help with your taper or not. It can take awhile for SSRI's to work and they come with their own side effects. I'm posting the link to the Other Medications board below so you can get advice on this.

 

A good resource about benzodiazepines is the Ashton Manual. Here is a link to the manual: Professor Ashtons Manual  It’s great for learning about these meds and for taper plans. Ashton recommends reducing between 5 - 10% every 10/14 days.

 

You'll find a great community of people here who will support and encourage you. Feel free to check out the forum and to post to any of the dedicated boards.

 

In addition to the Ashton Manual, here are some other resources:

 

For tapering advice, post here: General Taper Plans

 

For support with any symptoms you may have, post here: Withdrawal Support

 

For information about Paxil, post here: Other Medications

 

Please add a signature (history of medication/doses etc). It will help members give you relevant advice. This link will show you how to Create a signature

 

Please let us know if you have any questions.

 

~ Mind

[[ME...]]

Warbird, I have a friend who took Paxil.  When she stopped it, all she wanted is to die.  Better find another medicine (and read about it), I also purchased Paxil because according to some sources, it is a very powerful SSRI.  But the withdrawal symptoms are as bad as Klonopin.  I keep my Paxil in the ref, not opened.  I do not have plan to take it.  Maybe you may consider stopping Paxil before it got a hold on you.  It is not advisable to gamble because you are struggling with Klonopin withdrawal symptoms and you are advised to stop it?

 

It took me 4 months going down from 1 mg to 0.1875 mg now.  Even 0.1875 mg cannot be stopped easily.  I have to do it slowly, it takes time for our brain to heal, recover, whatever it is.

 

 

[[wa...]]

Yes, I am stable on 1mg every 1-2 days or so. I have yet to try .5mg. At the moment I only have 1 2mg pill left, however my dr will give me a refill later this week, likely the last refill I will have for at least a year. As of this moment, going down to 1mg doesnt seem that much of a problem, running out of them completely is a serious problem however.

 

Before I started taking klonopin I was very socially isolated. When I started taking them slowly my world changed. I was able to live again. I just dont know if I will be able to function the same without them. I will be able to function, just not at this level. It is the withdrawl that really scares me though. I will look into the Ashtons manual. I have heard about it. Over the past month I have successfully gotten down from 2mg to 1mg with minor issues, but stopping them all together really scares me.

[[wa...]]

Warbird, I have a friend who took Paxil.  When she stopped it, all she wanted is to die.  Better find another medicine (and read about it), I also purchased Paxil because according to some sources, it is a very powerful SSRI.  But the withdrawal symptoms are as bad as Klonopin.  I keep my Paxil in the ref, not opened.  I do not have plan to take it.  Maybe you may consider stopping Paxil before it got a hold on you.  It is not advisable to gamble because you are struggling with Klonopin withdrawal symptoms and you are advised to stop it?

 

It took me 4 months going down from 1 mg to 0.1875 mg now.  Even 0.1875 mg cannot be stopped easily.  I have to do it slowly, it takes time for our brain to heal, recover, whatever it is.

 

Thanks for the insight. I guess I had better prepare for the living hell in a month. Ive considered asking my dr for 5-10mg of valium instead of the klonopin later this week. I have heard that this can sometimes be helpful for stopping, as it is less powerful. Given this circumstance, would that be a viable option?

[Guest [Mi...]]

Warbird, I have a friend who took Paxil.  When she stopped it, all she wanted is to die.  Better find another medicine (and read about it), I also purchased Paxil because according to some sources, it is a very powerful SSRI.  But the withdrawal symptoms are as bad as Klonopin.  I keep my Paxil in the ref, not opened.  I do not have plan to take it.  Maybe you may consider stopping Paxil before it got a hold on you.  It is not advisable to gamble because you are struggling with Klonopin withdrawal symptoms and you are advised to stop it?

 

It took me 4 months going down from 1 mg to 0.1875 mg now.  Even 0.1875 mg cannot be stopped easily.  I have to do it slowly, it takes time for our brain to heal, recover, whatever it is.

 

Thanks for the insight. I guess I had better prepare for the living hell in a month. Ive considered asking my dr for 5-10mg of valium instead of the klonopin later this week. I have heard that this can sometimes be helpful for stopping, as it is less powerful. Given this circumstance, would that be a viable option?

