Benzodiazepines are a class of medication known as “anxiolytics” and are listed as a schedule IV controlled substance. They are often prescribed for anxiety, insomnia, seizures, and alcohol withdrawal, but are used for a vast array of off-label uses such as restless leg syndrome, muscle spasms, tinnitus, dementia, mania, and akathisia. Commonly prescribed benzodiazepines include Klonopin (clonazepam), Ativan (lorazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), Valium (diazepam), Onfi (clobazam), Tranxene (clorazepate dipotassium) and Librium (chlordiazepoxide).
Most prescribing guidelines recommend against benzodiazepine use for more than 2-4 weeks consecutively. While we don’t know the exact number, as estimates vary, a large percentage of patients prescribed benzodiazepines long term (more than 2 to 4 weeks) will develop physical dependence and experience problems safely stopping the medications. No matter how much they desire to withdraw, many experience debilitating mental and physical withdrawal effects.
It cannot be predicted at the time of prescription or cessation which patients will be able to successfully withdraw from a benzodiazepine without life altering complications, but for those whose withdrawals are complex, cessation may become a lengthy, life-altering process. It is imperative that doctors and patients are educated about the available methods of tapering. (We offer a printable pamphlet providing a summary of patient-centered cessation here.) The methods discussed below have been developed through clinical experience, research, and by patients who have successfully completed a benzodiazepine taper.
An Important Note about Physical Dependence versus Addiction
Prescribed physical dependence is not addiction. Misdiagnosis and treating prescribed physical dependence as addiction frequently leads to patient harm through the imposing of dangerous forced or over-rapid cessation methods. More information can be found at:
- Why Prescribe Benzo Patients Shouldn’t Go to Detox or Rehab
- Benzodiazepine Related Problems; It’s Almost Never Addiction
- Words Can Hurt Those on Benzodiazepines.
There is also FDA guidance to help distinguish the differences between physical dependence, addiction, and abuse:
Physical dependence is not synonymous with addiction; a patient may be physically dependent on a drug without having an addiction to the drug. Similarly, abuse is not synonymous with addiction. Tolerance, physical dependence, and withdrawal are all expected biological phenomena that are the consequences of chronic treatment with certain drugs. These phenomena by themselves do not indicate a state of addiction.
Additionally, the DSM-V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) states:
“Dependence” has been easily confused with the term “addiction” when, in fact, the tolerance and withdrawal that previously defined dependence are actually very normal responses to prescribed medications that affect the central nervous system and do not necessarily indicate the presence of an addiction.
How Benzodiazepine Use Alters the Body
The underlying physical changes that result in benzodiazepine tolerance and withdrawal remain unknown. One hypothesis is that since benzodiazepines work by enhancing the neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) at the GABA-A receptor, long-term benzodiazepine use may down-regulate GABA receptors, while discontinuation may, with time, upregulate them. GABA receptors are located throughout the body and have many roles. They are an important part of the body’s central nervous system and its response to stress.
Problems with Common Prescriber Cessation Methods
One common method is to instruct the patient to cut their dose by 1/4 weekly. With this method, the patient will be finished tapering in approximately 4 weeks. While some view this as a gradual reduction, the majority of experienced researchers, physicians, patients and prescribing guidelines consider a 4-week taper to be much too rapid. A taper lasting four weeks is usually not enough time for the body to adjust. In fact, this rapid tapering method was found in one study to be ineffective for at least 32-42% of patients who were prescribed benzodiazepines long term, with 90% experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
There are many instances of patients developing a protracted withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) from rapid tapers of this nature. This withdrawal syndrome can last anywhere from 18-24 months, or, in some cases, for years. Slower, more gradual dose reduction, can reduce the severity of withdrawal as well as the risk of PAWS. Beyond protracted withdrawal risks, patients are also put at risk of seizures, and sometimes even death, from over-rapid tapers.
Patients who are physically dependent may also have become so severely sensitized to benzodiazepines that even minute fluctuations in dosage can cause terrible suffering. Since pills are only scored in halves (and many not scored at all), and even halves can be inaccurate, attempting to split pills to evenly distribute the medication into 4 equal parts can exacerbate the severity and fluctuation of symptoms throughout a taper.
Another commonly prescribed method of tapering requires the patient to decrease one of their daily doses throughout the week, over the course of several weeks, until all doses have been removed. This protocol presents the same problems as with the 1/4 dose reduction per week method. Benzodiazepine Information Coalition has observed throughout years in online support groups, representing thousands of patients, that this approach more often than not causes a cluster of disabling mental and physical symptoms, which can persist for months or years. Additionally, instead of a careful, slow steady decline of drug serum levels, skipping doses, or leaving longer time gaps in between doses due to tapering away one dose, leads to even greater fluctuations—peaks and valleys in drug serum levels—sending patients in and out of withdrawal, often resulting in unnecessary pain and suffering.
Safer Tapering Methods
There are many effective tapering approaches for cessation of benzodiazepines for doctors and patients. Unfortunately most benzodiazepines do not come in forms or dosages compatible with easy cessation, so nearly all require manipulating the dosage through some method, be it cutting with a scale, compounding, or the use of liquid. We recommend tapering by no more than 5-10% every 2-4 weeks. This means that, on average, a taper will take about ten months or longer, depending on the patient’s starting dose and individual response.
The Ashton Manual
The Ashton Manual is probably the most well-known and respected method in the benzodiazepine community. It reports a 90% success rate.The Ashton protocol recommends using diazepam to taper, as the benefits of a long half-life are important for tapering. Diazepam’s half-life of up to 200 hours means it can help to prevent secondary issues, like interdose withdrawal (withdrawal symptoms that develop between doses), that can lead to major problems during cessation. Beyond a long half life, diazepam comes in smaller doses than the newer, shorter acting benzodiazepines for tapering. Clonazepam has a medium half-life, and the smallest dose available is 0.125 mg; alprazolam has a short half life, and the smallest dose is .25 mg. While these may seem like “small doses,” when one considers their equivalence to diazepam (0.125mg of clonazepam is approximately equivalent to 2.5 mg of diazepam and .25 mg of alprazolam is approximately equivalent to 5 mg of diazepam), they are not so small. Discontinuing from these dosage levels is not recommended, so they must be reduced by smaller than even halves or quarters of the lowest available manufactured doses available. For a discussion on the many problems arising from available dosage sizes, see Why Currently Available Benzodiazepine Doses Prevent Safe Withdrawal.
As with any recommended guideline, it is important to remember that the patient should be allowed to dictate the rate and pace of their taper depending on their individual response to dose reduction. If symptoms are severe or disabling, the taper may be suspended for a few weeks until symptoms subside. Oftentimes this resolves the problem and the patient may then resume their taper. It is not uncommon for benzodiazepine tapers to take longer than one might expect due to individual responses.
While Ashton recommends diazepam due to its long half-life for tapering, other guidelines recommend staying on the originally prescribed benzodiazepine if withdrawal symptoms are tolerable. As with any new medication introduced, there is a risk of an adverse reaction. Some patients do not respond well to diazepam. Additionally, the Ashton Manual is reportedly too fast for many patients, with some finding the schedule of reductions too large to adjust to at once. A stepwise substitution from a shorter half-life drug to a longer-acting benzodiazepine can take weeks to adjust to before patients can begin or resume their taper. This adds more time to what is already perceived as a painful, even life-altering project. Since benzodiazepine usage and withdrawal often creates numerous complex symptoms, it can be difficult to know if someone is suffering from an adverse reaction to new medication, or is simply symptomatic due to the neuroadaptations caused by long term exposure to benzodiazepines. So while the Ashton Manual has proven to be successful for many people, patients and prescribers should be prepared to make adjustments, or to explore other tapering options, such as those discussed below.
Dry Tapering
This is a popular method due to convenience and the potential initial complexity of other methods. It involves using a pill cutter or scale, and cutting or shaving off a pill to make reductions. There are various methods for dry tapering, including micro-tapering (removing smaller microgram amounts more frequently) and larger cut-and-hold tapers (removing larger milligram amounts, a percentage of the current dose all at once followed by a hold).
Tapering Strips
A newcomer to the cessation market are Tapering Strips, developed by Dr. Peter Groot in the Netherlands. These strips offer very gradual reductions. Taper rates can be adjusted according to patient need and ordered in advance. The benzodiazepines offered are Ativan (lorazepam), Valium (diazepam), Klonopin (clonazepam) Serax (oxazepam), Restoril (temazepam), and Imovane (zopiclon). As Tapering Strips is a Netherlands based operation, availability will vary by country. On their site, they state they will ship them outside of the Netherlands with a prescription in accordance with legislation in place for the patient’s country. The expected delivery time is one week. A video explanation of the strips from a benzodiazepine patient who successfully tapered using these strips in the UK can be viewed here.
Micro-Tapers
Online support communities have developed systems of “micro-tapering” to help distribute medication evenly throughout the day in order to avoid interdose withdrawal symptoms. Micro-tapering utilizes small daily microgram reductions that add up to a 5-10% overall reduction (from current dose) every month. Daily micro reductions also help to avoid the physical and mental turmoil that larger weekly reductions may create for those who are very sensitive. Keeping track of dose reductions usually requires a daily log or spreadsheet.
Dry Micro-taper
Some patients micro taper with a scale, removing a small amount, anywhere from 0.001 to 0.003 grams per day, or every few days. This method can be initially intimidating, but there are a few different approaches to accomplish it. There are videos and resources in support groups like BenzoBuddies available to explain the various methods. Many patients who find the Ashton Manual intolerable, but who are not able, for whatever reason, to utilize a liquid approach, choose this method.
Liquid Micro-taper
Oral diazepam solution (Roxane Laboratories) can be a valuable tool in micro-tapering and comes as a manufacturer 5mg/5mL (1mg per mL) solution in the US. Using a 1mL oral syringe, patients can, for example, measure as little as 0.05 mg to 0.1 mg less of the total dose every day, or every 3 or more days. (How much is reduced depends on the individual response of the patient, their dose, and desired rate of reduction). For an even more diluted solution and smaller dose reductions, this diazepam solution can be safely combined with water. For those who cannot tolerate oral diazepam solution, or cannot tolerate diazepam at all, a prescription for a liquid compound of the patient’s original benzodiazepine can alternatively be used.
Suspending vehicles such as “OraPlus” can be combined with crushed pills or the stock powder form of most benzodiazepines. Most compounding pharmacists will have access to a database that allows them to choose the appropriate suspending agent for each specific benzodiazepine. Liquid compounds may make it easier for the patient to control the rate of taper and require less work on their part compared to other tapering methods. We recommend choosing a pharmacist associated with the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists or the Professional Association of Compounding Pharmacists.
