Need help with a taper schedule .25 klonopin 1X per day. Please help

[[La...]]

I have been on .25 klonopin for 1 yr. My doctor says that some people must take benzodiazepines for life. I have experienced depression on this medication, and feel I may have reached dose tolerance. I understand that I am supposedly on a small dose, though I am feelings symptoms synonymous with tolerance. Can anyone help me with a taper schedule? My doctor will allow me to taper, even though she feels there is no need. I'm terrified. Will I have to quit working?

[[jr...]]

I have been on .25 klonopin for 1 yr. My doctor says that some people must take benzodiazepines for life. I have experienced depression on this medication, and feel I may have reached dose tolerance. I understand that I am supposedly on a small dose, though I am feelings symptoms synonymous with tolerance. Can anyone help me with a taper schedule? My doctor will allow me to taper, even though she feels there is no need. I'm terrified. Will I have to quit working?

 

I don't think you will have to quit work. I worked during my entire taper. You could liquify your dose and take very small daily reductions. these are my opinions. I will let others chime in!

[[...]]

I have been on .25 klonopin for 1 yr. My doctor says that some people must take benzodiazepines for life. I have experienced depression on this medication, and feel I may have reached dose tolerance. I understand that I am supposedly on a small dose, though I am feelings symptoms synonymous with tolerance. Can anyone help me with a taper schedule? My doctor will allow me to taper, even though she feels there is no need. I'm terrified. Will I have to quit working?

 

I agree with jr, if you go about this the right way you can have a normal life: it's all about how you do it.  There should be no need to stop work, and yes, you are on a low dose.  We won't know what your experience will be until you try it, but your profile is very favorable for a successful outcome: fairly short term use and a low dose.

 

Your doctor is misinformed about benzos.  They were never meant to be prescribed for more than a few weeks.  Every regulatory body on the planet advises this, as well as the drug companies themselves (although they have NOT been proactive in discouraging long term use), yet doctors prescribe them long term, making their patients dependent on a drug that quits working in a few months at best.  This ignorance pisses me off to no end.

 

If I were in your shoes I'd do as jr recommended: liquify it and make small reductions, preferably daily.  A recommended starting point is 8% a month to see how things go and adjust from there.

[[jr...]]

I have been on .25 klonopin for 1 yr. My doctor says that some people must take benzodiazepines for life. I have experienced depression on this medication, and feel I may have reached dose tolerance. I understand that I am supposedly on a small dose, though I am feelings symptoms synonymous with tolerance. Can anyone help me with a taper schedule? My doctor will allow me to taper, even though she feels there is no need. I'm terrified. Will I have to quit working?

 

I agree with jr, if you go about this the right way you can have a normal life: it's all about how you do it.  There should be no need to stop work, and yes, you are on a low dose.  We won't know what your experience will be until you try it, but your profile is very favorable for a successful outcome: fairly short term use and a low dose.

 

 

Your doctor is misinformed about benzos.  They were never meant to be prescribed for more than a few weeks.  Every regulatory body on the planet advises this, as well as the drug companies themselves (although they have NOT been proactive in discouraging long term use), yet doctors prescribe them long term, making their patients dependent on a drug that quits working in a few months at best.  This ignorance pisses me off to no end.

 

If I were in your shoes I'd do as jr recommended: liquify it and make small reductions, preferably daily.  A recommended starting point is 8% a month to see how things go and adjust from there.

 

Good to see you SG! Hope you are doing well.

[[La...]]

Thank you all for the info and encouragement. I have tried cold turkey in the past, and it was awful. I need to overcome the anticipatory anxiety. Thank you so much.

 

[[La...]]

I am having serious tolerance withdrawal symptoms. Can you just taper if you have hit withdrawal?

[[jr...]]

in my opinion, you could cut your pill into 2 equal pieces and dose 2ce a day. you may just be having interdose withdrawals

[[La...]]

Thank you. I thought that could be it.

[[su...]]

You don't have to liquify your dosage. If you decide to split the dosage, taper some from the first dose for a week or so and then take the same amount from the second for a week or so, etc...  I tapered from 2mg using dry pills.  I had a morning and evening dose.  I didn't notice any w/d between doses before, during, or now that I'm on one dose.  The amount you cut and the speed you go, IMHO, is what you will notice.  If you feel bad now, staying on this, per your doctor's ill advice, isn't going to make you feel good in the long run, but worse.  I'm so sorry I didn't know better, but now that I do, I'm on a crusade to keep people off of these drugs.

[[su...]]

I never quit working, even when I was experiencing excruciating anxiety and then deadening depression.  If I feel really bad, I take a sick day, just like I would if I had the flu.