25 years Rivotril (Klonopin)

[[ma...]]

Hi all,

I'm 62 years old. 25 years ago my doctor prescribed Lexaurin back pain. After a year of using it, I landed on a doctor's recommendation. I had no idea, and neither the doctor that Lexaurin addictive and that caused his withdrawal insomnia. I have been prescribed Klonopin 0.5 mg per day. Many times I tried Klonopin discontinued gradually decreasing. Physician me 10 years ago has prescribed Remeron 30.0 mg and tried to help discontinue Rivotril (Klonopin), but failed. A year ago I had health problems which troubled me and I can not sleep. A friend gave me a link to the manual dr. Asthon. On the basis of this reference, I went to the pharmacy and there I prepared solution Klonopin. Planted from May 2016. At first, I was reduced by 0.05 mg per month, but it was too fast and I had six weeks to halt the decline. At the pharmacy I prepared a new solution and reducing daily by 0.001 mg, per month, it's about 0.03 mg. I am now 30 days at a dose of 0.25 mg of Klonopin. I have big problems with falling asleep and sleeping, so I stopped decreasing and wait if sleep adjusted. At 0.25 mg Klonopin I for 60 days but little sleep. There are nights when I sleep at all. I am exhausted, desperate. I know that I have to endure. It's too hard. I have continued to stay on the same dose and wait to see if the adjusted sleep? Or should I continue decreasing, although sleep max. Two hours? I'm sorry, but I can not English, it helps me a PC compiler. Thank you for your feedback.

Margit

 

[[me...]]

Welcome to the forum!  We're glad to have you as a new member.  Insomnia and anxiety are generally the most common benzo withdrawal symptoms, but they are temporary and will go away in time.

 

You'll find plenty of information and support here.  Our members have gone through all aspects of withdrawal, and you're likely to see  people who understand what you're going through and can tell you what has worked for them.  For those who are currently tapering, we suggest reducing no faster than 5-10% of the current dose every 10-14 days, and some taper even slower than that.  One exception: very short-term users of a few weeks or less may be able to taper faster than that.  Having some withdrawal symptoms is normal, especially near the end of a taper and for a month or so after discontinuing the medication.  The most common symptoms are anxiety and insomnia, but these are temporary and will go away in time.

 

Here are a few links you may find useful:

 

Withdrawal Support Board

 

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 in Chapter III, 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!

 

 

 

[[ma...]]

Hello,

shame I can not speak English, but I understand what you write on this forum, although it helps me PC compiler. Please can someone help me? My biggest problem in reducing Klonopin is poor sleep. I have inner tremors, blurred vision, tinnitus, muscle pain, swollen brain like. The whole day just lying or sitting, because I have no energy.

I thank everyone, perhaps you advise me.

Margit

[[Ca...]]

Hi Margit,

what language do you speak?

Carlotta

[[ma...]]

Thank you very much. I can not speak German or French. I speak only czech.

But thank you for the effort.

[[ma...]]

Hi Charlotte,

lack of sleep, which lasts 60 days is normal? I have to continue to reduce, or stay and wait until sleep better? Thank you very much for your answer.

[[Ca...]]

Margit,

 

the insomnia is one of the most common withdrawal symptoms and it will not subside that fast, unfortunately. Even though it feels terrible, it means that your brain is healing. You will see that with time, your body's and brain's need to sleep is so strong that they will eventually get the sleep they need. I think it is known that it does not help to hold the dosage of Klonopin longer in order to sleep.

 

What you can do, is reduce the dosage of Klonopin mainly in the morning. And then toward the end of your taper in the evening as well.