Finally, there is the method known in the online support community as “liquid titration.” Some patients may not tolerate compounded liquids due to multiple factors, such as intolerance to the suspending vehicle. Others may have a difficult time finding a doctor who is willing to prescribe diazepam or a prescription for a compounded suspension of their current benzodiazepine, or patients may find the cost of compounded liquid is prohibitive. Many who have found themselves in this predicament have successfully tapered on their own by making a homemade suspension in water or milk. A pill is either crushed or allowed to disintegrate in a pre-measured mL amount of liquid. Some only use water, while some use water with an added solvent (like alcohol). Using an oral syringe, a measured amount (in mLs) of liquid is removed from this suspension and discarded, the remainder ingested. These reductions are cumulative (although the size of them in mLs, or the mg/mL ratio of drug to liquid, can be easily adjusted to slow the taper rate down if need be) until the dose is small enough to stop. This method is less difficult than it sounds, and many have successfully tapered on their own using this method.
Tapering Strategies
Recommended Taper Rate
As mentioned before, it is often difficult to taper medications that are not designed for gradual reduction. The general guideline is to not exceed a 5-10% reduction of the current dose every 2-4 weeks. More information on the specifics of a 5-10% taper can be found here.
Conversion Rates for Benzodiazepines
Another tricky aspect of switching to a longer acting benzodiazepine is conversion. Ashton created a guide of estimated conversions. This guide can vary significantly from other charts as well as individual physician opinions. It is best to let the patient decide their optimal conversion dose (if they try a more conservative chart and feel underdosed or in withdrawal, they should be allowed to increase the dose until comfortable). Unlike opiates, benzodiazepine equivalents are not studied or mandated by the FDA, and individual responses may differ.
Medications to Alleviate Withdrawal Symptoms
Currently, there are no FDA-approved medications for alleviating the symptoms of benzodiazepine withdrawal. Add-on medications such as Neurotin (gabapentin), Lyrica (pregabalin), Catapres (clonidine), BuSpar (buspirone), and antidepressants may be suggested but are not required to taper. There is little to no evidence base for their effectiveness as withdrawal aids, and some may also require their own taper or create their own adverse effects. The British National Formulary guidance on benzodiazepines states, “The addition of beta-blockers, antidepressants and antipsychotics should be avoided where possible.”
Benzodiazepine Information Coalition’s experience from the reports of the many thousands of people in online benzodiazepine support groups have found that many patients withdrawing from benzodiazepines develop multiple sensitivities to other medications which seem to aggravate symptoms of withdrawal, with many of these medications requiring their own lengthy taper afterwards. With a sufficiently slow, patient-led taper, additional medications are usually ineffective and sometimes counter-productive.
Dosing Multiple Times per Day
Many patients find it particularly helpful to take their dose several times per day, depending on the half life of their particular benzodiazepine. For example, patients taking diazepam may benefit from evenly dividing their dose 2 or 3 times per day; those on clonazepam may benefit from dosing 3-4 times per day; whereas those taking lorazepam may need to dose 4-5 times per day. Some patients on alprazolam may require 5-6 doses per day just to maintain steady serum levels. Where possible, all doses should remain as even as possible in mgs as well. Patients who dose evenly and at regular intervals are more likely to successfully complete a benzodiazepine taper because they do not experience severe “drops” throughout the day between doses that may make discontinuation intolerable. These symptoms are commonly referred to as “interdose withdrawal.”
Conclusion
The most important thing in cessation is patient safety. There is no perfect method guaranteed to avoid a painful withdrawal, which is why preventing physical dependence to begin with is crucial, but many of the methods mentioned can lead patients to a tolerable taper, and all of them maximize the patient’s chance for successful cessation and complete healing. In some rare cases a rapid withdrawal might be considered a lesser evil—for example, if the patient becomes paradoxical, but this occurs extremely infrequently. Many patients have an understandable desire to withdraw from medication they no longer wish to take as quickly as possible, but with benzodiazepines, once signs of physical dependence are present, this is often the most risky and dangerous approach. Whether working closely with a prescriber, or withdrawing with limited assistance, each patient should taper at the rate that is most comfortable for them. No compliant patient should ever be made to taper or be forced off of benzodiazepines against their will, and the methods listed here should make it clear that, should a patient choose to withdraw, there are many ways to accomplish this without relying on rapid tapers, oversized reductions, or cold turkeying.
I have been on Klonopin long-term for OCD and GAD. I has greatly helped me
However, I am physically dependent upon it. I am a 60 year old female and began this medication around age 45 after I went through menopause and began experiencing terrible anxiety. Although having a conversation with my prescribing doctor about tapering, he did not advise it. I am still taking 0.5 mg two tablets a day. I only hope it won’t suddenly be removed from the market for then I would go in to a terrible withdrawl and fear I would probably die. I did try several times to taper in the past but became very ill. Looks like I’m going to have to stay on it the rest of my life. I must listen to what my prescribing doctor tells me to do.
Hi there
Similar experience to you, and thanks for sharing.
Already experienced some withdrawals and doctors with no idea on benzodiazepine issues, they prescribe when it suits them and then when I have to deal with other doctors (drs left, retired, on holiday etc) others refuse the meds without understanding consequences which could include death.
Also one of my specialists recommended maintaining the same small dose for life BUT he left and now it’s a huge mess and stressful having to keep dealing with problems.
I also wonder if this is how I will die – deprivation of long time prescribed medication and my body being too old and unable to cope with the shock.
Also there is NO EVIDENCE BASED TREATMENT for benzodiazepine cessation … no clinical data – the only ‘go to’ is out of date and found to be not suitable for everyone, the Ashton Manual.
For instance for opioid dependence there is proven methadone or narcan etc
We’re fighting a losing battle with minimal if any medical support.
I’m hoping we all find a way to live a life quality with needed meds and don’t have to suffer and worry.
Keep us updated on your situation please.
Suzi
I was put on Klonopin for no reason really. The Dr. Had prescribed me an antipsychotic that wasn’t necessary (have never taken one and am 60 yrs old). It was toxic for me and literally kept my body moving and pacing all day. I should have just been taken off the med but was prescribed the benzo in case my body needed another med to slow down my constant moving. Had I simply been taken off the antipsychotic I likely would have been fine. I’ve been suffering benzo withdrawl for a year now. It has all but destroyed my quality of life. I’ve tapered by switching to valium. I was on 6 mgs Klonopin and am now on 3 mgs Valium. I now need to compound it to taper off by about 5 to 10% every 2-4 weeks. I’m dealing with constant tremoring, nausea, sweating, chills, horrible depression, anxiety I’ve never ever had before and sudden crying spells. This has gone on for a year, every hour of every day. It will likely be this way for another year. I need my job but God knows if I’ll be able to keep it at this rate. CBD isolate is the only thing that’s helped me. The total LACK of help from the medical profession for tapering is sickening. THEY got me into this mess. Where are they now?
Can someone help me decide what I’m experiencing? I’m 68 years old. In the past 12 months, I have lost my mother and both brothers, one was a suicide on day one of the covid quaratine. lots of stress from that. I also have a long running thyroid issue that suggests that I’m becoming hyperthyroid after years of reducing my dose of synthroid and cytomel. My last blood test had a real high T4. After what _seemed_ like panic attacks a month ago, I asked my doctor for something to help me sleep and he gave me Klonopin in the .5 dose, 90 tablets. I took about 1 tablet per day in the evening for a total of about 31 tablets in 31 days. I stopped taking it three days ago and now I’m so hyper and dizzy I can’t sleep. I still have about 60 tablets left but now I’m scared to take them, and I guess I’m getting scared to NOT take them too.
Is this a panic attack, a thyroid storm or Klonopin withdrawal? Thanks for listening.
Anyone been on lengthy prescribed xanax and managed to stop?
30yrs of taking 4mg per day ——— now facing stigma with medical pressures to stop.
How did you do it?
How long did it take?
Any complications or side effects or withdrawal problems?
Other issues or tips you can share that might help, such as unexpected or predicted events, how you dealt with them?
Thanks
Was on 1.5 mg of Xanax at night for sleep for approx 10 years. Started to taper off Xanax 09/18. The first cut down to 1.25 wasn’t too bad. Second cut to 1.125 was very difficult. I eventually switched over to Valium which wasn’t difficult for me. I’m currently micro dry tapering and now down to 15.5mg from starting dose of 20mg. It’s going ok. I’m cutting really slow, will probably take 2 yrs to be off. But better for me than bigger cuts and holding.
Hi I’m on xanax 0.25mg daily and also I’m taking antidepressants for panic disorder.Now at the moment I’m in Australia and running out of xanax.Is there a doctor that will prescribe them for me???? Or should i go off?????
Hi Valentina
Also live in Aussie – we haven’t had Xanax brand benzodiazepines here since it was discontinued in 2014 … you must be taking Alprazolam (Kalma) or another brand if you got them here?
Same sort of issues as you – as Alprazolam is an S8 controlled drug it is almost impossible to get, most GP’s refuse to be involved as they are worried about the strict controls and how they will be affected through the legalities of government real time prescribing. Not so worried about us patients.
A specialist psychiatrist might prescribe for you, not through Telehealth it would have to be in person.
I’ve been taking this medication as prescribed for over 20 years now and for the last couple of years it has become a problem for doctors to prescribe and I’m under pressures to start tapering even though my dose is small and never abused. Based on my own experiences I would say take this opportunity to go to a doctor and start a tapering schedule before you’re forced to stop.
Probably not what you’re hoping to hear but physical dependence on this drug just gets worse as I know only too well.
Panic and anxiety were the reasons I was prescribed 20 years ago.
Look after yourself and think of your long term health.
Keep in touch on here, all the best. Try not to over stress, hard I know.
Jen
It’s mostly impossible without another medication to go along with the tapering such as Abilify or Seroquel.
Hi
The absolute best common sense information I have ever read regarding benzodiazepines – including personally from so called Specialist doctors, ie psychiatrists and addiction medicine specialists in Australia.
Have been taking prescription Alprazolam (Xanax) for 20 years (am now 60 years old) and since my regular doctor retired I have been having a hellish time with young doctors who have no idea about benzodiazepines except their own recent medical training regime says never prescribe and anyone who takes them is an addict and should be immediately stopped. The doctors have no comprehension and I have been forced (unsuccessfully) into a public detox facility, denied scripts, bullied and treated like a hardened criminal.
PTSD, GAD, Major Depressive Disorder, OCD, Panic are untreated as I am unable to tolerate anti depressants at all. My general health is poor due to doctors judging me as not worthy of healthcare all because of Alprazolam.
Does anyone have a lived experience of long term prescription use and then safely successfully tapering to nothing, currently I take 1.5mg daily and only have enough medication to last 3 months, any thoughts? I don’t want to risk seizures.
Have so far managed to taper from 3mg, however it has taken me a full year and also been difficult with withdrawal symptoms.
Very scared now after taking this med for 20 years and having no choice but to stop completely over the next 3 months.
Being misunderstood and unsupported within the medical system is in my opinion demeaning and worse than the medication used correctly.
Thank you
Hi there
Very relatable experiences and it sounds like you are really in need of expert help to get through this situation as well as possible and without serious side effects or relapses.
Those years of long term xanax treatments prescribed by doctors for 10, 20, 30 etc years aren’t understood or accepted nowadays but that doesn’t help the millions of people worldwide who unwittingly got caught up in the doctors choices through no fault of the patient. This site shows a deep understanding of patients following doctors orders willingly and now being shamed and mistreated as addicts when it is an iatrogenic issue caused by the medical profession and big pharma.
