On a cut and hold taper, how long until you stabilize each time?

[[li...]]

Hi everyone, I have been doing a liquid micro taper of Klonopin up until now.

 

I decided to see if I could make some better progress by doing cut and hold, since I was feeling pretty bad on the liquid taper and had to hold for months at 1 mg.

 

About a week ago I cut from 1 mg to .75 mg.  I've had a few rough days but overall I have felt better than when I was holding at 1 mg and having interdose withdrawal.

 

I'm curious how long it takes for others to feel somewhat stable after a cut. This probably varies a lot, but it would be nice to know.

[[Ch...]]

It took 3-5 days after a cut from Xanax for everything to subside.  Once it took ten days.  Xanax is short-acting, Klonopin is long-acting so it may take a few days longer to become stable.  I'd give it two weeks between cuts to be sure.

 

Hope that helps!

 

[[li...]]

It does, thank you for sharing! I will be extra careful to eat well, sleep well (or at least try) and keep my stress level down over the next week or two.

[[Ch...]]

Sounds very reasonable. 

 

Caffeine may impact you more than usual right now. If so, I'd avoid it or go with decaf for the time being.

Same thing with alcohol...I'd recommend abstinence.  Alcohol impacts the same receptors in the body that benzodiazepines do.

 

 

[[li...]]

I agree-I don't usually drink alcohol, so that's not a problem. I have been having coffee in the mornings but I might have to switch to herbal tea for awhile. A small sacrifice for the greater good

[[Ch...]]

Right?! 

 

If I could get you to add your benzodiazepine history (i.e. Ativan dose and length of time on it) it will help other members to also reply.  Here's how:

 

Go up to Profile, then Forum Profile.  Add this info and save it.

 

I can help further if it's confusing. 

 

Thanks!

 

[[Th...]]

I hear of a lot of people cutting and getting worse for a week or so and then stabilize. I tried doing this but got worse the longer I waited. Is this a bad sign that the drug really has a strong hold on me? My latest hold is longer than I’ve been on the drug before trying to come off.

[[Ch...]]

I hear of a lot of people cutting and getting worse for a week or so and then stabilize. I tried doing this but got worse the longer I waited. Is this a bad sign that the drug really has a strong hold on me? My latest hold is longer than I’ve been on the drug before trying to come off.

 

You've been holding since June according to your signature.  Are you still holding?

[[pi...]]

I tapered from valium, diazepam.  I always cut on Thursday because I knew the symptoms would peak at about 3 days from the cut which would be the weekend.  Generally, I had a couple of days of strong symptoms with gradual lessening.

 

Since I was in tolerance for a long time, I had symptoms that carried over from that. 

 

Good luck with your taper.

 

pianogirl 

[[Th...]]

I’m still holding and had to add Remeron to help stabilize me. There were moments I felt like I was going insane. It really scared my family and they begged me to get on medication. I got a small dose of what withdrawal will be for me and I don’t have the strength or will this time around. I’ve been suffering with fullness and brain trembling for years without meds. I’m convinced that I will be one of those extreme cases. Is it normal for someone to make a cut and continually become worse?

[[Ch...]]

I’m still holding and had to add Remeron to help stabilize me. There were moments I felt like I was going insane. It really scared my family and they begged me to get on medication. I got a small dose of what withdrawal will be for me and I don’t have the strength or will this time around. I’ve been suffering with fullness and brain trembling for years without meds. I’m convinced that I will be one of those extreme cases. Is it normal for someone to make a cut and continually become worse?

 

I asked because it’s possible for tolerance to become an issue after awhile. If one holds a benzodiazepine dose for long enough, tolerance is likely to crop up again. But I don’t know if that’s part of the reason you’re feeling worse. No one can know exactly why.

 

If you cut too much when you were tapering, this could also lead to symptoms that don’t resolve for awhile.  That’s what happened to me.  One bad cut.

 

Sounds like you also have a pre-existing condition that may be complicating things. I’m so sorry you’re going through this.

[[Th...]]

Thanks for your reply Chalis. Can someone avoid tolerance by doing a consistent taper so that the body cannot adjust to the dose? Or does tolerance happen just as a matter of the time you’re on the drug?

[[Mi...]]

Good question! I’m curious of the same. I’ve noticed so far that I feel worse when I hold then cut than when I recently started cutting small amounts daily, but I haven’t been doing it long. So far that’s my experience.

[[Be...]]

It is such a great question! I was wondering about cut and hold tolerance too. I'm holding only because of upcoming surgery, as suggested by several here on the forum. I seem to be stabilized with a level of tolerance w/d effects that I can cope with but would like to know if those currents effects will stay the same or worsen the longer I hold. I'm really looking forward to learning more about the whole tapering process. Thanks, buddies.

[[pi...]]

It is such a great question! I was wondering about cut and hold tolerance too. I'm holding only because of upcoming surgery, as suggested by several here on the forum. I seem to be stabilized with a level of tolerance w/d effects that I can cope with but would like to know if those currents effects will stay the same or worsen the longer I hold. I'm really looking forward to learning more about the whole tapering process. Thanks, buddies.

 

I held for my first shoulder surgery, left side, after I had made the transition to diazepam (valium).  It didn't seem to affect me negatively and as soon as possible following the surgery I resumed the taper.

 

pianogirl

[[va...]]

It is such a great question! I was wondering about cut and hold tolerance too. I'm holding only because of upcoming surgery, as suggested by several here on the forum. I seem to be stabilized with a level of tolerance w/d effects that I can cope with but would like to know if those currents effects will stay the same or worsen the longer I hold. I'm really looking forward to learning more about the whole tapering process. Thanks, buddies.

 

I held for my first shoulder surgery, left side, after I had made the transition to diazepam (valium).  It didn't seem to affect me negatively and as soon as possible following the surgery I resumed the taper.

 

pianogirl

 

Piano girl did you tell the doctor in the hospital to give you no other benzos and were they willing to respect your taper and the dose you were taking?