Posted by stjames on September 23, 2000, at 3:23:23
In reply to Klonopin Addiction- self treatment, posted by Aaron G on September 22, 2000, at 19:39:53
Along with Snowie's good ideas I would say take it slow. The is no need to be in a hurry and if done properly you will do fine. I would reduce
by ~ .5 to 1 mg a month, so it will take at least 6-12 months. Further, spread out the reduction of .25 mg a week also. Like first few days of the week reduce by .125, then .125 more last days of week. I weaned myself off Xanax and valuim b4, what you want to avoid, esp at first, is feeling any hint of withdrawal. Very destressing, scary.
If at first you feel ANY difference revise you schedule down. You could eval you progress after 2 months with your doc and see if you can reduse faster. If it were me I would consider 6 months a min, reguardless. If you will take it real slow you will never notice anything.There is another issue here, probebly one of the reasons your doc is not so happy about this idea. You bi polars are very tricky and sensitive. The Klonipin is treating some part of your mood/cycling, esp at 6 mgs. You will need to find something else to take its place. No, you cannot just continue with you other meds and do fine ! Sorry. It would help to identify what the Klonipin is treating, i.e., cyclying, getting to sleep, ect, so you can try another class of meds to treat this and add it as you taper the klonipin.
So go back to you doc and run this plan by him.
1) Do the taper as slow as your doc would like.
His choice of time (got to let doc's make some of the desicions) 2) Consider other meds to treat the issues Klonipin does. 3) do a low dose trial of these meds to see if there are any with side effects you can deal with or hopefully none.Would you answer some ? It will help us give you tips.
How do you cycle ? Rapid, ect
Is depression an issue and how low do the depressions go?
What other meds are you on now, do they work, and is there anything in the past that has worked; why did you stop ?
What is it you do not like about Klonipin ?One other issue. Shame on you for stopping cold turkey. You were not just playing with fire, it was a thermonuclear rection you were messing with ! No doc is going to OK stopping a med if you continue this behavior. Sorry for the rant and I am really glad you are OK. Seizures are no fun, I know. I, too, have done some things with meds that was equally as foolish as your cold turkey and I am sure many others have on the list. So you are not alone in this, learn from it.
Also forget self treatment, you MUST do this with a doc.
James, and his straight dope.
(also on steriods again, so a little cranky)
poster:stjames
thread:45085
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000905/msgs/45106.html