It is heartening to see on here that some enlightened medical practitioners understand it is a harrowing predicament to be left in and are willing to work with patients rather than being critical.
Benzo class meds are now acknowledged to be addictive and potentially dangerous yet most doctors don’t comprehend how to help a physical dependent patient, other than categorising them as addicted and hopeless by withholding meds or health care.
Under the Resources Doctor lists there is one international possibility listed for Australia, that could be your best starting point for the proper guidance you are looking for. Nothing to lose by trying and from your post it seems you need expert help right now.
Best wishes and hope you can update your post in due time with progress.
Success to you!
Thanks very much your insight is appreciated and so very accurate.
I tried contacting the doctor in Australia listed on here, however the information is out of date worst luck and no-one was able to assist further.
Feels like another disappointing setback in this process. Perhaps benzoinfo.com could follow-up and either delete or update or include any new contacts in Australia?
Any other ideas from anyone please?
Jane, Bello from the u.s. I am Gary K a d Zika was put on Ativan for 31 years, not for anxiety, for some unknown leg tingles. Yes it worked for that , like killing a mosquito with a sledge hammer. He never once told me anything that this was a powerful drug or that it was addicticting or anything. Then when the government started cracking down on how some of these des. Prescribe these drugs he had his nurse call me up and fire me from his care with 2wks left on my prescription and wouldn’t help me to taper , just cut me loose. Anyway this isn’t about me it is about you. It can be done, I took about 1.25 years to come down from 2 mg to about .7mg and was having a hard time and so I did what I always do, I cranked up the intensity and went to a drug rehab and came off the.7 in a week and a half. I have been off 3.5 years now and still have protracted symptoms daily but it can be done, it is not easy though. As for finding a dr that will help you taper, this is what I did. I contacted some people I knew like nurses and such that worked in the medical field and asked them on the side if they happen to know of any drs. that had family members that were struggling with substance abuse issues in their family.. I found one that had a son that had this problem, I booked an appt. and told him my story and that I would like to taper off these and that i would like to be in control of everything. He agreed along as I would keep him in former, and he would prescribe what I needed him to. I tapered down and then went to the rehab and got off. It worked great, I think a dr. understands this way more if they have had someone in their family face a drug issue of any type-legal or illegal. I do not want to make it sound easy as it was the hardest thing I have done so far in my life. But I was able to do it with no time off work while I was tapering , and I usually work around an 80hr work week. I did take about a year off after I came back from the rehab, because I think I pushed it way too fast coming down from .7mg to zero in a week and a half.. So I had to finally just heal up, also I had been on this crap everyday for 31yrs. The best advice I can give you is think outside the box, do not give up, focus on the goal of being off when it is over, and do not waiver off your plan, and definately pray to GOD about it and let him help you, and you’ll be fine. Sincerely. Gary
Great advice, Gary. Prayer was the most important part. I’ve tried to get off of klonopin and even by tapering, find myself an embarrassed crying mess at work. I’m trying again. I know it will be hard, but I’m asking for God’s help and your prayers in this.
Qiana, I am 31 days off 2 mg of Klonopin daily for 10+ years. I tapered off with help from my psychiatrist. Everytime I had to go down a 1/4 of dose the withdrawls were tough. I am now having mostly tough mornings and brain fog as it is called. I was wondering if someone in this forum has also went through the same. How long I will be feeling so bad in the mornings.
Best Regards,
Tammy
I hope that you are doing good with your tapering.
Gary THANK YOU! I have been on for 30 years. Dr got in trouble and cannot prescribe so I have to go off. I was on .5 and they put me on .25 2x a day. I feel awful but could be all the stress on the planet also. Plus I have fought a stage 3 and also a stage 4 and have stage 3 kidney damage from treatment. Could be in my head too but physically I know my blood pressure is high. Im cranky. I wont quit though you gave me hope.
I am in the us too. who is the dr that tapered you? I cant find anyone!!!
Hi Jane-
I’ve only been on benzos for 4 years, but I take Ativan and Klonopin. I was at 4.5mg total a day. I understand your concern, and worry. I had problems when I switched doctors about being on two different ones. Finally, I wanted to be taken off. I was tired of taking them. My withdrawals are pretty severe mentally, and physically. I was put on Trileptal (now 1200mg daily) and it has been a god-sent. I’m down to 2.5mg. It’s taken about two months. I really recommend finding a good psychiatrist. Or even visiting a primary care doctor and explaining the situation. I’ve had to do that in between psychiatrists before. Do not give up trying to find someone to help you taper safely; someone is nearby to help. Your safety is priority. And three weeks is way too soon to be tapered off completely. If you need any support. Please let me know.
What is trilepta?
Yes please l need ur help
Hello. Please check out benzobuddies online support group. You will find lots of amazing support there to guide a successful taper. You can do this. Others have.
Good evening , my name is. Nelson , I been on .5 Ativan twice a day for about a month and half and already it’s losing it’s punch I want to get off this stuff and tried with 25% reduction to each pill and did not work any suggestions
Hi Nelson
Ativan is a very strong powerful benzodiazepine, hopefully it was prescribed only after careful consideration and full disclosure of side effects by the medical expert.
You didn’t mention the reason for the medication or any history or not of you taking this type of medication.
The most important thing is your concern about the effects of Ativan and your desire to stop taking it ~ is it possible that you could return to the original medical prescriber and explain that you need a very very long slow taper with regular medical supervision and support? Also take along the benzoinfo.com taper and general information on this site which is invaluable help to those who mighn’t understand the havoc and torture of benzo meds.
Reaching out for help is the first step which you’ve done here, now you need that expert medical help …….. as you’ve found it is extremely hard to manage a taper alone.
Stick to your plans to get rid of this medication as quickly and safely as possible.
All the best and let us know how you are doing.
Take care and know this is a widespread problem, it can help to know others are struggling with these issues.
Did u think ur reduction didn’t work cos u suffered withdrawals from physical dependence on ativan ??
Its gonna be painful in every way to stop the stuff
Do slow reductions and keep decreasing DONT dose up again cos ya feel rotten. DONT fall into the trap of benzo crap cos it ruins lives.
Jane I know just what you’re talking about. I’ve had a very stressful past 4 or 5 years and and have being on benzos most of the past 3 years but I’m tapering and I find it so hard to cope with with covid and other stressors. I always feel the doctors, including my current psychiatrist, underestimate or don’t appreciate the difficulty of withdrawal. My shrink has me doing it very slowly but I only speak to him on the phone for 40 minutes every four or five weeks and that’s not enough support. Today itself is h e l l because I can’t tolerate the Heat and I have a migraine and stuck with my racing thoughts in my tiny apartment. My point is that just to cope at all I’ve already taken my dose for the morning so I can hope to sleep otherwise I’m about to fall apart mentally and physically and don’t want to wind up at an ER and the psych ward. How is somebody supposed to cope with debilitating anxiety in the middle of a taper? I’m told to turn to people for support but most don’t understand though they mean well. Box breathing and other techniques can I help but only so much. I am almost 60 as well not in bad health but have health but definitely compound the stress. By the way are you actually being denied proper Healthcare by doctors looking at you as an addict?? That is unprofessional and inhuman
Harry, thanks so much for your post and honesty in sharing your own experiences and feelings.
I get where you’re coming from and agree with all of your comments, especially of not wanting to be stuck in ER or Psych – just that thought escalates my underlying diagnoses as well – those facilities aren’t equipped for benzodiazepine issues anyway, which leaves us struggling alone and suffering intolerably, rather than being forced into an unrealistic treatment regime.
I had a so called “one off” psychiatric assessment a few days ago and it was a disaster (after waiting 18 months!) – no comprehension whatsoever on my overall situation and a lecture on benzodiazepines – very traumatising. The psychiatrist didn’t want to admit there is no evidence based treatment/clinical data for cessation of benzodiazepines, anywhere in the world, then wasted time justifying the stance of “best practice” treatment – best practice for who .. it’s what suits guess work doctors not what might be best for an individual patient. The Ashton Manual is not one size fits all and apparently hasn’t met the scientific criteria to be evidence based just a guide that might or might not work which doctors seem to latch onto.
Your 40 minute phone consults every few weeks proves the psychiatrist doesn’t have a clue. I really really hope you can access much more informed help and support, as I know the value of the right help and it’s crucial to us.
I have not found any so called help for the issues we face and definitely no understanding from the medical profession on any level. I also don’t have access to anyone to talk to who understands my situation at all, it’s isolating and lonely being in despair all the time, also Covid-19 is a major complicating factor which scares me.
Migraine is extremely painful and debilitating with all general life stresses chipping away at our well being and quality of life.
Yes I am being denied physical and mental health care as I have been categorised by a young ill-informed psychiatrist as a drug seeking addict – which is untrue – benzodiazepines doctor prescribed – never any illicit drugs or alcohol. I seem to be easy to bully, force, coerce and disregard by a controlling medical profession who close ranks and protect each other to the detriment of us as patients.
I am reminded of that saying “doctors bury their mistakes” – they are a powerful bunch and are destroying my life, as well as others.
Thank you for acknowledging the doctors lack of health care treatment is unprofessional and unethical, i’m still fighting, it’s harder and harder and achieving nothing – David and Goliath!
I am thinking of you and please know we are struggling with the same battle, and I care.
Your message here has been a big help to me and thank you for caring.
We can only do our best to look after ourselves and do our best to reach out to like-minded people who do understand it’s an uphill battle every second of every day.
Kindest regards and know your message is very important to me.
hi, i really need some fast help here. im almost 6 months pregnant and im an idiot and went on a 3 week xanax binge taking about 3 2mgs a day, wasnt really keeping track but i tried just stopping completely and was the most sick ive ever been in my life.. i was throwing up water, i was throwing up bile… i was cold but sweating… and i didnt know why. i figured out i was withdrawing from xanax. (which ive never been prescribed ) and my doctor told me basically to keep going cold turkey, he gave me 4 .5mgs and said do a 3 day detox…. i had to go out and buy more and get off quickly. i have i think 18 mgs right now and need to know how to do this quickly but safely! i dont want to go to a hospital or detox because im on probation and ive been going to outpatient and im 3 weeks from graduating and im so close to getting my kids back… i just really need some guidance. ive been figuring maybe tapering down .5s everyday ? idk!!
Hello Tiffany,
Please please please for yourself unborn baby & children would you consider finding a trusted medical person to give you professional help and care with Xanax issues. I worry about the effects and problems you mentioned. There is no easy way off Xanax & no doubt you know if it’s affecting you as it is, it would not be good for your baby, no judgement from me, as we all do things we may regret or want to change & you are reaching out for help here, try if you can to confide in anyone you know who could help you, a trusted family member, counsellor, midwife, doctor, nurse. This is the hardest part but I hope you can stop Xanax completely because you want to. All benzo’s usually give a short term fix but end up being more trouble than they’re worth. Remember your life health & well being is important and matters. Wishing you health & happiness medication free. Take care
Also, something to consider is that your baby could be born dependent on Xanax if you don’t stop using before it’s born (still could be because of how late in the pregnancy you are). The state can take your baby if this happens not to mention the other possible consequences for your baby’s health. I would head Anne’s advice. Good luck.
taper off of it. You and your baby will be fine. Confide in someone or go to a meeting. you need to be held accountable. Do you what you need to do to get enough to taper. You’re not an addict. you are physically addicted. tapper. It will be uncomfortable, but eat junk and get honest with those around you. You can do this.
