Coming off Klonopin

[mom12735]

Cold Turkey.

It's been two days since my pdoc recommended stopping its use. I haven't had any problems or noticed any difference.

Anyone gone off this med that would be willing to share their thoughts?

[WiSp]

When I started to temper, I don't noticed anything before day 4. And it was a temper, not cold turkey. Looking at what is happening with temper, I cannot even think of how it would be cold turkey. But I also took it for one year. If you notice anything bad, I just want you to know that you can take klonopin again to solve the problem, and maybe temper it instead of going straight.

[sohelpless]

I have not tried to come of Klonopin yet but I think it depends on how long and how often you took it.  Dosage can also factor in. If after a few days you start to feel bad or have worse anxiety, you will know to re-instate and taper.  If your daily dose was pretty high, you will definitely need to taper because of seizure risk. 

[constantmover]

Didn't you doctor give you a tapering plan?  Were you only on this meds for a very short time or did you use it "as needed" for a short period of time?  The reason I ask is that it is well known that klonopin along with many other medications, need to be tapered off or you could run into problems.  I'm kind of surprised that your doctor didn't set up a reduction schedule for you.  If you only took this meds the odd time, I can understand, but if you took it daily for an extended period of time, I simply feel that you and your doctor are not considering the issues that can arise.  A discussion with you doctor might be in order.  I know you aren't feeling poorly now, but the klonopin is still in your system.  It is when it is completely out when you may run into problems.  I'm going on the assumption that you were taking it on a regular basis.  Seriously, if you were, you need to talk with your doctor and get on a proper tapering programme.

[mom12735]

Day 4

So far, so good.

I believe I've noticed a little more baseline anxiety. But nothing to be alarmed over.

I appreciate the great responses.

I took .5mg of Klonopin every day from late Aug. 2010 to late July 2011.

If I really start to feel it, I will get back on it. But as I said above, so far so good.

[constantmover]

To be honest, I'm very surprised that your doctor didn't discuss a tapering schedule.  You've been on klonopin on a daily basis for almost a year, yet your doctor never mentioned a tapering schedule.  .5mg a day isn't that much for a whole day, but just the same, it was on a daily basis for almost a year...In my opinion, there should have been a tapering schedule.  I know you are feeling well now, but klonopin is still in your system.  I don't want to scare you but if I didn't caution you of the very real concerns I have with going cold turkey with this kind of medication, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if something happened to you as a result of my not coming forward.  This kind of medication should NOT be just stopped without tapering.  You are putting yourself at risk of seizure or stroke.  Before I started on this medication, I made sure I knew of all the possible issues just in case I ever decided to go off.  I know, there are risks with every medication and certainly most, if not all, medications when taken for a long period of time on a daily basis, should be reduced gradually, but this one and any of the benzos really can cause serious problems.  Reducing on a well structured schedule, can really reduce any chance of developing serious problems.  Please consider what I've said and contact your doctor to set up a reducing schedule.  If your doctor still doesn't see the importance of this, then I do have a schedule that I've kept just in case, but truly this is something you should work out with your doctor. 

[gcalex]

Agree with constantmover that it is always best to taper a benzo after long term use even at low dosage.  And it seems to me one of two things must have happened - you ignored your doctor's advice to taper, which I disagree with, or your doctor didn't advise you to taper, which I find shocking.  Hopefully you'll be fine, but it's not at all the right way to go about it, in my humble opinion.  Disclaimer I am not a doctor blah blah blah.

[mom12735]

Thanks for the concern. It's noted and appreciated.

I asked my pdoc about his recommendation to stop Klonopin. I too figured I would have go slowly and taper off it.

His response was I haven't been taking that big of a dose.

I still have several pills left and what I might do, with help from my pdoc, is set up some sort of taper program that will suit both of us.

I'm calling him first thing Monday a.m. to get his opinion.

