Clonazepam Drug Information (Top voted first)

I have been taking one Clonazepam every day for at least ten years. dosage 0.5mg. How do I get off of this without harming myself?

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This is how you get off Klonopin. VERY, VERY, SLOWLY === I have had the misfortune of going through a DANGEROUS benzo withdrawal in the worst of settings --- a jail cell --- I will tell you --- if you cold turkey it --- you will become dizzy around day 6 --- the dizziness will be so intoxicating you won't be able to stand up for WEEKS --- benzo withdrawal should be MEDICALLY detoxed with TEGATROL (sp?) to avoid going into seizure(s) --- benzo's and alchohol withdrawal are the only things on Earth that will kill you --- you have to take this smoothly --- I did a withdrawal on my own terms after I did 3 months in county --- I didn't tell the doctor about my own taper --- I just did it myself ---- basically --- depending on the MG --- you taper yourself down to the last number of possible MG so you don't go into WD'S --- if you are prescribed 1 MG's like me --- you will want to cut yourself down to 0.5 for a month after the 1 MG's --- then 0.25mgs -- THEN 0.10mgs --- it is a LONG and DELICATE process that should NOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY --- this s*** CAN KILL YOU --- your body will (during this WD) have weird muscle spasms --- jumping of the body out of nowhere --- racing of the heart --- irritability --- sweats --- HORRIBLE NIGHTMARES --- sleep patterns that are MESSED UP --- if you have the option with a script --- take this taper WITH A LONG TIME --- my situation --- I was on benzo's for 6 years when they put me into a HORRIBLE withdrawal that kicked my a** literally --- and I DIDN'T EVEN ABUSE THEM! --- I can't tell you the dangers of going cold-turkey off benzo's --- it should be done over a period of a minimum of 3 months --- and even I'm skeptical of that --- i say more of half a year --- SLOW SLOW SLOW taper --- NO BULLS*** --- or you will suffer LIFE-THREATENING symptoms --- thank you for reading my experiences and advice which is far superior to medical advice.

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I was on 6 mgs of Clon for YEARS and had titrated down to 3mgs, SLOWLY, just resisting the urge to take it till I thought I'd die, then just taking a NIBBLE, literally, when around Thanksgiving my Shrink messed up my -script (AGAIN!) and left me hanging for DAYS - as he went on skiing vacation and I went into CRAZY withdrawals. Decided to just JUMP and get off the stuff. It made out of my chest...6 WEEKS!. THEY say 1st - GO SLOWLY - LIKE MONTHS, think a year and you'd be doing GREAT to be off. Seems LONG, but just wait and see how ya feel!! Take ONLY as much as you need to keep that Creepy Crawly feeling from taking over. Just NIBBLE!!!! And you WILL get off it. BEEn Clean for 5 months now and it's GREAT!!! You CAN DO IT!!! P.S. There ARE In-Patient ways and substituting Valium for Clonaz....talk to your Doc! Then do what you feel is right- I say! Good LUCK!!!

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I suppose what I'm trying to get at is that a "temporary" supply of V-Cuts WILL NOT help you --- as the other poster stated -- it may take a YEAR.

DO NOT THINK that you have some Xan's or Val's or Ativans that it will "make it all go away" --- BULLS*** --- this requires MEDICAL intervention!

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you need to take it real slow 10% cut every three to four weeks benzobuddies is a good resource also look up doctor helen ashton on u tube shes a detox dr on benzo's it aint easy but you can do it! dr ashton also has a manual on line and it has a tapering schedule...

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Substituting Valium which is a "less powerful" benzo for Klonopin withdrawals WILL HELP --- but this defeats the purpose of the person wanting to get OFF THE MED. If you seize up and get that intoxicating dizziness --- GO TO THE E.R. --- they can give you liquid Valium on a 002.0mL/kG drip or whatever your weight is so you DON'T DIE! ONLY ALCOHOL AND BENZO WITHDRAWAL CAN KILL YOU OUT OF ALLLLLL THE DRUGS OUT THERE --- do NOT take this lightly!

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I have been taking clonazepam for 8 years. I have severe anxiety disorder and it has definately helped me. Lately though, It seems the only pill my body wants is the yellow one with the cursive R symbol on it. So now im calling around town just to get a certain one. Does anyone recommend something else good for clonazepam. Maybe xanax??

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You very very slowly decrease the amount like in halfs or at wat time and mark it down everyday, and try not to use when u think dont need it, ive been on it for 4 yrs. i was used to 180 1mgs a month, but now i only take 53 a month, 1-2 tabs 3x a day. some days i dont take 5, or the full 6.

