Caught in a cycle of tapering and updosing

[[Te...]]

I cannot figure out how to taper without becoming completely disabled. I've probably updosed about 100 times and reinstated numerous times since I tried to come off klonopin over the past 9 years. This is a nightmare. I can't become entirely dysfunctional yet I must also come off this poison some day. Im currently at .27mg. I made it to .15mg last year but reinstated to a higher amount which I regret doing. Now my taper is a full blown disaster.

[[Ka...]]

I don't know what your starting dose was but if you've gotten to 0.27mg it sounds like you aren't giving yourself enough credit Tess.  If you have to work and/or have family responsibilities, then tapering slowly becomes even more important so that you can stay functional.  I did the bulk of my taper during the panedmic shut-down in 2020 and I think that was in my favor.  But even with going slow, acceptance that there will be discomfort along the way may be the missing piece for you?  I don't see any way around the fact that getting off of long-standing benzo use won't involve at least some discomfort but aiming to keep it to a minimum is key.

[[Te...]]

I don't know what your starting dose was but if you've gotten to 0.27mg it sounds like you aren't giving yourself enough credit Tess.  If you have to work and/or have family responsibilities, then tapering slowly becomes even more important so that you can stay functional.  I did the bulk of my taper during the panedmic shut-down in 2020 and I think that was in my favor.  But even with going slow, acceptance that there will be discomfort along the way may be the missing piece for you?  I don't see any way around the fact that getting off of long-standing benzo use won't involve at least some discomfort but aiming to keep it to a minimum is key.

 

I can't get any lower than this without becoming dysfunctional and losing everything. I've tried tapering at a snails pace, even calculating doses so small that it would take me three years to get off the rest. No matter what, as I get lower than this, my body stops working with indescribable pain and weakness, inability to swallow food even. I think I'm meant to be on this small amount for the rest of my life. My starting dose was about 1.5mg of K.

[[Ka...]]

Are you on any other meds like an antidepressant or anxiety med like Buspar?

[[Te...]]

Are you on any other meds like an antidepressant or anxiety med like Buspar?

No. I would never take other medications, nor can I because have a bad reaction to all with chemical sensitivity, etc (not that I would take them anyway).