[constantmover]

Honestly, thanks for taking my suggestion seriously and clarifying that you did have a dialogue with your doctor regarding this.  In my opinion, it is better to be safe than sorry.  Tapering off .5mg certainly wouldn't take as long as a higher dose, but it is usually nice to taper a little then get used to the meds at that level for a few days to a week or two depending on the amount initially taking and then taper a little more again till one is comfortable, etc., etc. until you have tapered right off.  I always like to be cautious with medication and one of my oldest friends who was taking a low dose benzo occasionally for many years, didn't realize that because she felt it was just occasionally, that she wouldn't have to taper off.  Well, her interpretation of occasionally, I found out after the fact, was that she was taking it sometimes 6 out of 7 nights a week.  A few weeks after going off it, she started to develop some bizarre symptoms...long story short, she is fine now, but she went through a very tough time and was lucky that eventually her symptoms diminished thanks to her doctor stepping in and setting up a schedule for her.  Some people can have problems and others not.  Everyone is different, but I have to admit, I'm surprised that your doctor didn't consider even at the low dose that it could potentially be a problem going cold turkey.  That is my opinion and Lord knows, I'm no doctor.  I'm just one cautious fellow anxiety sufferer.

Please keep us posted...

[WiSp]

It's because some people don't get even any symptom of withdrawal. And there must be a good number, because several doctors don't use tempering when a low dosage is used. And some doctors that start at the therapeutic dosage right away at the first shot...It must work for some. But for others, it can be so hard that the person may decide to stop and never try again. So it's not good. Starting with too much is an useless risk, same for stopping cold turkey.

[Irishmanwrites]

This reference to seizure or stroke is ridiculously unnecessary. The OP doesn't need this. 0.5 mg twice a day is very low. I should know I was on it! I stopped cold turkey after 0.5 twice a day for seven months. No effects whatsoever. What we need to remember is the OP has been directed by his medic here. I would say follow medical advice and go with cold turkey. I'm very sure you'll be OK.

[gcalex]

Yeah you're right Irishman no doctor in the history of the world ever gave a patient bad advice, how dare we question it?  Constantmover, you and I should be shot, never mind how many years of benzo experience we have between us or how much knowledge.

[gcalex]

It is always best to be cautious.  There is NO downside to the OP checking with their doctor to ask again about tapering.  False reassurances from people who don't know what they are talking about are dangerous in the area of psychoactive medications.  How many years of experience with psych meds do you have Irishman to be able to assure people they will be fine?  You've been on a couple for less than a year, right?  Are  you now our resident expert?  Resident cheerleader perhaps, which is fine, generally, but don't overstep your bounds.

[Irishmanwrites]

Hello GCalex: Given I took klonopin at 0.5 mg twice a day for seven months and stopped cold turkey, I believe I'm entitled to post. Given I am an optimistic person, I like to give people some kind words, as I'm genuinely kind hearted. Given the OP 's doctor has said not to taper and to stop, I think you are the one who needs to examine yourself.

Let's be very clear here. The OP was told to stop and not taper. The OP should run with that advice and not change due to talk of strokes and seizures and suffering from ex benzo users on an anonymous Internet forum.

I stopped outright and had no worries. You'll always find people with horror stories and worries online. Follow the doctors advice in this case.

[gcalex]

Of course people can stop cold turkey.  And others get into serious trouble.  You extrapolate way too much from your own limited experience; perhaps a little reading on benzos would be in order.  It is not kind hearted to give bad advice, whatever your intentions.  You see the whole subject of meds through rose colored glasses and you have been called out on this before many times by many people.  You are naive, in my opinion.  That does NOT mean the OP should be scared at all, only that the OP should go back and ask the doctor.  Doctors DO give bad advice.  You have said you are seeing one of the top docs in Ireland, which is great.  But there is a world full of lesser quality ones.  Don't be naive.

[Irishmanwrites]

I feel this is quite a personal attack.

The OP has received advice from a psychiatrist who has been treating her. Thats important. Your negative and biased thrash talk is not.

Just to say it again in case you missed it. Psychiatrist advice should not be corrupted by your biased angry fear mongering messages. Cold turkey is suggested to the OP.

[gcalex]

Suggesting the OP talk to their doctor is not fearmongering, and I am so sick and tired of your false accusations of fearmongering on which you have been called out before by moderators.  Please stop it.  I am neither biased nor angry -- I am concerned about someone stopping a benzo cold turkery, and both constantmover and I suggested they go back to their doctor to make sure.  That's all.  You conflate concern with negativity, in your haste to make everyone feel good and to spread cheer.  These are serious medications and need to be treated with respect.

