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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by SteelyDan on January 20, 2008, at 3:36:14
I have been on Benzos for 27 years and my new pdoc wants me to taper off Klonopin, honestly i'm scared to death to go off it. But the thing is i have developed tolerance to it so it really doesn't help anymore so it makes sense to go off it. But i'm also depentant on it after so many years. I would greatly appreciate any advice about how to get off of it, and is the withdrawel TERRIBLE?? That's what i'm afraid of.
Dan
Posted by Phoenix1 on January 20, 2008, at 3:36:15
In reply to My pdoc wants me to go off Klonopin..yikes!!!!, posted by SteelyDan on January 18, 2008, at 15:43:43
> I have been on Benzos for 27 years and my new pdoc wants me to taper off Klonopin, honestly i'm scared to death to go off it. But the thing is i have developed tolerance to it so it really doesn't help anymore so it makes sense to go off it. But i'm also depentant on it after so many years. I would greatly appreciate any advice about how to get off of it, and is the withdrawel TERRIBLE?? That's what i'm afraid of.
>
> DanSome suggestions:
1.) Klonopin is NOT the hardest benzo to quit as it has a very long half life, but some people do have trouble. Look at the Heather Ashton manual at benzo.org. She suggests switching to diazepam and then slowly slowly tapering. She has had considerable success, even with patients who have been on a benzo for as long as you have. I think this is a very humane way to taper off of benzos.
2.) The lyrica you are on has been studied in benzo withdrawal. It shows some promise and should help I think. Just don't get too tolerant or used to it's effects now, save it for withdrawal if you experience any. And then don't quit the lyrica too quickly because it has it's own discontinuation syndrome in my opinion. Most people say it's easier to quit lyrica than benzos but I have personally found the reverse to be true.
3.)Incidentally, I was on Klonopin varying from 3mg down to 1.5mg. I quit a week ago on my own by just going cold turkey. I don't think i experienced any withdrawal symptoms except a little bit of anxiety, but I think the Nardil helped. I was just finding Klonopin too depressogenic.
Anyways, I hope that's of some help.
Phoenix1
Posted by CareBear04 on January 20, 2008, at 3:36:15
In reply to My pdoc wants me to go off Klonopin..yikes!!!!, posted by SteelyDan on January 18, 2008, at 15:43:43
just my experience-- benzo withdrawal is unpleasant, but, for me, it passed fairly quickly. i'm sure you know, too, that it's much easier to taper off than to go cold turkey. at one point, i was taking a ton of klonopin including 6mg before bed in addition to sleeping meds. when i was hospitalized, the treatment team decided to discontinue the klonopin at once, and i was anxious beyond description and couldn't sleep for anything. the next attempt was also a pretty quick taper (.5 to 1mg less a night), but compared to the first experience, it wasn't so bad.
i'm at the same place as you-- i haven't been on benzos nearly as long, but i seem to develop tolerances very quickly, so i don't feel much relief after taking klonopin.good luck!
CB
Posted by SteelyDan on January 20, 2008, at 3:36:15
In reply to Re: My pdoc wants me to go off Klonopin..yikes!!!! » SteelyDan, posted by Phoenix1 on January 18, 2008, at 18:45:44
Thank you very much for the helpful information.
Dan
Posted by SteelyDan on January 20, 2008, at 3:36:15
In reply to Re: My pdoc wants me to go off Klonopin..yikes!!!! » SteelyDan, posted by CareBear04 on January 18, 2008, at 20:30:42
> just my experience-- benzo withdrawal is unpleasant, but, for me, it passed fairly quickly. i'm sure you know, too, that it's much easier to taper off than to go cold turkey. at one point, i was taking a ton of klonopin including 6mg before bed in addition to sleeping meds. when i was hospitalized, the treatment team decided to discontinue the klonopin at once, and i was anxious beyond description and couldn't sleep for anything. the next attempt was also a pretty quick taper (.5 to 1mg less a night), but compared to the first experience, it wasn't so bad.
> i'm at the same place as you-- i haven't been on benzos nearly as long, but i seem to develop tolerances very quickly, so i don't feel much relief after taking klonopin.
>
> good luck!
> CBThank you for responding..i appreciate your imput.
Dan
Posted by Phillipa on January 20, 2008, at 3:36:15
In reply to Re: My pdoc wants me to go off Klonopin..yikes!!!!, posted by SteelyDan on January 18, 2008, at 21:07:51
35 years benzos and cutting the valium down. Cut 2.5mg last two nights didn't notice a thing. Klonopin also depressed me. Good luck Dan. I'm with you all the way. Love Phillipa
Posted by SteelyDan on January 20, 2008, at 3:36:15
In reply to Re: My pdoc wants me to go off Klonopin..yikes!!!! » SteelyDan, posted by Phillipa on January 18, 2008, at 23:25:40
> 35 years benzos and cutting the valium down. Cut 2.5mg last two nights didn't notice a thing. Klonopin also depressed me. Good luck Dan. I'm with you all the way. Love Phillipa
Good for you!! Thank you for your support, you are a sweetheart!!
Dan
This is the end of the thread.
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