Hi iam taking xanax .5mg once daly that is .25 in morning and .25 in the evening for six months how can I taper it safly plz any one can help me plz
“Thats exactly what i was on, .25 xanax a.m. and p.m. for8 mths for anxiety and panic attacks. First off get on an ssri as it will help. Dont start tapering til you see its working. 6-8 weeks. Then get dr to switch you to 10 mg Diazepam (valium) dose 5mg a.m. and p.m. . Its has a long half life and very small dosage capabilities. Get 2 mg pills which can behalved. Wait til you feel stable on that. Now start tapering by .5 mg a week. Two if necessary. Alternate morning and evening. Took me 5 mths. It is not pleasant at all but i was able to function. I just kept pushing thru the pain. Best wishes!
My son is only 11 and has been on 1mg Klonopin daily for the past 7 months. He has been reducing using the following schedule per his psychiatrist.
.75 mg for 2 weeks
.50 mg for 2 weeks
.25 mg for 2 weeks
then 0
Do you think this is too fast? Could he be dependent or addicted after just 7 months? He has been complaining of nausea after eating. He also seems a little sad but it is a very stressful time in general for everyone. He is currently taking .25 mg and is almost done. Any advice is welcome.
It’s cruel to reduce someone that fast. As printed in this document, 5 to 10% of the current dose every 2 to 4 weeks is the safest way. While everyone doesn’t get it, physical dependence often occurs in as little as 1 to 2 weeks, sometimes sooner.
Thanks so much for your input. We will slow down his reduction based on this information. He seems to be doing ok with the exception of the nausea after meals. I know the list of side effects is very long and I’m wondering if nausea is a very common side effect? I’m just trying to decide where to go from here if he is at .25.
Yes nausea is common. While he might not have many problems with any route, it’s not about just how he’s doing now. A lot of people come off with little problems and get progressively worse the longer they are off. Benzodiazepine harm is very misunderstood, so, in my opinion, being cautious in cessation over speed is wise.
Well, my psychiatrist is getting pressure from my insurance to cut down on my ativan. The problem is, even though I have a dependence, i believe I need the meds. I started taking 6mg of a ativan 40 years ago (im now 64). It was because I couldn’t sleep after not sleeping for 5 days I developed a phobia. There were no good meds to prescribe back then. When I try to taper, i eventually start to have trouble sleeping and the phobia and panic attacks come back. How can I ever to expect to taper if this continues yo happen? Do you think a rehab would help?
I am 60 years old and I have been taking .25mg xanax 1 time per day for the past 25 years along with 10 mg prozac once per day. My doctor prescribe the low dose xanax to me to be taken with my prozac since the prozac was causing anxiety. I just went to a new physician who explained to me about the long term implications of xanax with memory issues. I wanted to quit cold turkey but my doc said no way. He wants to do a long taper for almost a year. He did suggest that I switch to a longer lasting extended release xanax to help with the withdrawal but I didn’t want to. As I read others comments, I am wondering several things. 1. will the withdrawal symptoms be really bad for me since I was only on .25 mg once a day. BTW, if I missed a dose of the prozac, I did not take the xanax. 2. should I consider switching to the extended release or longer lasting benzo to make the withdrawal easier? 3. How do I taper this? He suggests taking half of the .25 mg (.125mg) for months. I’ve read the ashton manual and can’t find anything for starting at this size tablet once per day except to taper slowly. Any help would be much appreicated.
Dr seems like he on drugs think about it 1 yr to get off .25 milligrams he wants your money and think hard you are believing a lie what he want you to shave dust off the pill you are reading into it and neing played. I on 3 mgs of ativan i dropped 1 mg right out gate i do wish you luck but i dont got a day never mind a year as this trash makes you aggressive and i dont want to be hurting someone as you can tell by my wording what worse being a phycotic or hard core withdrawal anybody know
I would like to receive your news letter
To my dismay, there is only ONE Benzo-Wise physician in the entire HUGE State of PENNSYLVANIA. And nearly everyone I speak to is on Ativan or a benzo in the area of my state with no one to help. As a matter of fact, in my area, you have to go through months with a Psychiatrist’s staff before they will even SEE YOU! A person could be dead from getting no benzos from any physician. And the attitude toward anyone on a benzo or even trying to get off is horrible. They are Cruel, severely judgmental and down right RUDE and I’m talking about every GP and psychiatrists in my area. This should not be. I sure wish there was something more that could be done in this state to get the attention of these doctors who are purposely Ignorant of the dangers of benzos and especially how to help patients taper off them.
What area do you live in. That is so cruel. You can’t just abruptly stop a Benzo and they should know that. Let me know the area., so I don’t go to that doctor.
You are SO correct!
The question remains: Are these professionals really that obtuse?
J.Hill
I live in Pennsylvania too. I live near Pittsburgh. My PCP hasn’t a clue about how painful it is to withdraw from benzodiazapenes.
I found a psychiatrist but won’t be able to see her for about 6 weeks.
I hope things work out for you and
Who is this doctor. Maybe he can reccomend a doctor who is closer. I’m in NE pa.
Who is this doctor please? My uncle is on a benzo and in PA and I am trying to find a doctor who understands the dangers. Thank you!
I a. On 3 mg of Klonopin and 4 mg of ativan I still suffer from anxiety since my husband and mother passed away . I have panic attacks and sometimes agoraphobia. I would like to slow taper over 6 mos. to a year to get off them. Do you think this is reasonable amount of time? Thank you for you time.
I taped reply button and could not get anywhere to reply. A couple of people were saying to e mail each other if they found a benzo wise doctor on Ct. I wanted to tell them to tell me too but could not reply. Please show them. You could not see an e mail address for them either so idk..how they can contact each other. Also one guy said crazycanuk on You tube had best taper – off 15 mos. w no side effects but the next guy said he is not . Please help me. I can’t fing help in ct. And w my brain like this i feel i can’t master the taper routines i see here. I need to have a benzo wise doc prescribe small drops per month at compound pharmacy or liquid Klonopin. Water taper seems too complicated for me and I am barely doing anything, I feel threatened to master all that work everyday. I need a simpler way. I am stick at .625 mg of Klonopin per day and a real mess. Don’t even have my feelings, routine . Please ; stropasso@sbcglobal.net. Thanks
I have been on klonopin 0.5 mg twice a day for 12 years what do you recommend on how to taper off? how do i begin tapering off? how many milligrams do I reduce this to daily and for how long?
I read your post, the best strategy I know is cut dose in half every 2 months. The brain must have enough time to repair from the drug. The brains normal function is shut down after using the drug for a while, it then relies o the drug to do what it does, take away the drug and shock to the brain occurs, as it’s own function is in shut down mode and needs time to repair, it will repair. After dose is reduced by half, usually on day 3-4, withdraw symptoms set in, but hold your own and resist it, it’s doable. Each day say ” Life is so much better without it”. Think about getting well and your mind back, to never pick up a pill again, always reaching for the bottle, it controls a person’s life. So if you take 1 mg. per day, start 1/2 mg for 2 months, then .125 for 2 months, then you should be able to stop completely…..Good Luck
You’ve been on for a long time. Read the Ashton manual. You can find it on any search engine. I was on klonopin. .5mg once per day. I had my doctor transfer me to valium which is easier to come off of. .5mg equal 10mg of valium. Taper VERY SLOWLY. I started dropping 1 mg every week, sometimes I held at that dose for a few months. It’s been nearly a year and I am now at 2mg. I talked to a very good pharmacist and we laid out a plan that I would go off of 1/8 of a mg every 3 weeks now. Longer if necessary. your dose is equivalent to 20mg valium daily. Do not rush it. Klonopin lowest dose they make is .5mg and is really hard to cut to small doses. It’s much more potent than valium. Valium comes in 2mg pills. Are much easier to cut into small doses. 50% cuts are too much, too fast. The longer you have been on a benzo the slower you should taper. . It is going to take me around 2 years to come off 10mg of valium. The first 8mg took a little less than a year. the last two will take a little less than a year. GO SLOWLY. READ THE ASHTON MANUAL and print it out and take it to your doctor. It is suggested that one does NOT GO INTO REHAB because they will cold turkey a person and send them into a horrible tailspin. It takes months to recover once you are off them. Be gentle and kind to yourself and go slowly and give it as much time as it takes. Even if it takes years. You’ve been on them 12 years. It will take time to come off of them. Tell yourself that there is no need to rush it and do it your own pace. Your brain needs to get use to not having the benzo, grow new receptors and produce it’s own GABA again. Gentle and kind. Ashton recommends 1mg every 1-2 weeks (valium) but many people find this too fast. 50% cuts will most likely be a horrible experience and is way too much to taper. FYI. my taper has been fairly easy at this pace. Some people have an easier time, some an extremely difficult one. And most of the accounts you will read are people who have the worst times. So get your info, make your plan then stop reading the stories on the internet. Kind and gentle.
What should one due if they were forced in to a cold Turkey.
My sister is almost 4months cold Turkey and
Struggling hard. We are told not to reinstate.
Any recommendations will be appreciated.
Are you SERIOUS i on 3 mg ativan for ever i got blurry vision and a total psychopath on this as i got rebound symtoms meaning it does opposite i cut 1 mg straight off people read into this too much come on 10 months to get off .25 it in your head i got to go hardcore before i hurt someone real bad if i die in process that my destinty
The smallest. Clonazepam dose is actually .25 mg. The .25 can’t be event cut as it’s not scored. That’s a bit too high a dose to drop off. It can also be prepared by a pharmacist as a liquid compound. This allows for smaller cuts. I take it in liquid form at .125 once daily now. I’ll cut again to .0625 then stop. Clonazepam is long acting and not the hardest one to stop. It has a half life if 24 – 50 hours. More like 24 in my experience. It takes about 3 or 4 days to feel wd symptoms (for me) after a cut of about 25%. Short acting benzos like Ativan are harder due to their very short half life of only a few hours. Everyone is different, so it’s not possible to say who will struggle wd. Go slow is safest, but realize holding a cut too long can lead to tolerance withdrawal. Going up and down in dose also doesn’t work. Only switch over if you cannot succeed on your current benzo. Some people can’t tolerate Valium at all.
This is my worst fear. I am 64, and probably have one of the few shrinks in the state who is willing to keep me on 1 mg Klonopin long-term as I have been on benzos on and off (mostly on) since 1979. Especially now, with the virus, I foresee him suggesting a rapid taper (the only way they do it here😮). At nearly 65, and after nearly dying from the fifth, and last, rapid taper, I am terrified. I never abuse, but am always treated as a weak, bad addict. I mentioned kiquid titration to him to when I first met him and he threatened to “fire me.” I teleconference with him on Thursday to get my usual new Rx with two refills. God only knows what the new Covid-19 guidelines are in PA for Schedule VI drugs. PA patients, BLESS YOU! I’ve been through forced cold turkey twice (once in a psych ward, where the nurse made me flush my entire bottle down the toilet!) and once when I was also cold-turkeyed off ALL my other psych meds and locked in a back bedroom. Six weeks of hell.
