Under .125 Klonopin Club

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The good news is you were a short time user so you have a good chance you didn't get addicted - at least not too bad.

 

I imagine you got on this due to anxiety caused by some factors in your life?  Are the external factors now gone? - you might want to get past those before inducing drug withdrawal anxiety.

 

How are your anxiety levels?  How is your sleep?

 

The chest pain is normal.  I had that too.  It was so bad I when to the ER.  They confirmed no heart attack by using an EKG.  My doctor then ordered two more heart tests to be sure and it turned out everything was fine with my heart but I still had chest pains.  The chest pain is due to anxiety.

 

I say all this because your taper is so fast.  But if you can handle the chest pains and anxiety and your sleep is ok, then YES I would get off it as soon as you can.  If the withdrawal becomes unbearable - affecting your employment or something critical - then you can bump back to a lower dose and taper slowly like the rest of us.

 

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Wonderwoman -

 

Okay, with .5 tablets, if you take one tablet and dissolve it in 100ml of milk, you get .005mg = 1ml.

So to get the closest to the .37mg that you are currently taking,  you would take 7ml, which would be  7X.005 = .035mg

 

 

 

 

 

[[Wo...]]

Hi everyone thanks SO much for helping with this!!

 

I so appreciate the support.

 

Bob I cut down to .033 again which is .012 grams.

 

I calibrate my scale every day before I weigh my pill and I always tare when the tray is at 2.599. I then weigh my pill then weigh it again 2-3 more times for accuracy. This is as close as I can get. It is definitely not accurate and that’s why I hope things smooth out with the DLMT.

 

Greencup, again thanks so much for helping with that math. Between what Hearher, Bob and Greencup have posted I think I am off to a good start. I wanted to wait until something was solid before ordering the supplies so I’ll do that tomorrow. I’ll most likely use milk and give that a go. I don’t like the thought of alcohol even though many people say it’s so small it doesn’t matter the woman I talked to at the compounding pharmacy said it’s contraindicated and I just don’t want to mess with alcohol

 

Welcome to the new member. I think just like everyone else you need to listen to your body. I was only an as needed ativan user which was not frequent and did a CT and my massive withdrawal took me by surprise a month later. I was crossed over to klonopin 1mg tapered down to .25 in 2 months and have been tapering the rest of the way til now in 10 months. So, like you a relatively “short” user compared to others but it’s still been a challenge all the way down. Everyone is different some people have easybtapers and some don’t. Best to trust your body.

 

 

[[Wo...]]

Ps i figured out the Jim hawks program finally.

 

I am going to do a liquid taper and hope I have a good reaction to it.

 

Bob (oops I wrote Ben by accident a few posts back!) I was put on buspar and took it for several days and didn’t respond well to it. I became really depressed. I am super sensitive to meds so maybe you’ll do better.

 

 

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Hi Wonderwomen23,

 

Congratulations on cutting back to 0.12 grams. 

 

Are you continuing the cut because you stabilized from the withdrawal symptoms by holding?  I ask because that is my hope - I would like to also hold until I feel better.

 

Bob

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Hi Bob yes I was getting some windows. I wouldn’t say I’m fully stable I’m still really exhausted and have small waves but I’m way better than I was.

 

I do think holding is good to give our bodies a break. Let us know how you are doing.

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Well about 6 or 7 weeks holding at 0.125mg of Klonopin.  I would say I am having good windows for last 10 days EXCEPT for one symptom - chest pain.  So I am waiting for the chest pain to reduce before I cut again. 

 

I am also doing the Buspar experiment.  Taking a low dose every other day to see if I feel better (less chest pains) on Buspar days.  I just started this so no trend found yet, but my chest pains no longer last all day.  They are generally gone in the morning and come back in the afternoon.

 

Thanks for asking.

 

[[Kr...]]

Hi everyone.  Looks like we are all holding to get stable. I'm hoping for longer windows, less symptoms and increased energy for all of us this week!

