I was put on klonapin 20 yrs ago because of panic attacks and severe anxiety. I couldn't leave my home and if I did I never walked with my head up, I never looked at anyone, I was paranoid bad. I had OCD and RLS. I know it's messing up my memory. Every time I try to back off even a TINY bit I get paranoia and panic but what the hay, I get panic with them too, it didn't stop that. I'm always sleeping or wanting to and it messes with my libido. I get angry outbursts and severe depression. I tried sucide once and I still can' t do what I orginally started out wanting to do. Work... I just want to be me and if I'm in an large area I get confused and messed up and can't think or focus and that's what I started taking this for and to be able to be out in the world FREE like everyone else... I used to take tryptophan until they took it off the market and now it doesn't work for me since I've been on Klonapin. Someone provide some answers?
How the heck do I get off Klonapin after 20 yrs?
Question posted by Feetie on 20 Feb 2011
Last updated on 7 February 2022 by Peter70582
12 Answers
My advice would be to go to a hospital, and just quit without tapering. They will give you medicines to prevent seizures, and perhaps non-benzo anxiolytics like vistaril. After the seizure risk has been managed, you're just going to need to take the time to recover, which won't always be easy, and may take the better part of a year or more. During the recovery, regular exercise will speed up the healing process.
It is also possible, but not likely to succeed, to do a slow taper of 5 years or so. But like I said, that method will likely fail. My advice is, go to the hospital and rip the bandaid off, so to speak.
First of all, you can do it. I was on Ativan, which acts fairly similar to clonazepam, since 1998. I was up to 6mg per day. I was able to withdrawal completely from the medicine in the summer of 2018. I decided to “rip off the bandaid” by going to hospital and asking them to detox me. I simply didn’t know what to do and my doctors weren’t willing to taper me. I detoxed for 7 days and stopped taking the medicine after that. It wasn’t easy, but the physical dependence symptoms - anxiety, rough sleeping, body pain - left in about 1 month. The psychological impacts are more challenging, so I would strongly advise counseling to help with that.
Outdoor guy. Old thread I’m guessing you won’t reply, but I’m in the same boat as you were/are. How are you now?
I to have been taking Klonopin for over 7 years with 60mg. of methadone, I tried to stop taking the pins (2 of the white ones a day ) and had a seizure. I've been advised ( told ) by my psych. the ONLY way to tirade off is a gradual decrease in dose which can take a year all longer. If that is what it takes so be it, Believe me I wish you all the strength in the world, you can do it. I'm only 34 yo.
You are correct. You must slowly wean off of Klonopin. I am planning on it taking 1-2 years or longer. By the way, www.benzobuddies.org is a great website to get more information and support on how to wean off of Klonopin and other benzos.
has anyone tried rapid Detox done while under deep sedation?
A anethesiologist in Florida has developed a cocktail to cleanse the receptors while one sleeps. It is said to be a 2 hour detox and no feelings of the withdrawl because you would be under sedation
Sounds to good to be true but there is reports out there that it does work
Has Anyone tried it? I am curious
I think it is too good to be true. The thing with Klonopin (and other benzos) is that it can take weeks or months to repair the GABA receptors, so the detox is not all there is too it (as far as recovering from benzos is concerned). I have been to two hospital-run detox centers and wish I had never gone. They are usually for drug addicts, by the way, which I am not.
I think it is too good to be true. The thing with Klonopin (and other benzos) is that it can take weeks or months to repair the GABA receptors, so the detox is not all there is too it (as far as recovering from benzos is concerned). I have been to two hospital-run detox centers and wish I had never gone. They are usually for drug addicts, by the way, which I am not.
He's a quack don't waste ur money.