[Irishmanwrites]

Let's be clear Klonopin at 0.5 twice a day is a very low dose. That's from medics by the way I've consulted before you attack and say how do I know.

You seem to lurk in the shadows here and pounce when someone dare suggest positivity re meds. This attack is the most extraordinary though. Cold turkey was suggested to the OP. It was to me also and it worked.

Your refs to benzo websites reinforce to me that your very angry re your experience. There are posts on these same websites where members post and say that they have effects from benzos months after stoping. How they can differentiate that from their multiple faceted symptoms I don't know!

Back to the purpose of all this. OP: Good luck.

[gcalex]

You completely mischaracterize me and my position.  I am not negative about meds at all; I only urge caution and prudence in general and in particular it is warranted in the case of stopping a benzo.  The OP can choose what advice to follow -- perhaps they will be convinced by you to ignore constantmover, WisP and me.  So be it.

[Irishmanwrites]

The OP has heard your advice and noted it. See earlier in the thread.

Some members will receive medical advice from their caregivers to stop meds a certain way. It's not for you to get involved.

Now how about we hit the chase here. Youve got a lot to say on yout exp of klonopin. Post it on a thread and let's have it out then. This is so we know where your coming from.

[constantmover]

Wow, I've been away from my laptop for a few hours and all of a sudden when I come back to it, I see a little battle going on that in fact shouldn't be directed at anyone other than me.  I was the one who made the comments about seizures and strokes.  If anyone should be scolded it should be me. 

Under normal circumstances, I would support a person's decision regardless of how I personally feel about what they are doing but in this case, in good conscience, I just couldn't keep my opinion neutral.  Believe me, I definitely support those of us who have benefited from taking medication, so you won't find me judging anyone on the medication they take...even if it is one that I have had horrible experiences with.  I thought about this one op very carefully before I decided to write what I did knowing that I may get some flack from it. 

I take klonopin and it is a medication that helps me not for just anxiety but for essential tremor as well.  I carry ativan in my purse wherever I go...sublingual type, just in case of a panic attack.  For me, they have simply been life altering medications and I mean that in the very best way.  Having said that, in the past I had a bad experience after taking a benzo every night for just about 1 1/2 months (I honestly never thought I would tell this story).  I only took it for a short period of time and my doctor assured me that I could go off it cold turkey...no big deal.  Well it was a big deal...Luckily my reaction didn't last really long but it did scare me enough that I swore I would never go off a benzo again without tapering down.  I gave the example of my friend in one of my posts and her experience was far worse than mine. 

The thing is, I truly hate it when people try and scare others off medication that could very well help them live the life they deserve, but I also feel that everyone should question their doctors if they are planning to go off a medication and make sure that they are going off it in the safest possible way.  Straight up, I'll tell you that there is no way my psychiatrist would have given me the advice that the op was given...This is what I didn't want to say in my post.  I did try to couch what I said somewhat, but the bottom line is....sure, everything may go really well, but why not question the advice of the psychiatrist?  Sometimes they do make mistakes or they haven't factored everything into their decision to go cold turkey with meds.  Most meds should be reduced rather than stopped cold turkey...that is the truth and I'm one who has been helped considerably from medication.   Any meds I've gone off (besides that one time I thought I would never tell)  I've learned that if taken for more than a week or two, the meds generally need to be reduced slowly. I know we are all different but that has been my experience and I know I'm not alone in this.

So, Irishmanwrites, take your wrath out on me.  I was the one that posted the stuff you are complaining about and I understand your feelings, but I simply believe it is better to be cautious than sorry.  Coming off benzos if not done correctly can be nasty...that I know for sure.  The dosage is extremely small, I understand that, but the length of time has to be considered.  All may be well, it is just a suggestion that the op revisit the idea with the psychiatrist.  I stand by what I wrote even knowing that it generally isn't my style to try and scare someone into action.  I simply couldn't let it go unsaid.  Maybe I should have done it in a pm, but I feel pretty strongly about this and I truly am sorry if I scared anyone in the process especially mom12735.  Just know it came from a someone who cares. 

[sixpack]

sigh--

such pleasantness.

Listen--there are docs that advise all kinds of things regarding meds.  in this case the OP's doc said the dose was low enough to not have to taper.  The OP has listened to some of the poster's here and is going to give the doc a ring tomorrow to clarify. 

