I am on clonazepam 0.5mg 2x day. I am weaning myself off and would like to ask if anyone knows how to? My pharmacist said they are fast acting so if I have a panic or anxiety attack then take one. Please help someone because I started cutting the one I take during the day 1/2. The reason why I am doing this is because I am on too many prescribed drugs right now... Tegretol, ranitidine, meloxicam, oxybutin, & the clonazepam. I'm sure someome out there may understand why I have begun this process since my Dr. does not have any appts. for me until mid Aug. Thanks
How do you wean yourself off clonazepam?
Question posted by reelwater on 10 July 2012
Last updated on 23 July 2022
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
21 Answers Page 2
Robert 47
25 Jan 2017
I'm 1mg clons and I do the .50 2 times a day when you tapper I do a .25 at the time but first it's important to have your self ready and your doc backing your slow tapper.. so I had him so a Wright a script for .50 there yellow I was on green light green 1mg I would cut those in half to get my .50, don't do that because it's harder because when you cut you lose a little bit off each tap..well that adds up fast and you will never balance out took me 3 weeks of he'll and Hart all out of wack ECT you won't to keep it as close as you can to the right mg... so after 3 almost 4 weeks I did cut one in half and cut the half in half this made it .25 ok so this is 1 .50 a full yellow and 1 .25 and 1 half of the .25 I think that's 0.5 so I'll stay here till I fill stable could take me 2 weeks or more the thing is you will fill each time to cut..
but don't worry it's not easy but don't panic if you do have a little don't go back up because you fill each time you cut back or even have a panic attack best hang in there till you are back stable..that's the key to a slow tapper.slow slow.. but don't do this shave a 10th at the time it is harder to rapper because it breaks up to much for it to stable you out trust me it don't work well but up to you .25 and hold till you filling better you will now this differences best don't go back up it will make it mad for ya well it did me.. so I'm not a doctor but I was taking 3mg a day for 8 years and I made it this far I'm alive good luck and God bless it will help if you have support and I'll be doing a vid on youtube video on this from here it's not easy but what works for me my not work for you work closely with your doctor try not to be but on a nother benzodiazepine like valium to help rapper I find that won't work best makes it harder as well support is the key and you will have sleepless nights rest when and how you can you fill sleepy go rest.. but stay active use your mind as much a possible this will help avoid things that trigger panic with you don't force your self to be around things that's me you fill in comfortable.. don't drink even wine and I love wine but I found this can couse a panic attack no coffee even watch drinking tea unless it decaffeinated.. this will take time..I'm Christian and and I believe in God.. this has helped me most to pray thru the harder days.. find a high power in your of your God or a strong person in your life you trust to see you thru good luck and God bless!! you will be fine Note: drink a lot of water eat even if your not hungry work out walk don't jest sit around doing nothing find more info on youtube keep your mind working
alan108
28 July 2013
Hi reelwater,
I am on .75 mg of clonazepam for over 8 years-taken before bed. It was
prescribed to me by a holistic doctor no less. I can feel changes in
my neuro-chemistry as a result. I am pracitising meditation for over
30 years and I feel a kind of blocked energy in the head. I think it has to
do with the clonazepam-Im still trying to cut down by slicing a little bit off
at a time-but its not easy. I had originally started with .50mg but had to increase it to the .75 when the .50 stopped being effective. I also have TMJ
problems which is what I thought was the root cause of why I needed it
before bed. The doctor that originally prescribed it to me said try not
to take it every day-but I did as I found it worked quickly. Please let me know how your doing as we are on close to the same amount of Clonzepam.
Alan
iamalady
30 July 2013
I started on .25 am and at bedtime almost 5 months ago. After 8 weeks I went to .25 in am only and did ok, but I had twitching muscles and my right leg quivered all day for a couple of weeks then stopped, did not have increased anxiety though. After 5 weeks I quit period, but by day 6 insomnia got bad and some anxiety, but triggered my tachecardia, which is why I am on it to calm my anxiety because I now have that after a serious, painful shoulder injury, which is healing, so thought I could go off, but found out real quick I still need it. I hope I can stay at .25 a day, which seems to be working. Maybe you could try to titrate down to a little less that you can feel comfortable and then stay there, don't try to go off completely. I read a true clinical study done on Klonopin, which states that when used for anxiety no tolerance was seen in the clinical trials at the GABA. It was a real complete well done study. Knowing that helps me feel better about taking it, hope you can get some comfort from knowing this also.
reelwater
30 July 2013
Thank u for the responses. Update on the clonazepam. I have not been sucessful weaning off completely. However I have gotten right back where I originally started; 1 am & 1pm. Did cut back on 1pm..since I was up to 2@pm. The dr. Said cut back on 1 pill per week because I was on such a low dosage of .05mg.2xp.m. .05mg.1xa.m. first week was fine. Getting ready to cut back on 2nd week & since I take it for anxiety disorder my dr. Said continue taking it in the am due to having to put my dog down for seizures. Believe me your body & life tells you exactly what u need to do in regards to this prescription. Thanks again all who responded. Peace
iamalady
31 July 2013
Congrats on getting back where you started!
reelwater
31 July 2013
Thank u. I probably would have been having a break down if it weren't for continuing the 1 during the day. I am still devastated over the loss of my pup. This anxiety drug I do believe somehow changes your brain chemistry so that stuff is not quite so magnified. This taught me that we may not always know what's best for us until something traumatic happens. Thanks again.