Please help me taper off Ativan. I have been tapering at 5% every 2 weeks and down to .38 mg. Is this a safe dose to quit at.
Thanks for this info. I started tapering last July from 3 x .5 mg daily and now down to 1 x .5 although the last drop was recent and I feel it still. The idea of just a 10% taper seems much more humane. My mood swings and agitation have been difficult and I’m going to follow the recommendations now and ask my dr about Valium instead – thank you
That’s way too quick a taper for most. Especially starting with a 50% reduction. And why suffer when a more gradual reduction will do the job?
I’m tapering off 1mg Klonopin to zero in a year’s time. Or maybe 15 months. Cut by .25 every 3 months. See how you feel when down to .25 mg per day and maybe cut that in half ( split .5 mg ).
Please DO NOT taper by 0.25 that’s WAY too much!,I’ve been on Klonopin 10 years with this exact same dose (0.5 twice a day)
Started the taper and after a week found myself crying every day,after nearly 2 months had to stop the process entirely ,a safer taper would be to cut off 0.12 for about a month to start,but even that is slightly above what’s recommended (5%-10%),do not do the same mistake as i did,start with 0.12 that’s much more realistic and may save you from unnecessary suffering,to be honest looking back i chose a bad timing to taper (right after i moved to a new city and started a new job),but i still think going slower with the taper is the better option,be safe.
Hi Tavia, just go very very slow. I’m on .25 once a day. Was on .5 once a day. It’s been hard to get below .25 due to challenge cutting the pill down evenly. I’m trying to shave off a small amount with an emery board, like running the file once or twice over the pill and holding at that dose for a month. It takes 4 days to 2 weeks to feel symptoms, so hold for at least 2 weeks at a reduced dose. More if you’re still feeling poor. The last reductions can be harder, so may have to hold longer. I’ve never taken twice a day. But probably? Start with one of the doses, reduce slightly, hold, then reduce the other dose and hold etc. It takes time.
To even out medication by a pill cutter
buy
I have been on klonopin 1mg for 18 years. How to best taper. I have been taking 0.5 mg for 2 weeks, as beginning the tapering. I took klonopin for insomnia, and that is my biggest problem now. Little sleep. Using aminos with some help.
Hi. I had been on Klonipin 0.5 mg once a day since Nov 11, 2019, due to panic attacks. I helped a lot especially because my panic attacks were due to hormonal imbalance. I already started my taper, in my way even without the doctor telling me, because I felt that I needed to. I can’t take the side effects… it’s like being a zombie. Lightheaded, dizzy and nauseous.
I decided to start the taper gradually, from cutting the tablet into half for weeks. On Jan 5, I started to cut into 4, so taking only 0.125mg tablet at night. The tablet is hard to cut in equal parts, so is this stage advisable to stop already? Or do I need further tapering? What method should I use a liquid mixture? I need advice, please. Thanks
Is there any remedy if the doctor knows nothing about Xanax or other benzos and “tapers” the patient in a matter of days? Three months of suffering is the result. This patient does not have anxiety. The drug was initially prescribed for insomnia with no warning about the problems with the drug.
Not many doctors know about tapering off Xanax and withdrawal. I spoke to my pharmacist and he helped me. Slow withdrawal is key. I have been off Xanax for a month now, but still have insomnia. Even sleep aids don’t work. I was waking up every 1-2 hours, but now 3-4 hours so a slight improvement.
Go slowly. If you go cold turkey or get off too rapidly, your withdrawl will be severe. A friend of mine took it for sleep, as well. She has been living in a nightmare, three YEARS later, after completely discontinuing it.
I have been on 1mg of klonopin for 5 months,and today was my 1st day of cutting it to .5 mgs for a week. I was then told to cut .50 to .25 for a week, and then break . 25mg for a week. Will I be ok with that.
Hi,I have been on Xanax and then klonopin for the last 38 years! I am 55 now and notice massive cognitive changes .All of my docs planned on me taking it forever.I was on 1 mg of klonopin 2x/day .I am doing my taper completely on my own. I cut my klonopin in half and am taking 0.5 at night and 1mg in the day .It has been almost two weeks then I am going to 0.5 mg 2x/day I feel some symptoms ,but feel the last couple days are better because I am keeping it as close to 12 hours apart as possible. I am thinking about cutting all of them to 0.5 mg .If this works(if I could tolerate it I would like to cut by 1/4 every week ,but given the amount of years I have been on it , I will probably cut by 1/4 every two weeks ,just so it’s not intolerable. I just don’t understand why my doctors didn’t tell me they wanted me off them,when we now know the ramifications it has on your brain,very often long term side effects. I would just rather be completely off in 4 weeks instead of 8.
Hi Lynn, I’m in much the same boat. I’m 59 and have been on 1 mg of Klonopin daily for 25 years. I was placed on it because a doctor assumed that I had a seizure disorder. As it turns out, I am unable to metabolize Theobromine found in chocolate, tea and as a by-product of caffeine consumption. I’m also unable to digest wheat and the bromine found in dough conditioners. I am beginning my own taper, and would be interested in knowing how you get on with yours. You’re one of the few fellow longtime users of this drug who I’ve found. I’m going to do a liquid taper over 6-10 months. I wish you all the best!
I too have been on Ativan for over 30 years, for sleep. Beginning to think about taper of .5/once daily. I would love to stay in touch with long term users.
Hi Lynn,
I have been on Ativan for about 35 years. Once a day at night. Never told that it was anything other than something to help me sleep. I am 63. I am weighing and filing off every 14 days. I have had the same doctor and he is getting close to retirement. My last visit with him for the first time EVER, he started to talk about cutting doses. I am cutting very slowly. Would love to stay in touch. I too started to feel some cognitive changes.
If you get an sender let me know. I have been on same dose for about two months and want to start to get off of it.
Hi Love,
I think that is too fast. Klonopin doesn’t stay in your system as long as Valium. Although everybody’s body is different, I have heard over and over that slow and steady wins the race! Is a doctor assisting you in this taper? Are they benzo-wise? Have you shown them the Ashton Manual or asked them to read it? I found that switching over to Valium was a life saver. I had tolerance withdrawals for months, maybe years, on Ativan, shorter acting, before an observant doctor realized what was wrong. However, he encouraged a VERY rapid withdrawal, which I researched and believe could have caused seizures, or worse. So I found a new provider. She slowly switched me over to Valium and I have been tapering since then. We both felt that things were going really well, I wasnt having debilitating symptoms at the time, and she tapered me at 20%. I spiraled out of control with symptoms. I then resumed a slower taper, but was pushed again by a new, less aggressive (I thought!) M.D., to taper more than 10%, which I was uncomfortable with, and was a huge mistake for me personally. I have been struggling for 4+ weeks now. Much worse even than the 20% taper, because I am on a lower dose now. Please talk to your physician about switching you to Valium, if you tolerate new meds well. It stays in the system much longer and can reduce interdose withdrawals. I wish you all of the luck in the world, and good juju for your recovery.
I was prescribed diazepam(Valium) 5mg in December 9th 2019. The GP didn’t explain what kind pf eds are they and I shouldn’t take them for more than 2 weeks. I took them as prescribed, 1 dose every night. After 2 weeks, I self tapered (cause I was clueless) by cutting them in half until they were finished. Few days ago the withdrawal symptoms became unbearable and I went back to the GP and he gave me Brazepam 3mg because he ran out of the Betapam he gave me initially. I’m not sure what to do, whether to take the Brazepam or not. Please help…
Hi Susie,
I think what you mentioned above is absolutely great. I am going through the same thing and was thinking of putting up a YOUTUBE channel to start my journey with others alongside me so that we can all support each other and then move on to helping others eventually. After all, we have been through I am sure it will feel heavenly to help others who are lost and going through hell with these “poisons” docs have uncaringly prescribed to and many being addicted to it now.
I will email you and I have, in fact, quit Ativan several years ago, but of course, I was younger, financial and personal life was better, and mostly I didn’t have Adrenal issues…but still that won’t stop me or you or anyone else who truly wants to get off these. And it’s time that we the “SURVIVORS” step up to big pharma and put an end to Doctors’ carelessly prescribing benzos and increasing dose after dose, visit after visit…..I will send a short email to you now…..and let’s do this. It’s us against BIG PHARMA, needless to say, my family has been in big pharma and so was I until I switched over to the cosmetics & skincare industries. Pharma has it’s placed but not like this…..they have lost all ethics and just want people on drugs for the rest of their lives instead of fixing the underlying issues we must face ourselves with the help of compassionate physicians.
I am currently taking Klonopin 3,mgs a day, is .125 a month t
I read your post and cried. I’ve been on 10mg diazepam 3x a day prn for 30 years! My psychiatrist lowered me to 10mg 2x a day, after my telling him that’s all I’d been taking. Since then my anxiety and pain (from a procedure on the nerves in my back) have increased tenfold. I just counted my diazepam pills and realized I am way off, I’ve been taking too many without realizing it! I asked my doctor to put me back on the 3x a day but he refused. I’m afraid to tell him I overtook the diazepam as he may discharge me as a patient and cut me off altogether. I got a monthly pill dispenser and broke pills in half to fill the days til my next refill is due. After reading this article, I see how dangerous the rapid taper will be if I go through with it. I don’t want to end up in rehab! I’ve been on this med for 30 years, 3x a day, never a problem, usually with meds leftover. How can I convince my doctor to give me enough pills to get through this safely? My anxiety is through the roof. Please, help me if you can. I’m so scared! Thank you!
Hi Susie,
I think what you mentioned above is absolutely great. I am going through the same thing and was thinking of putting up a YOUTUBE channel to start my journey with others alongside me so that we can all support each other and then move on to helping others eventually. After all, we have been through I am sure it will feel heavenly to help others who are lost and going through hell with these “poisons” docs have uncaringly prescribed to and many being addicted to it now.
I will email you and I have, in fact, quit Ativan several years ago, but of course, I was younger, financial and personal life was better, and mostly I didn’t have Adrenal issues…but still that won’t stop me or you or anyone else who truly wants to get off these. And it’s time that we the “SURVIVORS” step up to big pharma and put an end to Doctors’ carelessly prescribing benzos and increasing dose after dose, visit after visit…..I will send a short email to you now…..and let’s do this. It’s us against BIG PHARMA, needless to say, my family has been in big pharma and so was I until I switched over to the cosmetics & skincare industries. Pharma has it’s placed but not like this…..they have lost all ethics and just want people on drugs for the rest of their lives instead of fixing the underlying issues we must face ourselves with the help of compassionate doctors.
The Ashton Manual shows tapering schedules with reductions every 1 to 2 weeks, but the Benzo Coalition site here says 2 to 4 weeks instead. Why? Am I missing something?
