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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ultra on February 17, 2008, at 2:42:11
I was on 3 mg of Klonopin for a long time. Ive been taking it for too long. I cut my dose down to 2 mg. I do not want to use any other drug to help me wean! Does anyone have any idea how to cut my dose with minimal side effects? Its pretty difficult. By the way, thank you for being there for me. This site is the best. Links are helpful. You all are such great people!!
Posted by dbc on February 17, 2008, at 2:42:12
In reply to WITHDRAWAL, posted by ultra on February 16, 2008, at 18:22:17
Slowly reduce the dose by .5 every week or every other week untill you hit 0. All it takes is time.
Posted by ultra on February 17, 2008, at 2:42:12
In reply to Re: WITHDRAWAL, posted by dbc on February 16, 2008, at 18:35:50
I will try. Thank you very much =)
Posted by HSP Woman on February 17, 2008, at 2:42:12
In reply to WITHDRAWAL, posted by ultra on February 16, 2008, at 18:22:17
Hi Ultra,
I was on 3.0 mg of Klonopin, too. I titrated off VERY, very slowly.
Have you read the Ashton Manual?
Here's a link:
http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/
It was a lifesaver to me. I could not dry cut the pills small enough to not have TERRIBLE withdrawal effects.
So, following the Ashton method, I first crossed over to Valium (which has a much longer half-life). Then I slowly tapered off the Valium using the water titration method.
If you're interested in the water tapering method, just Google it and I'm sure you'll find a lot.
You could also do the water tapering with Klonopin without first crossing over to and equivalent amount of diazepam (Valium).
I joined the Yahoo Benzo Withdrawal Support Group as well.
Amazing people, full of knowledge and support.
I am now off 3.0 mg of Klonopin and 3.0 mg of Xanax. It took about a year, but I am off and doing better than ever.
Some people just need to take it very slowly. Others can taper down in less time and by just dry cutting the tablets into 1/4th.
Just listen to your body.
The pain does pass. Please don't hesitate to ask if you have any specific questions.
Posted by HSP Woman on February 17, 2008, at 2:42:12
In reply to WITHDRAWAL, posted by ultra on February 16, 2008, at 18:22:17
Ultra,
Here's a link to the Yahoo Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Support Group.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/benzo/
Here you can find the logic behind and how to do the water tapering method if need be.
Peace to you.
Posted by Phillipa on February 17, 2008, at 2:42:12
In reply to Re: WITHDRAWAL, posted by HSP Woman on February 16, 2008, at 19:36:08
Interesting my pdoc is an addictions specialist who writes for Jama etc and she's never heard of Heather Ashton. I just cut down on benzos when life is good. No side effects it just happens. Love Phillipa
Posted by ultra on February 17, 2008, at 2:42:12
In reply to Re: WITHDRAWAL, posted by HSP Woman on February 16, 2008, at 19:32:43
I'd rather not use another drug to help me wean. I do, however appreciate the input regarding the usefulness of it to wean. I may, at some point have to try it if the side effect prove to be too much. Klonopin is a powerful drug that is complicated to get off of. I will take every bit of advice and consider it. Thank you everyone. My doctor has no idea what its like. Thanks. =)
Posted by HSP Woman on February 17, 2008, at 2:42:13
In reply to Re: WITHDRAWAL » HSP Woman, posted by Phillipa on February 16, 2008, at 19:43:29
Oh Phillipa, you are one of the fortunate ones! : )
I took benzos for 18 years chronically. I had such terrible inter-dose withdrawals.
And, I reached tolerance very quickly!
Like I said, my withdrawal was painful, but much less so when I was able to decrease my dose my just 1-2% intervals instead of 12.5% by dry cutting.
Most doctors I talked to just said to decrease by 0.5 mg every week. That was way too fast for me! The doctors swore that my withdrawals weren't in fact withdrawals. Dr. Ashton's work reassured me that they were protracted withdrawals; I wasn't imagining things.
I wish I had been like you in that I could just cut down when life was good. My body couldn't tolerate NOT having the regular dose whether life was good or not.
I was only suggesting another possible tapering method.
I am convinced the only way I was successful at getting completely off benzos was because I could titrate so slowly by using the water titration method.
Fortunately, not everyone is so affected by benzos as I was.
Posted by HSP Woman on February 17, 2008, at 2:42:13
In reply to Re: WITHDRAWAL, posted by ultra on February 16, 2008, at 19:53:29
Crossing over to Valium is not really another drug to help you wean. It's just a way many, many people use to make your taper successful. It's also a benzo.
