Need help

[[Ch...]]

I want to taper. Been on klonopin since 2008. Was on 1mg but life took a toll on me and was increased to 2mg. Since March I am experiencing symptoms of dependence. I want off but can’t find a doctor to help. I found a doctor listed on the benzo coalition made an appointment and told to get with a pain management clinic. I travel for work therefore can’t use a scale or liquid taper. I need help. 

[[Gl...]]

Hi Chantal, you're starting where I did, with 2 mg Klonopin.   I've never told my doctor I was tapering, so he just filled my prescriptions without asking questions.  For me, it's easier not having them know or having them check up on my progress, so I can go at my own pace. 

[[Ch...]]

I have a doctor friend of mine that wants me to go with not detox for 5 days after being on klonopin 2mg since 2008. He said he can do it in 5 days. This is all against what I read. His wife is an addiction specialist. I don’t know what to do. I have not started a taper which I want to do but I don’t know how. Please help. I am having a hard times just to used this application. I am so confused 

[[Br...]]

This is a very hard decision but please know that we very seldom recommend detox facilities. They yank you off benzos abruptly and send you home to suffer the consequences of what is essentially a cold turkey. I would be very wary of doing this.  It is very, very hard on your nervous system, even more so after being on klonopin 2m for 15 years.  There is no easy path to getting off benzos but from our perspective a cautious, careful taper is better tolerated and more likely to help you remain functional as you recover from benzos.  We can help you put together a plan for your taper if you choose to go this route.  We will support you no matter what decision you make.

 

[[Br...]]

@[Ch...] There may be ways to manage your taper without having to take a scale with you or use liquid.  Depending on how long your work trips are you could prepare in advance using a scale at home and prepare capsules  with your daily dose(s) to take with you.  I did this when I was tapering an antidepressant and traveling occasionally during the taper.  It worked very well.

[[Ch...]]

I have no idea how to do this or where to get the information. Please help. I am at the end of my rope. A pill destroyed my life. PLEASE HELP. 

[[Je...]]

Wow, that's scary fast. From 2 mg to zero in five days seems to me to essentially be cold turkey. I certainly can't say what you should do, but I wouldn't go that quickly. (Well, actually, I'm NOT going that quickly ...) There are so many people here who can help you to plan a slower taper. They've certainly helped me. 

[[Br...]]

 

I know how scary this is but you will get through this and we will help you.  

Let's start with a general outline of how we generally suggest members taper and then some tips on how to weigh using a jeweler's scale.  This is a popular one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0012TDNAM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

We typically suggest tapering with cuts of no more than 5-10% of your most recent dose every 2 weeks or longer depending on your symptoms.  We urge members to remain flexible throughout the taper and let your taper be guided by symptoms.  This can mean slowing down, holding longer and/or making smaller cuts.  

Let's say you decide to taper using a scale - you want to start by establishing how much your pills weigh on average. Weigh 10 tablets and divide the number by 10 to determine the average weight of a single pill.  If you want to reduce by 10%, multiply the weight of the pill by .90.  Crush your pill and weigh the powder until you reach the desired weight.  If you're preparing 2 weeks of doses at a time you can pour the powder for each dose into capsules easily purchased on Amazon.

Your next cut will be .90 X the most recent dose and so on.  If you find you need to make smaller reductions you will multiply by .95 to make a 5% reduction or .92 to make an 8% reduction. 

Here's a link that helps with the math of dry tapering: https://benzodrytapermath.com

We also have several members who have used/are using the shave-and-weigh technique successfully with 0.5mg clonazepam tablets (e.g. hereforhelp, Rocknroll, TheSunAlsoRises.  You can look for their posts and reach out to them too.

It all feels very overwhelming at first but you will get the hang of it.  

 

[Guest [...]]

@[Ch...] As far as I know, even the majority of addiction specialists are very poorly educated about benzodiazepine withdrawal, or rather, completely misled as to the potentially devastating effects of withdrawal from these particular medications. 

[Guest [...]]

@[Ch...] 

First Steps

1) Just continue with your current prescriber… no need to inform them of your wish to taper. This allows you to taper without interference from your prescriber… 

2) Use link Brighterday has provided to purchase jewellers scale, and empty gel capsules if you wish to encase your doses. 

3) Buy a weekly or fortnightly pill organiser. If you dose twice a day, make sure to buy one with both a morning and nightly compartment. 

4) Request a change of prescription to 0.5mg tablets or a combination of both 0.5mg and 1mg tablets from your prescriber. 
 

Just focus on these 4 steps for now. 

[[Ch...]]

On 17/08/2023 at 22:13, [[G...] said:

Can you find a doctor who will prescribe Klonopin at all without knowing you want to taper?   There are plenty in my area who will prescribe, but maybe that's changing.  

I started benzos before 2008 and started tapering from 2 mg Klonopin in 2021.  It hasn't been that bad, although I have the symptoms you have.  I know it could be much worse.  Try not to panic.  If you could just find someone who will prescribe Klonopin, you can start tapering on your own with the help of the forum.  I hope that's okay to say here.🙈

I do I go back. Please help me 

[[Gl...]]

@[Ch...] Are you saying you had a doctor who will prescribe Klonopin for you?  You said you can't use a scale because you travel for work.  What if you weigh out a week's worth (or even 2 weeks) of Klonopin and put it in a week-pill box?  It's what I do.  It's easier that way.

How do you want to be helped.  If there's any way I can, let me know.