I myself am going through this as well. I tried to stop and got down to just under 2mg of valium, dr. switched me from Xanax to V. I really was for mental health care, and it was torture. I feel I was going to fast with the one that does every week. Now I have restarted the taper and doing it at 10 percent once a month. I think the faster you go your body does not ever have time to rest. You must just judge for yourself.
On the advice of a doctor, I am tapering Klonopin by running what is left of .125 mg acr0ss an emery board. ‘t’he first week once, the second twice, I am now u to ten cuts and there is still a small pill left.
Hi Clarinda, thanks for your valuable info about your taper for 0.125 mg Klonipin. How long have you been on this dosage? Are you going to taper further? What will be the best method to taper? Can I use a liquid mixture for Klonipin? Thanks.
Get real filing dust off a quarter of a pill stop taking it as dr takes your money think about you are taking Dust your good you believe you are worst than you really are
Hello, I hope someone will be able to help me. I was on 4mg of klonopin daily for over 12 years. I went into hospital to detox. They gave me 2mg of Klonopin the first day, then 1-1/2 the second, 1 the third, and 1/2 the fourth. It has been nearly 5 weeks since the last “dose” and I still am experiencing shaking, sweating, all of my senses are extremely hightened, anxiety is extremely high, my lips, tip of my tongue and tip of my nose are still numb, also I cannot concentrate and my memory is very bad. I do feel a little bit better than the first 2 weeks but in the past 3 weeks I’ve hardly made any progress at all! I was given Gabapentin but I cannot believe it has helped me! Should I return to my doctor at this time?
Have you considered a very slow taper like the Ashton method? The taper you described seems very rapid.
I am on 2 mg lorazapam
3 times a day! I have been on and off for 30 years! I am only taking it now at 9 pm 1am and 6 am! Don’t know how or why I started taking it those hours! The doctor I see now took me on but the offices after after all these years cracking down, giving periodic urine checks
etc. Making us feel like drug addicts. I’m 70 and went through a bad depression many years
ago..30yrs ago… and doctor after doctor kept
Prescribing. I have heard CBD oil can help
If you plan to taper! Has
anyone had experience
with this?
Nancy, I can relate! I’m 68 and have been on Xanax for 21 years for generalized anxiety and panic disorder. I take it 4 times a day (once in the middle of the night) All total I only take .75 per day.
I have several chronic illnesses and just never considered going off Xanax till recently because I suspect it may be causing anxiety and a little depression. I tried CBD oil recently and it made me feel very tired and cranky. They say not to take CBD oil with medications you aren’t supposed to have grapefruit with (which is Xanax). Maybe that had something to do with it. But I have wondered if CBD might help with future anxiety once I’m off the Xanax. My husband took Trazodone for chronic insomnia for years and replaced it with CBD oil and it works like a charm for him. He’s sleeping better than he has in years.
I really want to give this slow tapering off a try. Who knows? Maybe some of my other health issues are being caused by the Xanax.
Good luck to you!
This is for Suzi, i am tapering off klonopin for insomnia. Have tried cbd, however not much success, what brand cbd did your husband use? I would so appreciate that info ,
This is Vinny, I’m on .50 3 times a day. I heard about cbd hemp oil but no one witch has tried it. I don’t know. Keep me informed. Thanks.
Oh boy. They really did the wrong thing. First, you have been taking it for many years
I was told that slow tapering is best
For myself, I take 3 mg, 3 x a day. You start by .5 reduction, everyday for at least 2-3 weeks
Then depending on how you feel, try reduction of 1 dose. Keep in mind that you can space out, i.e. cut in half 1 pill. For 2-3 weeks
It is a long process, and has to be done under Dr supervision
That’s way too fast. .5 mg = 10 mg of V. Microtaper or smaller reductions than that. 1 mg at a time? Forget it.
I have been taking 2.5 mg of Klonopin for insomnia. I was taking 2 mg of Teva clonazepam for years but had to switch when Teva changed their formula. I am trying to taper by cutting the 2 mg pill into 6 parts-very inaccurate. I am waking early and unable to get back to sleep. Any suggestions?
People have success with liquid titration or micro tapering with a scale.
Teva original formula of clonazepam is back on the market as of Oct 2019.
You can buy a scale on Amazon (like the drug dealers use) Crush your pills into a powder and you then will have precise dose increments. Add to a small amount of water etc and be sure to refill and drink any residual as we are working with grains and at low doses every bit counts.
I am coming off of 3 mg for 25 years ! My first 1 mg reduction went very easy in just 8 weeks. NOW all hell is breaking loose with fasiculations so bad muscle atrophy is occurring like an ALS patient …and much more
We need to know more about being polydrugged and which to come off of first. In my opinion all of the support groups ( I am aware of) obviously speak of and or a benzo. I am confused on which to get rid of first. Effexor or valium. I have such conflicting information; from ” all sources”. I chose valum bc of the dementia; fear of permanent brain damage etc. Now I’m told to drop effector bc it causing my blood pressure to be high. I am now trying to balance dropping both ; which I tried before;. In short. Which does one choose to reduce slowly ; what is the condenses us?
Taper off the one you have been on the “least” amount of time.
If you were, for some reason, put on both at the same time, buy a blood pressure cuff and keep a record of spikes, and go very slow, holding for 4 weeks before your next taper.
These drugs alter our brain and bowel chemistry, and we have to give our body adequate time to register and get over the shock, then begin to heal, which most bodies cannot do quickly on such toxic drugs.
bingo Gib
.5 mg of lorazapam is equal to 5 mg valium.if someone is taking 9 mg lorazapam .9 is the 10% taper so I think that’s close enough to 1 mg. But taper every two weeks if that’s too much taper .5 mg every 7 to 10 days. I was taking 3.5 mg a day and I’m down to .5. In two doses a day. It has not been easy and I’m taking a long time going months between tapers now but I’m doing what is comfortable for me
I have experience tapering and tapering should be no more than 10% every two weeks.
as a seafarer, taking 4mg clonazepam was a challenge. if l ran out at sea, l once resorted to alcohol as a few days replacement. that will get you thru a long weekend, say. after a time, spreading 6-7 tabs between uses, soon had be using alcohol regularly, like everyone else. then , at home, l’d swap in the pills again at a lower dose, confident the usage would increase to4mg/day. always did. started x/anonymous, got free of booze, but benzos won’t let go. l have several mental problems causing all the downs – benzos, heroin, booze,and, very unlikely, actual seconal.coke & speed had no interest for me. love my afghani hash.
further, l sound like a user. no. l have spent my life from age 3, l remember, thinking of suicide. we had tv in the early 50’s. watch and learn. enough to say my life has never been comfortable. always a breakdown on the horizon. but l tried to be a ‘success’. couldn’t even please myself. my life is 70yrs. of wreckage and carnage. l was stupid, till one day the schools sent out a letter saying l was a genius. well, bull. 95% retention rate. became an engineer from spite. doc has just cut me off – 6mg. clon. to5mg in one day. l am very sick, now. nobody thought there was anything amiss. look, l have a bad habit of talking too much. alone all the time, all my life. by 15 l looked like a rotten pizza from head – to knees. some skin disease they couldn’t treat.@ 16 l was on as much valium as l wanted, compliments a doctor who worked where l did. at an aid station for hippies on dope. was very anti-dope, except hash and acid. dr leary was a friend. then the gov’t. gave us 300k, and l was wired to china white by a year. meantime, circumstances prevailed, and l was a musician on the road. liquor. finally, had a serious – l. leg-spiral fracture, serious lumbar damage-can’t walk much yet. that was 1995. you can see it coming…opiates, opiates, clonaz., no money, #2 wife gone with everything, incl. dog. 1st one took baby. next one-a suicide next, died in my arms, this one won’t speak.arthritis, pinched nerves, constant unrelenting pain, can’t eat. nausea, panic & anxiety…ENOUGH! sorry…
Klonopin has a long half life I have been on 4 mg. for 32 years! I am down to 1.5 mg.s I take 45 days once withdrawal symptoms stop. It will be 3 weeks for me wed. I am down lower it seems to be harder so I will take more time and cut down less…don’t stop! slow down ….ask yr doctor …… it is not easy but it is doable hang in there. EXERCISE it helps.
Scarr & anyone else with input, how are you cutting the klonopin down? I’m down to 1-1/8mg from 3. After this cut, I can no longer stay under 10% without figuring out a way to make a smaller dose than cutting pills will allow. Taking quarter pills is also very inaccurate when I look at the difference in my quarters. My dr has told me that now there is no way to stay under 10% so I need to just reduce 1/4 pill each time till I’m done. I’ve read article after article of reviewed studies recommending no more than a 10% reduction, but none of them say how exactly to do this without switching to valium, which my doctor won’t do.
Unfortunately Drs don’t know how to taper benzos. I do believe if someone has been on them a few months or weeks they can taper faster like Drs recommend. I’m tapering lorazapam and I understand what your saying about cutting pills becomes. I am down to .5 a day on lorazapam. And I found out a compounding pharmacy can make pills at any amount that is desired. But your Dr has to be on board and write prescription I am getting the pharmacist was very smart about tapering my h more than Dr. I told him my situation he said ok I will make you pills that are .20 that’s perfect a 10 % cut. He has it right! Cause I’m taking .25 twice a day. U may do a 5 % cut next cut. The lower dose you get to it gets harder. I was at 3.5 a day. I’ve come a long way. But the end is hardest
Everyone has a story. I feel for you man. Been there in some ways. Our beginnings really do influence the rest of our lives. Hang tough.
I found that my faith helps a lot. Its hard to believe in some things but I really do believe faith works. Find a good church (search until you find one) and get involved.
God Bless you! May the rest of your journey be positive and uplifting.
Hi, I take 1mg 3 times a day of Ativan and I sincerely want to get off of this medication. I feel like my anxiety is getting worse and tonight I watched a show on CNN about micro tapering and I want to do this. I’m afraid because of being anxious and not doing it right. Suggestions would be greatly appreciated
Diane,
The show on CNN about “micro tapering” that Krissy Tyrrell used was the original micro taper method developed in 2005. It is patented to preserve its integrity, but freely shared by its author. Details about the true micro taper will be available by the end of this week. The website you are looking for is: benzomicrotaper.com. This is the real thing and not a knockoff.
I’ve been able to taper off Lorazapam in liquid form so I’m not cutting pills. Tapering off .01 about every 10 days or so-sometimes have to hold a little longer.
I’m so sorry! I took 3mg klonopin daily and while I didn’t take that much the whole time, I was on it for about 8 years… got off for 14 months and back on now and switching over to Valium for movement disorder stuff and easier titration when I’m ready – these doctors who instructed you to taper so fast had no idea what they’re doing. Everyone is different but the fastest I could go during my taper, which by the way lasted 18 months from 3mg/day to 0, was 0.125 reduction in dose every 2-4 weeks. 0.125 every 4 weeks was pretty tolerable. 0.125 every 2 weeks was pretty hard. 0.25 every two weeks caused reactions that seemed to alarm even the rehab nurse.
