Posted by Phoenix1 on January 18, 2008, at 18:45:44 [reposted on January 20, 2008, at 3:36:15 | original URL]
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
poster:Phoenix1
thread:807866
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20070929/msgs/807867.html