Am I jumping out of the pan and into the fire

[[Th...]]

Hello my name is Ted. Trying to come off just under 1 mg of Klonopin 5 months user. Prescribed for nervous breakdown of which 5 weeks of Cipralex pushed me over the edge. Doctor had me up too 2 mg spread throughout the day. Made me have bad thoughts so I cut from 2 to 1 mg and I went through 3 weeks of hell. I’m still on The Klonopin but anxiety very high during the day. Is this Withdrawl or my anxienty

[[Le...]]

It is withdrawal for sure... I bet you will be pleasantly surprised that your baseline will be higher than before you started the Benzo after you get through this.  My advice is to continue to taper properly but don't take more than 3 months MAX to get off the rest.  You know what you are in for so prepare with ACCEPTANCE that this is going to be very uncomfortable but well worth it! Kudos to you for finding out the that Klonopin is no good and getting off after only 5 months.. wish I had done my research.  You know the drill; eat clean, rest as much as possible, stay hydrated and no updosing. 

[[Th...]]

I’m very scared of such a quick withdrawal because I came off .5 mg in 10 days after 2 months use and I went into a terror state slept 2 hours a night with full DR/DP. I knew nothing about tapering. My doctor said just to figure it out by myself.

[[mo...]]

It’s so sad doctors know how to prescribe but not how to help us taper off. I agree with Leslie regarding everything. Get off as fast as you can but follow a symptom based taker. Slow down if you need to but every day you are likely becoming more dependent. I also wish I’d stopped much sooner, great job there.

[[bo...]]

I think you should go slow, and if you feel sxs hold... its suppose to be the best way to taper

[[Te...]]

When people are telling you to get off AS FAST AS POSSBILE take it to heart this drug is nothing to

drag your feet on it will set the hook in deep, congrats on finding your way out before you got too far

down the road to hell.

 

Kind Regards

Terry

[[mo...]]

When people are telling you to get off AS FAST AS POSSBILE take it to heart this drug is nothing to

drag your feet on it will set the hook in deep, congrats on finding your way out before you got too far

down the road to hell.

 

Kind Regards

Terry

 

It’s true. Two years tapering and still having withdrawal symptoms with 8 days to go at .008 mg. This is unreal.

[[Mo...]]

I would agree with the others as I have been on short term benzo use and was able to get off quicker, with short term use.  You have not been on that long and can get off, even with a little pain.  It sounds like your symptoms from going from the 2 to 1 have mostly subsided, though you still have some anxiety.  I would say get .5 mg pills and every two weeks, try to cut 1/4 of one.  You may have issues for a few days that should settle.  If it doesn't you could go a bit slower. 

[[Th...]]

I thought the safe way was to reduce 5 to 10% a month to avoid protracted symptoms?

[[Th...]]

Here’s the kicker! My mother in law was on 1 mg of lorazepam for acute anxiety for 10 years. She cut it cold turkey, didn’t sleep for 6 days and that was it! Try explaining to me the science behind that one. Her brain recovered in 6 days?!

[[Mo...]]

Was your mother in law in a stable place when she quit C/T?  Meaning, was her nervous system all in check - no anxiety, etc?  I don't get it either.....I think those of us with sensitive CNS have a harder time.....hard to say who is going to be who.  But most who don't sleep for 6 days are going to go mad....at least, I would.  I'm impressed she didn't go back. 

 

I honestly don't know what is what any longer.  I know at .5mg, I couldn't handle a big cut right now so I'm going to start tapering slow.  But it's not just anxiety for me, I'm having a whole host of W/D side effects and feel that I'm in tolerance w/d also.  You don't want to get to that place, I think is the point.  For a 1 mg reduction, you could start off with cutting off .1875 every so often and see how you do.  Then slow down when you need to.  You could try a DLMT but for me, I tried twice and could tell right away that it wasn't going to work.  But others have success with it.  Now, I'm going to shave and weigh and see how that goes.

[[Th...]]

Yes she was in a better place I guess. Sometimes I guess it’s better not to know so much

[[mo...]]

I look at it like a spectrum. Some will quit benzos unscathed and not have symptoms at all. Others are probably more sensitive to medication biologically. I know I have always been. That’s a good question though, if external factors or anxiety can make us predisposed to become physically dependent. I doubt it though because that is the reason that most people started taking benzos but not all become dependent. I met a women while I was vacationing this past weekend who stopped benzos no problem after years. I told her of the dangers and just because she made it out that time it doesn’t mean it will happen again. I’ve read about some who quit CT no problem then take benzos again a few weeks, then have withdrawal sx when they decide to stop. No rhyme or reason at all.