 

WW - Glad you are feeling better and are ready to try the liquid taper.  I hadn't checked out the Jim Hawk app until others on this thread mentioned it and it was confusing to me at first too.  I hope the titration method goes smoothly for you.  I might go that route eventually and I'll probably need to ask you questions!

 

Bob - I'm sorry you are still having chest pains but glad you are getting longer windows.  You are smart to keep holding until the pain lessens.  I was thinking about you this weekend because I almost went to the ER Friday with chest pain that was radiating to my back and jaw. It started around 2:30pm and by midnight I was really beginning to panic as I almost passed out when I got out of bed.  It was scary and we were literally 2 seconds from leaving when I just said no, I'm going to lie back down.  I don't know if something else is going on, but I really feel it's connected to withdrawal, and thinking about what you've experienced lately kind of helped me come to that conclusion.  I can still feel the pain if I breathe deeply but it's not sharp or scary like before.  I'm still very fatigued though and have palpitations whenever I get up to do something around the house.  I might make an appointment with my primary care physician just to have him listen to my heart, but I don't want to go down the path of all the cardio testing again which I originally underwent due to fatigue and palpitations.  I've never had pains like this though. How long does this last for you or does it come and go?

 

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KristinM,

 

I am so sorry to hear you had such a scary time with chest pain‘s. They are such a bummer.

 

I hope my experience can help you be a peace. You did the right thing saving yourself the trouble of a trip to an ER last night. There are so many of us on this forum with chest pain‘s I really think it’s withdrawal.

 

Chest pains follow the patterns of windows and waves which is another reason to believe it is just withdraw.

 

My first wave of chest pain’s was many months ago but I didn’t realize that was Klonopin withdrawal. The pain went away for quite a while until I started tapering using this BB forum.

 

So the second wave of chest pain‘s started after tapering for several months and they lasted for many days during which time I did the doctor thing and had three different heart tests done which told me my heart was fine.

 

Getting the good news about my heart must have lowered my anxiety because then I had my first short window. But it didn’t last long. I think the muscles in your chest become very strained after days of chest pain‘s so they need to heal.

 

Lately the chest pains are mostly gone all day until about 3 PM and they come back for the rest the day which again makes me think the muscles are just worn out.

 

Some people say it’s related to gas buildup in your chest cavity due to anxiety. I do find myself burping an awful lot when the chest pains are at their worst. Are you burping a lot?

 

I’m trying many things to reduce the problem including sleeping with my head and back up about 30 degrees, watching out for certain gas producing foods, and my doctor said I should try Buspar to reduce the anxiety to get rid of chest pain’s. The buspar is very strange for the first hour or so of taking it but after that it’s kind of mellow and the anxiety is lower. I’m gonna take it every other day for a while to see if I can notice a correlation.

 

I will say a prayer for you about your chest pains and please ask any questions you like. If my experience with chest pains can give you information to give you peace I would be delighted to share with you.

 

[[Kr...]]

Thanks for the information, Bob.  I really appreciate you sharing your experience.  It makes me feel more at ease with this symptom.  The gas buildup in the chest cavity theory is interesting to me because I have been burping more since this started Friday afternoon.  Mainly at night.  I have GI issues and lots of food sensitivities so I'm exploring that route.  I also thought maybe it was some muscular-skeletal injury related to some deep breathing exercises and yoga poses I was doing.  It was just so strange how it came on suddenly.  My husband really wanted me to go to the hospital and was afraid I was having a heart attack.  All I could think about was how the extra stress of being at the hospital could make everything worse.  I'm glad I didn't go.  I hope this is not one of my new symptoms.  It's awful.  I really feel for you after having experienced it now myself.  Does the pain affect your upper back and shoulder too?  I feel like I've been rounding my shoulders forward since this happened, kind of trying to prevent feeling the sharp, and that now my back is super sore.  I'm trying to do some very gentle yoga stretching now that it's not as intense.

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Yes KristinM it definitely affects my upper back and shoulders-it’s like the pain radiates from the chest and moves backwards towards the shoulders and upper back.

 

Thank you for sharing with me about the burping-that gives me more confidence that this is a gas thing because I am burping all the time when the pain is at its worst.