It is not too late I will explain Klonopin its the most evil sweet smelling flower you will ever encounter It will grasp ahold of your soul if not careful
If you are willing to rid of the fluffy feeling in trade for the never ending prescription hunt here is the secret
See a doctor One who has knowledge of addiction There is a medication called Phenobarbital Phenobarbital is the short answer. You will be able to replace klonopin with pheno then slowly ween from the pheno the dosage will depend on the dependancy of Klonopin
pheno is not a med that will interrupt your every day life you will be a functioning member in society so if its that you trade one for the other at least know that you will not have the most embarracing nods in public and that you will make concious decisions in life
best of luck
Feetie-I can totally relate to your problem, I was addicted to Xanax for 10 years, along with the benzos I am a an opiate addict. Have been on methadone for 20 years on and off . But in all my experiences with kicking drugs - benzos ( Xanax,Valium) were the worst, worse than methadone and worst than heroin. After a suicide attempt due to the benzo addiction I ended up in local psyc ward. Bottom line - do the detox slowly .. So as not to go into siezures ( which happened to me while in psych hospital cause they detoxed me too quick) ... And get your doctor to put you on replacement meds to help get u thru the withdrawal symptoms. I was put on vistaril, Depakote( to prevent siezures) , Neurontin. And they also had me on a anti depressant which I can remember the name of. But bottom line - do it slow, good luck
I'm currently cutting my dose of Klonopin down from 3mg to 1 or 2mg. I've just been tapering very very slowly, and take Valerian to help out a bit (and it really does help). I've also gone through a bit of therapy, and that has helped me a ton, and actually is the primary reason as to why I'd like to make the decrease... It hasn't been a cake walk by any stretch of the imagination, but the Valerian does seem to take a bit of the edge off. Since you've been on the medication for a whole lot longer than me (it's been like 3 years (4?? not sure) for me, but not 20), I'd would think that talking to a doctor first would be the best first step, as he may want to supplement the decrease with something else more effective than Valerian.
Good luck to you!!
Jeff K
If you are not seeing a psychiatrist, then the doctor attempting to help you get off of this may not know how to taper you off. I would also consult with at least 3 pharmacists to get their opinions about how to taper off, they are the true experts on meds. Seizures can set in, so, you need someone who knows how to taper someone off, that is going to be psychiatrists and pharmacists. Walking for exercise as you taper will help some as it produces endorphins that can mentally and physically help a person feel better and an antidepressant may help as well. Personally, a low dose of 10 mgs of NON extended release generic prozac helped me stay calm better than other anti d's but each person is different. I am not sure of your gender, but, if you are female, and are menopause age ( even if you have had a hysterectomy) some of your mental fog could be coming from that. Not every woman has this symptom, but, I did, so have your hormones checked as well. Good Luck and stay here for support, that will help also.
Fettie-for what it's worth you describe my anxiety when it's at it's worst, perfectly. It's so hard to relate to "normal" people, even friends. I still shake and racing heart when I go to work, and ive been there 19 years! I never knew other people had such debilitating anxiety til I found this great site.
I take lots of meds for it. Just stopped klonopin after 10 years and put on Ativan but its not working. I asked my doc about Valium ER he said no.
Well I really can relate and writing, I believe, helps so I am here for u to listen and support -Cathleen
Hey Feetie,
I hear your concern and frustration. Coming off the klonipin must be done very slowly and preferably under a doctor's care. As previouly mentioned, you may benefit from an antidepressant that also helps with anxiety. There are several and your doctor would be the best to advise which one.
Have you ever tried talk therapy? A good counselor may be able to teach you ways to overcome some of your paranoia and anxiety.
There is a web site called benzobuddies.com that may offer you some support for the issue of coming off the klonipin. Check it out, it can't hurt.
But again, coming off a benzodiazapene like klonipin must be done slowly and under a doctor's care.
Good look Feetie, and keep in touch,
Laurie
LOL, I meant good luck, not look, sorry
Hi Laurie,
TY, I've tried several things to help me while getting off the Klonapin but it hasn't worked and talk therapy, oh YES. I've been with this lady for about 15 yrs and she actually tried to get me off the K about 5 yrs ago in ONE week no less. It was for my memory a test sort of. In other words I was the guiney pig. It freaked me out and I had panic, disorientation, couldn't think straight, foggy brain, you name it. So I quit. She actually tried to get me to take MORE, which I refuse to do. I mean come on, ONE week. That is impossible. I tried taking the tryptophan while doing this too but just had that fogged brain thing, sweating and God only knows what else. I actually went 4 days without it last summer though and never thought once about it until I reallised I hadn't taken it and THEN I panicked, it must have been a few good days!!! :) The thing that bothers me the most is the fogged brain thing.
I hate not being able to think and I drove down a ramp on the highway the WRONG way... plus I get so angry it scares me. I just can't remember anything now and I'm going to school for something where memory is important. I'm not giving up on this. I will do it...