Not sure if this is still relevant but I was off for 14 months and things just got worse and worse. I just calculated and the article above suggests 5-10% reduction every 2-4 weeks and I was able to barely tolerate 8.3% reduction every 2 weeks, and I’m speaking as someone who quit cigarettes and has experienced withdrawals from opiates as well as several other illicit substances… klonopin withdraws are no joke and doctors generally don’t seem to understand how severe they can be for some people.
Many people would likely have had a seizure at the rate they cut your dose. I’d consider getting in with a doc who can show some compassion for your situation, even if it feels like you have to “shop around” like we hear about people doing when they abuse drugs. Honestly with how dependent your body is, it was essentially drug abuse to take you off it so fast. If months have gone by and you’re not feeling better, especially if you’re feeling worse, it’s time to get some help.
Explain how long you’ve been off them in spite of how difficult it’s been, because you want to do what’s best for your health, and if that means being your own best advocate and pushing until someone can help you do this in a more safe, slow and long-term way. I white-knuckled it through 14 months just to go back on them and have them not work as well as they did before the long-term withdrawals.
Again, everyone is different and I have autism so I’m like super sensitive to medications in pretty unexpected ways, but you should not be suffering because you took a medication that your doctor prescribed to help with your suffering to begin with – that is wrong and you deserve better <3
B+
Judah it’s good to here someone that has appropriate information I’ve learned more on my own studying but try 2to5% maximum every 10 days the times I’ve tapered anymore than 5%every10days to2 weeks I never could do it withdrawal is terrible,I’m trying to get back off again klomopin.53 times days u have suggestions on how to taper I used liquid last time my doctor won’t change my pills to liquid or diazepam I need a plan it gets worse every year thanks judah
Elizabeth bless u detox because of insurance try to get u beyond seizure time 5 to 7 days send u home or to rehab where u get know real taper medication this is my story ,where I shook and could not function and felt hopeless and suicidal, I left rehab and drank that day after 20 years without alcohol drs are so uneducated with addiction, recovery and especially tapering correctly. I commend u for being able to make it as far as u have after their bs taper they gave u. I’ve been studying all I can get my hands on and have been on a real taper your brain can only reach gaba receptor balance is 2to5% reduction of starting dose every 10 to 14 days it’s long and slow but I found it was the. Only way to comfortably taper down and feel hope,I did it proved it correct but because of life issues without a support I ended up back on klonopin..5mg 3times daily when I succeed again I will get back in recovery to help all that are desperately needing an answer thank u for your bravery ps TO ALL do not let anyone make u taper in wrong outdated ,money related, uneducated medical ways u all deserve comfortable appropriate ways to get your mental ,emotional, spirit back in your life accept no less your the patient and payed money for topnotch professional and appropriate guidance with these psuedo helping life damaging drugs to the sick and suffering… ask for help accept nothing but the best correct treatment . LOVE WILL FILL YOUR HEART AGAIN
I’m using Valium to taper from Klonopin very slowly. Got down to taking two 2mg tablets but shaved a quarter off one tablet for 6 weeks then BOOM!–detox body shaking, muscle contractions, depression, anxiety and headaches hit me again over about 3 to 4 days. So I’ve gone back to the 2 full 2 mg tablets of Valium that I take at night. Should I keep this up for a few weeks and then try shaving less than a quarter tab with an emery board? Or should I try the liquid taper method and take 2 separate liquid doses per day instead of just one dose in the evening? Really hard to know what to do when I’m trying to work Monday to Friday and there are so many different suggestions re tapering. Help!
Can I go from Klonopin straight to volume without having any withdrawal symptoms
am I gonna be ok? I went from 8mg of Xanax and klonopin to going straight to 4mg (been prescbribed 7 years) but I oddly feel fine as of day 2 today…
I’ve been taking 20 mg daily of diazepam for over 10 years. My doctor cut it down to 10 mg daily 3 months ago. I am ready to be off of this. Is it safe for me to cut it to 5 mg daily, as my doctor cut it in half after 10 years. I’m experiencing the anxiety, insomnia, and agitation already. I just want to do this without harming myself physically. I’m adjusting mentally with some coping mechanisms. I am scared of the physical withdrawal. I don’t want to die. I’d appreciate some advice. Thanks.
brace yourself.
Josh, those are extremely high numbers u fell ok because it’s still in your system day2 is nothing please get someone around u for support not to scare u but that is dangerous and I believe u will be having difficulty if u get professional help DONT accept these1 to 4 week taper that would be a 25%or more drop which my experience tells me that would be unbearable be careful my friend if u need to talk about tapering, addiction or recovery e mail me antime
To anyone that reads/comes across this knows that there are very few support groups for benzo recovery. I as well as others know a POSITIVE support group is needed. I myself started the Ashton Method and currently at stage 5. I know my meds pretty well, however I do know there are people out there that know more and have successfully gotten off them period! I’m tired of living a life with no support and want other to talk to. That being said I know I’m not alone. I can set up a website etc… just need enough willing people. Plz email me at Suzqtraining@yahoo.com
After all this hell I want to be helped and help others.
Hi Susi, ive been taking lorazapam for several years and have decided to take the CBD oil route to get off of them . Its been a week and i have taken the Lorazapam 0.5 every other day and the CBD oil the second half of the day or 3 times a day when not taking the lorazapam. I was also taking mertazapine at night. I threw it in the garbage about a month ago and never looked back, it never worked! Anyway after a few days i felt a little anxious in between doses of CBD oil(maybe withdrawel)but it goes away as the day goes on. Its still too early to see if long term withdrawel is an option . I hear so many scary situations about withdrawel and how it can be damaging to your health. But what is the alternative? A life time of side effects? Increased dosage is no longer helpful for me taking this medication, it doesnt help anymore. I,m not guarenteeing anything but so far so good. P.S. My sister is a naturapathic doctor and she is behind me 100% . Let me know what you think and how your doing, Rich D.
Hi Richard, I have been taking Klonopin for over 7 years. I put myself down to one mg. a night since before 2014. I have never had any side effects from quitting any type of medication. I even quit smoking cold turkey with zero problems. The instructions my doctor gave was take half the dose for 4 days and then stop. Long story short, I stopped suddenly! Ended up with most withdraw symptoms that I’ve read about minus seizures and bowel problems. I went back to doctor and they gave me half mg dose for 5 days, so with my medication, that gave me 10 days of med. dr said that should work. I’m on day 5 and have started feeling increased anxiety again. I’m not taking anything for anxiety or depression right now . I have appointment soon and plan to ask for antidepressant. I need something for the reason I was taking it to begin with. I’ve been drinking Chamomile tea to help the nerves. I was curious about CBD oil for this.
Hi I take 3 mgs of Klonopin, 2 mgs at night and 1 mg. In the morning. I want to wean off but I don’t know where to start.
Please send me info on CBD oil. I am trying to taper off .5mg of lorazepam after 11 years on it once a day.
mherrera1297@yahoo.com
Info on CBD oil on Klonopin taking 0125plus 0.0625 in morning and 1/8 in evening doing well on dose
On Benzo for 18 yrs
1 mg 1 x daily
Hello my name is Larry. I was on 5 mg of Klonopin each day. Tried to slowly taper after 12 years of being on this medication. I finally went to a real rehabilitation hospital for 30 days. At the hospital, my dose was cut in half every four days until the 16th day, at that point I was free. My depression disappeared almost immediately but it took about a year before I felt good physically. It was fairly easy to get my strength back, it just took time. I can’t imagine dragging this taper out for Months or even years. Like I said, once the fog lifts, you can make strides easily
Where did you go? Would you recommend it instead of a long taper?
Agreed. I can’t find support in San Antonio , TX. lauraloweryvipc@gmail.com
Hi Susie,
I think what you mentioned above is absolutely great. I am going through the same thing and was thinking of putting up a YOUTUBE channel to start my journey with others alongside me so that we can all support each other and then move on to helping others eventually. After all, we have been through I am sure it will feel heavenly to help others who are lost and going through hell with these “poisons” docs have uncaringly prescribed to and many being addicted to it now.
I will email you and I have, in fact, quit Ativan several years ago, but of course, I was younger, financial and personal life was better, and mostly I didn’t have Adrenal issues…but still, that won’t stop me or you or anyone else who truly wants to get off these. And it’s time that we the “SURVIVORS” step up to big pharma and put an end to Doctors’ carelessly prescribing benzos and increasing dose after dose, visit after visit…..I will send a short email to you now…..and let’s do this. It’s us against BIG PHARMA, needless to say, my family has been in big pharma and so was I until I switched over to the cosmetics & skincare industries. Pharma has it’s placed but not like this…..they have lost all ethics and just want people on drugs for the rest of their lives instead of fixing the underlying issues we must face ourselves with the help of compassionate doctors.
I had been taking Xanax 0.5mg for some 20+ years… It’s a short acting benzo so more difficult than other benzos to wean off.. – My GP decided to wean me off them with Valium,10mg.. – Because Valium comes in 2mgs, it is a lot easier to wean off the Valium.. – Also, Valium is longer acting, thus stay in your body for a long time… – Anyway,, I am totally off the Xanax,, down to 6mgs of Valium, and doing very well.. – Some asked at the beginning of the comments, why take people off a benzo when they have been taking it for decades, and that the dose is low.. – Well at 70 you can still manage alright, but in another 10 years form now, your gait, might start being affected, where you could need a walker,, and your chances of getting dementia are increased by like at least 50-75%.. – I am 64 and I decided to stop taking these horrible drugs as they will definitely affect you sooner than later.. – Anne
I am 64 and have been on benzo’s for 10 years. From 10 mg valium and 2×1 mg Xanex I am now tapering to 2 mg valiym per day. Good luck to you! Would be good to support each other if you would like 😉
Did you go straight from Xanes to an equal amt. of Valium, or did you simply replace one dose at a time of Xanex with Valium until you were only taking Valium.??
I also tapered even though I only took 2.5-5 mg a day but for 10 years. My question is when do you jump off the taper and how are withdrawals then ? I went off at 2 I thought was dose and 34 days off I’m still jonesing hard enough to think I need to go back on and taper again. Hate to go thru this hell again though but don’t want to drop either.
Scott:
Why would “jumping off” be accepted?
If you were tapering by 0.25MG of Valium at each reduction step, why would you suddenly change that dosage reduction ( cut) to 0.5MG? This is what “jumping off” is. Jumping represents a sudden C/T when the jump is larger than the accustomed cut. Of course a major increase in the syndrome will follow.
This effect is still referred to as “protracted withdrawal”. Protracted withdrawal is not a different condition. It is an incomplete withdrawal.
Of course the originator of the idea of jumping off also maintained that healing doesn’t begin until the taper is ended. Neither claim has any supporting evidence.
Another unfortunate claim is that jumping is fine because a dose of 0.5mg Valium can have no therapeutic effect. While that dosage may not have any of the five therapeutic effects, Quite clearly it has a sixth effect. That effect is keeping withdrawal symptoms at bay.
There is a procedure to prevent that protracted effect which is present in all versions of the cut and hold method.
