Withdrawal From Klonopin 1mg Daily (Page 14) (Top voted first)

I have been on kolonopin 1 mg daily for 14 months now I am depressed and very anxious most of the time I want to get off this drug but from what i have read It should be cut down slowly and over a long peroid of time. has anyone gone through a simlar situation that may have some advise

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REPORT

Do not take any other anxiety or sleep meds...all benzodiazepines are impossible to get off without severe withdrawal symptoms for possibly years. All antidepressants are addictive also with severe withdrawal. Tried to get off trazodone three times with super slow reduction...last time went off over period of two years. When finally stopped, had severe withdrawal. Two top neurologists told me I was addicted to it for life. Third, MD from Harvard who taught pharmaceuticals there said in his 43 years of practice he only got 2 patients off of Trazodone, and he considered it more addictive than crack.

Never take opioids/narcotics with benzodiazepines....can be fatal. Look up every med you are prescribed, while on Xanax and Klonopin....a dangerous if not fatal combo, was also on narcotics....five doctors knew I was on all these drugs and did nothing. Sixth doctor added Fioricet, which also has benzodiazepines in it and is very addictive, had me on it for nine months, not the recommended maximum two weeks and gave me codeine at the same time....you should never take benzodiazepines and opioids at same time...It can be fatal. SIX DOCTORS.

My most recent shrink realized how dangerous my situation was and took me off 2 mg of Klonopin after being on it for five plus years. COLD TURKEY. Withdrawal is severe...cannot get out of bed, severe anxiety, heart pounding, shaking, severe pain everywhere, and my shrink, who is 83 and the only shrink who will treat me, is losing it mentally, and doesn't believe I have any withdrawal symptoms, which BTW also includes cyanosis and severe vision problems and severe dizziness. Went to ENT doctor, internist and opthomologist....all said these side effects were in my brain and caused by withdrawal and the severe anxiety it is causing.

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Hanging in there and push forward, I did it and it was hell. But Im off the meds. I TAPERED.

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Its a horrible drug and the doctors are INSANE. I can't believe the hell I am going through after just .50mg for 2 months and that was tapered the first month and STILL feeling crappy. Been off for 6 days and feeling pretty awful. Tinnitus, headache, muscle spasms, eye sight weird- off, and a little panicky. Sleeping is VERY difficult. I pray I do not have a seizure. That is scary. I now at day 6 of being off feel like I am falling forward a little but know I am not. It's an eye sight dizzy almost wonder if I am really experiencing this or not feeling.

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Hi! How long were you omit and what mg? I've been taking one or two 1mg at night for maybe 3 years now. I cold turkeyed this once and couldn't eat and then was gone omg to the bathroom all the time (slippery bowel syndrome) and felt horrible and that became a cycle. I thought I was losing my mind and I lost more weight than I ever intended to. I need to get off this medicine.

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My new dr told me to reduce by 1/4 every 2 weeks and I will feel bad for two months. I had reduced from 2 mg to 1 mg three years ago and didn't do so slowly. It was hell. Hoping this time will be easier with longer time.

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I am taking .75mg for a year. My problem with insomnia was biggest struggle while reducing dosage. PLEASE EDUCATE ME ON SLEEPLESSNESS TO OVERCOME. I do have most of withdrawals symptoms but resisting on these. Thanks!

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PLEASE HELP ME HOW TO OVERCOME INSOMNIA DURING WITHDRAWALS?

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Hi DEBRA,
Does Melatonin 10mg really help you to sleep?

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I do 60 .5 a MTH. 6 years. I stopped cold turkey lasted two weeks and a second time two weeks and counting ( still as I type). The first time was worse then the second time. I fought the withdrawal and always lost when no sleep was happening. The first week after stopping one time felt like duct tape or Gorillaz Tape was being pealed off my liver spleen and kidneys (felt like a moving peeling) day and night finally fadeing to RLS and some twangs. Second time hasn't finished wluk.

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I have felt trapped on two medications: adderall and klonopin. After 8 years and several attempts to get off I'm working on it again as I know there's hope. I think after a certain amount of time the medications kind of take a turn and then like what I've been reading by many, we weren't informed by the doctor of the seriousness of the meds. I'm working on the adderall first. I took a big leap at first lowering from 60mg to 30mg over a week. It's been a little bit longer now, I'm not going to go so fast with the last 30 mg and I'm going to make sure I have support as I have already felt crazy a bit, but not any crazier than I was feeling before so I'm okay. :) Once I taper off the adderall over the next weeks/months, I then hope to start a taper of the 1mg of klonopin I'm on.

I have tapered off of this before and know its possible. And yes it must be done in small increments, it can be tough as I don't have a pill cutter and break them up. I think I will get a pill cutter to be safe. I have ADD symptoms and generalized anxiety, I didn't have either of these before I went to the doctor 8 years ago saying I can't focus and have anxiety. God has other plans for me. Or maybe the plan is for me to learn how to get through this so I can help others! There are probably millions out there suffering. This needs to be addressed and exposed. My doctor tells me to break them in half for a few days and be done. With adderall and klonopin? Are you serious? People will go seriously crazy as I felt like I was following this insane advice.

