Posted by cache-monkey on April 16, 2008, at 11:35:58
In reply to Help/pointers in reducing Klonopin, posted by SteelyDan on February 4, 2008, at 23:04:40
I've been trying to reduce benzos for the last 3 years. On the Klonopin, I was essentially in the same boat: cut the dose, freak out, go back up.
For me it's been slightly easier since switching to Valium. My anxiety still escalates after a dose reduction, and I still get muscle stiffness and aches. But it doesn't seem to come on as fast.
That being said, it still sucks. The worst seems to be about after a week and then it gets gradually better. I think the most frustrating thing is that the on-set of the bad stuff is much quicker than the time it fades away. It took me about 5 after weaning from 20 to 15 mg to finally not be aware that something was missing. I.e. no more muscle pain, back to baseline anxiety.
So, unfortunately, it seems (for me) to be just a matter of toughing it out and telling myself that it's going to be temporary, although a very long temporary.
One thing that helped me tremendously was Tegretol. After an initial adjustment period of oddly increased anxiety, Tegretol took away the muscle pain, insomnia/poor quality sleep, and the edge of panic. Unfortunately, I went completely allergic to Tegretol, and had to re-up my benzos because of the quick discontinuation of the T. But my sense was that it really would have made tapering a whole lot easier.
Good luck,
cache-monkey> I take 3 mgs. of klonopin daily for anxiety. My problem is that i think it is causing my depression. My goal is to reduce it down to 2 mgs. a day,(slowly of course) and then maybe further. My problem is every time it try to reduce it .50 mgs., or .25 mgs a week i feel like crap, get frustrated and go back up to the initial 3 mgs. I am very frustrated, any help will be greatly apprecciated. I am also on remeron and effexor.
>
> Dan
poster:cache-monkey
thread:810772
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