Clonazepam To Wean Off Lyrica
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Does anyone have experience using Klonopin (clonazepam) to wean off of Lyrica? I know Neurontin (gabapentin) and Lyrica (pregabalin) are used to wean off of benzos. But I'm actually trying to wean off of 150mgs. Lyrica twice a day (300mgs. daily) using clonazepam. If anyone that has found using this method beneficial please let me know. And if anyone has done it successfully as well please share with me their technique. Thanks in advance.

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i would not take a benzo for any reason other than a panic or anxiety attack. Have been on lorazepam (ativan) for over 20 years. Was able to reduce it down to .5 mg daily at bedtime, but any further reduction results in complete insomnia, high blood pressure, and a host of other unforseen withdrawal symptoms. I am 79 years old and have heart disease and congestive heart failure and I do not want to stress myself out over breaking a physical dependency on a wicked drug. My pharmacist says I can take .5 to 1 mg a day for the rest of my life with no bad effects. Of course, she is wrong, since I know my sleep quality is affected and I would have to increase the dose to help it, but it would be temporary and then require another increase. That is the insidious part of benzos. Eventually, it is never enough, but nothing is more effective for an anxiety attack. If I were 30 years old or less, I would cold turkey it and just tough it out for how long it took, but at my age it is not worth it.

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I have been in the medical field for over 25 years, my doctor told me long ago that if you need to get off any addictive medications try using any type of pm medicine that are over the counter. It will help. Just don’t exceed the daily dose on the box, and yes, it will make you tired, but you probably will be tired coming off the addicted medicine anyway. I have told a lot of people about this and it has helped many over the years. Good luck and hang in there and remember if a doctor gives you another medicine get get off the first one and you get worse in anyway you should be seen by the doctor.

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I would personally not suggest using that as a method, I know the withdrawal is hard but you'll then have to come off of klonopin which for me personally was the most horrific WD I have ever had. So bad I had to go back on my full dose and am still not better 3 months later. I am physiologically dependant on it, not addicted because I have never abused it.

They will tell you its a 'small dose' but .5mg Klonopin is close to 20mg valium! Is the lyrica capsules with beads? If so you can use the method of taking out beads daily, or taking out a few everyday, stabilizing and continuing, that is how I WD from Effexor. It was still not a cake walk at all.

If its powder in capsules you can find information about measuring and cutting powder daily or monthly from a site called benzobuddies, if its a tablet you can dry cut using a scale. Try not to cut more than 10% of your dose a month.

Best wishes!

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Re: betty (# 3)

I agree with you. I was in 300mg a day for two years along with Percocet 10’s 6 a day and quit Percocet with no problem but was still on Lyrica. Weaned down for 6 months. It was pure hell. Still have some rough days but a year later I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. My only issue now is the extreme fatigue. Good luck to you.

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Re: betty (# 3)

Lyrica is horrible to get off from. I started at 300mg a day, then gradually reduced to my present 100mg a day. It's been a long road but I'm determined to kick this crap. Lyrica never did anything for the neuropathy in my feet. I tried kicking it cold, but that didn't work so good. My pain mgt. doctor thinks it's all in my head but was helpful in prescribing lower dosages for weaning. Good luck!

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Just stop taking the Lyrica it's not that bad it only lasts a couple days but if you get on Klonopin you could have seizures or Worse its way way harder to come off of than Lyrica

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Re: Becky (# 2)

Clonazepam is a benzodiazepine. Panic attacks are not self induced. Often appropriate medical care is needed for them.

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Good luck getting off of Lyrica. I hope it works for you - I've never heard of this method, but please repost if you are successful. I've been trying to get off of Lyrica for some time now and I haven't been successful. I started on 150 mg/2x a day, then down to 125mg/ 2x a day, then down to 100 mg/ 2x a day, then 75 mg/2x a day- each decrease in dose was for at least a month - now i'm down to 50 mg/ 2 x a day. I tried to go down to 25 mg/2x a day and was so sick i couldn't stand it. maybe i'll suggest to my pain management Dr. to add your drug to help with the horrible withdrawal. My withdrawal was pure hell - bad headache, nausea, restless legs, felt like I had the flu, very weak. What is in that drug that does this to our brains??? I hate the drug - I tell anyone who ask me - DO NOT TAKE LYRICA. Please let us know if it works for you. thanks!!

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I have a family member that takes the clonazepam and is very addicted to it. 2 months ago she almost overdone it because she can't remember if she has/had taken it or not. Was in the V.A. for a few days and the dozens of Dr's she sees do not read the charts from the previous visits and continue to prescribe them to her. It is a narcotic and should be banned. There is n such thing as panic attacks and adhd. They are self induced and only you can control them. The meds you are talking about and taking are the same things drug users will murder you for! Please please. Get yourself help for your addiction and not more drugs.

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I'm nearly off of Lyrica now after 5 years of 300mg a day. I had one prescription for 10mg and another for 5mg. I started taking 10mg at bedtime and 5mg when I woke up, then 5mg more if needed before bed. It was living Hell the 1st month, I was sweating profusely. Now I'm down to 5mg in the morning and 5mg at night. Soon I'll just use 5mg at night...

Trading one addictive drug for another is never a good idea. I'm dealing also with a 10 year addiction to opioids so I don't need this Lyrica Bulls*** at all. I got enough to worry about. Good Luck!

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