I went off Klonopin cold turkey two weeks ago (bad move I know)... I was taking .25 mg a night to sleep (as per docs script) for three weeks... It started to make me feel extremely anxious and drugged up after taking it for a while... I seem to have EVERY protracted withdrawal symptom known to man (odd thoughts, flu like symptoms, no energy, constant headaches, memory loss, confusion, severe anxiety, severe depression, depersonalization, aggressive thoughts (but NOT actions), etc. How long is this HELL going to take to emerge from? I fear that as per the Ashton Manual (read it too late) that I did IRREPARABLE damage to my psyche and brain due to going off the med C/T. Does ANYONE have ANY insight on this matter from PERSONAL experience... I'm well versed in medical statistics... but I'd like to know some actually case histories... Thank you all for listening to my jumbled ramble... GOD BLESS!
How long should C/T clonazepam (Klonopin) withdrawal take?
Question posted by SEZFIT on 10 June 2012
Last updated on 11 February 2024
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.
101 Answers Page 4
I am an unusual case that I was Rxd 1 mg x 3 daily 21 yrs ago, and then just stopped with a week tapering to zero. (I now have a pill recount in front of me at pharmacy... got home with 23 in my bottle instead of 90!)
My reason for taking is a seizure disorder that developed in my 30s. In addition I have for 19 yrs also taken gabapentin. For same seizure disorder. With no clonazapam I noticed only being slightly sweaty. So now take what would amt to under .5 mg in 3 doses. Three little crumbs, in other words ☺
I noticed someone here 83? Talking about quitting that stuff though suffering? For Heavens sake... we are none of us getting out of this world alive anyway... Why make yourself suffer?
I was taking 2mgs a day for about 10yrs. You try to taper down to .125mgs. That's the lowest dose.it can take up to a month for all symptoms to subside. I got a lot of sweats, shock, insomnia, high heart rate. It's a nasty drug to get off of. Glad talk to a Dr see what they suggest
I feel so sorry for all here suffering over a drug they were prescribed. Just as I was. Anyone with my seizure disorder gets its as soon as they clear the door frame of their neurologist's office. As I mentioned in my detailed post, I may possibly have been sort of sweaty feeling as a 3 mg to zero side effect. Or maybe just nervous from all I'd read about quitting it.
Has anyone heard of a 20 yr 1 x 3 mg daily patient of that stuff just abruptly stopping and virtually no side effects?
I can't be the only one.
Oops. That should have read a 3 x 1 mg per day... 3mg total daily.
I was on Clonespam' , for over 40 years. 2MG daily. I quit on a 'fast taper'... wrong move! I have had none for the last 60 days. I am in the fourth month of pure hell. Now that I'm benzodiazepine free, I'm in way worse condition than when on it. I now have most of the withdrawal symptoms. Being 80 years old, I foolishly thought the rest of my life (short time, admittedly) should be drug-free. Some of the side effects mimic the effects of being an old (fill in the blank). The %^$$# stuff has aged me 12 years or more, as if were in my nineties+. Had to park my Harley. My body is crying in anger: "What happened, I need that stuff. Now you're going to pay, sucker!" Sadly, I'll just have to ride it out now.
Darthvagrant, You should start noticing improvement soon. I had a similar reaction. A couple of months after I was completely off, things started to improve quite a bit. I am now 5 months off and while it is not done yet, it is much more tolerable and I am getting back into the swing of things. 85% of people who withdraw return to baseline within 1 year.
tantoes: Someone else here reported no problem getting off after 20 years, I think. This is remarkable and good for you guys! I am wondering if genetics plays a role.
From what I've read about withdrawal... I was horrified when realizing my fresh monthly refill of 90 was shorted down to 22 pills! (Too many years of complacency, picking up my Rx of it at CVS' s drive thru!) Too late. I was already home with it.
All I could do was break into pieces to stretch to a month.
After a few days I felt brave enough to take none. I kept it handy in case I did start to feel bad. I had been given clonaz since 20 years before, 1 mg x 3 daily for a rare seizure disorder. Told my neurologist it wasn't helping at all but was told to keep taking it. So I did.
After a month of none, the only thing I noticed at all... was I was having post menopausal 'sweats'. And not even that was severe. Just slightly sleep disturbing and daytime a little.
I KNOW I must be a super isolated case, but was like when I abruptly stopped taking baclofen (after 7 yrs of it, also for cervical dystonia). Didn't help when I started it. Didn't bother when I stopped mid bottle.
All I can tell is about my honest firsthand experience.
Someone at that CVS STOLE my medication, and now I am fine with under .50 mg a day (under one half a mg). And that only for 'hot flashes'?
