1mg of Klonopin daily for 2 years

[[To...]]

I'm looking in to starting a taper off Klonopin. I'm seeing a Psychiatric nurse practitioner who will taper me. Any advice on how slow to go? I want to go as slow as possible. Years ago I tapered off a 10mg a day Xanax dependence on a very slow taper which was relatively painless. I'd appreciate any suggestions and advice. Thanks so much. 

[[...]]

Hi, @[To...], welcome to BenzoBuddies!) So glad you've found us.

I'm not too good at tapering but know that it's usually recommended to reduce by 10-5% from your previous dosage every 2-3 weeks, symptom oriented. I'm sure other more knowledgeable buddies will chim in and give their advice more to the point.

Just wanted to ask what taper rate did you follow when you came off xanax? Really hope this time it'll be the same painless as then. Good luck to you!)

[[To...]]

I believe my Xanax taper was .25 decrease every 2 months. It took a long time to fully come off it. My primary physician monitored me weekly. 

[[To...]]

I mean .25 every 2 to 3 weeks

[Colin]

32 minutes ago, [[T...] said:

I'm looking in to starting a taper off Klonopin. I'm seeing a Psychiatric nurse practitioner who will taper me. Any advice on how slow to go? I want to go as slow as possible. Years ago I tapered off a 10mg a day Xanax dependence on a very slow taper which was relatively painless. I'd appreciate any suggestions and advice. Thanks so much. 

Hello @[To...]. Welcome to BenzoBuddies.

Fortunately, this time round, your dose is much lower (1mg Klonopin being equivalent to about 1mg Xanax).

What dose pills do you use?

[[To...]]

I use 1mg dose. I split it in half. One dose in morning, one dose at bedtime. Total dose being 1mg daily. I'm scared to start taper. Thinking a .25 decrease every 2 months may tolerable. 

[Colin]

16 minutes ago, [[T...] said:

I use 1mg dose. I split it in half. One dose in morning, one dose at bedtime. Total dose being 1mg daily. I'm scared to start taper. Thinking a .25 decrease every 2 months may tolerable. 

It might be. But I suggest that you ask your doctor for a prescription for 0.5mg tablets. These will allow, if the need should arise, for you to make smaller reductions your dose. In general, smaller more frequent reductions to dose are better tolerated than larger, less frequent reductions, even if the overall taper rates are similar.

[[To...]]

I'll mention that to my doctor. I've a refill soon for 90 day count, but they're 1mg tablets. Maybe a .25 reduction every month would be tolerable, however, I don't want to push it. When I was tapering off 10 mg Xanax, we went really slow. I was quitting drinking at the same time, so it was a sketchy situation. Had to taper my drinking and my Xanax, yet that meant still drinking with Xanax. Bad time after my dad passed and was given Xanax by a psychiatrist just at my first consultation! I had no ideas of the dangers of drinking with Xanax at the time. I do now.

[Colin]

8 minutes ago, [[T...] said:

I'll mention that to my doctor. I've a refill soon for 90 day count, but they're 1mg tablets. Maybe a .25 reduction every month would be tolerable, however, I don't want to push it. When I was tapering off 10 mg Xanax, we went really slow. I was quitting drinking at the same time, so it was a sketchy situation. Had to taper my drinking and my Xanax, yet that meant still drinking with Xanax. Bad time after my dad passed and was given Xanax by a psychiatrist just at my first consultation! I had no ideas of the dangers of drinking with Xanax at the time. I do now.

That's possible, of course. But being able to make 0.25mg reductions to your dose rather 0.5mg will help. It is just about adding some flexibility into your plan, in case you need another option.

[[To...]]

Thank you!

[[No...]]

Hello @[To...]. I am sure that no one can predict how the things will go and let me give you just one advice. Start with small reduction and see how you feel about few weeks. You always can cut more, but it's not so easy to go back. Wish you smooth taper.

[[Ro...]]

Hi @[To...],

  I'm glad that you successfully tapered off the Xanax.  Like you're planning to do, my taper was also off clonazepam (Klonopin).  Looks like you're proposing to take off a fixed amount over time (a linear taper).  The option I chose was to shave off a percentage of the current dosage every 2 weeks, averaging 7.5% reductions for the taper. (My taper schedule can be seen on the About Me tab of my Profile page)

Either method works, and I'm not prescribing the way I did it as the only way to do it.  Good luck to you.

