Took 2 doses of Clonazepam after 1.5 years off- Not Good

[[Fo...]]

I have been having unrelenting insomnia after tapering off Lexapro in December 2016. I completed my Clonazepam taper back in April of 2016.

 

I was able to get into a normal sleeping routine after tapering the Clonazepam and things were trending in the right direction. No so much luck since the Lexapro taper.

 

In an act of desperation, I took .5 Clonazepam last night and the night before. It is definitely not the same effect that it used to have. I believe that I slept worse and had very bad depression upon waking. I guess that is what happens once you are off for 18 months.

 

Should I cease taking it completely or do a small taper?  :'(

[[Be...]]

2 doses? Just stop .

[[Tr...]]

I did the same thing, for much the same reason, about 9 months off. It didn't feel good, and I didn't feel like myself. That was what it took for me to finally throw away the rest of my pills and I've never looked back.

 

Just stop. Get rid of whatever you have left. There are better ways to cope.

[[pu...]]

Just stop. Get rid of whatever you have left.

[[Fo...]]

Thanks for the support.

 

I am at work and I feel like my head is in the clouds somewhere. I was looking for relief and thought about that careless, anxiety-free feeling that is used to give me years ago, didn't work out that way. It's like being a recovering alcoholic in a sense, you cant go back.

 

My plan from this point forward is to push on and let sleep come naturally. I have tried supplements and melatonin all of which have paradoxical effects. 

[[Fi...]]

Definitely just stop taking them and give yourself some time to recover. Hope it passes quickly. 

[[Pi...]]

I agree what everyone is saying, just get rid of the poisonous pills so you are not tempted to take them again and not emotionally attached to them. That was what I did and now am letting my sleep comes naturally. Not taking any supplements or other medications. Although my sleep are still fragmented with dreams, it is getting better.

 

Blessings to you and praying you will feel better soon!

 

 

Pi

[[id...]]

I agree, toss that poison!

 

For me melatonin had paradoxical effect, except for one brand.

[[su...]]

Just to pile on 

 

THROW AWAY THE PILLS!!!  I cannot tell you what pleasure it gave me to dump the clonazepam I had left once I finished my taper.  It now says that I'm allergic to benzodiazepines on my medical charts and I will never knowingly take another again as long as I live.

[[gi...]]

One more to the pile: just toss those pills!  You can do it!

[[th...]]

Just stop and don't take any more for a good long time. Give yourself a few days and I'm sure you'll be fine.

 

I'm sure I may meet some friction when I say this, but given enough time, I do believe that for the most of us will be able to handle a one off dose of a benzo somewhere down the road with no negative implications. However, "enough time" will vary highly. I felt mostly healed at 1-1.5 years off, but I didn't feel comfortable to try alcohol until 2 years off and didn't feel comfortable to be sedated for a colonoscopy (with propofol) until 2.5 years off. Granted each one of those went fine, but even so, I am probably just getting to the point now almost 5 years off where I would feel slightly comfortable with taking a benzo if I had to.