 

BUT: Have you talked to your doctor? Or is your pharmacy mainly helping you with the taper from Klonopin? You know, Klonopin/Rivotril is highly potent and very hard to taper/come off of. Please talk to your pharmacist and ask if it is possible that you are switched over to Valium. They can calculate the exact amount of Valium that equals the amount of Klonopin you're taking. And then you can taper in measurable steps and be able to minimize the withdrawal side effects. Also, Valium will help you with the sleeplessness. In Dr. Ashton's manual, 0,5mg Rivotril/Klonopin/Clonazepam equal 10mg Valium/Diazepam. With Diazepam (Valium) you can taper by 2 mg or 1 mg steps and it will be less hard to come off of it.

 

 

[[Ca...]]

Margit, please create a signature with your medication and taper so far. It will make it easier for us to refer to your taper. Thank you!!

[[ma...]]

Charlotte,

I use Klonopin 0.25 mg in the evening, Remeron 0.30 mg in the evening. The pharmacy prepared me a solution. Reduced by 0,001 mg per day. This is the lowest possible reduction. My doctor knows method prof. Dr. Ashton. The doctor fears that I have created for Valium addiction.

[[Ca...]]

I'm not a doctor, Margit, but you cannot create more addiction for Valium than you can for Klonopin. I think that a lot of Benzo Buddies can confirm that.

In fact, most patients are advised to switch to Valium because it is easier to taper.

You cannot be addicted to Valium but not to Klonopin; they both are Benzodiazepines.

 

Please ask your doctor again, or, maybe better, turn to another doctor.

[[ma...]]

Charlotte,

from 1993 take 0.5mg Klonopin evening. Since 2006, I take 30 mg of Remeron in the evening. Sleep was very good.

October 2015, I became ill. Sleep was wrong. The doctor prescribed many medications, but sleep is still bad. My body refused any medication. The doctor decided that I would just take Klonopin and Remeron.

From March 2016 to April 2016 a very good sleep.

In May 2016 they prepared in the pharmacy solution Klonopin.

My Klonopin dose of 0.5 mg.

From May 2016 to June 2016 I decrease Klonopin. Sleep very good.

July 2016 sleep worsened.

July 2016 - August 2016 I stopped cutting (Klonopin dose was 0.339 mg).

Sleep was modified. I slept six to seven hours.

September 2016 they have prepared in the pharmacy solution to reduce. Reduced by 0,001 mg per day. I continued reducing (0.339 mg dose of Klonopin). Sleep was very good - October 2016.

November 2016 sleep worsened. I slept two hours max. I continued to decrease. Sleep is still bad.

December 30, 2016 I stopped decreasing to 0.25 mg.

My doctor advised me to go back to a dose of 0.5 mg of Klonopin and not reduce ever. I want to get rid of addiction. If I succeed?

Charlotte, PC compiler will my text OK. Perhaps we can agree.

Thank you very much for your time. I am glad I found this forum. Since May I read all posts and helped me a lot. I knew that what I experience, experience as well as others. But now I need advice. That's why I signed up to this forum, hoping someone can help me, help you.

 

In the Czech Republic by Dr. Ashton knows a few doctors. Her doctors do not use the method. For us there is no forum, what you have here. For our people about the problem BZD write, but nobody knows how to get rid of dependence. Doctors send patients to the hospital for detox. At the hospital they take medication and after a week the patient discharged from the hospital.

 

 

[[ma...]]

Doctors recommend a decrease in our quarter tablet every 14 days - 1 month. I always declined under the supervision of a doctor. This method I have tried many times. I never failed to get rid of the addiction.

Doctors do not experience a reduction help Valia.

If I knew how to reduce by using Valia, I would have told my doctor this a try. A doctor does not like it when the patient "advise".

Thank you so much for everything.

[[Ca...]]

Hi Margit,

 

thank you for your lengthy post. There is a group on Facebook called "Benzodiazepine Recovery." Me personally, I use and like BenzoBuddies very much and rarely seek advise anywhere else; but in your case, the Facebook group might be very good, since there are people from everywhere -- people from Czech Republic as well. You might find people with whom you can talk in Czech -- maybe even people with good advice for you.

