Well, after researching the side effects of clonazepam or klonipin, I have learned I am an addict, that withdrawal can be dangerous and/or at a minimum difficult and unpleasant. Having been prescribed this medication after an anxiety attack about 10years ago...and having the dosage increased to deal with restless leg syndrome, I am ticked off to say theleast. Beginning tonight my 2 mg dose is dropping to 1.5mg for two weeks...then 1mg for 2 weeks,...and finally .5 mg for two weeks...if needed, I till take the .5 every other day until I am free. I am open to all suggestions, and I will keep you posted on my progress. BY THE WAY, THIS IS MY PERSONAL PLAN FOR DEALING WITH THE DRUG, AND NOT MY DOCTOR'S. I AM A SOMEWHAT UNTRUSTING OF MY DOCTOR BECAUSE HE PUT ME HERE. LATER.
Your 2 week per dosage reduction schedule seem very possible - but you may want to stretch it to 3 weeks between dosage reduction if you need to. You obviously want to get off the drug - but don't push it too fast just for the sake of getting off the drug.
I've been weaning myself off gradually in 2-3 week intervals - but I was at a lower overall dosage than you (and for a shorter period of time of 1.5 years). I was at 0.5 mg twice a day (total of 1 mg). I gradually phased out the morning dosage. For my evening dosage of 0.5 mg, I have reduced that to 0.25 mg (cut the 0.5 mg pill in half). I plan to go to 0.25 every other night for 2-3 weeks - and then will take as needed - but only as needed. I'm even thinking of cutting the 0.5mg pill into 1/4s if I have to.
I'm also a little leary of my Dr's opinion - since he seemed to think I shouldn't feel any effects after getting to 0.25 mg. and told me just to stop taking it. (Same Dr that told me the likelihood of getting dependent on clonazepam was minimal. Yeah, right! Apparently, he's never taken the stuff.)
I have experienced little side-effects doing this very slowly - but I am also taking an antidepressant which I think is helping.
BTW, I tried to get off of the clonazepam before about 8 months ago and tried to do it faster. I experienced anxiety and panic attacks. Ended up getting back on the drug for a while before starting the recent withdrawl process. I started taking the anitdepressant about the same time I started back on the clonazepam.
Hope this is helpful and I wish you all the best. You can do it ... just don't feel like you have to rush yourself.
I've been weaning myself off gradually in 2-3 week intervals - but I was at a lower overall dosage than you (and for a shorter period of time of 1.5 years). I was at 0.5 mg twice a day (total of 1 mg). I gradually phased out the morning dosage. For my evening dosage of 0.5 mg, I have reduced that to 0.25 mg (cut the 0.5 mg pill in half). I plan to go to 0.25 every other night for 2-3 weeks - and then will take as needed - but only as needed. I'm even thinking of cutting the 0.5mg pill into 1/4s if I have to.
I'm also a little leary of my Dr's opinion - since he seemed to think I shouldn't feel any effects after getting to 0.25 mg. and told me just to stop taking it. (Same Dr that told me the likelihood of getting dependent on clonazepam was minimal. Yeah, right! Apparently, he's never taken the stuff.)
I have experienced little side-effects doing this very slowly - but I am also taking an antidepressant which I think is helping.
BTW, I tried to get off of the clonazepam before about 8 months ago and tried to do it faster. I experienced anxiety and panic attacks. Ended up getting back on the drug for a while before starting the recent withdrawl process. I started taking the anitdepressant about the same time I started back on the clonazepam.
Hope this is helpful and I wish you all the best. You can do it ... just don't feel like you have to rush yourself.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
I have begun taking CoQ10 and Omega 3 in the hope they will mediate the neurological effects of getting off of the clonazepam.
I have also lost significant weight and am hoping that will also make a difference in the amount my body wants. I have only been at this for three days, but so far, so good.
I am also beginning melatonin to assist with sleep and valerian root to help with anxiety. Hope it helps.
I have begun taking CoQ10 and Omega 3 in the hope they will mediate the neurological effects of getting off of the clonazepam.
I have also lost significant weight and am hoping that will also make a difference in the amount my body wants. I have only been at this for three days, but so far, so good.
I am also beginning melatonin to assist with sleep and valerian root to help with anxiety. Hope it helps.
nana 501, I hope the withdrawl from clonazepam countinues to go well for you.
Is the melatonin helping with your sleep?