Take it slow and ask someone to help you to be accountable as I will be doing within the next few days. It's not time to be tough and do it on our own. And this isn't something where you hide in your house and wait to shake it off. We have to reach out even when we don't feel like it. I have a young daughter and these meds are not good for me as a single father. I have faith in God and I know he will guide me through. I also learned to not demonize the meds as for some it's the right thing for them for the moment. It's so vital we know what we're taking though before we take it. Sometimes it's so easy to get excited but the reality is years can go by and we could be doing damage that's not repairable. We are the guinea pigs, we are the statistics they study.

We are all different but we are all human. The anxiety we have is that of the flight or fight kind that many years ago was actually a great benefit. Think about living where wild animals also live or during a time of war. It's good to have anxiety then. The issue is now we leave in different times where the world is very populated and there's so much noise polution and electronics and people think it's normal to be trying to do a million things at once. It's not. I can't even go into a store most days without feeling like I need to run out of there. And yes certain experiences in our past can be a part of these things so make sure you learn about your past when making these decisions. I'm in my 10th year in college pursuing my Master's degree and I feel like a slave to these meds. I will rely on my faith in God and support and tapering plan and I won't give up until this is completed. I tried quitting cigarettes many times and finally was able to cut that out and that was ironically 8-9 years ago, right before my daughter was born and right before I started on meds. I could only afford meds because I had insurance suddenly once my daughter was born. I almost feel like she hasn't met her real dad yet. It's exciting, weird, and very strange but I'm okay with that. It's time for new beginnings!!! :) Spreading God's Love to All.

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Re: TS (# 9)

I’m in the exact process May 21, 2018 @ mg from 1.5

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They switched me from 2mg Clonazepam (Klonopin) to Chlordiazepoxide (Librium). This worked very well for me. I felt fine in about a week. I have been taking Klonopin for about 20 years.

Klonopin has an elimination half-life of 19–60 hours! Trying to taper off of this drug is just a bad idea. They say 1 mg of Klonopin is ~10 mg Valuim.

Librium is around 5 to 30 hours for elimination. Long term use may take 36 to 200 hours, so do not abuse the Librium!

Hope this helps. I had this done while in a hospital.

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The only way then, that we're going to get these poisons off of the market is through bad publicity. We have to find someone in the mainstream media who will publish all the bad accounts about this drug and the name of it's maker until they can't stand the bad press anymore. I don't know if that's feasible and, look at what Erin Brockovich went through for being a whistle blower, but, if we could save some people the misery we have suffered (and are still suffering) it would be worth it.

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Rita, I agree! I am not a person that believes in law suits but this pill needs to go! My family Dr. does not even use Clonazepan in his practice. He onlu prescribed it to me because I was already on it from a Pschyciatrist. This was all because of a problem I had trouble dealing with! Hind sight being 20/20, if I can keep one person from taking this drug it will be worth it. Thank God He gave me the strength and will power to do it. Still not off completely, but well on my way!

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I wrote to my Congressman,but, other than that, I don't know what to do! Anybody have any ideas, or is there anyone out there who has any media experience or contacts? I'm really serious about this. I'm still in withdrawal and the pain is so horrible that it fills me with anger, an anger I can use to help someone else.

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Rita, Can you tell me how you tapered, and how long you stayed on a certain mg. before going down? I am now ready to go from a .25 mg.every night to taking it every other night. I am scared out of my wits. I am not sure whether to go to half of that every night, that way my body still has some in it. My body just calls for this drug when it is not in my system. The insomnia is what frightens me the most, and the not knowing what it is going to do to me. When I don't sleep I can't function. I can't wait to get this out of me! I have a Dr.s appt on Monday and I will discuss the best option with him. This withdrawl is bad! I am feeling for you too!

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I know how you feel I will walk that protest line, I will bang on the doors, just show me the right ones...I have been on clonazepan/ klonipin since the medicine Paxil prescribed by a doctor for mild depression caused a GRAND MAL Seizure for 7.5 minutes, well this clonazapam/Klonipin drug causes SEIZURES if you try to withdraw from it WHAT THE HELL THE DOCTOR Gave me a DRUG that is Addictive and can KILL you IF you Stop using IT... !!! YES a LAWSUIT IS IN ORDER!

