[kimber1234]

My doc is taking me off of benzos (Klonopin/xanax) after at least 15 years of being on them for anxiety. Anyone experience withdrawal before? I'd love to hear coping mechanisms.

[loophole]

Sigh.... Klonopins... 4 years 4 mg a day.... Way too much.... I really didn't find a way to cope other then the fact I was in iop during withdrawal time... Otherwise I wouldn't of been able to do it and work at the same time. Good luck and I hope it goes better for you then it did me. Feel free to pm if you want...

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[~Christina]

What kind of a taper schedule has your Doctor given you? Are you taking any supportive meds to help you get through transistion off them?

[*Laurie*]

My p-doc is weaning me off Klonopin. I've been on 2mg/day for 20 years, except for 1 year in which I withdrew myself from the K-pin too quickly (over about 5 weeks) and became so very sick (weak, nausea, exhaustion, terrible insomnia). I was ill that entire year and ended up going back on Klonopin.

Right now I'm taking 3/4 of a pill in the morning and 1 pill before bedtime. My p-doc assures me that we will take my withdrawal slowly, but I sense she's pressuring me to go faster than I'm comfortable with and that REALLY concerns me. I'd like to take a full year or even 18 months to come off the K-pin - maybe even the very last bit an additional 6 months (so 2 full years). But benzos have fallen very out of popularity, so doctors are hell-bent on getting their patients off benzos, especially Klonopin.

[Ripose]

For lots if information, methods and support stories try http://www.benzobuddies.org/

[raspberrytorte]

I'm tapering off of 4mg of clonazepam right now, going down .5mg each week. I was going faster and ahead of schedule, but I started feeling really sick, so I'm kind of going up and down. Like this is my 3mg week, but today I only took two.

I know it's just going to get worse, the further down I go. With her schedule she had me stopping with .5mg on the last week, but I added a .25mg week.

It's hard, but I just want off this stuff!

She's replacing it with vistaril and propranolol. I'm not sure if I like vistaril yet. It does help my anxiety, but makes me feel weird and out of it.

Do you have a taper schedule or replacement meds?

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by raspberrytorte

I'm tapering off of 4mg of clonazepam right now, going down .5mg each week. I was going faster and ahead of schedule, but I started feeling really sick, so I'm kind of going up and down. Like this is my 3mg week, but today I only took two.

I know it's just going to get worse, the further down I go. With her schedule she had me stopping with .5mg on the last week, but I added a .25mg week.

It's hard, but I just want off this stuff!

She's replacing it with vistaril and propranolol. I'm not sure if I like vistaril yet. It does help my anxiety, but makes me feel weird and out of it.

Do you have a taper schedule or replacement meds?

Your very clear taper schedule sounds like a good way to come off Klonopin.

I also take Inderal (propanolol). I've been taking 10mg 2 times/day, but my p-doc has urged me to take an additional 10mg, or even more. It works well for anxiety, with no side effects that I've noticed.

Is your doctor giving you an extended taper-down plan? I'm talking a few months.

I have used hydroxyzine/Vistaril 25-50 mg for anxiety for a benzo taper.

You'll probably need a med (antidepressant or something, depending on what your diagnoses are) that will help you sleep, too.

I have done a too-fast taper before with no support for anxiety. I had a year of panic attacks and sensitivity to brights lights and noise. It was very unpleasant. Coping mechanisms during that one: yoga, dark glasses and earplugs, staying at home a lot.

[Luctor]

I was introduced to benzo withdrawals when I was taking 1mg clonazepam and 1mg alprazolam everyday for just a month. I stopped taking both rather abruptly, when I realised I was getting reliant on them. It was an unpleasant experience.

Just remember that for every day that passes you're one day closer to being in the clear. I'm sure if you taper properly your experience won't be as unpleasant as those who stop suddenly.

I see some of you mentioning propanolol. I was on it when I experienced one of teh worst panic attacks I've ever had. Was so weird. Even my pdoc had a hard time believing it.

[kimber1234]

Originally Posted by ~Christina

What kind of a taper schedule has your Doctor given you? Are you taking any supportive meds to help you get through transition off them?

Unfortunately I have no anti-anxiety meds on board other than the Klonopin. I see a lot of people recommending propranolol. I see my pdoc today and hope that we can have this discussion. We are trying to taper me down on my seroquel quickly. Doing too many things at once is a little dangerous, but I need to be set (at least comfortable) with my new regime before August 31 when I begin teaching again. Luckily the taper off klonopin goes through the end of Sept. so it's slow.

[raspberrytorte]

Originally Posted by LauraBeth

Your very clear taper schedule sounds like a good way to come off Klonopin.

I also take Inderal (propanolol). I've been taking 10mg 2 times/day, but my p-doc has urged me to take an additional 10mg, or even more. It works well for anxiety, with no side effects that I've noticed.

Yeah. So far it's working out okay, as long as I keep to the taper. I was a little overzealous in the beginning because I just wanted to get the whole thing over with.

The propranolol works out well for me too, except I have to take at least 30mg for it to work (can take 30mg a day). The vistaril only works if I take 75mg of it. I must have a high tolerance to anti-anxiety medications or something.

[~Christina]

For long term ( months and certainly years) Benzo people there is a huge risk for seizures, Many Pdocs prefer to do a IP detox, where you are being monitored 24/7 and medications can be given to help cover you so that you do not have seizures and you can find something to manage with the rebound anxiety or deal with Insomnia.

[loophole]

I did cold turkey during iop... It was horrific.. No joke.. But I stuck with it because I knew there was no way I could do it while working and I wanted off them badly

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