Never had any substance tendencies. My Cervical dystonia was from first dose and since controlled/relieved by Gabapentin. And that I am hyper selective about the generic I will accept, since my withdrawal from it would be reverting back to severe muscle tightening and severe pain.
I have been waiting a few weeks to write this post but I think it's important. Important for those individuals who google "klonopin withdrawal" and then read all the horror stories of withdrawal. Before I tell my story, I implore you to stop googling and reading these "horror" stories from people going off Klonopin. It will only make you more anxious - I wish I hadn't because I think my experience was colored by googling. Also note that I have always been a person with EXTREMELY wrong will power. Even after my psychiatrist gave me another benzo (librium) to take if the withdrawal symptoms became unbearable, I never reached for the bottle - not even once.
I was prescribed Klonopin four years ago for sleep (1 mg/night). At the time, I didn't even know what Klonopin was - I just began taking it and it worked really well for sleep.
Six weeks ago, I accidentally missed two nights in a row. When I realized this the next morning, I thought to myself "oh, I haven't taken it in two days and I could still sleep just fine. I've been wanting to get off sleep medication, so I threw away the bottle. I officially was going "cold-turkey." I journaled what happened over the next 10 days:
Day 1 - asymptomatic
Day 2 - asymptomatic
Day 3 - Woke up feeling groggy and as if everything was moving in slow-motion. Little to no anxiety. Attended friend’s daughter’s daytime party and felt weird and spacy but was not unbearable. Went to sleep with help of Ambien and slept 8 hours.
Day 4 - First day I felt the true withdrawal side effects. Spacy and muscle twitching in arms and legs. Increased heart rate. A little anxiety in the evening. No appetite. Took Ambien and slept 6 hours.
Day 5 - Woke up feeling better with little symptoms. Went to the gym in early afternoon and started feeling disoriented. Towards middle of afternoon started feeling anxious with increased muscle twitching. Googled for hours “klonopin withdrawal” and worked myself into a complete tizzy. Convinced I was going to have massive side effects, including seizures, I called the Blue Cross – Blue Shield Phone a Nurse. RN said I should not have gone off it cold turkey and I needed to see a doctor immediately. I called my psychiatrist and left a VM on emergency line. Called Primary Care Physician and left VM. Full blown panic began to set in and lasted hours, including feelings of despair. Spoke with a couple doctor friends and calmed myself down. No appetite. Slept 4-5 hours with help of Ambien.
Day 6 - Woke up with severe anxiety and little good sleep; fearful of what was to come. Was able to see psychiatrist who assured me going from 1 mg to nothing cold turkey was OK and I was out of the seizure “at-risk” zone. He prescribed me Librium and said it was a slow-release, long-acting benzo which was non-addicting and would not cause my withdrawal symptoms to elongate. Filled it at CVS and then went to my therapist. Therapist confirmed what doctor had said that worst “probably over” at this point. Was for most of the day an emotional roller-coaster of ups and downs and feeling good, feeling tired, feeling nauseated then feeling better (changed by the minute). No appetite. With help of Ambien, slept only 1 hour and 45 minutes. Awoke at 1:45 AM and could not fall back to sleep although it was relatively peaceful with minor muscle twitching and anxiety.
Day 7 - Worst day of the withdrawal. Due to lack of sleep (1.75 hours that night), felt completely miserable. Could still feel the massive anxiety and the twitching (although it was not as bad in the past) but also had the side effect of insomnia which included massive headache, extreme nauseousness, feeling of despair. Could not focus at all for work. Time moving extremely slowly. Could not even get out of apartment. Too sick to walk anywhere. Could only sit on couch and pray that this day would get over. Was told my friend who is sleep doctor that I had to stay up until at least 10 PM and then try to sleep again. Was by far hardest day emotionally and physically. No appetite. Fell asleep at 10 PM immediately with help of Ambien and Motrin PM (for headache). Slept 3.5 hours and then another 3 hours after returning to bed.
Day 8 - Received almost 7 hours of sleep the night before, after following my sleep doctor’s advice. Thought I was near death the day before, but felt much better today. Received a massage and facial to help relax me more. Got out of the home and had dinner with a friend on South Beach. Went to bed around 11. Took Ambien and applied an essential oil, all natural concoction called “Liquid Xanax.” Slept 6.5 hours straight.
Day 9 - Woke up feeling great after sleeping solidly for first night in many.
Day 10 - Felt really good
I even went to Israel on vacation on Day 13. It was great to really stabilize my brain and body over the next 14 days on the Mediterranean, reading books and just relaxing. I would really recommend going somewhere and just relaxing, if it is possible.