 

It is strange to think that anxiety can cause gas but I guess that’s the mechanism. I do use a CPAP machine and I’m wondering if that’s pressing air into chest cavity but if you’re not on CPAP then I guess I’m just reaching for answers.

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KristinM-  Wow that sounds so scary.  I agree with you about the hospital would just make everything worse.  I have had some chest pains as well and because the pain gets better when I massage the area, I think it's not heart related, but I keep aspirin in the house, and I usually take one or two when I think it might be heart related, just in case. 

 

WW - I'm so glad you have figured out the liquid taper.  There is a learning curve involved, I agree.  And isn't this just the worst time to try to do math? 

 

Bob7 -  How it the Buspar treating you?  I saw your other thread and it sounded like the Buspar was making the chest pains worse?

 

As for me,  I am just plain exhausted today.  My back, body, it all feels literally in recovery.  I feel like I was injured and need to rest, just all the time now.  I have no physical energy and limited mental energy.  I'm still holding at .0625.  I have a ton of appointments this week, so I am just going to continue to hold.

 

My husband and I are going to marriage counseling on Wednesday.  We are both thinking they will not understand benzo withdrawal, but hopefully they will surprise us.  I have noticed since we made the appointment, he has been helping me a lot more. 

[[Kr...]]

Bob - It might not be the anxiety that is causing the gas, but rather the effect of a GI system not working properly due to the way withdrawal is affecting the gut.  I have worked hard to heal the gut but I think it's one of those things in benzo recovery that only time will truly heal.  But if you can figure out what foods might be triggering the build-up of gas and causing the reflux-like symptoms, eliminating them should provide some relief. Thanks for validating the chest/shoulder pain for me.

 

Greencup - I'm sorry you've been fatigued.  It is so hard to accept that we need this much rest. I think that is so brave of you to go to counseling and hope your counselor understands where you are coming from. Thinking of you. Let us know how it goes. 

[[Wo...]]

Hi everyone

 

Greencup I would highly recommend the Gottman Method Couples Therapy with a therapist who may also have training in CBT. Not all therapists have the skill set to work with couples even if they advertise that they do but the Gottman Method is a specific training and it’s awesome!! It’s more about tools you can use to communicate well and be more connected and it uses as dyadic approach which gets you really talking with your partner rather than a triadic approach where you talk about each other to the therapist. I am a huge fan of the Gottmans and have done their trainings. Hopefully whoever you do work with can hold a good container for your marriage to grow.

 

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KristinM - Good may be onto something there about the gut.  I normally eat lots of Broccoli and I read it is a no-no for gas chest pain.  Guess I need to research the rest of my foods.

 

GreenCup - I am not sure where I am on Buspar.  I really hope it will reduce my withdrawal symptoms so I can start my taper again.  My doctor thinks it will help.  I am going to give it more time.  It does have a strong effect on me 30 minutes after taking it (Dizzy) but it goes away in an hour or so and the rest of the day does seem better.  I will continue to try it every other day to see if it correlates - it is fast acting.  I hope it is not addictive.

 

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Wonderwoman-  Well without me even knowing it,  we have signed up for a Gottman method couples therapy.  It is actually based on both Gottman's method and some other lady who invented Emotionally Focused Therapy.  It's nice to know we are using a proven method that others like.  Thanks for the advice.  You are starting your liquid taper tonight, right?  Good luck!

 

Hi to Heather Bob and Kristin.  Hope you guys are doing well. 

 

I smoked a new strain of cannabis this afternoon, and it made my pulse go up and I got really nervous.  I was already having an off day, where I could not contain myself from swearing and saying vile things to many drivers of other cars today.  Luckily, they could not hear me.  LOL.  I even beeped twice, for very minor reasons. 

 

I must say that I was able to keep from getting angry at my husband, HOWEVER,  I got very very angry at all sorts of other people.  I guess that is some kind of progress. 

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Hi to you GreenCup,

 

I will add - my wife and I also did couples therapy about 15 years ago and it really helped.  I do believe I recall the words "Gottman's method".  A word to the wise - try as hard as you can to take the therapist's directions and advice.  Some of it you might immediately want to disagree with.  But trust me, try it even if it is difficult or hurts your pride.  It works.