Again, I encourage you to think about an antidepressant that helps with the anxiety as well. It may well help with the memory problems too. Good luck going back to school. I did several years back, and loved it.
Laurie
very carefully, try to get Wellbutrin or zyban... its not near as bad as opiate withdrawal, or xanax rither..good luck friend it can be done, get some good medicanal weed for your nerves..lol.
I'll look those up, she's put me on other things to take the edge off but w/o success. I guess it's a matter of where my mind is at too. Strengthen it. :) on the medicinal weed and I wonder if I could actually get that. Not that I want to because I've been there... ty so much
I have tried to get off of Klonopin for over a year. My doctor now has me tapering down by 1/8th of a mg. every few months as I am able to handle it. I was put on it to help control Cervical Dystonia. It has caused me to lose about 50 lbs., as well as depression, suicidal thoughts, total weakness so that I am in a wheelchair, brain fog and insomnia (to name a few of the side effects).
I had to go back on 30 mg. of Paxil and 25 mg. of Doxepin just to be able to sleep (although they cause Cervical Dystonia in me). I am sleeping better and starting to slowly gain weight.
I would recommend a slow taper (I have to use a pill cutter) and not make the mistake of going to a short-term detox center (like I did). I actually ended up in worse shape physically after trying that. This medicine has to be slowly tapered off of.
At any rate, I hope this helps and good luck! I, along with you, am determined to get off of this drug.
Hi outdoor man:
I have tried to cut 1/8th the pill off. My memory is really BAD and the worst thing is the brain fog. I so hate being this way but without it I'm a nut case. It's worse than 20 yrs ago when I started. My dr says I don't have these symptoms and should be able to just stop taking it if that's what I want and won't give me anything else to back it up until I make it. That's the crappy part. It helps my RLS and OCD and paranoia but I do dumb things, like driving down the exit ramp. I laughed when I did that but I could have hurt someone and then I'd totally die if I did and I'm not kidding. I think the angry spells are horrible too. I'm such a gentle, loving, kind woman. I'm just going to keep trying. I wish you soooooooo much luck. Keep writing me and everyone else too. I need the positivity because my dr sure is not giving it. Thank you for your input.
If I could at least get down to one pill a day I'd be happy! Thx again Kindly,
Feetie
What is the dysfunction you mentioned? I'll google it I guess...
Hi Feetie,
Cervical Dystonia is a rare neurological condition that affects the neck. I was put on Klonopin to relax the neck muscles due to this condition. I then discovered that Paxil caused the CD and I weaned myself off of it. After a year of hell on earth and doing much research, I found that Klonopin can cause depression, suicidal thoughts, brain fog, insomnia, unrestful sleep, weight loss, muscle weakness, etc. I was experiencing all of this and had to go back on the Paxil and am now working with a doctor to slowly go off the Klonopin. I wish I had never gotten on Klonopiin and I think the FDA should outlaw all Benzo's.
At any rate, this is the hardest thing I've ever gone through and until one attempts to come off of a benzo, they have no idea what it's like. I have found that Paxil, however, helps to relieve the anxiety and gives me more energy, so I plan on staying on it as long as I can tolerate the CD (until I get off of Klonopin).
The key to getting off of Klonopin is tapering very slowly. I have been to two different hospital detox centers and they brought me off way too quickly and I ended up in worst shape than before I went. As a result, I had to go back on the Klonopin. Most of these centers have no idea how to detox a person from Benzo's. It seems the best way is to find a knowledgeable doctor and detox from home (even if it takes a year or two). It is much easier on the body and there is less of a chance of relapse.
HTH.
Feetie,
One more thing. I had to go through several doctors before I found one that knew anything substantial about Benzo withdrawal. I am seeing a Psychiatrist that is helping me plan my taper. It is frustrating that the medical industry has no idea of what it is like to come off of this drug. I now do research, call the pharmacist and ask the doctor what the side effects are before going on a new drug.
Blessings...
Related topics
klonopin, anxiety, benzodiazepine withdrawal, panic disorder, paranoid disorder, generalized anxiety disorder
Further information
- Klonopin uses and safety info
- Klonopin prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Klonopin (detailed)
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