One last bit of advice. I had a sleep doctor who was very helpful during my withdrawal. I've read online of people talking about migranes, ringing in the ears, etc. during klonopin withdrawal. It was probably due to insomnia which is very difficult but also very easy to fix. Despite how little sleep you may experience at night during these withdrawals, you MUST get up at sunrise and stay up until 10-11 PM. If you still don't sleep, get up and do the same. Do NOT take naps. That will mess up your sleep cycle and further prolong symptoms.
I also have not had any alcohol in the past six weeks - per my doctor's order, as this will allow my brain to fully return to normal. I will probably begin enjoying wine in a few weeks. Because I was not abusing klonopin, and never abused alcohol, this is not a problem for me. For some people, this may be - you should ask your doctor.
All-in-all, this was a horrific experience but I feel much stronger for going through it and coming out unscathed. I had supportive friends family and medical professionals (psychiatrist, GP, therapist and sleep doctor) who all were instrumental in making this process as smooth as possible.
This is my experience and everyone is different, but I wanted to share this because if you are reading this and your story sounds similar to mine, I wanted to let you know that even after 4 years of 1 MG Klonopin, I was not in total despair like what you read online of others. My journey was 10 days - 2 of which were really bad - but I came through just fine.
I would recommend, however, speaking with your doctor before you try to go off and see what's the best option. For me, cold-turkey works - I have very strong will power and I didn't want to drag this out. My understanding of the drug though is it can be dangerous to do so - ask your own doctor.
Now, if you're reading this - get off the computer and stop googling and/or going on support chat sites. 99.9% of the stories you read are just the horror stories. The vast majority of people go off with no issue (like me) and you should feel comforted by that fact. What you're reading online is such a small, small population.
I hope this is helpful.
Ambien uses the same receptors as Klonopin and can result in the same kind of physical dependence. I'm glad you had a relatively easy withdrawal from Klonopin, but you may notice additional withdrawal symptoms when you discontinue Ambien.
10-15% of those who withdraw from Klonopin take more than one year to feel ok and these tend to be difficult withdrawals. It is not precisely known why at this point, but it seems to be because of receptor damage, which eventually repairs. Two women I read about online who took Klonopin for a long time (18 years) each said it took 3 years to feel ok.
You are correct that it hits same receptors; however, it is not a benzo. I stopped taking ambien and had no side effects.
I've now been almost 3 months without my benzo and feel fine. If you are a person like me who did not abuse the drug for recreational purposes or combined it with opiads or convinced doctors to over prescribe the drug, the withdrawal is bad but only should last a week and you will be just fine! Stop reading these blogs which only scare you which is exactly what you don't need to read at this point! I wish I never read these blogs.
Thanks for your email. I am glad you had an easy experience.
I am one of the 10-15% who experience a protracted withdrawal (> 1year) from Klonopin. There were months when it was close to unbearable at times. It has eased within the past few months, but progress is really slow.
However, it is quite interesting to read comments from those who were on Klonopin for long times who had minimal trouble getting off. Maybe it has to do with genetics.
I finished a 54 week tedious taper on January 18th 2016. It was one of the hardest things I've ever done. I had night terrors, vertigo, hot flashes as well as extreme anxiety, depression and constantly fixating on all the bad decisions I've ever made.
Now I'm off klonopin almost 2 months and feeling better but still not myself. It's not the worst, I can function but I'm a shell of the old self. I have no feeling, I confuse easily, I'm anxious, and just always uncomfortable in my skin. It's disappointing. The taper was tough. Who knew that a taper meant feeling horrible intermittently, without notice, for weeks on end?
. At this point, is this my fault ? Or could it still be klonopin? Absolutely no one I know could understand.
Hannahmaria, It is the klonopin. Don't blame yourself in the least. I have been trying to read as much as I can about this for 16 months, and from what I read, 15% of people who withdraw take more than a year to feel back to normal. I read that 2 women who took klonopin for 18 years each say that she didn't feel ok until 3 years had passed, although the symptoms got less and less over those 3 years. There are many, many people going through this.
Wow. Life is way too tough at times at best.
If clonaz helps shuffle you back to what works and feels best, take it. In the wise words of an older friend of mine: 'None of us get out of this world alive anyway.,
Yes, it can be truly awful. I have been working on this for 16 months. I have had to withdraw a great deal during that time because the way I act has been embarrassing. People misinterpret what I am going through and think it is illness, but it is not. It is entirely physiologic, not psychological.
You can read success stories on BenzoBuddies.org.
Don't be surprised if your doctor is completely flummoxed by what you are going through. Withdrawal effects are often misdiagnosed as other problems.