I forgot to mention that I also have been taking Omega 3 as well as Vit B complex. When I tried to get off of clonazepam last time, I hadn't been taking those supplements.
I'm finding this time to experience a lot less withdrawl symptoms. I think the supplements along with the antidepressant have helped me.
Is the melatonin helping with your sleep?
I forgot to mention that I also have been taking Omega 3 as well as Vit B complex. When I tried to get off of clonazepam last time, I hadn't been taking those supplements.
I'm finding this time to experience a lot less withdrawl symptoms. I think the supplements along with the antidepressant have helped me.
This is day 5 for me. I was blindsided because my dr decided to not fill my prescription. I owe him $900. This has turned out to be quite a punishment for debt. At this point, I would rather be in jail. I have been on .5 mg daily for 14 yrs & have never run out. I've taken them as prescribed & never abused them so when I got word that my prescription would not be filled I was unaware of the living nightmare that was about to begin. My girlfriend was with me & mentioned something about withdrawal... That's when I got online. Wow!
Day 1: I decided to only take 1/2 of my pill, save the other half just in case. Not such a bad day but my jaw started clenching towards the evening & by bedtime my neck & shoulders were tightening, terrible headache.
Day 2: surprise! Now I feel drunken dizzy on top of the previous symptoms lingering. To make matters worse it seemed like I couldn't think straight. Nothing seemed normal & I wanted to hold on to that pill...
Day 3: life as I knew it was over, physically & mentally I was broken. it felt like electricity was running through my veins. My heart was racing like I ran a marathon, my neck is now crooked, still dizzy with a pounding headache, cannot function to do my work or even talk on the phone. Thoughts are racing in my mind accompanied by anxiety & I'm not even sure what happened with my man but we weren't speaking when he went to sleep.
Day 4: I didn't fall asleep last night, stayed in bed watching tv being miserable. Which is also what I did on this day. Still dealing with all of the above symptoms getting more intense.
Day 5: I did sleep 4 hrs but by this time I see a weight loss. So sad about this, because of my poverty I had lost 30 lbs previously & just put 15 back on. My normally healthy relationship has become a source of stress. Misery turns into SUPER MISERY! I have a severe personality disorder now & still in bed since day 3. Starting to realize I cannot do this by myself when it hits me. It felt like a bomb went off in my body. My legs weren't cooperating & there was an awful sound in my ears. Everything was loud (i forgot to mention that my eyes were very sensitive to light from day 2) everything tasted strange & my throat felt like it was closing while my tongue felt swollen. Very scary after reading that this medication is prescribed for seizures. So now I'm dealing with fear as well as every symptom above x 100 = the worst panic attack I've ever encountered. So I take the 1/2 pill I was saving. 20 min later, I feel so great that my symptoms are back to a 1.
Today is day 6 & I am buying xanax off the street. Where did I go? I feel like a junkie, a pill popper. As I wait to get through the red tape to get into our local clinic........
Sondra, I suddenly started losing handfulls of my hair when I washed it. I'm not sure if it is the parnate, I was prescribed for depression or the clonazapam or the percoset, but the doctor told me it could be the parnate. He never mentioned that side effect. It could also be that I have hypothyroidism & take synthroid for that. I began having symptoms of hypothyroidism again & have had 2 tests & am going for a third as the doctor isn't sure if my meds need adjusting for that. It's so discouraging. I'm really tired of being a guinia pig for all these drugs. Now he wants me to try effexor. That's not going to happen! I want off all these drugs. They just seem to make me feel worse. I just want to live a normal life!
I'm sorry it is so awful for you. I have been on 0.5mg once a day for 19 years. It has saved my life. Before getting on klonopin I had such scary panic attacks that I was ending up in the ER once a week and the thought of leaving my house was terrifying! Now I only occasionally have panic attacks and lead a pretty normal life. I've never had to up my dose. On rare occasions I've taken an extra 0.5mg if I wake up in the middle of the night and feel panicky. I've never felt the need to stop this medication. That sounds scary to me because life before klonopin was not living.
I've read nightmare withdrawal stories for just about all drugs. My daughter who is seriously disabled and chronically ill was put on tramadol while waiting for dental surgery and her withdrawal from this supposed non narcotic pain medication was an absolute hellish nightmare! She was a on a very low dose for a few months and the withdrawal lasted 3 months and even now 6 months later she still has bowel movement problems. So I guess different medications react different for everyone.
