Struggling with weaning clonazepam

[[jo...]]

I have been on 1 mg of clonazepam for about 9 years. It was prescribed for insomnia and anxiety. Over the years my SSRI lexapro was switched to remeron 15 mg for a decrease in appetite. I also take 300 mg of neuron tin at night for sleep. About one year ago I decided to taper the clonazepam but did so over a period of 2 months until I was on 1.4 mg and badly functioning. terrible headaches/ leg pains/ awful quality to my life. I researched and found that I had tapered too quickly. I went back to 1/2 mg in the am and a 1/2 mg at about 2 pm but have never felt back to normal. At this point I don't know what to do. Do I try to taper again even though I don't feel great or do I increase my dose a bit until I feel normal and then taper slowly? Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[[me...]]

Hello joburg. Welcome to the forum, we're glad you found us!  We generally recommend a taper rate of about 5-10% every 10-14 days. 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 jobrg,

 

Welcome to the forum from me too 

 

It sounds like your initial attempt at tapering was very fast, this will almost certainly be the reason why the withdrawal effects were so strong at that stage. Tapering slowly and carefully is advised after long term benzo use, within the guidelines that Megan has given you.

 

That's a tricky question to answer as to whether you should slightly increase the current dosage in the hope that you'll feel more stable. Sometimes when we start reducing our dosage after years of benzo use our nervous systems become sensitised as a result. It's a similar situation to when one reinstates a benzo after having been benzo free for a while. Often the original benzo dose does not work the second time around due and subsequent withdrawals can be more difficult. This doesn't happen to everybody but it's something that can happen. If I were in your shoes I think I would begin a slow taper from where you are now but that's just me. It is a good idea to begin a taper from a stable standpoint so a correction updose could be an option but we cant guarantee that it would work in making you feel better. What I can tell you is that I wasn't stable when I began my taper, I was in tolerance withdrawal but I didn't have a difficult taper as a result, no more so than other members. Hopefully somebody else will chip to advise who has had an experience similar to yours.

 

 

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

 

Debbie

 

 

[[jo...]]

Has anyone tried neurontin to help with the weaning process. Any natural supplements?