 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
Medical Forum / General / Pharmacy / September 2005Clonazepam reduction / withdrawal ?
Clonazepam I have been on Clonazepam for the past 15 months at this dosage per day for panic attacks/anxiety: .05mg. @ 11a.m.~12p.m. .05mg. @ 6p.m.~7p.m. .05mg. @ 2a.m.~3a.m. On 7/7/05 I began to taper to: .05mg. @ 11a.m.~12p.m. .05mg. @ 6p.m.~7p.m. .025mg. @ 2a.m.~3a.m. And had a slight panic attack on 7/10/05 and have been more anxious several times each day since however the worst seems after each .05mg. dose (about 4 hours after taking them). I also have muscle aches (although I was diagnosed with Fibromyalagia 5 years ago) and a tight feeling in my stomach. I have been on many various medications for: panic/anxiety/depression/fibromyalagia over the past 20 years. Other than the "Ashton Method" is there a better way to accomplish this discontinuation? What amount, which dose of the day, for how long of time and when should I make the next reduction? I was thinking of reducing the morning or afternoon dose to .375 mg. and leaving the remaining doses at .05 mg. And .025 mg. for 2 or 3 weeks and then reduce again one the doses by .0125 mg. hoping to completely quit the medication and see if the panic returns. If so, I would then try .025 mg. twice a day, to see if that would be of any benefit. I have read so many horror stories and have tried to research this myself and am totally confused as what to do. My present doctor may not agree with my wish to try and quit the Clonazepam and I fear a total discontinuation of prescriptions. Should I see a neurologist, addiction specialist, psychoparmacologist, or? I have reduced and discontinued other medications before but this one has me terrified and would sincerely appreciate suggestions, recommendations or advice. I am fairly new to Dallas, Texas and have no idea of how to find a medical doctor who totally understands this situation and would also have the compassion and knowledge on this subject. Thank you in advance. Correction: Clonazepam I have been on Clonazepam for the past 15 months at this dosage per day for panic attacks/anxiety: .5mg. @ 11a.m.~12p.m. .5mg. @ 6p.m.~7p.m. .5mg. @ 2a.m.~3a.m. On 7/7/05 I began to taper to: .5mg. @ 11a.m.~12p.m. .5mg. @ 6p.m.~7p.m. .25mg. @ 2a.m.~3a.m. And had a slight panic attack on 7/10/05 and have been more anxious several times each day since however the worst seems after each .05mg. dose (about 4 hours after taking them). I also have muscle aches (although I was diagnosed with Fibromyalagia 5 years ago) and a tight feeling in my stomach. I have been on many various medications for: panic/anxiety/depression/fibromyalagia over the past 20 years. Other than the "Ashton Method" is there a better way to accomplish this discontinuation? What amount, which dose of the day, for how long of time and when should I make the next reduction? I was thinking of reducing the morning or afternoon dose to .375 mg. and leaving the remaining doses at .5 mg. And .25 mg. for 2 or 3 weeks and then reduce again one the doses by .125 mg. hoping to completely quit the medication and see if the panic returns. If so, I would then try .25 mg. twice a day, to see if that would be of any benefit. I have read so many horror stories and have tried to research this myself and am totally confused as what to do. My present doctor may not agree with my wish to try and quit the Clonazepam and I fear a total discontinuation of prescriptions. Should I see a neurologist, addiction specialist, psychoparmacologist, or? I have reduced and discontinued other medications before but this one has me terrified and would sincerely appreciate suggestions, recommendations or advice. I am fairly new to Dallas, Texas and have no idea of how to find a medical doctor who totally understands this situation and would also have the compassion and knowledge on this subject. Thank you in advance. Is staying on Klonopin a thing that you can not still do? Or perhaps, discontinue it daily with something like the Hazeldon Protocol of clonidine and phenobarb and then use it only prn? Just a thought.  SignaturePatrick Patrick H. Mason MS, OHST, EMT-I A delusion shared by many is a culture; shared by some is a cult; shared by 2 is love; but a delusion held by one is psychosis. > Correction: > [quoted text clipped - 48 lines] > > Thank you in advance. it seems to be a matter of trying to see if i can live without any chemical - i do not like the idea that i always have to concern myself about having pills with me - and then being assured of getting another prescription. also i worry about being put into any situation without having any and going into sever withdrawal or seizures. thank you for the reply and information as it is greatly appreciated. I think you need to find a qualified, patient, open-minded and undersanding physician. The American Psychiatric Association has guidelines for benzodiazepine withdraw, involving the use of phenobarbital. The Ashton method (www.benzo.org.uk) is quite different. I personally believe the Ashton method is preferable, since it is backed up by a lot of clinical experience. But, this is for you and your physician to work out. Good luck. > Clonazepam > [quoted text clipped - 46 lines] > > Thank you in advance. > I think you need to find a qualified, patient, open-minded and undersanding > physician. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > method is preferable, since it is backed up by a lot of clinical experience. > But, this is for you and your physician to work out. Good luck. I was never able to withdraw from 1.0mg taken over 12 years. I tapered ever so gradually in a decremental (cut the pill) way; After a year and a half I had a stroke and a seizure, not to mention severe anxiety, physical withdrawal symptoms such as overheating and sweating and other unexpected symptoms. This particular benzo is very difficult to stop. I don't think my doctor wanted me to but let me try. There should be a good reason to withdraw from it, otherwise let sleeping dogs lie, is my advice. Squiggles >> I think you need to find a qualified, patient, open-minded and >> undersanding physician. [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > Squiggles Klonopin & Xanax (Xanax is even more difficult) are very difficult to quit and taper off of. Many doctors will switch you to a benzo with a longer half life like Valium and taper you off of that instead. You can't expect this process to go very quickly, its something that needs to be done over many many months to avoid a lot of discomfort. ........... > Klonopin & Xanax (Xanax is even more difficult) are very difficult to > quit and taper off of. Many doctors will switch you to a benzo with a > longer half life like Valium and taper you off of that instead. You > can't expect this process to go very quickly, its something that needs > to be done over many many months to avoid a lot of discomfort. I withdrew from Xanax (about 10 years on 2.0mg) in 3 months with relative ease (anxiety, insomnia, tingling, etc.). I was given Xanax for anxiety in the first place whose cause *may* have been too high a dose of Synthroid. In comparison to Rivotril (clonazepam) this withdrawal was a piece of cake. I call clonazepam Killer K -- there is something strange about this drug - it does not feel like it's in the same class as the other benzos - something different about it chemically - Hoffman LaRoche must know; Squiggles I just did a google check on Timbertea's messages; Hmm, I must stop being so sloppy. Squiggles |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.