 

To answer regarding the 5-10%, this is a guideline but if you can go faster by all means do. It’s not set in stone and many do go faster without damaging affects. Just listen to your body and slow down if you need to. Most tapers won’t be symptom free. All we can do is taper as rapidly as we can while allowing our brain to heal at the same pace.

[[Th...]]

Does the brain heal as we withdrawal or only after stopping the medication all together??

[[Ca...]]

Interesting questions..!!

 

I would guess that things might adjust somewhat for the better with a suitable taper, -in most instances..

 

[[bo...]]

Yes she was in a better place I guess. Sometimes I guess it’s better not to know so much

It really depends on your nervous system , I only took it for 5 months and had a very bad reaction to it , gastro issues, numbness shortness of breath, was wding after a months use and also had to move homes so stabilized and  have been reducing  10% a month  which is ok for me... I would start 5% and work yourself up... do you have a history of other drugs? you don't want to go to fast and than have to updose

[[Th...]]

No history of drug use. Had very bad reaction to SSRIS short term use. 15 year history of GAD which made me feel for years like I was going through benzo withdrawal strangely enough. I’m really scared of my situation

[[bo...]]

No history of drug use. Had very bad reaction to SSRIS short term use. 15 year history of GAD which made me feel for years like I was going through benzo withdrawal strangely enough. I’m really scared of my situation

this drug is no joke and you want to be cautious, as they said  every body is different so we don't have the crystal ball, the best course of action is the 5-10% per month

I know people that when to fast and had  protracted wd and had to reinstall ... and seeing you had bad reaction to ssris I would go slow.... I'm also in your situation and taking it slow  is my approach... as I was switched from different ssris and had ssri wd  and regret the day I took a benzo but  you can do a microtapering there is a site called survivingantidepressants.com they have great and save liquid micro tapering or dry cutting... best of luck let me know if you have any questions

[[Th...]]

Thanks for the info! It’s been a month since my last taper of .125 and I still don’t feel stabilized. I feel “better” overall I guess but it’s such a roller coaster. I cut back from 2 mg to 1mg because I told my doctor that in the day the meds gave me a lot of negative thoughts. I only take it in the evening now. Am I experiencing withdrawal during the day?

[[bo...]]

Thanks for the info! It’s been a month since my last taper of .125 and I still don’t feel stabilized. I feel “better” overall I guess but it’s such a roller coaster. I cut back from 2 mg to 1mg because I told my doctor that in the day the meds gave me a lot of negative thoughts. I only take it in the evening now. Am I experiencing withdrawal during the day?

what are you experiencing in the day?

[[Th...]]

Trembling brain, Derealization, rumination

[[Mo...]]

Rumination is just something that I have in general as part of GAD.  But the others definitely sound like could be interdose withdrawal symptoms.  I don't have any tips - you could try and break up your dose.  I did that but then started getting I/D withdrawal in between those doses as well, particularly in the morning.  So now I'm trying to go back.  It's tough trying to find a balance and stabilize, if that's even possible.  Sounds like you have a very sensitive CNS like me.

[[mi...]]

When I did my cut .5 from 2mg of K to 1.5 K before doing my research on how to properly taper my anxiety and panic attacks where through the roof.  Paralyzing in fact.  Much worse then when I was originally put on K.  Be very careful.  The cut was too big and I was bed bound for almost a month because my body was in so much pain I could not lift my head and body out of bed.  EXTREME PAIN.  Only to go to restroom or move to couch.  Held for almost two months.  Now my taper is 5% every 2 weeks.  Slow and steady wins the race!!!

 

Of course, everyone is different.  I have been on K for around 22 years at the highest 3mg a day.

 

Best of Luck!!!

 

Miss Bella

 

[[Th...]]

Thanks for the support people! I’m just worried what’s waiting for me on the other side. I’ve had this fullness and vibrations in my head for 15 years. The crazy thing is that I can totally relax my body and my breathing. Even when I first started the Benzo I felt much better especially with the lorazepam the vibration was there in the background. It’s almost like the Lorazepam/Clonazepam just helped me disassociate from that symptom.