What is Panic Attacks
A panic attack is a period of intense fear or discomfort, typically with an abrupt onset and usually lasting no more than thirty minutes. Symptoms include trembling, shortness of b...
Join Now
|
Tapering off clonazepam
|
Watch this |
| View More Posts Ignore |
I've been taking 1mg of clonazepam every night for a good while now. Like a year and a half or 2 years. Before that I took it just for panic attacks (about 3 times a week). I did that for about 6 or 7 years. It was no prob back then to not take it. I'd go a month without sometimes. The last 2 years has been the worst though! The panic was so bad when I started taking it daily! I am actually prescribed to take it twice a day. I know better though! Eventually docs arnt going to want to prescribe it at all. Not just that but we are talking about an addictive drug here. Over time your body grows immune to it and you need more. I've experienced that and I've only been on it 2 years.
So what I'm planning to start tonight is breaking my 1mg into 4 pieces and taking 3 of them. That way to cut down by a 4th. I'm VERY scared to though! I CANT sleep without the clonazepam and that just makes me even more paniced the next day! But I have to try! If I can just get myself back to just taking it for a panic attack, then I'll be happy. I used to not even take it for every panic attack. I'd try (and alot of times succeed), and get through it without. I'd love to get back to that! I know your mostly strangers to me but, please, WISH ME LUCK!!!! What is some advice you can give me for this? Posted on 09/23/09, 10:09 pm |
| 6 Replies | Add Your Advice |
| View More Posts Ignore |
Wishing you luck......What you plan on doing sounds to be the right thing, breaking into 4 and taking 3. But Please dont do as I did...I Tried to stop taking the Klonopin,,and I thought that I was doing it gradually,,but I thought wrong. This med has to be tapered off of very very slowly. It is a great med for anxiety and I'm seeing more and more doctors give it to their patients. Yes it is addicting,,but as long as it helps,,its worth taking. I take a high dose of it daily,,and know my body and mind is addicted,,but it helps keep the anxiety at bay, better and longer than any other anxiety meds that I've been on... Wish you the best at lowering your dosage. 
|
|
|
|
||
| View More Posts Ignore |
Thank you! Yes I know its good to take for the anxiety. I just think that for me, I'd be fine to tapper off and take it just when I'm feeling a panic attack comming on. I've been doing alot of CBT and while I do have a long way to go, I'm doing ALOT better than I was! I think I can tapper off and just take it for panic attacks.
Lastnight I did fine. I took the 1/4th less. I still slept good and I feel fine right now. I'm going to keep a journal of how I'm doing. Anybody that wants to watch my prgress can. Thank you HighAnxiety! I wish you the best too! In your everyday! -Nikki
|
|
|
|
||
| View More Posts Ignore |
I didn't know clonazepam is addictive. I have it but only take it when I really have to, usually I try and ride out my panic attacks. But if I have to go into the city or something, I take it and it helps me.
For a while I was told to take it 3 times a day and did. then when I started feeling better, I stopped taking it again. (I'm the one with the doctor who says to just stop taking something, no tapering off advise at all) so how many of these drugs aren't addictive? And if they are addictive, why are the docs prescribing them to us? As if we aren't having enough fun dealing with agoraphobia.
|
|
|
|
||
| View More Posts Ignore |
Benzodiazapines are addictive. Xanax, ativan (lorazepam), clonazepam, Valuim. Stuff like lexapro and paxil arnt addictive. They say they arnt anyway. My idea of addictive is when your taking something and its hard comming off of it. Its hard comming off of lexapro and paxil too. Its just not as dangerous. But if you need to take something, you need to. Theres no shame in that. And it is possible to be taken off of this stuff and be just fine. Just on a schedual. Your doc has to put you on a tappering schedual. I just want to get back to taking the clonazepam as needed. Right now I've been taking it at night for so long, I dont get sleepy without it. Cant sleep at all. But I went down a fourth lastnight and slept fine. Like I said though, I'm keeping a journal about it daily to see how it goes.
I think taking a benzo like clonazepam "as needed" like a few times a week or less is ok. I did that for like 4 or 5 years before and did just fine the entire time. Yes we are just so lucky to have this crap arnt we???
|
|
|
|
||
| View More Posts Ignore |
I wish you all of the luck. I have been tapering off of Xanax since June and I only have .125 to go! YAY! It's been really difficult..but well worth it. I suggest you taper under the guidance of a doctor, specifically a psychiatrist as tapering off of benzo's can be and is very difficult. Don't lost hope! It will take some time, tears, dread, fear, sleeplessness, but you will get there. Don't lose site of your goal and realize that every time you taper..you will feel like poo for a couple of weeks until you stabilize once again. Just don't taper down too quickly...give your brain the time to stabilize! I'd say come down a 1/2 mg a month. Let me know how it goes! I am here for you!
|
|
|
|
||
| View More Posts Ignore |
i've been tapering/weaning off of xanax, lexapro, lamictal, & klonopin for over a year now, have def. had some bumps....go sloooow, i've had to strictly follow that as getting off ativan too quickly is why the drs put me on xanax & klonopin, yuck! Anyways, i just have .125 of xanax left and 25 mg of lamictal (lamictal is a VERY hard drug-for me personally to get off of). I have felt better off of the klonopin & lexapro (mentally) :) this last bit of xanax has been the hardest, (i was at 1 mg a day a year ago) it was pretty easy until this last bit, i've tried cutting my .125 in half twice now but had very weak legs, anxiety, insomnia, etc. so i shall give my body a little longer to adjust.
ps. a great website is beyondmeds.com....VERY good info about getting off of psychiatric drugs here. Best wishes and i KNOW we can do this. One of the hardest parts for me has been the physical illnesses over the past year (and i am normally a healthy 28 year old woman) but coming off of four psychiatric drugs is not a piece of cake & its good to get info on how to do it right.
|
|
|
|
||
| Add Your Advice |