I found that 400mg magnesium/day helps. I also take 50mg P-5-P, which is a GABA precursor. GABA is the neurotransmitter that calms the nervous system. Some people do not produce enough GABA. I cannot be positive if these help, but I noticed a distinct improvement after taking them for 2-3 weeks. I get P-5-P from Purita'ns Pride.
Other than that, we simply need to wait until GABA receptors are replaced/repaired, but I agree, it is truly dreadful.
Thank you so much, Ann Sukys :-) I truly admire your long and continuing battle and for your referral to BenzoBuddies.org. Also for the tips about Magnesium. I like my G.P. but feel pressured by her as I do not want to come off them. So... I note with interest that you say GABA receptors can be eventually replaced or repaired, so if that's a "good" thing, then I suppose that's a reason for motivating me to discontinue. I'll have to find out about this GABA and P-5-P neither of which I know much about! I appreciate your comment very much.
You are very welcome. From just about everything I have read, everyone, with perhaps a very few exceptions (it is hard to tell), recovers. I have found that the least brutal way of doing this is to buy a jeweler's scale from Amazon (such as Horizon PRO-20A Digital Jewelry Scale, 20g by 0.001g), crush several 0.5mg tablets, and weigh out what is needed. Do not decrease more than 5-10% of the previous dose. Stay on the decreased dose for 10-14 days and then decide if you are ready for another decrease. If not, stay on the decreased dose until you are ready. You will probably need 0.5mg tablets rather than 1mg tablets because of the sensitivity of the scale. You will also need to do a calculation before weighing because a 0.5mg tablet actually weighs more than 0.5mg due to added binders, fillers, etc. Also, clonazepam is not soluble in water.
Instead of trying to dissolve it in water, simply suspend the crushed, weighed out amount in 1-2 tablespoons of water, swish the glass to suspend the powder, and drink right away. Hope all this helps.
I should add one more thing. If you decide to get a jeweler's scale and go slowly, note that this will be a long-term project. The jeweler's scale I mentioned started underweighing after several months. It is a good idea to have a back-up jeweler's scale for when this happens. I didn't and my guesswork really caused me a problem with withdrawal effects. I now have a back-up sale.
Thank you, again, Ann Sukys! :-) I feel a lot better after reading your replies. Yes, I'm still scared, but you're in your 60's, too, and you seem to be having success in this battle... and, thanks SO much for the encouragement! I have literature that I'll use as a jumping off point for the" discussion plan" my G.P. wants to lay out before me in my next appointment (but it has to be MY plan!) and she and I must have a very good talk. I shall try to be positive and think of all of this as a possibly difficult adventure that will be liberating if I'm successful. Why liberating? Because I want to feel that I can retire back to my native land and in 2016 it's uncertain that a new G.P. would feel comfortable about continuing to prescribe. I also can't live in fear that I'll run out if my present G.P.
is ill or something! Having experienced the horrible w/ds that we all know about, I don't want to feel a panicky apprehension every time I'm near the end of a script, in case I'm without... Is that a way to live? Unable to plan a vacation, spending hours searching for a miniscule teensy pill that fell into the dust bunnies, and, when I find it, to dust it off, swallow it anyway and breathe a sigh of relief at staving off the w/ds? Feeling a sort of humiliation having to ask the G.P. for another script as if I'm begging? Gosh, to be like this, so dependent - is that a life?
I've told the G.P. that I'll give it a "go." I will give it my best.
How silly is it (in the grand scheme of things!) that I'd like to spend my last years in the country of my birth, yet know that docs. there are pretty "conservative" and cautious when prescribing clonazepam etc. & I won't move back unless I am assured that a few would! I'm not free. Yes, I might not be able to do it, but I will try. Thanks SO much for your tips! I'm making notes for my G.P.
Scared99, You are very welcome. I am very happy to help and I wish you the best. Keep in touch as you go along.
You can also have your prescription compounded which is how how I got to 1/8th of a .5 mg dose. I tapered every two to three weeks and got from 1.5 mg to .75 and then the withdrawal symptoms of sweating headaches mania where too much and I had to stay at .75 for now. I also knew about the fans receptors but had no idea about how to get it back. Thanks for the tip of 5p5 and when I am ready to go back to completely weaning off I will look into this. This struggle has probably been one of the most difficult in my life
I agree that it is a huge struggle!
Have you been decreasing 1/8mg each time? I found that a decrease that large caused me problems.
I want to correct a mistake I made. P-5-P is not a GABA precursor, but is a form of vitamin B6 that is needed for GABA production.
