Next step: Klonopin withdrawal-any suggestions?

[Bipolar Girl]

Hi,I posted before about trouble getting off psych meds that I've been on for 5 years for bipolar depression.
I successfully got through the withdrawals from the Zyprexa,the anti-psychotic major tranquilizer--after 4 months of total fatigue--and off the Trazodone prescribed to help me sleep over that time period,which had a withdrawal of it's own. I still feel like I'm recovering from an awful bout of the flu or mono or something.
Now my Pdoc wants me to start tapering the Klonopin I've taked for 5 years,2mg a day,and I'm really scared. It helps me sleep,and I've read horror stories about seizures,etc. during withdrawal. It's so frustrating to me that these Dr's just casually say,oh,cut back from .5 4x a day to 3x a day,okay? Well,I haven't been able to do it. Maybe I've managed 1.75mg a day,and I still feel weird. Tight jaw,twitches,ringing in the ears,etc. I have to call him this week and am afraid he won't understand. He denied that I was going through Zyprexa withdrawal,and had said stopping Trazodone suddenly wouldn't hurt me.
By the way,I've been reading alot on this forum about Ultram addiction and that's how my whole nightmare started. After 2 years I stopped a huge amount cold,and became so depressed I made a suicide attempt,which led to all this psychiatric med crap.
It seems my entire existence right now is kicking pills. I can't help but wonder if I've done permanent damage to my brain. I know Klonopin is like Xanax. I'm just really apprehensive.
Can anyone help?

[meatball]

hi, first off... why does your doc want you off the klonopin so bad? If you have depression and you are bipolar it would seem to me that you would need the drugs to help calm you down. I have been on klonopin for years and years, usually 1 milligram a day maybe more depending on how acute my anxiety is. Right now i am taking a half before bedtime to help me sleep and it really helps. Any doctor that denies you the right to feel less anxious needs to be questioned. As for xanax, i got rather addicted to it, was taking about 4 milligrams a day and going off that was awful for me, I find that klonopin is way more soothing because xanax gives you way more side effects. I hope this helps a little.. let me know if you have any more questions.

[lucylane]

I agree with meatball about the klonopin being a help for a good night's sleep. I too, take 1/2 tablet before bedtime. I'm borderline bi-polar and I take the minimum dose of effexor (anti-depression capsule) & the minimum dose of klonopin (anti-anxiety tablet). They also help me a great deal with my pulsatile tinnitus (heart beat sound in my ear). Klonopin even helps my mom rid herself of that awful restless legs syndrome, that she had suffered with for years, but no more.

It sounds like you definitely need something for anxiety & depression and your doctor has to help you find the right combination that works for you and stay with it. They usually start you with the minimum dose first and go up from there.

[Bipolar Girl]

Thanks for taking the time to respond,
I think he plans on getting me down to an as-needed basis rather than a mandatory .5 4x a day. I'm obviously addicted to the stuff right now. I just think he's tapering me way too quickly.

[carly500]

Hi Bipolar Girl I think you need a second opinion fast. I'am getting off zyprexa SLOWLY with a doctor who I trust implicity. I'am no doctor either but I know a lot of them and I don't see why your doctor had a problem with you staying on trazadone. Also from what I've read your taper from klopin is way too fast. Please go for the second opinion! Carly