Klonopin - ending shortish term use

[[Re...]]

Hello. I was prescribed Klonopin 2mg, 6 months ago to help with sleep anxiety caused by hypersensitivity. I started off taking as need, which was about 1-2 times a week. After 3 months I started to really feel like I was more in withdrawal all the time, than it helping me. I found spreading the 1-2 pills out over the week, but daily kept me more stable. I'm taking about 0.3 - 0.5 x 5 times a week now but finding the days I don't take it horrible! I just want to stop taking it ASAP and my doctor is clueless. She wants to make this script my last because I have lost my appetite and I have a history of eating disorders. But I also need to be able to function atm as I'm working and studying both full time. I have started EMDR therapy for the sleep anxiety, so I have good support. My question is, should I just go cold turkey as I'm not on a hell of alot, or keep reducing daily? And with breaks? Or not? I dunno anymore I just want my energy and spark back. Thank you for any advice. 

[[je...]]

Hi @[Re...]

Welcome to BenzoBuddies!

I am sorry you are finding yourself in this situation. Personally I wouldn't recommend you go cold turkey. From what you've described it sounds like you've already developed dependency on the pills due to the fact that you're feeling really terrible on the days that you don't take them. Also, 0.5mg of Clonazepam is not a small dose. It is equal to 10mg of Valium to give a comparison. I would recommend a taper, but in order to do so you would need a provider that will continue to prescribe for you. Will that be an option?

[[Re...]]

Thank you @[je...] Yea, I have tapered off other medications (ritalin and concerts) myself before (because doctors are useless) so I'm just going to make my own plan. I should have enough for the next month and just reduce each week. I tend to crush them, divide, and put in vege caps with magnesium or other supplements. I know it's not super accurate but has worked in the past. However, I am seeing my doctor next week, and was wondering if I should switch to short life? She didn't originally give me short life because I have a history of addiction (7 years sober, except for the medications they keep giving me) 

[[je...]]

I really don't want to alarm you, but I have also previously tapered from an anti-depressant without much effort or concern and it was nothing compared to my benzo withdrawal. Now it might be that my central nervous system had been desensitised by my previous antidepressant use (or not), I don't know but all I know is I had no idea how bad benzo withdrawal would be in comparison to my previous psych med taper. Now we also know people react differently and your situation is definitely not my situation, so you might have a very different experience to me. I am merely trying to be cautious given the fact that you stipulated you need to be functional for work and studying.

I am not sure if a month's supply will be enough because I think a month is too short to taper. You can attempt bigger reductions to see how it goes, but if it were me, I would consider a back up plan in case these reductions are too big and I struggle to function. 

Also I would definitely not recommend switching to a shorter acting drug. This could make withdrawal worse because you might start experiencing interdose withdrawal due to the short half-life of these drugs. 

 

[[Re...]]

Thank you @[je...], that's super helpful. I'm not alarmed, coming off ritalin took a long time and was awful. I have a very sensitive nervous system also. I will definitely be asking my doctor next week to at least consider giving me 0.5mg pills so I can be more accurate in my tapering. I have had a couple of times the last 5 months where I have gone a week or so without and it's been hard but things seem to clear after about 4-6 days, that's why I thought cold turkey may be possible, and I'd take time off work to do this and wait till I have a gap in assignments. I have a good level of acceptance around it all, with sa collection of coping strategies, it's just a real pain in the bum going through this again when I resisted benzos for all these years. 

[[je...]]

It's a very good sign that you have been able to manage withdrawal symptoms for several days up to a week. It might be worth it to try a rapid taper, but I'd hate to see you in agonising pain and not have a way out. I was in severe in pain, but luckily I still had pills to combat my rapid taper and stabilise again. 

29 minutes ago, [[R...] said:

I tend to crush them, divide, and put in vege caps with magnesium or other supplements. I know it's not super accurate but has worked in the past.

I have never heard of this method before and I'm a bit apprehensive. Generally if people attempt a rapid taper they'll cut their pill in 1/8 or quarters. If you do attempt a rapid taper, might I suggest you allow at least two weeks between each cut. The half life of Clonazepam is quite long and if you don't allow enough time between cuts, you might think you're out of the woods, but the cuts will accummulate and then catch up with you a couple of weeks later and you'll be in a world of pain. 

Also, when you start tapering it will be better if you take a daily dose rather than skipping days. 

[[Re...]]

@[je...] Yea I came up with that method when no one else would give me any good information on coming off Ritalin, except 'do it slowly' so I took it into my own hands. I will take 0.5mg tonight so I can study tomorrow, and then I have prepared the following 7 days on 0.23mg daily with extra if need. And then will take it from there. Thank you, your words have definitely helped, especially around how long and not to go onto short life. I will keep you posted 😊 Also, if you know of any herbs that help? I heard valerian is good, but I also know at the end of the day it is what it is and it's intense. 

[[je...]]

Good on you for finding a method that worked for you. Many of us here also had to find our way of tapering because our doctors don't know or understand how to slowly taper us. I'm in Australia and the specialist that prescribed to me, cut me off and forced a rapid taper which caused severe withdrawal. I was lucky to find a new doctor who was willing to prescribe but she knew nothing about tapering. She was happy to prescribe for me to taper and learn from me - even though I basically knew nothing. That's how I ended up here. 

There isn't any tried and tested herbs or adjunct meds that help with withdrawal symptoms. It is hit and miss for most people. Some people can react very strongly to herbs. I seem to be quite resilient and don't react much. But it is worth noting that many people can have strong reactions to herbs and supplements, so if you want to try something, it's best to introduce it in small quantities.

[[Re...]]

@[je...] Thought I would give an update 😇

I managed to get 0.500mg pills from my doctor. Over 4 weeks I tapered from 0.250 -0.125. I took 0.125 for 10 days, then stopped completely. I took 2 weeks off work to stop them completely, and I had 3 days of uncomfortable withdrawal, then I have felt amazing since. I think my body was just hating on having benzo in my system, and now it's flourishing! Also, I spend those tapering weeks really focusing on a positive mindset and believing I would recover and actually be better than I was 6 months ago. So I think that played a huge part. Thank you for your help 😊 and I hope this encourages others. 

[[je...]]

That’s wonderful news! I’m so happy for you.  Thanks for the update. I hope it continues to be symptom free!