For those who use Benadryl to treat the sleep problems that come with withdrawal from clonazepam, and who also notice that withdrawal is more difficult in the morning compared to the rest of the day -- you may notice that mornings become easier if you decrease or discontinue the Benadryl. Withdrawal is already a neurotransmitter problem (GABA) and Benadryl blocks another neurotransmitter, acetylcholine. The combination seems to make withdrawal more difficult in the morning. I decreased from 50mg to 25mg at night and just this small decrease made mornings much easier. I had a few less than good sleep nights, though.
I'm a bit late responding, sorry! I'm adding my own "cry" for help! I'm 66 and have been on clonazepam for 20 years (started at 0.25 and then was upped to 8 mg a day (I had huge familial stressors , big anxiety etc.). Over the past 10 years it's been tapered to 2 mgs per day. My G.P. has insists I come off them. I am to start tapering in 2 weeks' time. I am absolutely terrified. These 2 mg. may seem a lot, but if I miss for 2 days (if my G.P. is sick & I have no repeats) I go through such terrible withdrawal I'd rather die than go through it again. After the usual nausea, vomiting/dry heaves/balance problems/inability even to talk, my body seems to go into rigid lockdown, sweating is profuse etc. etc. I can't see the benefits of coming off. At this point I think my body is so used to them that it's like a maintenance dose, that my brain is now wired for clonazepam. I think the G.P.
is thinking of her own reputation, she cites the drug as adding to the danger of seniors a) falling b) emotional blunting and c) leading to dementia. But I have no balance problems, no dizziness, and my memory and brain are very sharp. I have a chronic painful illness I don't want to spend my last years suffering from rebound withdrawal (even if I DO taper slowly.) I don't see why I have to endure MORE suffering than I already have to deal with and the situations that were "causal" to the prescription initially, still obtain (a mentally ill child... ), etc. I have told her of this. She knows everything but it's not my decision to quit, it's hers, and other G.P's say they'd insist I quit also. Anything could make me fall or lose my marbles... I was actually vague & absent-minded as a child - not now. Please, can someone help? I do not think it's beneficial for me to stop. Thanks!
Scared99, I am 63 and have taken 3mg clonazepam for 18 years. You have been extremely successful already if you have gone from 8mg to 2mg. Really amazing! You definitely have willpower and determination. I started having balance problems after 16 years of taking clonazepam. For sure, I also had mental dulling, which has become apparent as my mind has cleared quite a bit as I am now on only 0.18mg. But, I really stopped because of the possible connection to Alzheimer's. I understand your situation, though, and also why you want to stay on it.
Hi. I've been on 1mg clonazepam as needed for at least eight years (I honestly don't remember). I only took it a few times a year for most of that time for anxiety attacks, but realized it helped me sleep, so I took it more often until I apparently became dependent on it... probably every few days for about a year, maybe a little longer. I told my psychiatrist (supposedly one of the best in town) how I was using it quite often and he said nothing, and kept doling it out like candy, which pisses me off. Anyway, I found out quite on accident in January that it was making me sick and I decided I would taper off of it. My psychiatrist set up a taper of .25 every two weeks (I told him it would be three weeks) and then off. The second visit after that he said I was going too fast and that "it wasn't a race", even though he's the one that set up the taper! I think it's pretty normal (albeit awful) to experience some withdrawals.
I've been scary anxious, had terrible insomnia, I've had flu symptoms, my muscles are weak, and I can't completely think right. Usually I'm ok for a day or two after a taper, then I feel pretty crappy for a few days and then it gradually gets bareable. It's usually about two weeks of less than ideal reality. After a few days of bareable I taper again. When I got to .5 I started tapering at .125 instead of .25. I'm at .125 right now and have been for almost three weeks. I went to my psychiatrist last week and he tried to tell me this could take over a year to get off of (um, no. I will not stay at this same dose feeling meh and not getting anywhere for even another month). It seems frankly ridiculous to stay on this crap for so long when it's doing nothing but effing up my life. He also said I probably needed to be medicated for the rest of my life, which is malarkey... I have occasional anxiety and have a good therapist and am improving my health otherwise. I feel like the meds are actually holding me back. I also feel like stupid psychiatrist man doesn't want to lose a client. Worst of all, when I went in to his office at the height of my insomnia and anxiety he said that all of my withdrawal symptoms were the problems I had before I went on the meds... which is ridiculous (and obviously b.s.) as I was NEVER this bad and certainly never for this long. I told him this and he actually said that anxiety and depression only get worse as we get older. What a wholly irresponsible, not to mention categorically UNTRUE, thing to say to a person that he is supposed to be helping and who is in the midst of a breakdown. Telling your psych patient that their life will only get worse is the crappiest thing you could say. The whole episode threw me for a loop. It had me second-guessing myself, which made me angry. Anyway, I guess I'm on my own... though I guess I was, anyway. His directive was to take the .125 for another month (I'm not doing that) and then just quit. Instead I'm going to take it for another week, even though I feel ok now, and then taper to. 06 until after I feel ok (probably another three weeks or so), and then I'm going to grit my teeth and quit. This whole thing has been extremely scary, and my flippant and cocky psychiatrist has made me feel like I can't trust his judgement... at the time I most need help. I'm really fortunate to have an awesome support system, otherwise. I'm just scared, too... scared it's going to be even worse when I finally quit and that I'll have issues for a long time. I wonder if others on here have successfully gotten off this stuff and are doing ok. There are a lot of horror stories out there, but I try to remind myself that I wasn't on a huge amount and not for that long, comparatively, and I feel like I've been going along at a slow enough pace. Hopefully this will all be better soon. Staying on it is not an option. Sorry for my rant/ramble. And thanks.