 

If you're trying to withdrawal in a month, you may not have time to do a cross over. You may wish to review your options in the Substitution Taper Plans forum.

 

Please keep in mind that 1 mg of Klonopin is equivalent to 20 mg of Valium. 

[[We...]]

Yes. Valium is the preferred benzo to crossover too. If you can obtain an Rx for that, it would be very good. Otherwise you'll have to stretch a 30 day supply of klonopin over about 3-months which is a rapid taper, generally 6-months or more is best.

 

I also get the same symptoms as you when I go a few days without my benzo, I cannot function and I am basically frozen in fear wherever I am.

 

Paxil works great for some, not for others. Takes 2-3 weeks to build-up in the system because it's a re-uptake inhibitor and not an agonist. This is why it doesn't have addicting properties. Withdrawal from paxil is much milder than a benzo in my experience.

[[wa...]]

Yes. Valium is the preferred benzo to crossover too. If you can obtain an Rx for that, it would be very good. Otherwise you'll have to stretch a 30 day supply of klonopin over about 3-months which is a rapid taper, generally 6-months or more is best.

 

I also get the same symptoms as you when I go a few days without my benzo, I cannot function and I am basically frozen in fear wherever I am.

 

Paxil works great for some, not for others. Takes 2-3 weeks to build-up in the system because it's a re-uptake inhibitor and not an agonist. This is why it doesn't have addicting properties. Withdrawal from paxil is much milder than a benzo in my experience.

 

That is for certain. I took 20mg of paxil for over a year and didnt have that much of a problem stopping them. They helped more for for depression than panic/anxiety for me. Just some shocks going down my body when stopping, but it was bareable. Klonopin on the other hand, frozen in fear is a perfect way to describe that, to say the least.

[[ME...]]

Yes. Valium is the preferred benzo to crossover too. If you can obtain an Rx for that, it would be very good. Otherwise you'll have to stretch a 30 day supply of klonopin over about 3-months which is a rapid taper, generally 6-months or more is best.

 

I also get the same symptoms as you when I go a few days without my benzo, I cannot function and I am basically frozen in fear wherever I am.

 

Paxil works great for some, not for others. Takes 2-3 weeks to build-up in the system because it's a re-uptake inhibitor and not an agonist. This is why it doesn't have addicting properties. Withdrawal from paxil is much milder than a benzo in my experience.

 

That is for certain. I took 20mg of paxil for over a year and didnt have that much of a problem stopping them. They helped more for for depression than panic/anxiety for me. Just some shocks going down my body when stopping, but it was bareable. Klonopin on the other hand, frozen in fear is a perfect way to describe that, to say the least.

 

Warbird, you are lucky, you have a good response to Paxil.  It is a new drug and some sources say it's powerful.  If you did not experience withdrawal symptoms then Paxil is for you.  It gives me an idea that it may also be good to me, and not as bad as I thought.  I have not tried it yet.

 

You can try cross-over to valium (the link is in Mindseeker post) or direct tapering whichever is best for you.  If Klonopin is not helpful to you, I think it is good to try Valium. 

 

Xanax is not good to me at all, but Klonopin can give me relief.

 

 

 

 

[[wa...]]

I suppose I am when it comes to paxil, however it does not relieve anxiey that well for me, works wonders for depession however, at least in my case. Klonopin on the other hand works wonders for both. I dont have much of a problem stopping paxil though. I know I am going to need to taper off of the klonopin, but a month likely isnt going to be enough. Im thinking it will be easier to stop if I get 1 mth script of diazepam, say 10mg x 30. I only have a mth to stop, no exceptions. 

[Guest [Mi...]]

I suppose I am when it comes to paxil, however it does not relieve anxiey that well for me, works wonders for depession however, at least in my case. Klonopin on the other hand works wonders for both. I dont have much of a problem stopping paxil though. I know I am going to need to taper off of the klonopin, but a month likely isnt going to be enough. Im thinking it will be easier to stop if I get 1 mth script of diazepam, say 10mg x 30. I only have a mth to stop, no exceptions. 

 

1 mg of Klonopin is equal to 20 mg of Valium, so I'd really try to aim for that dose if you are going to do a crossover. I'm concerned that you may not have time to stabilize on a new benzo due to your need to be off in a month.

 

Some members (including myself) were able to dry cut Klonopin and come off. So that might be an option.