Getting off of Klonopin (Clonazepam)

[McSwiggens]

got any left? ill help you quit heheh

[nolaluv]

Originally Posted by Waldessa

Well, I just discovered that I am pregnant, and with research I have found that there are high risks for birth defect and heart complications, organ development with the fetus. I've been on Klonopin for over 8 years, and it has helped me in the greatest way. My anxiety was so bad, I couldn't sleep and wanted to avoid all people, and tear my hair out to say the least, my mouth would shake when speaking, and I ran out of the room everytime I was called on in college.

Just recently I was hospitalized twice for an immidiate lowered dosage when I moved to another state. Now I am back in my original state with the proper dosage: 1MG 3x's a day (I usually take two or less depending, to keep away from building an extreme tolerance).

So, getting off of this drug will not be fun, or easy, and if doctors allow you to be on these meds for so long, then why can't they come up with a safe equivalent? A drug that is comparable in a different class.
I'm taking folic acid and eating the best foods possible for the baby-to-be, but I'm still worried about the health and development.

My doctor is doing research right now to come up with something to take over.
I am so sure that he'll come up with some anti-depressant (that usually makes me more depressed) and I'll still have really bad withdrawls.

Has anyone been through this, or know of someone who has?

I see u wrote this back in March and its now September so I hope everything is well w/ you and your baby. I was on this drug too, for 5 years and found out I was pregnant back in 06, I had just moved out of state and my new doctor made me quit cold turkey and would not prescribe it to me at all. I took what i had left and weened myself off it the best I could but I got very very sick, I had panic attacks and Anxiety allll day for like 2 months.. I could not think clear and even had virtigo, I pretty much hid on the sofa the whole time. I was only on 1 mg a day, I was prescribed more but knew better than take a high dose when the 1 mg was working to treat my panic attacks. It was horrible and I got through it though. I never got back on the drug I just dealt w/ the attacks. Now 4 years later I feel like I am going through withdrawals all over again and having panic attacks left and right. I got on this forum hoping to find more info on ppl that have been off it for a long period of time. I can't believe pot is illegal and this **** is not. Unless the company that makes it can give you a life time supply no one should be places on it, I can't believe they have not been sued!! My son came out healthy, he is almost 4 now, at least as far as we know, he could very well develop a problem in adulthood.

[seafolly]

" I can't believe pot is illegal and this **** is not. Unless the company that makes it can give you a life time supply no one should be places on it, I can't believe they have not been sued!!"

I cannot tell you how satisfying it was to be presented with an essay question on my neuroscience exam a few weeks ago that dealt with this. It was open ended. Something like, "List the hazards and effects of an illegal drug and a legal drug. Draw conclusions." Vague, no? So I took the opportunity to write a few pages on Clonazepam as the legal drug and compare it to heroin. I was pretty descriptive in terms of my opinion on the matter, backed up with all sorts of figures. I'm certain the professor was scratching her head as we only briefly covered benzos but I did ace that exam.

[PsychiatricSurvivor]

Besides a multi-vitamin, I honestly think that taking "special" anti-anxiety supplements, sleeping pills, etc., to combat or alleviate the withdrawal symptoms of Klonopin just prolongs your brain from going back to normal. Unfortunately, with this highly addictive and destructive drug, Klonopin, approved by the FDA and highly prescribed by your doctors who "know precisely how it works in the brain" (not!), you need to go through a degree of pain (slowly titrating) in order to achieve "gain." I've slowly, but successfully tapered down from 1mg Klonopin (taken for a year), down to .125mg (1/4 tablet of .5mg), and I feel A HUNDRED TIMES better/smarter/more alert and with MUCH BETTER memory. Can't wait to chuck the final .125mg's! Klonopin, even when taken as needed for the first time, throws the brain in a tizzy when it's pulled. And because this happens a day or two following a dose, people think the withdrawal symptoms are a result of their own "chemical imbalance." It's the Klonopin that causes the post panic and anxiety--very often worse than the original panic. And you don't need to be taking it for several weeks to experience this, even a first-time user can experience these withdrawals. Just remember, science knows VERY LITTLE about the brain's workings. And stay in touch with your body because doctors cannot. Doctors are no different than hiring a carpenter. Some are good, some are mediocre, and some are bad. There are many fools out there with degrees, don't get caught up with labels.