Chigrrl1098, I can definitely understand everything you say. Your symptoms sound very typical for clonazepam withdrawal, and I agree that withdrawal from clonazepam is truly dreadful. I have found that at this point, physicians do not have good information about the specific withdrawal symptoms. My doctor seems to be familiar with only 2-3 possible withdrawal symptoms and tends to worry that the rest are signs of other illnesses. In contrast, Wikipedia lists 74 documented withdrawal symptoms ('benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome' entry at Wikipedia).
Also, it is not possible to know if withdrawal symptoms are re-emerging previous symptoms. It has been shown that people who were prescribed clonazepam for muscle spasms show the same precise set of withdrawal symptoms as do people who were prescribed clonazepam for anxiety or sleep problems. The withdrawal symptoms of anxiety, etc. are entirely physiologic and not psychological and are part of what the nervous system goes through as receptors are repaired/replaced..
So, bear in mind that there are many going through this right now who understand what you are going through. You can read success stories at BenzoBuddies.org, I think. It is really good that your support system is strong. From what I read, everyone eventually recovers.
I did take it for anxiety, but really only had an episode that was bad enough 2 - 3 times a year. That's how I know it's the damn drug. I should have never used it to sleep, but my psychiatrist was well aware I was doing this... for at least a year or so. If he's the brilliant doctor he says he is, he should understand tolerance and withdrawal and the rest of it and should have tapered me off then, even if it meant he would lose a patient. He charges over $100 for 15 minutes; it's not like he'd go broke. His negligence and all of his non-helpful comments (telling an anxious or depressed person, at the height of a nervous breakdown, that not only will they never get better, but will most likely get worse, is pretty much malpractice, in my opinion. It's not factual, at all, and it seems a blatant attempt to keep me on drugs I really do not need) are main reasons why I have trust issues... that and all the years him and others just put me on stuff.
I've learned some hard lessons and am pretty much in a place where I don't want anything to do with psychiatry or even the regular pill-pushing doctors out there that want to give you a pill for every symptom. I have been seeing an integrative medicine doctor (who can and does prescribe medication if it is really necessary) and I have an excellent therapist and feel so much more comfortable with the more holistic route. I wish I'd figured this out sooner, but it is what it is. Good health habits can erase a lot of issues. It should be a great big "duh", but it's hard to believe that eating clean and exercising and other hippie juju stuff could be more effective for many than popping a pill. It's so much our culture in the US to just throw drugs at everything like it's the only answer to a serious problem. The immediacy of it makes it seem like a better option than therapy and other things, as those take awhile to work. We want to feel better yesterday. Truth is, a lot of people would probably be better off by putting the work in for quite awhile before considering drugs. That's my experience, anyway.
Funny thing is, I'm pretty much convinced at this point that if I can deal with clonazepam withdrawal anxiety, I can handle any other anxiety life throws at me, as what I've experienced in the past pales in comparison to this.
Anyhow, I will keep trucking along. Hopefully I will be off this completely within a month and can get back to my life. I've been feeling like crap since before January and I'd like to be able to enjoy my summer drug free and lucid and calm. Thanks for your response.
HAJLA; from what you are saying your only choice is to see your doctor as soon as possible of all the benzodiazepines this is the one that takes the longest time to get out of your system this is why it should be tapered off of. Get some help it's way to hard to just go cold turkey just as the previous post was saying you are going through some pretty bad withdrawals and it is not necessary.
For the past four months now I was taking klonopin but I stop taking it without seeing my doctor for some time now and the side effects is making my brain crazy I can't confused on am talking and always thinking and thinking in the night can't sleep any help
talk to your Doctor! You need help! You should not have to suffer like this!
I have been on Clonazapam for 6 years; I got Crohn's 6 years ago and it was diagnosed as being anxiety, so given C.