 

I still believe that it would be best for you to look for another doctor. You can read anywhere that a switchover to Valium is absolutely encouraged and makes tapering easier. Please try to find out more about it; you would have a much easier time. I'm not saying that you will not have any withdrawal side effects, but you can be sure that it will be a little easier, as you can take very small steps. It would not be necessary for you to go to a hospital.

 

Do you have someone at home who's with you and can help you go through the whole process?

 

 

[[Ca...]]

Margit, you should also question you doctors wish to put you back up on Rivotril. From all I've read, that's exactly what he/you should not do.

 

If you can, please look for another doctor.

[[ma...]]

Hello,

 

Thank you very much for your reference Benzodiazepine Recovery. Interesting and beneficial.

I'm on Facebook and other Web sites to find a group that write about the problems BZD, but how to break the BZD nobody knows. It sounds unbelievable, but it's true. In my town there are three doctors who deal with addiction to alcohol, drugs. Doctors say that getting rid of dependence on BZD is very difficult, and patients often BZD returns. I changed doctors. It did not help.

 

Based on this discussion forum (Success Stories- tapering Micro / Daily tapering off of Klonopin - Success Story -) I left the pharmacy to prepare a solution to reduce about 0,001 mg / day.

 

The reduction using Valia I have not heard until now from you. I believe that reducing the use of Valium would have been easier. I'll try to find more information about the rolls.

For months I was looking for information on reducing Klonopin. Looking for a doctor who would help me. Up to this forum I read stories which helped me to overcome the bad days and gave me hope. Now I have bad days. They take a long time. I wanted to know if this is normal.

 

I'm not going back to the 0.5 mg dose as the doctor advised me. I'll be patient. Perhaps these bad days time compare. I will look for a doctor who will help me.

 

Thank you again. You've been very helpful.

[[Ca...]]

You are very courageous, Margit.

 

I am happy to hear that you will not follow the doctor's advice to go back up on 0.5mg of Klonopin.

 

Maybe the 0.001mg taper of Klonopin is going to work for you. I am sure that you can overcome the addiction to Benzos like so many other people do. it takes time, a lot of time, and it takes patience with yourself. There will be days when you will feel a lot better, and days where it will feel like hell. There will be weeks with no sleep, but then there will be nights of deep and restoring sleep. No matter how slow you're taking it, keep tapering. I'm sure you will make it, too.

 

Keep reading the success stories. I know that they help very much! I know that there are also succes stories of people who have come off Klonopin by water titration -- like you do it (Klonopin solution).

 

All the best, dear Margit! 

[[ma...]]

This news moved me. Encouraging words do wonders. Through this forum, I am strong. Stories help me a lot. I know what was happening to me. Thank you, thank you all.

Margit.

[[ma...]]

Dear Charlotte,

 

I learned from you about sleep more, both from the doctor. Now I know that it will be like sleeping on a swing. Yes, I'll be patient and read other stories on this forum.

The doctor advised me to stop losing and live with Klonopin for life. With that, I did not accept. Although I do a lot of years, but still I would like a few years to live without Klonopin. Hopefully I can do it.

 

With respect

Margit

 

[[am...]]

Margarita

 

You can do it if you set your mind to it. I was on kpin for 25 years too and I am done with it for good. Feeling good too!  Good luck!

 

Patrick

[[ma...]]

Patrick,

 

thank you for your encouraging words. I envy you that you have managed to end up with Klonopin. Congratulations!  I'm halfway 0.25 mg klonopin. Poor sleep up to two hours. I had to stop losing. I have a question - to halt the decline is good? Or continue decreasing, although trouble sleeping?

 

Margit.

[[am...]]

Margarita

 

Yes, If you need to hold for awhile that is fine. My taper was cut and hold for anywhere from a week or two to a month sometimes. I learned the hard way on my first taper that it isn't about how fast it can be done, it is about getting done and not feeling like hell. Good luck!   

