My Taper Story - So Far...

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Hello,

I was on clonazapam for about three years. I was prescribed it (1 to 1.5 mg) for anxiety and insomnia caused by depression. I loved it, to me it was a miracle drug. Now, it's my enemy and I regret having ever taken it. Around 2 months ago I told my doc I was going to stop taking it and he said okay. At the time I was taking it only for insomnia and only .5mg. I, somehow, knew to taper and I cut back by 25% and pretty quickly by 50%. Then I started feeling very odd and not sleeping. I did research online and discovered what I had jumped into. I read a study done on older people withdrawing (I'm 63) and it recommended timed-release melatonin. I began to take that and it has helped. I am now down to .0625mg for almost two weeks. I think I may just stop on Monday and get it over with. My problem, and it has been horrible, has been my mind. I live in what I call "brain fog". I function during the day, then I come to and spend a bit of time in reality. I am so detached from reality and I feel like I'm a different person. I also have small bouts with anxiety, usually over stuff I normally do. This forum has helped me a lot. Reading that it is brain damage and I will heal has been so encouraging!

 

Dan

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http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/485174

 

Here is a website for one of the studies I read about melatonin helping with withdrawal from bentos.

Sorry if this has already been discussed.

 

Dan

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Great job tapering down! You've come down really fast, so what you are going through is not surprising. I'm sure things will only get better from here on out.

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Thank you for the encouragement!