I've read nightmare withdrawal stories for just about all drugs. My daughter who is seriously disabled and chronically ill was put on tramadol while waiting for dental surgery and her withdrawal from this supposed non narcotic pain medication was an absolute hellish nightmare! She was a on a very low dose for a few months and the withdrawal lasted 3 months and even now 6 months later she still has bowel movement problems. So I guess different medications react different for everyone.
I'm so sorry to read all of these posts. Don't give up trying to get off this medication. I am new but I knew that it was time to get off the clonazapam. I have been on 2mg for about 5 years, maybe longer. I went off of Lexapro about 3 years ago. I had two failed attempts and I think it was due to trying to go off to fast or as my doctor perscribed. When I failed he said that I would just need to be on it forever. When I left the office that day I knew that I could come off of the Lexapro but I had to listen to my body and go slowly. It took me 2 1/2 years and then 6 months of side effects but I did it. I knew that it wouldn't be easy coming of the clonazapam and I hope it's not as bad as coming off the Lexapro. I am at about 65 days into this and I am now down to 1 mg. I have 60 2mg. pills and I am cutting them in half and will listen to my body when in another 30-40 days before reducing my dosage again. I read all the post and I think the musicman post are the best bet for coming off this stuff. I will never fill another perscription before researching it out first. I trusted my doctor way to much and just did what he said believing he was doing what was best for me. My husband is praying for me and has been a great support to me in the past and I know he will continue to be as I go forward to getting off this stuff. I'll try to post again to let you know how I am doing. The Lord will see me through this. I know because He did with the Lexapro.
klonopin should be illegal. This drug wrecked my life. I only took it about 16 days at a dosage of .25. I suffered libido problems, increased hunger as someone would with low blood sugar, dizziness, sleeplessness, joint pains, depression, vitamin D deficiency, low testocerone levels, muscle twitches, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and many more symptoms. Do not take this drug and tell anyone you know who is taking it to stop. I have seem many specialists including neurologists, endocrinologists, ENT and GI doctors trying to find out what caused the symptoms that I have after I stopped taking klonipin. No one can tell me when the symptoms will stop only that the drug is no longer in my system. Anyway, all of my labs were skill but the problems still exist. I was given the drug to help me sleep.
Just a follow up ...
My last dose of clonazepam was on 5/13. I have to say that I've had very little issues with withdrawl side effects compared to when I tried to come off the drug last year.
This time I allowed more time to adjust between the reduced dosages. I don't know if that was the major factor - or if the Omega 3 & Vit B12 supplements and/or the antidepressant have helped me.
I still have had some restless nights of sleep and some headaches - but it has been very manageable.
My advice is to not rush the withdrawl process.
My last dose of clonazepam was on 5/13. I have to say that I've had very little issues with withdrawl side effects compared to when I tried to come off the drug last year.
This time I allowed more time to adjust between the reduced dosages. I don't know if that was the major factor - or if the Omega 3 & Vit B12 supplements and/or the antidepressant have helped me.
I still have had some restless nights of sleep and some headaches - but it has been very manageable.
My advice is to not rush the withdrawl process.
How slowly did you taper off of the medicine???
hi everyone,
i'm new to this board - found it while searching 'clonazepam withdrawal'. long story short - i've been on clonazepam for almost a year now - and my doctor is 'out of office' this week. i've got no refills. i have no idea what to do. so far i've been off for four days. i'm scared senseless right now. my nurse promised me that my doctor would fill the prescription today. i'm a shift worker - by the time i got home from work tonight and called the pharmacy...i finally found out that the doctor's office was CLOSED today - no one had any intention on filling that damn prescription today - told me they would, and i come to find out on my own that they aren't even open, for christ's sake. i've been calling them constantly all week leaving messages that my prescription ran out and have gotten NOWHERE. i've dealt with this same pdoc for over 6 years now. i have no idea what is going on, why they aren't taking care of this, why i feel like i've been dropped like a hotcake..etc. i have done nothing but COMPLY with EVERYTHING they have ever asked of me. he's been wonderful to me. i don't understand what is happening - all i can assume is that he is not available this week or something and just quite frankly doesn't give two hoots about his patients after all. they pulled the damn wool over my eyes and had me believing they were helping as opposed to harming..i don't know. i feel totally gullible, vulnerable, brainwashed. i was put on clonazepam for plain ol' ordinary night time anxiety resulting in sleep problems.
