Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Support Group
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) describes a sense of exhaustion and post-exertion malaise, even when you have gotten enough rest and sleep. The disease is characterized by six months of incapacitating fatigue experienced as profound exhaustion and extremely poor stamina, and problems with concentration and short-term memory. The cause is unknown, but it is a...
I told you guys that I was tapering off of Klonopin (the generic form) I think back in Jan. Because of the way ME/CFS (SEID) has so many symptoms and they are result of CNS be affected, the WD from benzo is not unlike it. It affects the CNS and the side effects from withdrawal are basically the same. I have not really experience any WD and how would I know the difference. I don't have an anxiety/panic attack or phobias. A couple of times experience diarrhea which is something I don't have. I am 38.98% off of 3mg with a dose of 1.68 mg for the day split into three doses.
My mid June I will hit my half-way mark and still projected I will be jumping off the drug in late November. I have not experience any severe swaying motion (vertigo) is the reason I went on it. I hope that this continue through the taper and when completely off Klonopin. I told you my reasons for getting of the drug was it was doing more harm than good. I also built a tolerance to the drug. This is my personal choice and I do follow a liquid tapering plan. Only hard part is because my right arm/shoulder may have a pinch nerve, shaking bottles to fix med is hurting me but I bare through it. Have EMG test schedule for this Tuesday. Will update again closer to the last half in August. I hope you all are enjoying this beautiful day :)
My mid June I will hit my half-way mark and still projected I will be jumping off the drug in late November. I have not experience any severe swaying motion (vertigo) is the reason I went on it. I hope that this continue through the taper and when completely off Klonopin. I told you my reasons for getting of the drug was it was doing more harm than good. I also built a tolerance to the drug. This is my personal choice and I do follow a liquid tapering plan. Only hard part is because my right arm/shoulder may have a pinch nerve, shaking bottles to fix med is hurting me but I bare through it. Have EMG test schedule for this Tuesday. Will update again closer to the last half in August. I hope you all are enjoying this beautiful day :)
So it sounds like you haven't had many or any withdrawal symptoms?
I want to lower my dosage so your withdrawal is very important to me.
I am on a Benzo called Tranxene! It's an old drug. Lots of people are not familiar with it. It has been replaced by Ativan and Xanax and some of the newer Benzos. When they tried to taper me off of Tranxene to get me on Ativan, I had a terrible withdrawal experience. The panic attacks and severe anxiety were the worst part of it. They upped the dosage on the Ativan to get me through the Tranxene withdrawal. So, you see, even going from one Benzo to another, can cause withdrawal.
Klonopin is a strong, yet often prescribed drug. Getting off it is very, very hard. You are doing a great job! If you are not having anxiety and panic and are able to sleep then your doctor is doing his job well. It sounds like if you keep tapering the way you are, you will be able to come off it just fine!!
I wish you the best! xo
@hollie9: I got your message and replied back today.
So glad to run into you on this forum and can't wait to lessen my dosage.
I was on Klonopin for 6 years and tried many times to get off. I finally got off by cutting really slowly. Took me 2 years to taper off completely but despite going super slow I had very intense symptoms. The roughest part was the last 1/4 dosage. I had to start cutting much more slowly.
Klonopin definitely made my cfs symptoms much worse, so coming off it helped.
Hope the rest of the taper goes smoothly for you.