Big mistake. After 4 years I was finally accurately diagnosed. Now I have TERRIBLE restless leg syndrome. I've had RLS 57 years, but this is different; my normal treatments (walking, hot bath, more iron) don't do didly. So I am thinking C. is
my problem so I am, with the help of my psychiatrist, weaning off C. Does anyone else experience RLS with C? I was up to
1.5 mg or even more each night. It did not help me sleep. I now take 1 mg. but am not sleeping and RLS is still bothering me, but it has been only 2 days so I am optimistic.
Gail I don't have RLS but did have hand and body tremors when I started tapering clonzepam too fast earlier this year. I was also on 1.5 mg. Since August I have been tapering 1/8th every two weeks. I am now at .5 mg and am not having any symptoms. Good luck in your journey
Thanks platinum rose. I think tremors are similar to RLS but I had terrible RLS before I cut back on C. I saw my primary dr. today and he agreed with me that C. is probably increasing my RLS. He gave me a sleeping med that I used 50 years ago but it quit working as do most drugs after time. I hope to sleep tonight. Yet I am getting a lot done being up at night! But days are hard, being exhausted.
Hello Gail,
I was just wondering, have You tried drinking Tonic Water for the RLS ?
I was diagnosed with RLS about 4 years ago.Tried Mirapex and Requip with no luck.Then, the dr. suggested Clonazapam.I should have done my homework and read about it before starting to take it.I started on 1mg.Then 1.5 and now 2 mg.I started weaning myself 2 weeks ago and am down to 1.75.I am taking 2 magnesium glyceinate along with the C at night and plan to increase magnsium as I wean myself off. I ended up being admitted to the hospital 2 weeks ago when I tried to go from 2.0 to 1.5. I have very low blood pressure and my vision is blurry. This is not the way to live and I do sleep a little better with the magnesium but I have to take medication to increase my blood pressure and monitor it throughout the day. Good luck to all of us going through this hell. I am optimistic that one day I will be off of this awful stuff and find something different for my RLS. If anyone has suggestions, I'm desperate to find something else so that I can get sleep.
Roseheart, tonic water is taking quinine and it has never helped me; I've had RLS for 56 years and always knew what it was as my dad was an MD who also had it and knew what it was. so many drs did not know what it was years ago.
And, today I'm not sure C. has contributed to RLS as I am also on a steroid. Last visit, My GI said the steroid would worsen RLS. Anyway, C. does not do much for me after 6 years so I am weaning off it, slowly. I was on 1.5 mg at nighttime and am down to .5 mg, with no side effects so far, that I know. But maybe I'm acting crazy and don't know it!
Wow! I just finished reading every single post, comment and reply. Way new information for me and so glad I came on this question. I've been on clonazepam since I was 36 years old. 52 years old now. For years I was taking at most 5-mg's daily, then 9 years ago. Moved, new shrink. He was shocked I'd been on so much for so long. Put me down to 2-mg's nightly. Recently, I went 4-days without my dose because my prescription wasn't ready. By the 4th day I was in such a state of, what I now know to be derealization/dissociating. I went into a mental health crisis unit for four days. My pdoc explained it was due to the withdrawal of clonazepam. I got right back on 2-mg's and am staying put for now. I do want to get off of it because I now know the drug has a lot to do with my memory problems, and a lot more. I'm going to talk to my pdoc about starting the withdrawal process soon. I am scared but gotta give it a try. Thanks for all the good information and personal experience sharing
Do it in a hospital setting. This is a dangerous and horrific withdrawal (all mental) I went off of Ativan after around this many years, in a treatment center. For the 1st week they had me on phenobarbital to prevent seizures and then watched me like a hawk. I had symptoms for 2 years, altho they got less intense as time went by. ONLY go to a true expert. Really, be careful. It's bad enough with nurses watching you carefully. But at least that way you can count on being ok.
You need to go to a doctor! Your anxiety disorder is making you freak out. You're going to be ok. Good luck and go to the Dr... seriously!
Lillyk182 I had all the symptoms you had plus more. My body was foreign to me withdrawing the first time.
This time with the tapering I was on 1.5 mg. and now I am down to .75 mg with expected date to be off totally April of next year.
I know I can do this!
I feel the same way does it ever go away. I've been taking it for only a year. It only worked for a few months then my nuerologist said tell you pysch. to tapper you off of this. WHAT??? Ive gone through so much my brain feels so inflammed at times. I've also been diagnosed with sleep apena.
I'm only 5" and weigh 140'. One nightmare after another. I'm .25 of clonzapam and 25mg of doxipin. only get about two hours of sleep and if luck 3 hours at night. Im trying the amino acid approach to get myself off these drugs. But if my brain doesn't sleep more I don't know what will become of me. I feel like I'm fading fast. that just scares me...