Md1luvv
16 Jan 2018
I actually feel very similar to u
My doctor prescribed it to me about 10 years ago for insomnia
I talk 1mg bfore bed with 1.5 mg of Zanex (one puts my to sleep and one keeps me asleep )and I just feel like I see changes in my Nuero rythm as well
When I try to wean off I don’t sleep and always wind up going back
I’m a big yogi and meditator as well and also feel blocked
Or as is something took my spark
I’m confused as well
Md1luvv
16 Jan 2018
I actually feel very similar to u
My doctor prescribed it to me about 10 years ago for insomnia
I talk 1mg bfore bed with 1.5 mg of Zanex (one puts my to sleep and one keeps me asleep )and I just feel like I see changes in my Nuero rythm as well
When I try to wean off I don’t sleep and always wind up going back
I’m a big yogi and meditator as well and also feel blocked
Or as is something took my spark
I’m confused as well
Paulie Dude
23 June 2013
How did everything work out with your weaning off? I hope you are doing well. I recently came off klonipin after 15 years of use. I am interested in comparing notes. Thanx.
Desbrand
28 June 2014
Did you wean and how? Thanks in advance for sharing!
Kishadoss
2 April 2017
How did it work out for you? I'm weaning myself off klonopin after 12yrs of use
suesmiley
3 Sep 2018
How did you weak yourself off? Did you have the help of a doctor or psychiatrist or neurologist? I have complex partial seizures and my PCP wants me to be off clonazepam and put on a different med for my seizures. I've been on clonazepam for 12 years at 1 mg a day. I'm a bit hesitatent to wean off and change since this has been working fine for me. What are your thoughts? How did you do it and did you ever go back on clonazepam? Thanks for any input you might have.
Gramma11
23 Aug 2019
I will start next Friday they want to wean slowly iv been on 2 mg for 20 years they say it will be hard I will keep all informed
Inactive
12 July 2012
Can I ask why you would like to stop taking the Clonazepam ? Right now you are on a very low dosage and if it is working why stop ? My suggestion to you is to wait until you see your doctor and discuss how to taper off it. You have to understand through unless you have learned tools to manage you aniexty and panic attacks they will retrun.
Another option , if you want to elimate some of your medications you should discuss with your dr which one can be elimated. I just went to my dr and he took the zoloft away of course we are going to taper me off it and see how it goes
As far as being on to many medications , if it not broke dont fix it
Good Luck , Hang in there I know it can be frustrating waiting to see your dr
Inactive
11 July 2012
Clonazepam has a very long half life, that means it stays in your system a long time. I took myself off of clonazepam, I did it because some doc said I couldn't.
Nevertheless, if you really want off, drop one .5 mgs a day for a week, then after one week on the lower dose, can jump off.
When I weaned myself off of clonazepam, the only thing that happened was the return of my symptoms, panic attacks and generalized anxiety disorder. I was horrible to live with because of my disease, not wd's. Called my shrink and that's what he told me, if I want to live my life, crazy as a looney tune, i could stay off my meds or get my life back and go on them again. So I did. I feel great, and you are not on too many meds... I am on more than you are.
And I've been on clonazepam over 35 years. Go figure.
Those are my experiences with clonazepam. I call it my best friend. And I don't ruin relationships either.
Just sayin',
Sweet Hippie
reelwater
17 July 2012
Thanks alot to those who either commented or answered my? Since submitting this I decided after 2-3 days off that it was not worth it. I was starting to have the symptoms of anxiety alot more than usual. My Dr. is very good at giving me enough meds. and all, I agree with you all for telling me your opinions, if it's not broke don't fix it. I realized it's not as bad as I thought. Being on multiple meds. is not as bad as I thought. However, my primary Dr. appt. tommorrow I will still see if there is a way to maybe just cut back, if not that's okay, I realized if I am on them, I surely must NEED them in my system. Thanks Again fellow chronic pain survivors!
alcon1502
18 July 2012
I aggred 100% with Imarianni 55. What are the benefits of taper off a small dosis of clonazepan if you return with the anxiety again. I am in 2 mg over 6yrs. When a better one comes I will change.
