[ThirdEyeGrind]

Who successfully came off a benzo after being on it for say atleast 3 years. I've been on Clonazepam for about that length of time and am thinking of trying to come off of it. How did you do it? What was your experience like?

 

[soaringfalcon11]

I haven't, but I'm curious, does it still work for you?

 

[Redefine]

I was on klonopin for almost 2 years. I was at about 1.5-2 mg a day. I decided to taper off in May. Went down .125 mg every 3 days. I finished my taper July 13th. I slowed down my taper toward the end because of withdrawal symptoms. Even thought it took 2 months I probably should have went even slower. I still get withdrawal symptoms. I can't sleep and anxiety is worse than it was before klonopin. I'm getting better though.

I'll never take a benzo again.

 

[ThirdEyeGrind]

I haven't, but I'm curious, does it still work for you?

I mean I guess it works for me. I NEED to take it to feel normal. Atleast what I consider normal. I don't remember how I even felt before starting Clonazepam. Right now I could take like 8mg of Clonazepam and feel nothing. I've been taking 2 to 3mg a day for 3 years now and am just curious how others have come off of Benzo's after this lengthy period of daily use.

 

[Medline]

I used Klonopin 8mg daily for about 8 months and came off of it using Phenobarbital which I took for ~ 3 weeks, I didn't feel discomfort. After that time benzodiazepine tolerance / physical dependence was completely gone.

 

[Thomas Paine]

I used Klonopin 8mg daily for about 8 months and came off of it using Phenobarbital which I took for ~ 3 weeks, I didn't feel discomfort. After that time benzodiazepine tolerance / physical dependence was completely gone.

Do you have any suggestions or articles I could use to convince a very conservative doctor to prescribe this? I've been on Klonopin for years but never been able to quit successfully and have only gotten up to 1.5mg daily at my peak. For some reason I am very very sensitive to withdrawal and had a seizure even when I cut back at a speed that they might do under close supervision.

 

[Medline]

Do you have any suggestions or articles I could use to convince a very conservative doctor to prescribe this? I've been on Klonopin for years but never been able to quit successfully and have only gotten up to 1.5mg daily at my peak. For some reason I am very very sensitive to withdrawal and had a seizure even when I cut back at a speed that they might do under close supervision.

A very conservative doctor most likely won't prescribe Phenobarbital or Desoxyphenobarbital (= Primidone), altough detoxing with Pheno is probably the best way to get you off the Klonopin because Phenobarbital has strong anxiolytic & anticonvulsant properties.

A really good explanation about the use of Phenobarbital to come off benzos (or hypnotics in general) can be found in "Gabbard's Treatments of Psychiatric Disorders" page 211+ ... you can read it using Google books.

 

[Thomas Paine]

Thanks, I figured it was a long shot. The only barbiturate I have access to is butalbital and it's compounded with caffeine in Fiorinal which actually increases the chance of a seizure. Figures that caffeine and butalbital also have the same absorption rate in water as well. I think my fate is just to never be allowed the rare drugs that actually agree with me.

 

[stealyourface722]

i was on klonopin for a few years and i got off very fast taking neurotin/gabapentin. It was funny, at the time I didnt even know it was addictive because the withdrawl was like nothing. But a few other times a took it and got off, i had delusions and felt very bad. (without any neurotin or withdrawl meds)
id seriously look into neurotin/gabapentin or what medline said, phenobarbital. ud think phenobarbital would be a downer though, plus it might be hard to get, considering its easy to OD on and a controlled substance.

 

[Thomas Paine]

Is there any medical reason why alcohol would not work to prevent withdrawal and seizures, other then dehydration (which could be prevented with something like Gatorade and staying out of the heat)?

 

[RockiNToM]

Um, I think it would be replacing one addiction with another really. Yes it would help, but when you came off the alcohol the withdrawal would still be there surely? I don't know.

 

[Thomas Paine]

Um, I think it would be replacing one addiction with another really. Yes it would help, but when you came off the alcohol the withdrawal would still be there surely? I don't know.

I'm talking only using it for 3 weeks or so like you would barbiturates. Barbiturates are addictive too, though I admit, not as psychologically addictive, but I do have a built in deterrent to keep me from becoming an alcoholic because I have migraines and also have to hide it if I drink where I live right now. Actually, Benzos are more psychologically rewarding to me then alcohol is.

I wouldn't recommend this to many people though, but I'm just curious about whether it has the same anxiolytic and anti-seizure properties of a barbiturate.

 

[Ash09]

Is there any medical reason why alcohol would not work to prevent withdrawal and seizures, other then dehydration (which could be prevented with something like Gatorade and staying out of the heat)?

Afaik alcohol causes considerably more impairment than benzodiazpines for the desired effects, it's also emetic and causes liver damage. Considering it's very short half life I don't see how you could use it to prevent withdrawl.

 

[Thomas Paine]

Afaik alcohol causes considerably more impairment than benzodiazpines for the desired effects, it's also emetic and causes liver damage. Considering it's very short half life I don't see how you could use it to prevent withdrawl.

Some pretty good points there. Thanks.

 

[justforester]

My aunt took benzos regularly for 25 years until her tolerance was too high for it to actually take effect. Her doctor regulated it so that she did not experience withdrawal. She is still on mood stabilizer and an SSRI.

Talk to your doctor and I predict he'll gradually lessen your daily dose. It takes time to come off of benzos without withdrawal.

 

[Cast Away]

I would say alcohol would be helpful, its just you would have to constantly keep it in your system.

 

[Medline]

Alcohol is a bad idea, it's toxic and in case of more severe benzodiazepine withdrawal with seizure risk it would have to be permanently in the body, especially when sleeping the blood alcohol level can fall and this could result in a seizure. Heavy drinking could also cause eg. acute pancreatitis.

 

[Thomas Paine]

You guys are awesome. Thanks again! Hopefully I didn't hijack this thread, but I figured it would be useful to the OP as well.

Alcohol is out of the question.

 

[jim_morrison]

My uncle has been on 2 mg's of klonopin for 20 years, and has never upped the dose. He says it still works as well as the first day he took it.

 

[Cast Away]

Medline, how much cross tolerance do you think there is between alcohol and benzodiazepines?