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*Beth* · Oct 07, 2020, 08:26 PM

Thank you, Fuzzy, for starting this thread. I am grateful to you for providing a place for information and support.

So, my clonazepam (Klonopin) story.

I was initially prescribed Klonopin in 1990 for anxiety. At that time, I was told that the medication was an entirely safe anxiolytic, an "upgraded valium". The belief was that any time a patient wanted to stop taking it, no problem. Just stop.

I was on Klonopin for about a year and it was really helpful with lowering anxiety. I stopped taking it because SSRI's were becoming popular as both anti-depressants and anti-anxiety meds. I started taking an SSRI.

Then some years later (I was around 37) someone prescribed Klonopin for me and I was fine with that. It was helpful for 2 or 3 years, but I had to increase the dose for the med to remain effective.

Around that time mental health providers came down hard on benzos because of the potential for dependence and/or abuse. It was a huge change, and definitely not what I had been told by my first prescriber.

Twice I tried to stop taking Klonopin. The first time I tried to stop it over a 1 month period. I was so ill that I couldn't walk from my bedroom to my car in the driveway; my legs were so shaky and I felt so sick. I gave up and went back on the Klonopin.

The second time I tried to stop over a period of a year. I shaved tiny bits off each tablet. So bit by tiny bit I managed to get down to 1mg, then to 1.5 mgs. At that point I started having severe anxiety. I don't know if the anxiety was from titrating the K-pin down, but I decided it wasn't the best time to continue with my withdrawal.

Yesterday I spoke with my pdoc and told her that I would like to come off Klonopin. I know that my body is dependent upon it, but that it isn't doing anything beneficial for my mental health anymore, and hasn't for many years.

I am so lucky because my pdoc is supportive and has come up with a plan for me. What I'll be doing is choosing 1 day of the week and, on that day, I will take my usual 1mg. A.M. dose, but will take only 3/4 of my (usual) 1mg. bedtime dose.

I'll see how I feel during that week. For the first month I'll reduce the amount by only 1/4 per week. And so on from there.

It will be slow, but it's a start. I have hope that - even if it takes 5 years - I will eventually be able to stop taking a benzo.