Jump to content

oceansize27 - klonopin tapering


oceansize27

Recommended Posts

Posted

Hi All,

 

I'm in dire straits. Trying so hard to wean off of klonopin. Was at a high of 2 mgs for a month or so, after starting down this horrible road back in November of 2013 ("1 mg - as needed"). This eventually turned into 1-1.5 mgs "as needed" which was just about every day. Currently stuck at 1.25 mgs with too many physical and mental symptoms to list.

 

My first sign of tolerance - slight ringing in the ears - began in January 2015. The docs told me it was just stress. Had a complete breakdown in late May 2015 and was bumped up to 2 mgs of klonopin and also 25-then-50 mgs of zoloft. That's when the insomnia kicked in. Gradually weaned off the zoloft by mid-August, while also dropping back down to 1.5 mgs klonopin. Within a couple weeks I was down to 1.25 klonopin. Then back up to 1.35 for 6 weeks (symptoms got a little better), and now stuck at 1.25 for the past month and suffering miserably. Somehow still working, but barely, and only because I have a family to support. 

 

In summary: due to the improvement is sleep once Zoloft was removed, I likely tapered the klonopin too aggressively in the beginning. As mentioned above, I've been holding at 1.25 for a month now. Never really stable throughout the entire process. Working with a compounding pharmacy to provide 3 equal doses per day. Not sure what to do, other than hold at this dose, pray for some stability, and then start reducing *very* gradually. Others have mentioned a crossover to valium (Ashton method), thinking that perhaps klonopin is just too difficult for my body and brain to heal from.

 

Stuck and miserable and afraid.

Konopin 1 mg "as needed" since Nov. 2013

Klonopin escalated to 2 mgs in late May 2015 following breakdown/tolerance

Zoloft was introduced aroung the same time ("to help"). Max dose 50 mgs. Insomnia reared its ugly head.

Completed Zoloft taper by mid-August 2015. Sleeping "ok", but never more than 5 hrs straight.

Began Klonopin taper - likely too quickly - currently stuck at 1.25 mgs and suffering mentally and physically.

Posted

Hi and welcome Oceansize27,

 

late May 2015 ..... 25-then-50 mgs of zoloft. That's when the insomnia kicked in. Gradually weaned off the zoloft by mid-August,

 

Sorry you are in this difficult position.

 

Im just thinking part of this could be due perhaps to the taper off zoloft ..you did not specify how you did it ...you may well have come off zoloft too fast and that could also be a major player in this.

Dependence is generally established by a month (possibly sooner) and you took it for 2 months ? prior to getting off  at a ?? rate of taper.

 

Wishing you strength.

Thought for the day: Lets stand up, and let’s speak out , together. G Olsen

We have until the 14th. Feb 2018. 

URGENT REQUEST Please consider submitting  for the petition on Prescribed Drug Dependence and Withdrawal currently awaiting its third consideration at the Scottish Parliament. You don't even have to be from Scotland. By clicking on the link below you can read some of the previous submissions but be warned many of them are quite harrowing.

http://www.parliament.scot/GettingInvolved/Petitions/PE01651   

Please tell them about your problems taking and withdrawing from antidepressants and/or benzos.

Send by email to petitions@parliament.scot and quote PE01651 in the subject heading. Keep to a maximum of 3 sides of A4 and you can't name for legal reasons any doctor you have consulted. Tell them if you wish to remain anonymous. We need the numbers to help convince the committee members we are not isolated cases. You have until mid February. Thank you

Recovering paxil addict

None of the published articles shed light on what ssri's ... actually do or what their hazards might be. Healy 2013. 

This is so true, with anything you get on these drugs, dependance, tapering, withdrawal symptoms, side effects, just silent. And if there is something mentioned then their is a serious disconnect between what is said and reality! 

  "Every time I read of a multi-person shooting, I always presume that person had just started a SSRI or had just stopped."  Dr Mosher. Me too! 