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.5 should be fairly easy. Try taking it an hour later each day and you'll eventually be skipping a day slowly, then try 1/2 the same way Eventually you will have missed a full day, and just continue. Not a Dr, just someone who's had to wean off 12mgs a day...yes "12" But my case is a little different because I have an ileostomy bag and I know I don't absorb the medicine normally. I've even been a patient at the hospital and tested negative or sometimes with trace evidences in my UA for benzos even though the nurses would stay in the room until the medicine dissolved under my tongue, so obviously I do not absorb normally. Yet when it was time to wean because I moved to a different city who did not believe in dispensing that much (regardless of my medical records for several years proving I was on that dose) they still wanted to wean and said it was illegal to dispense that much. Regardless of the negative UAs, I had years fighting to get off of them. I am still not off but down to 3mgs a day. Best of luck sorry for the rambling.

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I realize these are all just opinions but KeepinItReal says it best, TAPER! BENZO WITDRAWLS WILL KILL YOU! Your heart alone is even keeping a certain rate because of the benzos calming you. It's not just neurological, BAD PHYSICAL EFFECTS WILL HAPPEN!

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Xanax is fast acting. It'll wear off twice as fast. Abd substituting one benzo for another really defeats the purpose. I've been on benzos 25 yrs and the majority of the time was Xanax. Honestly switching to klonopin was more effective because it holds me much longer. If your staying on them and right now they're too weak your best bet is to up your dose. Only do this if you plan and are able plus have the means to continue taking them for a LONG time. I've gone to detox for 17 days and after stayed off for 2 months. But I'll tell you, those two months were hell. Panic attacks daily AMD even a couple seizures. I'm not trying to scare you just educate. Benzos are the most dangerous pill to get off of. Anyone I've actually heard of getting off took at least a year to start feeling normal. Other than people who were lucky enough to not be on them that long. I hope this is of any help.

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Re: joe (# 18)

DON'T EVEN GO COLD TURKEY! IT CAN KILL YOU OR WORST LEAVE YOU DISABLED FOR LIFE! TALK TO A PROFESSIONAL IF YOU CAN FIND A DECENT ONE. NO COLD TURKEY YOUR BODY CAN GO INTO SHOCK.

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Re: joe (# 18)

JOE, STOP GIVING DANGEROUS INFORMATION! IF YOU GO COLD TURKEY YOU CAN HAVE A SEIZURE. IT HAPPENED TO ME. WHAT THEY NEED TO DO IS SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP. GRADUALLY LET YOU BODY COME OFF OF IT. NO COLD TURKEY ON CLONAZEPAM!

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Re: supernova (# 10)

You can't stop benzos cold turkey. It can kill you especially after 10 years. You have to wean yourself off. I came off them & methadone. The methadone was physical hell bad enough to want to blow my head off, but the benzo was a mental more than physical withdrawl. I thought people were coming to kill me. I also was very dizzy, lightheaded , couldn't hold a thought etc... Pure hell! I probably would've shot myself if I had access to a gun it was that bad.I would slowly decrease your doses ,preferably with a Dr.'s help to be safe. Benzo & alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous.

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need to know how to get off clonazepam and all the side effects of the drug

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I've been taking klonopin for at least three years daily. I started taking it under a Dr.'s prescription due to a dependance on xanax! The klonopin works well as far as keeping you from going into withdrawals from no xanax. However the xanax is a much better anti anxiety medication and also will help you with sleep. Where as the klonopin seems to do none of the above!

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Dear please reduce its does gradually. Half to half and finally finish the medicine. Please take 2 more tab such as sporolog and becozyme c fourty for helping you to fight them.

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Dr Kumar, Please let your profession know the dangers of getting off clonazepam...They are all totally clueless...They blame your illnesses on anything but withdrawal. You're a great doctor for posting help...

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That is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you so much for sharing your experience using Clonazepam and getting off of it. My doctor told me how to do it and it similar to what you said. I started out good then for some reason after a month I cannot sleep and finding I am taking either one (2mg) a day after that 1/2mg a day, I have been doing this for three days now and have to stop and get back to my schedule of the off days, I could go 5 days without a pill. I don't know what happen. I have physical therapy three times a week and I can't do this if I don't get enough of sleep. I don't know what to do at this point....

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Yes this was very helpful, thank you so much for your input.

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Re: joe (# 18)

I hope that anyone who is new to these medications don't bother with them in the first place. Don't allow your doctors to put you on these medications because you will end up with a WORST problem than you had to begin with. TRUST ME!

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