Jodi... I don't mean to hijack this thread, but you'll find many answers to your questions on my Steady Health Post: https://www.steadyhealth.com/Clonazepam_and_Klonopin_Withdrawal___Musicman_Posts_t254306.html?page=6#1333984
But, to answer some of your questions: 1 - Yes, for those of us who have gone through the withdrawals and came out the other side stronger, all of these symptoms do go away.
2 - Headaches, chills, sweats, etc., etc., can and will go away. As I mentioned there is much on my post at the above link, but the one thing that I absolutely must stress and that is to take this VERY slow. If you have to keep at one reduced level for a month or longer, THAT'S OK. This is not a sprint but a long distance run, and you must let your body adjust to each level that you bring yourself down.
I get the feeling that you are coming off the drug a bit too fast. Until I figured things out, with the help of my nutritionist, I came off of it cold turkey or came off of it too fast. Believe me, the withdrawal symptoms are much worse that way. TAKE IT SLOW...even if you have to back track and put yourself up a couple of levels and take another run at this withdrawal process. Don't get discouraged!!!
It took me three attempts at coming off of the drug, until I finally figured out what I was doing wrong. I hope this helps, and I hope my post helps you as well...as you will need some nutrients to take the place of the drug. My post has all of that information.
Hang in there!
Thank you. THis is the only positive thing I have read.
Yes you could definitely be having a withdrawal effect. I was taking it 2 or 3 times a day for a couple months & I stopped it, noticed nothing for about a week, then it hit me. I did not sleep for 7 days or nights & I was a complete mess. My husband had to do everything for me. All I did was sit on the couch & shake. Couldn't distract myself with a good book or a project or anything, It was at least a week before I started to have periods of calmness. My doctor thought I wasn't taking it so he cut my dose down to one pill a day & it happened to be simultaneously with one of the worst months of my life. I am back on it mostly for sleep, to keep my thoughts from keeping me awake. I dread the day I gotta go through this again. It's coming.
Chrissy
I am going through the same thing now that you went through, Chrissy.. I haven't slept more than about 1-2 hours a day for the last 10 days since I cut my dosage from .5 a day to .25. I am going to reduce to .125 in two weeks and stay on that for a month and then quit. I am going to stick this out because I want to be off this drug. I am a mess, but luckily I have my husband's support an am not working now. The nights last forever and I dread them. I do not want to start this over again at a later date.
Linda
I am so sorry to hear that you Became addicted to this Drug, I have been there , almost the same situation was being Prescribed 2A mg 4 times a day , and was still getting Panic Attacks , I checked myself into a rapid Detox center , They pulled the drug off me in 2 Days , Using PHENOBARBITAL , excuse my spelling , I am back on the drug also , Now on 1mg -3 times a day and this is really hard my Friend , But I seen it done in only 10 days , There was a young 21 year old guy who was taking 20mg a day for a couple of years and he walked out of there , Drug Free. So The only thing I can say is go to a Detox center and they will get you off of the drug , And they will teach you coping skills. Best of Luck My friend You CAN DO IT . It is possible.
I have taken this drug for 5 years. For the last few months I have gradually gotten down to .5 mg at night. My new doctor prescribed me Buspar to help me get off Konapin permanently. The Buspar with the low dosage was working really well for my anxiety. Then last weekend I got off Klonapin totally. 2 days lateer I became extremely nervous at work. I have had to stay home all week. My doctor has even given me another medicine to help with the withdrawels. I have not slept or have not slept all night. The anxiety has been so horribly, horribly, agonizingly extreme that I feel like I am going out of my mind. My shoulder and neck muscles have been so tense that I couldn't relax lastnight at all because I had such a knot on the base of my neck. I read that this drug is only supposed to used on a short term basis. I too don't think this drug should be legal. I think the doctors that prescribe it or pathetic. They never tell you that is highly addictive. I NEVER have felt this kind of anxiety!!
You need to go to a chemical dependency therapist and you will need narcotics anonymous and to be in treatment for the rest of your life. You can do it stay sober.
You need to taper off Klonopin 1/4 mg every two weeks rapid taper 1/4 mg every month slow taper the whole time you won't feel well most likely but you should be able to do what you need to do. You can take Omega Vitamins this may help but not much.
i personally notice headaches, dizziness, fatigue, feeling dull on mentation and profound night sweats.
i do feel good then bad being focused on working or school helps.
You might get scared that you have cancer, low blood pressure, diabetes or chronic fatigue syndrome. You don't it is just klonopin you need to give it at least two years after stopping taking it
I hope you are okay. I was on Klonopin for about 5 years. I have been off it for going on 2 months. This has been the toughest two months of my life. My equilibrium is so terrible. My retention is horrible. My neck and head feel as if I have a tight band around my head. Did you do any exercises? Have you recovered?
I have been on klonopin for 3-4 years now and am sick of it , I get coke-bugs really bad and have found otc anti-histamines have helped , but how long can you take them, I hope now beginning my 3rd week off and seeing my cnp today will get some positive results!
Check back in 2012 November, you can see all the 'whata, coulda, shouldla' stuff I went through.
When I got off the Opiates, I was SUPER-SUPER-SUPER proud. I always asked, where have you been my whole life Lopermide!!! I have been clean since then and such a relief
Well - I went to my doctor after I got clean and wondered how I got through it, I just said some OTC meds really helped (didn't mention anything specific). As for my appt, my nerves were shot, blood pressure was high - so my doc put me on Klonopin which I never heard of, I said sure, hope it works. It did everything it was supposed to do. Keep in mind I have been on 1.5mg daily for 1.3 years. I tried to come off of it and HOLY COW!!!! ============ Dont' do it. An opiate withdrawal is a WALK IN THE PARK X 10 then 1.5 mg of Klonopin. I tapered down for month (whole month I felt like c**p. One time I felt I was going to mentally loose it. Bad stuff all around. Called into work off/on for 2 weeks and telecommute for work.
Bottom Line: STAY AWAY FROM KLONOPIN / XANEX - ALL DRUGS THAT FIT UNDER BENZOS.
NOT WORTH IT. Imagine feeling like when you wake up, your chest is TIGHT, you are shaking, Straight up looked like a drug addict. Don't EVERY stop this stuff one day - LEARN FROM MY MISTAKES PLEASE.
Anyone - Please read this if you are completing getting off Klonopin due to opiate withdrawal. Klonopin is way-way-way-way more dangerous then a roxi or vicoden.
Later on and hope I saved a life somewhere.
I agree with everything you say. I also am very angry. I cannot believe my Dr. has had me on 2 mg Klonopin for about 7 years or more. Now my husband has cancer, I have to go back to work, but cant get off the pills and my memory is gone. Any website I have read has said benzos should only be used for a short time. Doctors don't care, they just want their kickback from the pharmaceuticals and the office visit payment.
I have been taking this drug for 7 yrs at night also, 0.5 mg. I cut my dosage in half for a wk. at bedtime. Am down to 1/4 pill now. No serious side effects have occurred. One strange thing is, I can't stop sneezing, have red eyes, runny nose etc. I'm a lucky one I guess, but these symptoms are not fun either. No cold just allergy type symtoms.