Coming off klonopin

[Knightsaber]

2mg a day for the last three years, my doctor decides out of the blue to have me stop.  0.5mg every three days for 30 days.

Has anyone successfully done this before?  This much for this long and managed to quit?  Because it's horrific.

[sarahgotsissues]

I don't know what klonopin is...

What is it?

[Knightsaber]

It's like Xanax, same thing, only time released I think.

It feels like I got my heroin taken away (not that I have any idea what that's like, but it can't be much worse).

[ocdengineer]

It is not time released, it simply lasts longer.  But you are correct, it is a benzodiazepene, and works essentially like Xanax. 

My advice, and other may disagree.  If it was working for you the tell your doctor that you do not want to stop taking it and find a doctor who is more interested in your long term quality of life rather than a BS lawsuit.  Klonopin and all benzos have been given an unjust reputation and many doctors shy away from using them long term.  I have been on Xanax for almost a year and to me it is a wonder drug.  It has really helped with my anxiety and I usually have no problems with it at all. 

If it wasn't working then there is the option of increasing your doseage which you can consider since you have been on it for three years.  Maybe you need 3 mg per day instead. 

The third option, if you decided to go off the medication is to take a much slower approach to weaning off the medication.  3 days per .5 mg is ridiculous.  This drug can cause some pretty serious withdrawl symptoms and should be withdrawn from in small increments over a long period of time to minimize your discomfort.

Again, if it is working then don't stop taking it!  It is rare for people with anxiety issues to find a solution that actually works, so don't quit taking it unless you feel it is not helping you anymore.  Definitely don't stop cold turkey.  Dangerous withdrawl symptoms, though rare, could occur.

Good luck,
OE

[Knightsaber]

It does work, it's the only thing that's ever worked.  I am not clueless and I did not stop taking it, but I do have no way to get any more.  Both the other doctors I've been to say that they will not go against the first doctor's advice.  I really am quite put out.  I'm taking 1mg a day now, because the shaking and the panic attack wave after wave was getting out of hand.  This is at least tolerable for the time being.

[ocdengineer]

I would make some phone calls and ask if the doctor believes in the long term use of benzos and explain your situation.  There has to be a doctor who understands the benefits of these types of drugs in Iowa.  I hope you find someone.  Like I said, I take Xanax and it was the only thing that worked for me as well. 

Good luck,
OE

[Knightsaber]

But, I'm going to assume the answer to my question is no one reading this has successfully done it.

[ocdengineer]

Many people have succesfully done it, but it will be difficult.  Especially at the rate your doctor has set you up for.  I don't see a need nor have the desire to stop taking a medication that I know is working for me.  There are others here that have definitely weaned off and it is not easy, but you are already half way there.  I would ask the doctor if you could wean off it over a longer period of time.

Later,
OE

[King]

Do you take other meds for anxiety?

[Knightsaber]

No, I do not.

[NightOwl]

I am taking only 1/2 a mg per day and never have gone over that and have eben doing it for probably 8 months or so.  I am not sure if I want to come off of mine either.  I never can quite tell if it is helping or hurting.  And if I do come off of it I would be unsure how quickly to with this low of a dosage to begin with.  At one point I did try to come off and went to 1/3 a mg a day for weeks, but then felt like I eneded more again instead of coming off of it.  So confusing.

Hopefully you figure out how to ebst come off of it or else find someone who will rpescribe it.  I am kind of scared of staying on it when people have talked so much about dependancy or addiction possibilities.  It's not fact either way on that I would say.

[ocdengineer]

Many people have successfully weaned off a benzo.  It works with a very similar success rate as your typical antidepressant.  There are withdrawl symptoms, but if you withdraw slowly, the symptoms can be greatly reduced.

Later,
OE

[nevergoback]

I did it.

It's MUCH easier than getting off Xanax precisely because of its longer duration of action.

Two things stick out.

One is that you're not on a controller (SSRI or other) of any kind while doing this. That is strange.

The other is that 0.5 mg every 3 days is fast. The only excuse for doing this is if the doctor has probable cause that you are abusing, and even then it's pretty harsh. If he or she has probable cause that you're selling, that's another matter. I assume that neither of these is true. Which comes back to, this seems strange.



Benzos are miracle drugs at some level. But first they give and then they take away. A balance can be reached and it's easier with Klonopin than almost any other benzo. But it's a delicate balance.

Most of all, benzos (or any other medication) should not be the only way you're addressing your anxiety. You need to be hitting it from multiple directions.