[[To...]]

Thanks y'all for the responses. Rocknroll, yes, my psychiatrist wants to taper down .25 every few weeks but I'm not comfortable with that rapid taper. I was thinking .25 decrease every couple months.  When I tapered Xanax I went really slow. It took forever. That last  .25 I was so scared to stop. They also want to add Gabapentin during taper to assist in any possible withdrawal but then I have to taper off the Gabapentin..its stressed me out.

[[vo...]]

On 11/10/2024 at 18:35, [[T...] said:

Thanks y'all for the responses. Rocknroll, yes, my psychiatrist wants to taper down .25 every few weeks but I'm not comfortable with that rapid taper. I was thinking .25 decrease every couple months.  When I tapered Xanax I went really slow. It took forever. That last  .25 I was so scared to stop. They also want to add Gabapentin during taper to assist in any possible withdrawal but then I have to taper off the Gabapentin..its stressed me out.

@[To...] hi there! i have a very similar story, 1mg klonopin for around a year and then 0.5mg for a year before that. i started my taper two weeks ago, cutting down to 0.875mg. I am cutting to 0.75mg tomorrow. How are you doing? My psych also wanted to go faster, but I want to go slower. Like you, probably down 0.25mg every 1-2 months (unless I’m feeling great/horrible, i’ll adjust the pace)

[[To...]]

We are starting at 0.25 decrease every 2 months. Not started yet, but will be after the holidays. How are you doing with withdrawal symptoms?

[[je...]]

15 hours ago, [[T...] said:

We are starting at 0.25 decrease every 2 months. Not started yet, but will be after the holidays. How are you doing with withdrawal symptoms?

The problem you might experience is intense withdrawal from each 0.25mg cut until you manage to stabilise from it. Making a 0.25 mg from 1mg Clonazepam is quite a big reduction (increasing with each subsequent cut). Spreading it over two months doesn’t decrease the severity of the cut. It makes a lot more sense to make smaller cuts every two weeks rather than one big cut every two months. Smaller, gentler cuts are better tolerated by the central nervous system and you are more likely to remain functional and not be in pain. 

[[To...]]

So you'd start tapering down from 1mg how much? I'm a bit confused. One issue is currently, all i have are 1mg tabs, even with pill cutter, getting it accurate is tough. Thanks!

[[je...]]

People will often start with 10% cuts. It will be easier if you can get 0.5mg pills. Usually people use a nail file and jewellers scale to file down the pill and weigh it. 

[[To...]]

Wow!. Okay so on my next refill, ask for 0.5 mg pills. Do they go lower even? As you get further song your taper that would be good to have id imagine. Thank you. Are you tapering?

[[El...]]

Hi @[To...].  I hope you are well!

I am curious as to what us your present dose.  Are you still taking 1 mg...or did you reduce to 0.75 mg?

it is my understanding that the lowest dose available for clonazepam tablets is 0.5 mg.  As @[je...] has indicated, if you wish to make smaler reductions than is possible by splitting your pills, you will need to purchase a jeweler's scale (available on Amazon for about $30), a pill splitter and nail file.  This will allow you cut, file and weigh your tablets so that you can have more consistently weighted doses as well as allow you to make smaller and smaller reductions if needed.  I would also agree that making smaller reductions more often rather than one larger reduction all at once will be much gentler on your central nervous system.

What do you plan for your next step?

[[Li...]]

38 minutes ago, [[E...] said:

it is my understanding that the lowest dose available for clonazepam tablets is 0.5 mg

In the US, the lowest solid dosage form of clonazepam available is a 0.125mg Orally Disintegrating Tablet (ODT).

[[je...]]

12 hours ago, [[T...] said:

Wow!. Okay so on my next refill, ask for 0.5 mg pills. Do they go lower even? As you get further song your taper that would be good to have id imagine. Thank you. Are you tapering?

Yes, it will be easier to taper with 0.5mg pills. In the USA Clonazepam also comes in 0.125mg ODT tablets. I am not tapering anymore, I’m 2 years off from 2mg Clonazepam.