broff84
24 Sep 2014
Dam i am going to jail for six months and the jail dosent allow colonapin i take 4 millagrams a day they are my best friend and i cant live with out thim panic attacks are horriable and i have them daily without my pills really sucks hope i dnt die from withdraw. In jail
PinkCarnation
30 Nov 2014
Hi Anonymous, it is November 2014 and your post is from June 2012 so hope you see my comment and are able to reply. I have also been on Klonopin for more than 35 years. Have been able to withdraw off and on over the years for years at a time. Right now, basically my average daily dose is 2 mg per day. However, since my sleep doctor recently prescribed 50 mg of Tradadone + 1 or 2 mg Klonopin (depending on my preference), I have cut back to .5 mg of Konopin... as I do NOT need 1 mg w/the Tradadone. .5 mg does the trick! Here's the clincher, though overall I tend to feel much less anxiety with this new combo, I am experiencing symptoms such as hot flashes, chills, a feeling of disconnection, increased memory loss... am believing this is from abrupt Klonopin withdrawals. Actually, I feel most normal when I am on my 2 mg of Klonopin - usually once/day. It has been extremely rare over the 35 years use that I've EVER exceeded 2 mg of Klonopin in one day.
There may have been 2 or 3 occasions most wherein I needed 2 mg/2 x in a day. I swear it seems as though my biggest problem is dealing with the least minute of stress (Lord, knows I've had more than my fair share but will spare all the sappy stories).
Sucka132
22 April 2018
I tried to come off clonazepam after being on it 3.5 years, and I ended up with horrible insomnia for 11 days, until I was so exhausted, anxious and nearly suicidal that I call my doctor to be put back on them. I am just now a few days into taking them again and can rememebr why I wanted off. They make me feel kind of dopey, and numb. I thought I never needed anxiety meds before in my life and that I could go without. I hate being on meds, and actually have a strong fear of taking new meds, some rational some irrational. The beat advice I can give you is go extremely slow coming off klonopin. I was on .5 am and .25 pm for 2 weeks, then went to .25 am and .125pm one week, then .125 am and pm for 9 days. Then i stopped. Then came rhe hell I went through. Heart palpitations, severe anxiety, agoraphobia, insomnia and intrusive thoughts, very very dark thoughts. I nearly lost my job and possibly my life.
I urge you to either find a new doctor, express to your primary care doctor that you cant get your medicine before your next appointment and see if they can help. My other suggestion is to read the Ashton manual specifically on the dosing down section. Do not try to do this alone. I did and it was a horrible mistake that I am still shaken over.
Txnut60
30 May 2019
Would love to talk more with you!
kaismama
10 July 2012
That's a shame, since these things work much better when you are working with a doc. I can agree with you not wanting to take it on a regular basis, but don't say with all your meds, many of us take many more then you do, lolol. Did the pharmacist give you an idea how to do it? How long have you been on it? I've tapered off of meds, however how I would do it and what you can tolerate may be different. I'm sure someone who's done it with clonazepem will answer.
Inactive
12 July 2012
Hello Kaismama,
Basically one tapers slowly pretty much like any other psychotropic med. Slowly, and watch for the return of the symptoms.
One thing I find hard to understand is why a doc wouldn't give enough refills to hold you until the next scheduled visit?
Just wondering, I make sure I'm covered with all meds til my next pain or psych appointment.
Just sayin',
Hip
kaismama
13 July 2012
Sometimes they want to have a closer hand on how much you're using. Even if its just that your pharmacist has to contact them for refills, it tells him how often you're getting them refilled. Even tho its been years and my doc knows I'm responsible with my tramadol, she still will only give me one month at a time and pharmacy has to contact her for more.
Inactive
13 July 2012
Good morning,
My shrink gives me at least two months but of course, pain meds are one month at a time, since mine are Schedule II. Tramadol doesn't even touch my pain and this morphine has to go. My issues with my back and neck, since it's been raining so much, sunny Florida that rains every day, seems to exacerbate my PAIN.
Oh well, see what the doc says today..
I hate morphine.
Peace and hope for painfree days,
Laura
Inactive
17 July 2012
Kaismama,
Just found out something interesting, at least to me. I demanded to look thru my pain docs chart, and found faxes to Dr every time I get narcotic filled. Hmmmmm, that's big brother and the DEA. Our tax dollars at work.
Laura
kaismama
17 July 2012
Oh, yea they have to keep track of us terrible abusers, lolol. I am so sick of the government determining our care. And people worry about it happening from obamacare, lolol.
Inactive
17 July 2012
Weeelllllll,
I think I can take care of my own med management, or am I nuts? The new shrink I saw said I didn't have OCD. 0;-)
Where is his head. Anywho, I didn't argue, just smiled. Also said I have "trouble" with respecting docs... ya think? Flaming idiots, some of them anyway, I call it the way I see it. Would much prefer seeing a nurse.
Silly kookie Laura
Jayman15704
18 July 2017
Since clonazepam is a controlled substance they will only give you 30 per month and they will not refill until one month after previous prescribing date.
Related topics
anxiety, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, clonazepam
Further information
- Clonazepam uses and safety info
- Clonazepam prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Clonazepam (detailed)
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