Klonopin withdrawal

I have been using Klonopin for over 5 months. Recently I found out that this drug develops withdrawal symptoms if the usage is stopped abruptly. I do not want to be psychologically dependent on any drugs. Can you tell me more about these withdrawal symptoms and how can I avoid them?

Klonopin can produce psychological and physical dependence. The most frequent side effects of Klonopin are CNS depression. Other symptoms are irregular heartbeat, hair loss, skin rash, yellow eyes or skin, anorexia, dry mouth, gastritis, fever, tremor, abnormal eye movements etc. Klonopin should be used with caution in patients suffering from respiratory diseases because it may produce an increase in salivation. All patients using this drug and other benzodiazepines must consult with their physician before increasing the dose or abruptly discontinuing this drug. If you are using Klonopin as your doctor proscribed you to, then you don’t have to fear the withdrawal symptoms. They usually occur if the usage is stopped abruptly, in cases of long-term Klonopin patients.

Thank you so much to all of you who have posted encouragement and questions/fears about Klonopin w/drawal. It's been such a support to me. I'm currently tapering off the drug after taking it nightly for about 1.5 months, for trouble sleeping and to counteract Prozac stimulation. I started at 1.0 mg/night for the first month or so, then have been tapering down to .75, then .5, then .25 mg over the last 3 weeks, and have found myself able to sleep fairly well. For the last 2 nights, I've taken none, and am having TERRIBLE withdrawal effects: severe irritability, jitteriness, muscle twitches, feeling like I want to jump out of my skin. Running 4 miles yesterday didn't seem to help. I had to take a 2.5 dose with yesterday to calm myself, and I'm resisting doing that today. Maybe just a .125 dose?

I consulted my psychiatrist yesterday -- I'm also battling major depression and am taking Prozac 30 mg. (almost 5 weeks now at 30 mg., with 3 weeks prior to that on 10 and then 20 mg.) -- and she feels the Klonopin is such a low dose now, if I can hang in there with the W/drawal it should be out of my system in 3 days. ??? I can barely stand it. (She did say not to torture myself, to take a little bit in the day if I need to.)Because I also struggle with anxiety and have had some major stressors lately, we're trying to get the Klonopin out of my system and assess whether the Prozac is truly helping or whether it's too "activating" for my system. I'm feeling so activated right now it's almost unbearable, but thanks to your postings, I don't feel alone. Good luck to anyone else coming off this stuff!

When my daughter tried to help me withdraw from Vicodin and Soma, we forgot about the Klonopin I had started taking about a month before- only 1mg at night for my fibromyalgia. The detox didn't go well. I had more than one seizure , was hospitalized . I underwent monitored detox in a hospital setting and then residential treatment. To make a long story short- it is one year later-I still have irritability and anxiety issues. I have just discovered PharmaGaba by Murray. They have it at the vitaminShoppe or look for it online.It has totally calmed me down. They say that these drugs( Klonopin,soma, etc) mess with your GABA receptors in your brain. Ask your doctor but do your own investigating. I feel so much better after just a few doses.
My advise is to let your body heal itself but seek medical help-watch for drug alternatives- try a holistic approach or a nutritionist. All doctors do is write more scripts. Drug companies have to stay in business and remember getting people hooked on drugs is part of the big picture. Most doctors don't know anything about nutrition, especially psychiatrists.
take care