 

That is the biggest thing I remember and the fact that we are still married - 29 years now.

B

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Green Cup,

The yelling at drivers is familiar to me unfortunately. Feels good though. Glad you were able to be spare your husband.

 

 

 

 

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Hi Greencup,

 

That's great that you are going to see an EFT and Gottman specialist.  You will most likely be in good hands.  Bob, you lucked out on a good therapist they are not all created equal! In my profession I see a lot of couples who have gone to therapists and had an awful time.  The main thing is to keep trying if one doesn't work out there are many others choose from.  But anyhoo, I don't want to talk about work!  LOL

 

So, I could start the milk/klonopin solution but I am having anxiety about it. I had a good window today and am fearful of rocking the boat.  My main fear is that my body won't metabolize the liquid solution the same way and freak out and think it's a major cut or CT (of course I had to read that people have had that experience, TMI).

 

I am going to do a thought diary (from CBT) tonight to see if I can change some of that catastrophic thinking, all or nothing thinking around.

 

hm... I'll let you know.

 

 

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Hey Wonderwomen,

 

I totally get the idea of anxiety about starting the next cut.

 

Like you, I am holding around 0.125mg Klonopin.  After 8 weeks, I do feel better and could start my next taper.

 

But I too have anxiety. 

 

Like you, I want to first learn about daily micro taper.  The difference is, I plan to mix with dry ingredients (Microcrystalline Cellulose) and repackage into gel capsules.

 

Also like you, I hesitate to start - worries about "getting the mix just right".

 

But to help (CBT), consider this.  So what if we are not perfect?  Our bodies should be able to handle it.  After all, in a 24 hour period, we go from taking our dose (large input) to nothing (zero input).  That is the big change.  Our little change in daily amounts are small compare to the daily change our body see.

 

I am think of starting my taper this weekend.  Let me know if you want to start at the same time for support.

[[Kr...]]

 

Also like you, I hesitate to start - worries about "getting the mix just right".

 

But to help (CBT), consider this.  So what if we are not perfect?  Our bodies should be able to handle it.  After all, in a 24 hour period, we go from taking our dose (large input) to nothing (zero input).  That is the big change.  Our little change in daily amounts are small compare to the daily change our body see.

 

I am think of starting my taper this weekend.  Let me know if you want to start at the same time for support.

 

Such good advice, Bob.  Our bodies are amazing and constantly adapting to changes in our chemistry while trying to restore homeostasis.  Your body will figure it out.  Good luck to both of you on your liquid tapers!

[[Wo...]]

Hi Bob, I don’t know when to start the taper. I feel like the whole thing is causing a lot of anxiety. I am becoming more and more stable at .0337 and wonder if I can resume my taper using the gram scale or even investing in a more precise scale that measures up to .0001 g? My concern is a few people who have reported a major uptick in sxs without relief at all for months when switching to liquid. I’ve had a difficult taper but I’ve also had windows.

 

It’s weird, we ask tons of advice and gather as much info as possible and yet it’s always a solo journey.

 

I like that you are making your own blend. Why not do liquid or gram scale though what are your thoughts on that?thoughts

[[Kr...]]

Or rather, good luck on your micro tapers. Bob, just realized you're not doing liquid.

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WW,

 

I explored the liquid taper but decided I wouldn’t be able to keep up with making all those liquids based on my business travel and vacation travels.  In addition I like the convenience of having a pill that I could just put my pocket and take at the right time each day.

 

I was having trouble making the capsules but since you pointed to me that filler material I think it’s gonna work out very well. It takes me about two hours to make 30  capsules, enough to last me one month.  And I can get the dose fine tuned very well, each capsule is .001 mg of Klonopin less in dose.

 

You mentioned briefly about how some people have unexpected problems. I wonder if they just got their prescription refilled and didn’t realize the manufacture had changed. See this link I started earlier today. http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=201707.0

 

[[Kr...]]

Am I the only one on this thread taking the generic brand?