But, I also know a lot of people that taper using the water method without changing first to a longer acting med.
If your dry-cutting becomes too intolerable, the water titration method may be really helpful.
Hang in there!
Posted by Phillipa on February 17, 2008, at 2:42:13
In reply to Re: WITHDRAWAL, posted by HSP Woman on February 16, 2008, at 19:56:10
I am on valium now. But benzos for 35 years and started on higher doses. Have been benzo and totally med free for years at times. Right now stress is bad. Love Phillipa
Posted by HSP Woman on February 17, 2008, at 2:42:13
In reply to Re: WITHDRAWAL » HSP Woman, posted by Phillipa on February 16, 2008, at 20:02:24
I do hope you feel better soon, Phillipa.
Posted by ultra on February 17, 2008, at 2:42:13
In reply to Re: WITHDRAWAL » HSP Woman, posted by Phillipa on February 16, 2008, at 20:02:24
I have been coming to this site for a long time. Phillipa is always there for everyone. Thank you, Phillipa. I struggle with the unfortunate effects of so many disorders. We all here are asking questions and helping others. Phillipa will no doubt be there whenever I post. This is hands down the best place to be when I am hungry for peer advice. Thank you ALL from the bottom of my heart. =)
Posted by Phillipa on February 17, 2008, at 2:42:13
In reply to Re: WITHDRAWAL, posted by ultra on February 16, 2008, at 20:09:03
What a lovely thing to say. You've warmed my heart. I know at times I have no real advise but want the poster to know I care about them. Thanks so much and Love Phillipa
Posted by bleauberry on February 17, 2008, at 2:42:13
In reply to WITHDRAWAL, posted by ultra on February 16, 2008, at 18:22:17
Slow and easy in tiny increments is the best way to withdraw from any drug in my personal experience. It does take more time, but is so much less traumatic on the body, mind, and daily living.
I don't know what your pills or capsules look like. What you need to do is figure out how to reduce the dose by about .25mg per step. Stay at each new step a week or two before moving to a lower step.
I also find the alternating dose schedule very helpful. That is, go down to a new lower dose for a couple days, then back to the original dose, then back down to the lower dose again, stay there a bit, then go down to a lower step for a couple days, back up to the previous step, and so on. Kind of like a see-saw effect, down some, back up but not as much, down some more, back up but not as much. Though the doses are up and down a little bit, the overall trend is down. This gives the brain and body a start on adjusting to the new lower dose, as well as some relief during the whole process to allow some healing and comfort to happen while temporarily at the higher dose for a day.
For me withdrawing from zyprexa was much harder than withdrawing from xanax. I used these strategies to do it. Basically, small steps, spend as much time at each new step as you need to get enough confidence to move down more, and use the alternating see-saw effect when going to a lower dose.
Posted by dbc on February 17, 2008, at 2:42:14
In reply to Re: WITHDRAWAL, posted by bleauberry on February 16, 2008, at 20:47:01
Bringing up anything related to sshton seems to create problems on a lot of psyche boards. I've seen and participated in far to many flame wars over that woman. Not to say im going to on here because i wouldnt.
Im just saying the subject causes problems.
Posted by Phillipa on February 17, 2008, at 12:10:54
In reply to Re: WITHDRAWAL, posted by dbc on February 17, 2008, at 2:42:14
Happens here too. I feel our docs use more benzos than the Uk and have different thoughts on them. Maybe as blueberry said the ap's are harder to wean off was never on one. I will stick with benzos old now so doesn't matter. Love Phillipa
Posted by cactus on March 25, 2008, at 5:11:28
In reply to WITHDRAWAL, posted by ultra on February 17, 2008, at 2:42:11
Ultra please don't dismiss the valium cross over when you get lower on clonazepam (klonopin/rivotril). Because clonazepam is so strong it can get difficult to cut the pills small enough, that's when valium can take over. It comes in lower doses and it's easier to split. Don't worry about it seeming like a higher dose milligram wise at first if you decide to switch, but when you check out a benzo equivalency chart, you'll understand that's how most people get off benzo's, by switching to valium. It has a longer half life and makes it smoother in the final stages. I hope that was helpful. Good luck, I've just made it down to 5mg of clonazepam a day and I'll definitely switch back to valium for my final taper. It's a slow process.
This is the end of the thread.
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