Baddone Posted February 26, 2023 Share Posted February 26, 2023 I’ started Klonapin more than a decade ago. Casual use. As needed. But two years ago started taking it every day as I developed covid. When I ran out of the drug, it was cold turkey withdraw, pure hell. Doctors refused to give me anymore benzodiazepines. So for a year I suffered withdrawal. But finally started taking what I purchased on the black market. I take .25 gm twice daily. Want to stop, the right way, or transfer to a SSRI such as citalopram. I’m 76 years old and think I should continue on a milder drug. But don’t know how to do this. I don’t trust the doctors that treated me and tried everything under the sun, that did not work, I helped myself with CBD oil. Saved me from a more severe withdrawal. Any suggestions welcomed. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Gridley Posted February 27, 2023 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted February 27, 2023 Welcome to SA, Baddone. To give members the best information, we ask them to summarize their medication history in a signature -- drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements, in the last 12-24 months particularly. A list format is best. Are you taking .25 gm (gram) or .25 mg (milligram) of the benzo? Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature. We recommend tapering tapering by no more than 10% of your current dose every 4 weeks. With this type of taper, you reduce by a smaller and smaller percentage as you get lower in dose. This is easier on your nervous system. As you taper, you get down to a very low dose and then you stop. This can take a good bit of time. I've been tapering Valium for a bit over a year and have probably another two years to go before I'm finished, but I'm functioning and withdrawal symptoms are tolerable. Using the 10%/4 week taper, you will reduce your dose by 1/2 every 6 months. So if you're tapering .25mg, in 6 months you'll be down to .125mg. In another 6 months, you'll be down to .0625mg, etc. Why taper by 10% of my dosage? We don't recommend going on another psychiatric drug to deal with withdrawal. Probably the best way to taper your benzo is by weighing doses using a digital scale. Many members use the Smart Weigh scale (formerly knowns as the Gemini-20 scale). This is available on Amazon. The GEMINI-20 Scale Here is information on using a scale: Using a digital scale to measure doses We don't recommend a lot of supplements on SA, as many members report being sensitive to them due to our over-reactive nervous systems, but two supplements that we do recommend are magnesium (glycinate is a good form) and omega 3 (fish oil). Many people find these to be calming to the nervous system. Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) Add in one at a time and at a low dose in case you do experience problems. This is your introduction topic -- the place for you to ask questions, record symptoms, share your progress, and connect with other members of the SA community. I hope you’ll find the information in the SA forums helpful for your situation. I'm sorry that you are in the position that you need the information, but I am glad that you found us. Gridley Introduction Lexapro 20 mg since 2004. Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017. End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg Oct. 30, 2020 Jump to zero from 0.025mg. Current dose: 0.000mg 3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete. Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium End 2021 year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper. Taper is 95% complete. Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986. Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper. Current dose as of Oct 15: 3.2mg Taper is 96% complete. Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotic, zinc, melatonin .3mg, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase, L-Glutamine, milk thistle, choline I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice. It is information based on my own experience as well as that of other members who have survived these drugs. Link to comment
Baddone Posted February 27, 2023 Author Share Posted February 27, 2023 Gridley, thanks for your response. I have been using the Gemini 20 scale for a long time now, and yes it’s mg, not gm. I have 0.2 mg tablets I weigh them and they are mostly 0. 123 mg on the scale. So I cut them until I get to 0.017 or 0.018 mostly. Sometimes I will cut to 0.15 to 0.16 The scale for some reason does not always give an accurate amount. It will fluctuate, unless I grab the very first reading. If I leave the scale on for any length of time the weight increases slightly. So I use the very first reading. Obviously I need to change how I use this scale. watching the video about the scale I see that method of powering the drug would be much more accurate. I have a grinder and will try it for powder form. And re calibrate the scale. 10% every 4 weeks sounds doable so I’ll try that. Just hope I can get accurate weight . I do take this Klonapin twice a day so I’ll have to continue twice a day I would think to taper without to much problem. Yours and any other suggestions are much appreciated. I do suffer from IBS and I’m beginning to think that the Klonapin is adding to the sensitivity of the bowel. The IBS is the main reason I got on Klonapin, it helps kill the discomfort. But now I think it’s actually exasperating the problem. So unfortunately I have to deal with it as I withdrawal. Also, Vietnam, politics, my business and life in general didn’t help, but there is hope here I see. Thank you again. Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Gridley Posted February 27, 2023 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted February 27, 2023 @Baddone Yes, the scale can be temperamental. Be sure there are no breezes in the room and that the scale is on a solid even surface. Be careful not to breathe on the scale. Sometimes changing the batteries can make a difference. And recalibrating is a good idea, can't hurt. Making a powder is better than cutting. I crush my tablets between two spoons, then give the powder a good stir. A toothpick works for this. I use LabExact Grade WW weighing paper 3"X3" to pour my powder into size 00 gelatin capsules for my doses. Yes, you'll need to continue with the twice a day dosage. If you reduce by 5% off both of your daily doses, you'll be at 10%. Multiplying your current dose by .9 will give you a dose that's a 10% reduction, so you can divide that in half for a 5% reduction off each of your two doses. I use a handwritten chart to keep track of my progress. Yes, there is hope. Please don't forget to do your signature. It's helpful for the moderators. Gridley Introduction Lexapro 20 mg since 2004. Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017. End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg Oct. 30, 2020 Jump to zero from 0.025mg. Current dose: 0.000mg 3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete. Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium End 2021 year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper. Taper is 95% complete. Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986. Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper. Current dose as of Oct 15: 3.2mg Taper is 96% complete. Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotic, zinc, melatonin .3mg, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase, L-Glutamine, milk thistle, choline I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice. It is information based on my own experience as well as that of other members who have survived these drugs. Link to comment
Baddone Posted February 28, 2023 Author Share Posted February 28, 2023 Gridly, thanks for your info. Will start tomorrow. How do I leave my signature for the moderator? Link to comment
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