Posted by zero on February 9, 2006, at 1:22:02
In reply to Re: Any good meds to use during KLONOPIN withdrawal??, posted by Sandi L. on February 9, 2006, at 0:28:05
First, use the Benzo.org strategy of switching slowly from your .5mg/day of Klonopin to 10mg/day of Valium (equivalent dose).
Once comfortable on the 10mg/day Valium, lower to 9mg/day Valium for 3 weeks or a month, then to 8mg/day... etc. Taper down on the Valium as fast as you feel comfortable doing.
Use 2mg tablets of Valium and break in half (they're scored) to get 1mg.
Go faster at the start, then really slow taper at the end.
Then, when down to about 2mg/day Valium, introduce brand name Tegretol, 200mg/day for a few days, then as you come off the Valium, add another 200mg Tegretol (maxing at 400mg./day Tegretol). The Tegretol should "cover" a lot of the physical symptoms of benzo withdrawal, plus stop panic attacks.
Continue using the Tegretol as long as you feel you need it, then slowly taper off (easy to do - no withdrawal).
Valium has a longer half-life than Klonopin, comes in tiny-dose 2mg pills, and is non-depressing.
Adding Tegretol after a fast and very ugly Valium taper (15mg/day Valium to zero in 3wks.), made my life completely manageable - almost all benzo withdrawal symptoms were lifted.
There are a lot of PubMed citations on using Tegretol in benzo withdrawal (PubMed search on "benzodiazepine withdrawal +Tegretol")
This, from my experience - everyone is different - hope it helps.
Good luck!
z.
poster:zero
thread:599201
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20060117/msgs/607868.html