Over two decades later, the number of antidepressant prescriptions a year is slightly more than the number of people in the Western world. Most (nine out of 10) prescriptions are for patients who faced difficulties on stopping, equating to about a tenth of the population. These patients are often advised to continue treatment because their difficulties indicate they need ongoing treatment, just as a person with diabetes needs insulin. Healy 2015

I believe the ssri era will soon stand as one of the most shameful in the history of medicine. Healy 2015

Let people help people ... in a natural, kind, non-addictive (and non-big pharma) way. J Broadley 2017

 

 

  • Administrator
Posted

Welcome, oceansize.

 

It sounds like Zoloft was too activating for you, it gave you insomnia, now you're dependent on Klonopin.

 

Given you only recently went off Zoloft, too many drug changes are too much for your nervous system. I would hold on tapering the Klonopin.

 

Please go to http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/forum/29-members-only-benzo-tapering-discussion/for benzo questions.
 

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

  • Moderator Emeritus
Posted

Hello Oceansize,

 

I'm so sorry to hear how hard things are for you right now - and I'm so glad you've found this site.  Just wanted to reassure you that now you've started looking at what is going wrong and are getting help and advise, things will start to improve.  It's a scary time for you I know, and we've all been in and through that place.  The mods will help you make a good plan to help you get stabilised, and then you'll be able to begin a gentle taper.  

 

It might take another few weeks or a month for you to stabilise, because all your drug and dose changes have increased your sensitivity generally.  

 

I'm not experienced enough to know if a very small reinstatement would help - one of the mods will know.

 

In the mean time you could have a look at http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1112-non-drug-techniques-to-cope-with-emotional-symptoms/ for ideas about how to take care of yourself during this time. 

 

You'll get through this,

Hugs,

KarenB

2010  Fluoxetine 20mg.  2011  Escitalopram 20mg.  2013 Tapered badly and destabilised CNS.  Effexor 150mg. 

2015 Begin using info at SurvivingAntidepressants.  Cut 10% - bad w/d 2 months, held 1 month. 

Micro-tapering: four weekly 0.4% cuts, hold 4 weeks (struggling with symptoms).

8 month hold.

2017 Micro-tapering: four weekly 1% cuts, hold 4 weeks (symptoms almost non-existent).

2020 Still micro-tapering. Just over 2/3 of the way off effexor. Minimal symptoms, - and sleeping well.
Supplements: Fish oil, vitamin C, iron, oat-straw tea, nettle tea.

2023 December - Now on 5 micro-beads Effexor. Minimal symptoms but much more time needed between drops. Symptoms begin to increase.

2024 April - Updosed to 6 microbeads - immediate increase in symptoms for 4 days. Decreased to 5 microbeads.

 'The possibility of renewal exists so long as life exists.'  Dr Gabor Mate.

  • Moderator Emeritus
Posted

Hey Oceansize - I agree with NZ and Alto - I think you are still suffering from Zoloft withdrawal.  It can knock you around for months, even if you were only on it a short time.

 

What the doctors tell us about these drugs is very different from the reality of them.  They say things like, "cut to half for 2 weeks, then quit" or "you've been on it a short time, you can just go off" or "take it every other day for 2 weeks, then every 3rd day for 2 weeks, then quit"  ALL of these are recipes for a difficult time with the drug.  Sure, some people walk away with no reaction - but wouldn't you rather be in control of your symptoms, rather than them in control of you?  That is why we taper.

 

What was your last dose of Zoloft?  What was your tapering schedule?  How often did you taper, and by how much?  When was your last dose of zoloft?

 

The klonopin may have actually made the zoloft taper easier.  Coming off of the klonopin now might give you a double whammy.  I agree with Alto, that it would be a good idea to hold and stabilize before making any further changes.

 

see:  3 KIS's Keep It Simple, Slow, Stable

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Terms of Use Privacy Policy