[[ma...]]

Patrick,

question - Have you tried manual by Dr. Ashton combination Klonopin and Valium? Or you have taken a Klonopin? You are a hero, you have 24 months without Klonopin.

Thank you for your response.

M.

[[Ju...]]

Hello,

 

Thank you very much for your reference Benzodiazepine Recovery. Interesting and beneficial.

I'm on Facebook and other Web sites to find a group that write about the problems BZD, but how to break the BZD nobody knows. It sounds unbelievable, but it's true. In my town there are three doctors who deal with addiction to alcohol, drugs. Doctors say that getting rid of dependence on BZD is very difficult, and patients often BZD returns. I changed doctors. It did not help.

 

Based on this discussion forum (Success Stories- tapering Micro / Daily tapering off of Klonopin - Success Story -) I left the pharmacy to prepare a solution to reduce about 0,001 mg / day.

 

The reduction using Valia I have not heard until now from you. I believe that reducing the use of Valium would have been easier. I'll try to find more information about the rolls.

For months I was looking for information on reducing Klonopin. Looking for a doctor who would help me. Up to this forum I read stories which helped me to overcome the bad days and gave me hope. Now I have bad days. They take a long time. I wanted to know if this is normal.

 

I'm not going back to the 0.5 mg dose as the doctor advised me. I'll be patient. Perhaps these bad days time compare. I will look for a doctor who will help me.

 

Thank you again. You've been very helpful.

Hi Margarita;

  I wanted to add some thoughts, as I took Klonopin .5mg 3x per day, for 10 years. After a period of much stress, the Klonopin stopped working as an anti-anxiety, and started producing the opposite effect. I only started feeling better after I began tapering. I was lucky to get a new doctor that approved the Ashton method, and they allowed the cross over from Klonopin to Valium (about 1 month). Some people do taper directly from the Klonopin. I strongly disagree with the idea of "just take Klonopin for life and be happy", it is not so simple. It is asking for trouble.

  The good news is that our brains are capable of healing 100%. It's just a matter of tapering, and letting time pass. Sleep is VERY VERY important to healing ! For me, most certainly. I am taking 15mg Remeron at night, but I wish I would have tried a more natural sleep aid instead. Melatonin is a natural substance in the body, and I found that taking 3mg at night really helped with sleep. The room must be dark, no lights. No doctor is needed to get Melatonin, can be found at the Supermarket. There are also natural teas to drink that can be helpful for sleep.

You sound like a brave person ! Try not to rush your taper. I made that mistake more than once ! Even when tapering and not feeling well, I still can read, keep active, keep in touch with friends, etc. I hope you find good support from a good doctor. If you have read the Ashton

Method, then you already know much more of the truth than most Doctors.

Good luck ! In time, you will be 100% healed.

-Justaman

[[ma...]]

hello,

Thank you for your story.

10 years take Remeron 30 mg in the evening. Now, 60 days bad sleep. Melatonin, seratonin I enjoyed, but it did not help. It is incomprehensible, but when i was taking Enhancing drugs to sleep, vitamins or pills that aid digestion or any other chemical, sleep worsened. I can not take pills to heart - sleep worsens. It's a vicious circle.

  Also, I need to sleep, but it's hard. Therefore, thinking about V. Power I'd begged someone to help me plan and Formulae K and V. I read That 0.5mg Klonopin = 10mg of Valium. Dosing schedule know.

Thanks for the anwers.

Margit

[[am...]]

Margarita

 

I never switched over, just dry cut Kpin all the way down. I haven't been k freee for 2 years, just for 3 weeks now, but I am doing great cause I did such a long taper. I would have made it after my 1st 9 month taper, but I tried to tell myself I didn't have depression and I got super depressed and sick (suicidal and scary as hell) and I couldn't sleep at all, so I went back on antidepressant and Kpin. This time I am staying on antidepressant (pristiq) and no more benzos ever again!