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OMG~ grow up people! I'm a true advocate for peoples' health and well-being, I live it everyday, so be mad at me but please read with an open mind. I'm not an attorney or a doctor, just been through what you have been through and more and actually worked in the fields you are posting about. You took these drugs on your own. No one forced it down your throats. If YOU did not read what it can do and how to get off it before you took it you are at fault, not the doctor. A DOCTOR CAN NOT PREDICT YOUR ALLERGIC REACTION TO ANY MEDICATION PRIOR TO YOU TAKING IT, HE/SHE CAN'T PREDICT YOUR SENSITIVITY EITHER. Neither can the drug manufacture. If you are having withdrawal from Klonipin, which has a long "shelf-life" in your body, the longest of all the benzos it's possible to taper off using a lesser medication but THIS HAS TO BE DISCUSSED WITH YOUR PSYCHIATRIST. The stronger the medication and the longer you have been on it the longer it takes to get out of your system - sometimes months and you will have side effects, but those can be monitored and treated with other medication if need be. Using a lesser medication worked for me this last time - the ER doc suggested it and it worked. I'm back on Klonipin (Clonozepam), unfortunately. You can't sue, these aren't poisons and they work for thousands of people when used correctly, I'm referring to benzos and other anti-psychotic drugs, (except MOAIs because I'm not familiar enough with those). And yes, I've been in the ER for the withdrawal. I have bipolar disorder and severe anxiety disorder. I will be on medication for life. I've tried to be off benzos because I really don't like being on that kind of medication but my body physically needs an anti-anxiety medication. Some people do, it's not bad, benzos are NOT ADDICTIVE MEDICATIONS. You need to look up the difference between dependence, addiction and necessity - there is a huge difference. In a lawsuit, all your dirt will come back to haunt you when the pharm attorneys get involved - I used to work on the phen-phen cases, the attorneys get nasty and will bring your family into it, find their dirt, talk to your neighbors, employers, etc. You could lose your disability so be very cautious when you do embark on this path, that includes the politicians. Back to the medication. My anxiety is such that when I have an attack I lose the ability to swallow. I've been off anti anxiety medications several times in the last 10+ years and each time I end up with severe attacks. My brain isn't wired correctly, it's like any other disease and if you have diabetes, epilepsy, a heart condition are you going to stop those medications cold turkey without discussing with your doctor? I doubt it. You could have a bad reaction to any medication, even aspirin. You have to take responsibility for your healthcare. Reading your posts makes my blood boil because you are not taking any responsibility for your own behavior or actions. It's dangerous to take any drug and think you can make the decision how to take it. You also need to be seen by the correct type of doctor prescribing the drug - heart=Cardiologist, Back=Orthopedic, Cancer-oncologist, psychiatric problems-PSYCHIATRIST. Psychiatric problems are not shameful, I used to think they were. I used to be ashamed because I had something wrong and I sure as hell didn't want to take more pills, or any pills, I hate medication, but when you can't swallow, you do what you need to do to not have that ever happen again. I have learned and read the current PDR and have the biggest medical dictionary out there and my doctors know I'm going to ask every question I can think of and know I won't take anything until I've done my research and we work together. Do your homework and quit with the show-boating about suing. Except the person on workers-comp - you might get somewhere if you were doing what the docs said in the first place, you could have died; it's happened before. For the posts on narcodics, I'm sorry, those are addictive and so many docs are incorrectly getting their patients hooked, some accidentally, some because they are inattentive. The laws coming out now are strict and hard for those that truly need them, but are helping those that are over-prescribed and just don't know any better. You can learn other options for the pain. 12 step programs do work, been there too, they can be hardcore and you will hear some crazy, sad things but keep going, it doesn't matter how old you are. Most the people there don't bite and are actually very kind. Physical therapy works for some pain problems. I truly am sorry for those who have become addicted pain medication. I'm going to get a lot of crap for my post, I don't apologize. I've worked in the healthcare and legal fields and hear this stuff all the time because of the things I do now. Pay attention and be pro-active in your own healthcare, if you don't like the doc, get a new one, if you aren't sure about something, don't take it until you find out more about it, if you don't think you need it don't take it! DO NOT EVER LET A DOCTOR BULLY YOU. It's your body do what is best. Just don't put stuff in your system until you know all there is to know, if you don't want the risk, ask for another option. Also, not all herbs or supplements are safer and can interact with many foods, again, just be aware of what you are putting in your body. Please.

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If you think it's poison, then get off the stuff! This medication has been a lifesaver for me. You just have to be careful not to abuse it.

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Debra, You are quite welcome! I found myself in the same boat and you can't listen to ALL of the horror stories out there. Everyone is different and most people are on so much and have so many problems you can't even compare yourself to that. I have also felt your anger and frustration as how a "normal innocent person" can get hooked on something when all they wanted was a little bit of help. Concentrate only on you and do NOT get afraid of the stories you hear or anyone elses problems and what they are on. You are unique and you need to focus on you. I also exercised to make me tired. I tried the Benedryl but you have to watch that you don't depend on that too much. I would tell you to use Benedryl for a limited amount of time because the more you depend on something to help you sleep the LONGER it will take for your natural sleep to come back. It WILL come back I promise you! When you are up at night read or do puzzles to make you tired. I also googled alot of self help things. I like Beth Moore. She has alot of inspirational things to listen too. One of the things she has is called Get out of the pit! Google that. It is very helpful. Hope I was of some positive help. I will be praying for you! Let me know how you are doing!

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