Klonopin Withdrawal - Help With Taper Process

I was prescribed Klonopin 1mg about 3 years ago to help with anxiety and sleep. I wish I would of never started this Benzo! The "Nurse Practitioner" who handles Mental health patients did not educate me on what I was getting myself into. When I started taking it of course it was helping me sleep & somewhat helping the Anxiety. I would see this Nurse Practitioner once a month and I would speak on how I was feeling. Throughout the year's never once was I made aware of the Benzo withdrawal symptoms. Fast forward to about a week ago. I started feeling physically sick the worse i've ever felt (Nausea, Fatigue, Severe body aches, Diarrhea) just to name a few symptoms. I told this Nurse Practitioner I strongly believe it is the Klonopin making me sick. The reply was "Well just stop taking it and take the Ativan instead" (i'm also on Ativan 0.5 mg as needed, however I don't need daily maybe 2x per week). Going back to the response given to me about stopping cold turkey. My reply to that was I need to Taper off slowly and safely. 2Days later I ended up in the ER and was prescribed Seroquel to help with the withdrawal symptoms. I have not taken it though because im afraid of adding more medicine in my system. I have been looking for a Psychiatrist and I might of found one however the next available appointment is in November that's about 1 month & a week away. In the meantime I followed up with my primary doctor, because I just dont trust the Nurse Practitioner no Benzo withdrawal knowledge.

My primary doctor suggested the following:
5 day plan to get off of (Klonopin 1mg)

Day 1- 0.5mg Klonopin
Day 2- 0.5 mg Klonopin
Day 3- 1/4 Klonopin
Day 4- 1/4 Klonopin
Day 5- STOP

Is it me or does seem too fast of a Taper schedule? I read the Ashton Manual on Tapering off 1.5mg of Klonopin when taking a beta blocker.

Help! Please if anyone has a lil more knowledge then me on how to deal with this until I see a professional Psychiatrist in about a month. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

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Hello, DolceVita07! How are you?

The modern preferred tapering process is usually to have the person start skipping doses, while gradually lowering it and it's done over a period of several weeks, rather than just a few days.

However, the Ativan that you're taking is also a benzodiazepine and should help minimize the withdrawal effects, which may be why they've given you a faster taper schedule.

The FDA warns that these medications carry the risk of being habit forming and could cause side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, headache and irritability.

What beta blocker are you taking?

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Verwon,

Hello. I am not on any beta blocker the Nurse Practitioner did not even prescribe me any. Neither did my primary doctor. I was just given something for nausea but I haven't taken it. At this point I decided to start last night a 8 week tapering schedule. By cutting 1/8 each week of the 1mg Klonopin. I haven't taken the 0.5mg of Ativan i've just been dealing with this sickening feeling.

The problem is that neither one of my provider's prescribed me a beta blocker. I am in the process of looking for another insurance to switch too.

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I am having some problems. I've been taking klonapin #2's 3 times a day. Now I'm unable to get any. I need to withdraw at a reasonable rate. I'm afraid. My friend died last month when she tried to detox cold turkey. Any advice is appreciated.

{edited for privacy}

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Deborah,

The withdrawal side effects are horrible. Please consult with a professional psychiatrist or doctor that knows about the Tapering schedule. I followed the Ashthon Manual you can Google it.

I'm doing a 8 week Tapering schedule (It will vary per person per mg) This is simply what I am doing. I recommend speaking to a professional.

1Mg klonopin Tapering schedule 8week (For me) i'm not recommending this to no one thiw is strictly how i'm doing it. I cut
1/8 of the pill every week. On November 22nd I should be at 0mg. God willing.

I drink alot of water and rest alot because I feel tired. I still force myself to get up and stay positive. It's hard but with professional help it can be done. Some people have a longer tapering schedule and side effects vary.

I send you positive vibes and may you start healing.

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Thank you all for your kind words of encouragement. I'm very scared. I'm worried because my friend passing away due to her withdraw. If I was younger and in better health I wouldn't be so worried. Again thank you for your kind words and suggestions. Also I am unsure of the meaning of spam. If possible could someone explain it to me. Also cookies. Any information would help me. Thank you very much. Have a nice day.

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I have been taking 6mgs of klonopin for a couple of years now prescribed by my psychiatrist for bipolar 1. How do I get off this horrible drug?

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