[PsychiatricSurvivor]

Naivety, ignorance, denial and fantasy turn anxiety sufferers into Klonopin addicts. Klonopin's negative side effects tremendously supersede it's ability to correct anxiety. Slower brain function, poor memory, a general "stupid" feeling... Titrate off and stay away from benzos.

[baranok]

if i dont take klonopin i think i am more tired, it makes the opposite to me, and also i hate it, really stupid med, but i have somewhere deeply written in my head that i need to take it before i go somewhere out....
i could choose xanax but that's cool way to get ****'d up in long term, was there

but one cool effect it has yet, it lowers body tense, cool!

also i agree with the PsychiatricSurvivor
reading about how everything is super addictive really makes you psycho about it, was there too

[seafolly]

Originally Posted by PsychiatricSurvivor

I've slowly, but successfully tapered down from 1mg Klonopin (taken for a year), down to .125mg (1/4 tablet of .5mg), and I feel A HUNDRED TIMES better/smarter/more alert and with MUCH BETTER memory. Can't wait to chuck the final .125mg's!

Awesome! How did you taper? My doctor is talking about 0.25 mg off at a time but I personally feel that may be too drastic for my body.

[49 and all loan]

i have been taking 1mg of xanax 3 times a day for over 2 years and now it does nothing for me and he wont raise the dose. would like to get off this drug but sounds really hard. if i knew this when he first talked about it i might not have started using it. feels like i have to take more than the 1mg for it to have any affect on me

[jonny neurotic]

As I understand it the withdrawl from benzo's isn't so much to do with GABA receptor downregulation but with a reduction in the amount of neurosteroids the brain produces. Perhaps taking DHEA and pregnenolone would help with the transition. IDK...

[PsychiatricSurvivor]

Originally Posted by seafolly

Awesome! How did you taper? My doctor is talking about 0.25 mg off at a time but I personally feel that may be too drastic for my body.

I am evidence that .25mg at a time is realistic. However, where most people screw up, they do this .25mg tapering too soon (i.e. every 3 days!). It's been my experience that the brain takes a while to readjust and needs, at a minimum, 2-3 weeks before another titration. My first titration (1mg to .75mg), I stayed on .75mg for two months before lowering to .5mg. Be a connoisseur of your own body. If you feel you're not ready for another titration, and it's been 2-3 weeks, then stay on for another week or two.... Or however long until you feel comfortable to do a another titration.... But try NOT to increase your dosage, you want to go down, not up! You will definitely feel better with time. Common withdrawal side effects I experienced: Insomnia and mild paranoia/fear. Good news: Both of these go away once the brain adjusts to the lower dosage. Good luck!

[PsychiatricSurvivor]

Getting angry about your Klonopin and stopping it abruptly is the equivalent of a child throwing a temper tantrum. It does no good. You MUST taper Klonopin gradually to avoid unpleasant (disturbing) withdrawal effects, such as panic attacks or worse yet, paranoia.

[tnasch72]

I took 0.25 mg of Klonopin after 30 mins. seems like im having tachycardia. I was soooo afraid that i'll die of heart attack and nobody will find my body coz i live alone. It adds to my panic but its true that you must divert your brain to something else. It takes practice to do that by the time you know it you already pass out or dead. SCARY.
I dont want to be dependent on Klonopin. I texted by MD and he responsed to take another 0.25 mg. I really need to see a therapist coz im having chest pain coming out from nowhere. I ran 3 miles/3 x wk and my MD told me I have no heart problem. Probably from pent up stressful work environment for 6 years. I quit recently and I go to school.
I just took Another 0.25 mg of K, is it safe to drink a cup of chamomile tea? I need to be ZEN right now, i have a nearly jump tomorrow..SOmebdy pls advise..

[InfiniteSadness]

Ive been on 4 to 6mg og Klonopin for five years.

My husband got tired of paying for it, because he felt it did me no good, so he stopped picking it up at the pharmacy. ( my husband controls our finances...dont get me started). After four years of taking 6mg of Klonopin, I was forced to stop, COLD TURKEY, I hurt like hell. I managed to start feeling better after about four months without it, but my anxiety was still there, and my legs hurt for some reason, like neuropathy. And, I jerked, and ground my teeth when sleeping.

[InfiniteSadness]

Oh, and I'll add, I am BACK on Klonopin. Have been for three months now.