A couple of years ago my pet rat (yes we had pet rats) had been injured and we'd taken the ratlet to the vet.  I received a medication from the vet for pain.  I thought the dosage was rather large BUT I gave Jinx that dosage.  Later that day I got on one of my ratty forums (yes, there are rat forums. lol) and was discussing the dosage for Jinx.  One member piped in and said that the dosage for that sized rat seemed very large and maybe I should contact the vet.  I did contact the vet about it.  The vet said he was going to do a bit more research.  He called another vet clinic that had a vet who specialized in rats (the rat specialist at our vet was out that day) and low and behold he had made an error in his math and Jinx was receiving more than twice the dose he should have.  The vet then reworked the dosage and we got on an appropriate dose for Jinx.  SO am I glad I listened to a random rat fancier on a forum regarding meds?  Your damned right!  I was able to call the vet and get things clarified before Jinx went off to sleep land permanent like.

There is never any prob calling a doc and asking for clarification.

However there really should be nicer convos here at times.        

[gcalex]

Constantmover, you gave sound advice to be cautious, and that should have been the end of it.  It is always best to be prudent coming off a medication, and there is nothing wrong with going back to a doctor for clarification.  That is not fearmongering it's common sense.  I find it very frustrating that one cannot advise caution, or acknowledge side effects, or say anything else on this forum short of overt cheerleading, without being accused of fearmongering. 

[WiSp]

I'm doing a klonopin tempering RIGHT NOW. I'm also at the minimum. 0.5mg 2 times a day. I tempered to 0.25 in the morning and 0.5 at night. And I find it hard already. I eat my fingers like when anxiety was there all the time. And I fear to not be able to go to work tomorrow. Imagine if I was doing it cold turkey? And it's day 12. I consider to up the dosage to 0.375 in the morning if it continues. My psych told me to manage the tempering by myself, following my instincts about how I feel. He knows I can manage it myself and there is always the phone if something is wrong.

I have something else to say. In 2009, I was living in another city, and my doctor there agreed with me to temper zoloft. She wanted me to go from 150 to 100. I thought it was way too much, but I was eager to get rid of it fast so I said ok. After 2 or 3 days I ended in a bed in my college infirmary, with uncontrollable anxiety. My doctor came to me (she was working at the college on mondays), aside of the bed, while I was in fetal position, watched me for some seconds and said "hum you take it since a long time...it was probably too much to drop from 50mg to start. Do you want to return to 150?" I answered no because I knew it would end eventually...but finally I decided to up to 125 where anxiety started to calm down...Is it a bad doctor? I don't think so. But she doesn't know me like I know myself. And she will surely learn from this "mistake" for the next patient that start a temper. She was not a newbie. She was probably in 60's.

My conclusion is, don't risk a cold turkey shot, it's worthless and useless. Start slowly. If all is okay after some days, temper again. And if you feel ready to end it straight, do it. I always said that useless risks have no logic. By tempering, you will only create a security. You have nothing to lose, and you can avoid useless pain. Everywhere we read to forget about cold turkey, especially about benzos. Well, if you want to do it, let's go. And if something is wrong, you will learn that you are not ready to do it. But it's useless pain in my opinion. The tempering way is much more safe. It's not that doctors are acting badly, it's just that stopping those meds is worldwide recognized how hard it can be if not done properly. You may success cold turkey! But why to risk when you can use a safe way?

[sohelpless]

I've also tried to stress the fact that doctor's can and do make mistakes.  And with some illnesses (like depression and anxiety) there is not enough research done on the medications that are used to treat them.  It's a trial and error process.  In all the years I have been treated for my condition and all the many doctors I have been to for help, no one has ever warned me about the problems that can be associated with the drugs I have been prescribed.  I thank God for these forums because I have learned so many things from them that have helped me with my medication journey.  I know that symptoms or problems I've experienced or might experience can be from the meds, not something I've concocted in my head.  This is what so many doctors would have you believe. Yes, a half mg of Klonopin is considered relatively low but ask many who tried to cold turkey from this dose after long term use and see what they say.  Some will tell you that stopping the med was the hardest thing they ever had to do.  It does not let everyone go that easily.