Klonopin Withdrawal - HELP

[lbehel]

Hello all, I have GAD and take Remeron 30 mg at night. I also take 3 mg. of Klonopin a day which I am getting ready to wean off of. Can anyone give me any suggestions and success stories of how they did it or know the best way to do it. My Dr. wants me to cut out 1/8 of a 1 mg. pill for one week, wait a week to let my body adjust and then make another 1/8 cut, etc. By doing this, I figure it will take me 8 months to get down to 1 mg!! But I have been taking this dose since December and I guess he doesn't want me to relapse. Has anyone done this before and what can I expect to feel?? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks

[windysan]

I'm all about just kicking the stuff but there is a danger with K. According to the Ashton Manual(you can download it online but make sure you don't join the Benzo Forum as there are some crazies in there who'll scare the hell out of you). Run a search for the Ashton Manual and give it to your doctor. It is best to replace Klonipin with valium(1mg Klonipin = 20mgs Valium) then reduce the valium dose by 10% every 2 weeks. That is supposed to be the safest way. Valium has a longer half-life and your system doesn't get so shocked when you cut the dose. From what I understand the Ashton way is the safest way to quit benzos....that is if you have self-control.

good luck

[lbehel]

Thanks Windysan for the info. I actually have already downloaded a copy of that. I wonder why Dr's don't just do it that way anyway without the patient having to tell them how to wean us?? Have you ever weaned off a benzo and if so, did you go by the Ashton Manual?

[windysan]

Ashton's method doesn't work with freaks like me. Doctors never hear about Ashton cuz she's a British professor who used a small sampling of mental patients for her research. She's a shrink and a lot of the medical docs think it is all hogwash. With new research showing that the withdrawals are dangerous some docs have started tapering people off of benzos and anti-depressants. Tapering can be brutal for some people. I also know folks who've cold turkeyed off of high doses and they didn't have many problems. It all depends on your nervous system. Get your doc to switch you to valium or you might just need to find another doc who'll help.

good luck.....it is good when you are off the stuff

[Baseball65]

Hi.
I've just detoxed from Hydro,Morphine and XANAX (4-5 mgs a day)

I know from reading that Klonopin and xanax are first cousins (short half life benzos,low milligram strengths)

I never thought the xanax was a big deal,as I just quit taking valium one day when I ran out....so I forgot to mention it to the subutex clinic I entered for Hydro addiction.

What Windysan wrote is consistent with my own experience.

When I checked in to the susbutex clinic I told them of the xanax abuse..(a Minor detail (lol)

As I've said before,I was sicker than people kicking $300 w/of heroin a day.

Benzo detox is serious ,and I would highly recommend NOT going cold turkey,or thinking about expiditing a doctors decisions like this DUMMY did.

My regular Md. had me tapering off with Librium......which ,have no fear...I couldn't possibly see anybody developing an addiction to...it stinks...makes you drowsy,and is Nooo fun at all.....but useful.

It kept me inside my skin,and certainly took the GNARLY edge off.

I've decided to actually follow instructions for once,and miraculously...I've had a relatively painless come down from 4-5 mgs. xanax per/day in about a month.

Just thought I'd chime in for some support.

Oh,yeah...what is GAD ..is that general anxiety disorder? I have OCD....really bad...but since I've been cleaning up the symptoms have abated a lot!!

My fear of an OCD attack or a panic attack was my biggest reservation about quitting....but like most fears was unfounded in the reality.

Hang in there

Baseball65