Tapering away and looking to share my journey

[[No...]]

22 years on SSRI then stopped them five years ago.  Took two years to come off.  Ten years on Klonopin 3 mgs.  Down to 1 mg 3 years ago.  Just started going from 1mg to tapper off.  Starting with my physicians help taking .5 mg 1 day a week for a month, then for the next seven months switching out days until i'm taking .5mgs each day from 1 mg a day.  Then will start .25mg a week lower for a month the same period.  Looking for support and sharing my story.

[[me...]]

Hello NotBroken.  Welcome to the forum, we're glad you found us!  Congratulations on your taper so far.  We generally recommend tapering about 5-10% every 10-14 days, though individual rates vary.  Here are a few links you may find useful:

 

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!

 

 

[[De...]]

Hello NotBroken,

 

Welcome to the forum from me too 

 

Congratulations on your taper so far!

 

Unless I'm reading your Introduction incorrectly it sounds like you may not be dosing daily. If this is the case it might be an idea to make a point of taking your dose every day as inconsistent dosing will confuse your brain and can contribute to interdose withdrawal symptoms which basically means withdrawal effects can be experienced between doses. It is important to try to keep the blood benzo level as smooth as possible, this makes for a smoother taper.

 

Tapering slowly and carefully is the way to go after long term benzo use, within the guidelines that Megan has given you. You'll be given plenty of support and tapering assistance, if need be, here.

 

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

 

Debbie

[[No...]]

wow, what a warm welcome.

 

Thank you for the links and references.

 

To clarify my post a bit more.

 

46 year old male as of today.

 

18-40 years old - Anafranil 250mgs a day - for depression

35-40 years old - Klonopin 3mgs a day a day for anxiety

18-40 CBT - For panic and depression from a doctor (Cognitive based Therapy)

 

40-43 years old - taper off Anafranil 250mgs to 0 mgs.

41-43 years old - taper off Klonopin 3mgs a day to 1mgs a day.

40- current ACT - For mindfulness from a different doctor (Acceptance commitment therapy) aka skills over pills.

 

43-46 holding pattern to get my mind back online.  Doctor wasn't sure what a child on an antidepressant for 22 years was going to be like.  My only medication during this time  at 1mg a day of Klonopin.

 

45-current beta blocker for irregular heart beat.

45-current - theanine to help with brain receptors.

 

46-current - taper off Klonopin 1mg. 

Taper schedule. 

I started taking 1 mg per day, each day of the week.

Think of a pill box.

M T W T F S S

1 1 1 1 1  1  1

The first month (four weeks), I switched one day to .5 mg of Klonopin

M T W T F S S

1 1 1 1 .5 1 1

My second month (four weeks, I'm currently in this phase), I switched to two days to .5 msg of Klonopin

M T W T F S S

.5 1 1 1 .5 1 1

 

I was given the option of Ashton method to go to some other benzo, or chose a plan that worked for me.

My taper off of Anafranil was similar to this method.

 

I created this method because of the 20-60 hr half life of Klonopin.

I considered my monthly Klonopin msg intake was 30mgs.

This method only drops my monthly change to 28mgs, then to 26mgs.

 

That may be too aggressive, not sure.  Right now at the start of month three, I have noticed no symptoms. 

 

I have to admit right now, I'm pretty pleased with the journey.

 

I do have strange episodes of depression or sadness, but we are in the middle of the holidays and I like most of us have gone through a lot of change over the past six years of withdraw.

 

As far as anxiety goes I still have minor episodes and some in frequent major a few things are helping me with those.

1.  Mindfulness / Meditation.

2.  Moving Slow - Just do everything really slow and lean into your body and mind.

3.  Youtube - YES....I found for me there is an odd situation where if I'm mid Panic and I watch a youtube video of someone HAVING a panic attack, it cancels mine out.  So I have a play list of people who recorded their panic attacks and will take one youtube video as needed.

 

I simply try to keep in mind, I'm not broken. There are parts of me that are in different states of journey, but I'm not broken.

 

I think the work this forum does is incredible and I have been blessed and scared to death over the years to read some of your stories.

 

I finally decided to join to document the last stages of my departure from the world of big pharma after 28 years.

 

Thank you each one of you, I hope my journey is worthy of your time.

 

Be well, be kind, move slow, you are not broken.