...i don't know what to do. i suppose there's not much i *can* do aside from just cope for the next few days and hope for the best. the clinic is closed over the weekend (not that it matters..they seemed to be closed all damn week anyway). the only thing i can figure is that i can go to a walk in clinic and have it refilled if it really comes down to that. i hate this. i don't know why i ever agreed to start.
i'll probably check in here and every now and then just for conversation and company. i hope you are all feeling well tonight.
xo
i'm new to this board - found it while searching 'clonazepam withdrawal'. long story short - i've been on clonazepam for almost a year now - and my doctor is 'out of office' this week. i've got no refills. i have no idea what to do. so far i've been off for four days. i'm scared senseless right now. my nurse promised me that my doctor would fill the prescription today. i'm a shift worker - by the time i got home from work tonight and called the pharmacy...i finally found out that the doctor's office was CLOSED today - no one had any intention on filling that damn prescription today - told me they would, and i come to find out on my own that they aren't even open, for christ's sake. i've been calling them constantly all week leaving messages that my prescription ran out and have gotten NOWHERE. i've dealt with this same pdoc for over 6 years now. i have no idea what is going on, why they aren't taking care of this, why i feel like i've been dropped like a hotcake..etc. i have done nothing but COMPLY with EVERYTHING they have ever asked of me. he's been wonderful to me. i don't understand what is happening - all i can assume is that he is not available this week or something and just quite frankly doesn't give two hoots about his patients after all. they pulled the damn wool over my eyes and had me believing they were helping as opposed to harming..i don't know. i feel totally gullible, vulnerable, brainwashed. i was put on clonazepam for plain ol' ordinary night time anxiety resulting in sleep problems.
...i don't know what to do. i suppose there's not much i *can* do aside from just cope for the next few days and hope for the best. the clinic is closed over the weekend (not that it matters..they seemed to be closed all damn week anyway). the only thing i can figure is that i can go to a walk in clinic and have it refilled if it really comes down to that. i hate this. i don't know why i ever agreed to start.
i'll probably check in here and every now and then just for conversation and company. i hope you are all feeling well tonight.
xo
nana 501, to answer your question about how slowly I tapered off the clonazepam. I started at 0.5 mg at night time. I reduced to alternating 0.5 mg to 0.25 mg every other night for 2 weeks.
Then I went to 0.5 mg every 3rd night and 0.25 mg the nights inbetween. (I hope that makes sense.) I did that for 2 weeks.
I then went to 0.25 mg each night for 2 weeks.
Then 0.25 mg every other night - alternating with 0.125 mg for 2 weeks.
Then 0.25 mg every 3rd night - with 0.125 mg other nights inbetween. I did that for 10 days.
I then only took 0.125 mg each night for 1 week - before only taking 0.125 mg every other night for another week.
I then took 0.125 mg every 3rd night for 9 days and then stopped taking it all together.
I was prepared to take another dose of 0.125 mg if I thought I needed to - but I didn't need it.
It's now been 16 days since I took that last 0.125 mg. Feeling pretty good!
Best wishes!
Then I went to 0.5 mg every 3rd night and 0.25 mg the nights inbetween. (I hope that makes sense.) I did that for 2 weeks.
I then went to 0.25 mg each night for 2 weeks.
Then 0.25 mg every other night - alternating with 0.125 mg for 2 weeks.
Then 0.25 mg every 3rd night - with 0.125 mg other nights inbetween. I did that for 10 days.
I then only took 0.125 mg each night for 1 week - before only taking 0.125 mg every other night for another week.
I then took 0.125 mg every 3rd night for 9 days and then stopped taking it all together.
I was prepared to take another dose of 0.125 mg if I thought I needed to - but I didn't need it.
It's now been 16 days since I took that last 0.125 mg. Feeling pretty good!
Best wishes!
hi,i was taking klonopin for 16 years and the doc took me off to fast im march 08,and i am still suffering,will we ever heal? thanks _[removed]_
hi,my name is kristine,iok me r tohe doctewas on klonopin for 16 years and the docter took me off to fast,now i am still ill,and the dizziness and balance is awful,i used benzos and lunesta during the early stages of wd,so i guess that makes me about 2 years off,i am still very se backick,will we recover from this? please write back. kh58413