I've been tapering off of Klonopin for a few months. I'm 25, female. The best advice is to watch videos. There are mannnnny people out there giving updates, and not everyone is the same. I was on 2mg for about 4 years and suddenly all of my caregivers said it was just now known to be bad in the long run. I'm glad I started tapering. It's been hell, but I'm excited to be me again. I've had headaches, nausea, numb hands, and the right side of my face goes numb and tingly. I also get really confused and forget what I'm doing. Sometimes I even see things in my peripherals and it makes me jump, when nothing is there. Loud sounds make my whole body cringe.
You're not alone!
Typical whatever you started taking Klonopin for in the first place will get worse once you stop or taper. Everyone has different symptoms. It's frustrating because you will want to give up and think you need it. This is normal, don't let it fool you. Keep strong and keep going!
Yes! I've had this, too. The depth perception problem. I found it so hard to drive, it looked like everything was coming at me. It made me so anxious. I'm off of it for about 2 months now after a year long taper.
How are you doing? Does it ever go away? I'm so sad and despondent. I hope these bad feelings subside in time.
I was on Klonopin for about 4 to 5 years I was on 2 mg for sleep and the doctor decided to stop me from taking Clonopin so she cut me down to 1 mg then half a milligram and then half of that A day. Now I have various symptoms of this withdrawal and my most symptom that I am concerned mostly about is my memory short-term memory problems and confusion. I am desperate to know if this is normal I think to myself that I have Alzheimer's disease and I can't shake this withdrawal I've been off of the large dose for about eight months now I would think after eight months I would be feeling somewhat better buti'm feeling so discouraged and sad I need help I know this is a long time ago this forum but if anybody out there can just let me know I would be so grateful
I felt that way too plus all the other maniac problems. Sometimes from what I have read it can take two years to taper down. From your post I think you tapered to fast. I am on 1 mg right now and had pills compounded. I am now take 1/8th of a dose less every two weeks with my last dose being next March . I just hope it works because I can't go through all the symptoms I had coming off it before. Good luck
I have taken 0.5mg (1 at night) of Klonopin for at least 12-13 years. I have decided, on my own, to wean myself off. I have tried cutting in half, but I guess I picked the wrong time because I had a lot going on. A couple of times I had to take the other 1/2 during the day. To help me thru it, I have Hyland's Nerve Tonic, Hyland's Calms Forte, and a small bottle of roll-on aromatherapy oil. I have only been weaning for one week, and I know I have a long way to go, but the doctor who kept me on it has passed away, and new docs are hesitant (or refuse) to prescribe any anxiety meds. So far, my withdrawal symptoms have been insomnia, which may be due in part to my hectic schedule this week, but I find myself feeling detached at times, and irritable... things that didn't bother me before now get on my last nerve. Sometimes I just feel jittery and nervous. I also have pain and stiffness, but I don't know if it's withdrawal or my fibromyalgia...
hard to tell the difference. So from reading the previous posts, I think I will try to stay with the 1/2 dose for a few weeks, then cut down to 1/4, and maybe 1/8 if I have enough to last that long. IF I get another Rx, it won't be until Nov. 7, so I'm hoping that I won't need it by then... but if I do, I will continue a gradual weaning. Thanks to everyone for the comments and info on your personal journey, it's good to know that I am not alone.
YOU are NOT alone... You are not Alone... I am 58 and In the same boat.. But I can not get anyone to help put me on a schedule that is safe... I have been on this for 15 years.. let us know how you are doing , I just found your post and i see its from 2012..
I was told by dr to wean off citalopram... which I did. Then I realized a sleep apnea dr put me on clonazepam for restless leg syndrome... I thought I was completely med-free until I looked up info on K... omg... worst drug ever and I'm weaning off it... hurried process by going from 1 mg to .5... seriously ... I have never wanted to be more dead! I'm going to wean off remaining .5 by quartering... how can this be? Drs are crazy to prescribe such meds for restless leg syndrome ...
I've been taking 2 blue klonipins and 1 50mg elavil every night for about 3 years because I can't sleep! Klonipins make me so much better but you're right about the u don't care symptom of this drug. I used to keep a clean house, cooked every night.I having WD now I ran out 6 days ago. I've slept maybe 4 hours this whole week. I have weird jerky feelings, very dizzy, falling over no sleep, . my ears are ringing so loudly I can't stand it. My middle to short term memory is off. I don't know whether to keep taking or not. My current Dr. Takes forever to renew a monthly refill. So I've been off.
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klonopin, anxiety, benzodiazepine withdrawal, insomnia, panic disorder, restless legs syndrome, sleep disorders, clonazepam, withdrawal, sleep
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