Go to YouTube type in crazycanuck follow his method he uses clonazeoam I use diazepam I’m on 4 mg/ day using this method. Follow his videos he has 4 videos watch them all then do it it’s very simple, make sure you’re knowledgable in using spreadsheets or get someone to do it for you it automatically calculates your reductions don’t forget if you start to experience some with drawl you hold at that point until your body recovers it’s a very easy painless process listen to his videos he’s been off for 15 months with zero side effects .
Crazy Canuk , in his opening statement, says that he learned this taper protocol from its developer through BenzoDetoxRecovery. He states that he hopes that it’s okay to make his videos ostensibly describing it. It isn’t; it wasn’t.
Using the protocol incorrectly tarnishes its good name and places users at risk. He presents it incorrectly.
The authentic BenzoMicroTaper protocol USPTO 9301963 has a 13 year record of success. It is verified by the US patent office as novel( it was not previously available), needed, and understandable by” those practiced in the art”.
If The Coalition’s rules allow it, I will post the way that you can find the authentic BenzoMicroTaper . False versions now seem ubiquitous. A summary is available for the patients’ doctors. You can ask for it using the “reply” button.
J.Hill
I am looking for the correct way to micro taper.
Thank you!
could you get me information on the authentic BenzoMicroTaper.
J. Hill – May I please have a copy of the above protocol as stated.
Many thanks,
You can find the patent at the following link. Or simply go to the US Patent Office website and search for it by patent number. I have a 12 year old daughter suffering extreme withdrawal after being put on klonopin for 6 weeks by her doctor to manage side effects from Solumedrol infusions for her autoimmune illness. This should be criminal. http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=9301963.PN.&OS=PN/9301963&RS=PN/9301963
Yes, I would like a summary of the correct way to taper a benzo.
Thank you,
I would like a copy micro taper
Hello. I would like a copy of the tapering method you described. Thanks.
I would be interested in a copy of this.
J.Hill i would like to see the taper plan you mentioned for coming off of a benzodiazepine
Requesting a copy of the benzo micro taper protocol
Also a summary for my doctor.
Can you please send me the benzomicrotaper info.
I would like to taper also please
Jill I would love to have you send me a copy.
Jill I would love to have you send me a copy.
Authentic benzo micro taper.please help. I was put on Valium at the veterans hospital. For 15 years. I’m down to 8mg. They put me on seroquel. Which I’m trying to get off. A half of 25mg. 12and a half.I am on for about a 2 months .should I come off the seroquel first. Because I have trouble with it.
Hi I would love the information for the correct way to micro taper! Thank you!
Id like a copy
Go to YouTube and watch the video crazycanuck he has three videos he does a micro taper using clonazepam I’m on diazepam and I’m using his method it’s actually not his method it was someone else’s but several people have used us it’s better than the Ashton manual it’s micro tapering using homogenized milk please watch this video he has been off of his 1 mg one mg Clonazepam for 15 months and has had zero with drawl symptoms
Hi, I was on 10 mg of Valium at night for about 10 weeks , how long should it take to taper off? I am down to 2mg over a month time period, I feel flu like,, No t sure what to do?
Thanks for your in put
Chris, keep tapering down slow… I tapered Ativan for 6 weeks and was off 3 days and felt great ..thought I tapered it slow ..(NOT) ..anyway ended up in hospital for 3 days with Afib. Valium is a slower acting benzo so just slowly taper.. I turn part of mine to liquid (instructions on benzobuddies.org also can get liquid from pharmacy) and reduce that part with a syringe ..and take the pills for the remainder.
Hi Anna,
I started Tapering lorazepam two weeks ago. I’m only taking out 1 mL a week, I am on 0.5 mg.
I have never felt good on his drug. I would feel sick until it worked its way out of my system most of the day, feeling much better by night time.
Last night when I took my dose I had an adverse effect, I felt really dizzy and my head felt really strange. Now I’m trying to figure out what to do. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. How much Ativan were you on and how fast did you go off of it?
I am on a prescribed dosage of 1800mg of gabapentin for insomnia..it was prescribed by a psychiatrist. My endocrinologist wants me to get off of it. I have taken 1500mg for 8 days along with klonopin 2mg at night & .5 mg in the morning. A facility nearby would not accept me for support unless I enter their entire program. I am a licensed therapist and I have a psychologist as my own personal therapist. I had been able in the past to withdraw from Effexor xr by myself years ago. I am seeing my pcp on Thursday. I want to tell him how he can help
I would love to start a support group! I’m utilizing the Ashton Method and currently on stage 5.
Plz email me
Suzqtraining@yahoo.com
I am also 64 and have been on Xanax about 7 years. My doctor switched me from the regular tablets to the ER version. I’m on the lowest dose, .5 twice a day. Now I’m supposed to switch to Valium so I can taper.
Can anyone tell me how that switching went ? I went from a total daily dose of Xanax of 1.65 immediately to a total of 1 when I changed over to all extended release. It was a very rough couple weeks, and that’s all I have to compare this to.
How are you doing with your taper. I am 2 and just starting to think about how to go about this. 20 years on .5 Klonopin.
That should read 62!
1 mg Xanax for 10 years. Got advice from pharmacist. I detailed my taper in excel and added comments. I have been clear now for 1 month but still have insomnia. I have been told this will improve. What I did was :-
Weeks 1 and 2: Alternated 1 mg and .5 mgs (I cut 1 mg into 2)
Weeks 3 and 4: .5 mgs nightly
Weeks 5 and 6: Alternated .5 mgs and .25 mgs (Doc gave me RX for .25)
Weeks 7 and 8: .25 mgs nightly
Weeks 9 and 10: Alternated zero and .25 mgs
During taper I also did half Hydroxyzine, and now that I am off Xanax I am taking 1 Hydroxyzine nightly to help with insomnia.
The light at the end of the tunnel but it is tough!
Rachel – I am in the beginning of a taper …. Lorazepam to Valium. This is second “doctor” I am dealing with. I live in Central Coast CA….any suggestions?
Linda
Linda, im in santa barbara and need to wean off….any suggestions….i feel confused and lost with this
Jennifer Conrow, Go very slow. I have been on this crap for 13 yrs at 6mgs a day. I am currently at 1.5mg a day and it took 6 months to get this far. My Doc has me taking .5mg less every two months.
Hi did he take you from Xanax straight to volume and did you have any withdrawal symptoms I’m currently on klonopin and want to changed it valium so I can eventually weaning down off of it
Hi. Am 40 years female and have been on lexotan 3mg at night for and propranolol 10mg 3 times daily for anxiety for two weeks. Please how do I taper the drugs. Thanks in anticipation.
I have been taking Xanax about a year… I gradually worked up from doing it on the weekend about .5 mg to taking up to 2 mg a day for about six months ….I have reduced myself to .25 mg and I would do that every two weeks I felt a little uncomfortable but I’m dealing with it so far … I read in the Ashton report about the diazepam or valium and also read that it’s an antidepressant as well as anti-anxiety and anticonvulsant so I started taking that to help with the withdrawals coming off of the Xanax . I only have a weeks left of .25 mg of Xanax and I’m almost done. My question is now how do I taper off of the Valium or diazepam. . That I’ve only been taking about a month since I got into the .25 part of my tapering schedule for the Xanax . I cannot afford to miss work or have seizures or anything of that nature and I only have about 6010 mg diazepam left.. Any advice would be appreciated I was wondering if I should cut the 10mg valium with a pill cutter in 4 ..25 mg pieces and reduce that .25 mg every two weeks as well . Any advice would be much appreciated please I would like to keep this confidential and no I cannot go back to the doctor to get more medication
Go one line and google THE ASHTON MANUAL for proper dosing and all info about the Withdrawel symptoms!!!! You cannot just stop fast or you’ll go crazy! Make sure you can get enough Valium to stop slowly as needed!!!!! The Valium is just as horrible to stop but u just have to go slow !!!!
Hi I been taking Lorazapam for 2, 3 years now and decided it not doing the right thing anymore. My next step..CBD oil! Ive been taking my meds every other day and taking CBD oil in between. I had some nervous moments with anxiety (maybe withdrawel) but so far so good. I get worried when i hear about having to take a long term withdrawel but these are doctors who wont change. I,m not saying there wrong but my only out in my Mind is CBD oil. It,s very promising to see what ailments it has cured or aleviated. Arthritis(yes it helped me with that) alzhiemers, PTSD opiod withdrawel kidneys, liver, depression, anxiety and 50 + more. It is discovered that our bodies are equipped with CBD receptors that react to CBD oil in which they improve the performance of our functions in our body, our brain and many metabolism functions. AlsI am also 68 years old and i,m tired of the drug companies getting over and making us more sick! Rich D.
I wish my daughter’s doctor had been that wise. She took her off practically cold turkey, and she has suffered for 3 months. She feels stuck now–doesn’t know how long this will last.
Why do people have to completely be benzo free to have a happy, productive life. I’d rather be on 1/4 mg Klonopin daily and feel good, than not to have it and feel like committing suicide. The withdrawal sickness is beyond description. At 70 years old, does it really matter if I take my 1/4 pill daily? It’s not like I’m going to live for another 10 or 15 years. Let people who are dependent and NOT requiring an increase in medication live a normal life without outside interference.
You’ll develop tolerance to even this 1/4 of your drug. What will you do then? If the withdrawal issues end in, say, 6 months, think of quitting imo.
Carol, your point is very much in accordance with Ashton’s opinion: Anyone who is currently happy taking benzodiazepines should never be forced off the drug. This is a personal decision. It is not known who can or cannot successfully come off of benzodiazepines. 10% of Ashton’s 300 or so patients were unsuccessful and she does state that suicides have been reported in the literature. Most certainly suicides are reported in every benzodiazepine internet support group. Every individual who decides to come off of benzodiazepines or any other psychotropic must factor the risks versus the benefits and make their own decision.
Thanks Mary you are so right, everyone is differant. However it hasnt been helping in the last 6 months so i,m leaning on CBD oil. Please read my last responses to other comments. Thanks Rich D.
You can become tolerant to this Drug and have to keep going up on it for it to help you anymore. You can’t keep going up.
Have been on Xanax for 35years because of deaths panicattacks and life. I feel fine but they want me to taper. I take 3 1 mg a day also have fibro and sleep disorder.i try but not sure blood work fine feel good.
Carol, The government got in our business cuz of the oxycodon, so now we all pay the price.
Carol
You are a sensible woman, the question is rhetorical, you know the answer.
The guy that has a glass or two of wine each day, and lives life to the fullest,
is far better off than the individual who is miserable, and justifies feeling so,
saying he drinks no alcohol at all.
Carol,
I hear you! My PCP has been prescribing 1 mg. lorazepam three times a day for over 30 years. He retired and my new doctor nearly killed me by prescribing an SSRI which I told him I had already tried and had very bad adverse reactions. Also, SSRI’s are contraindicated when taking amiodarone concomitantly. He insisted I take 20 mg of paroxetine per day. I told him I would start with 2.5 mg due to the adverse reaction I have had before. I had a reaction immediately, but he said I would get used to it and to keep taking it working up to 5 mg. per day. The increase exacerbated my adverse reaction and my doctor told me to stop taking it right away after I fainted. He told me to go to a psychiatrist one or two times and if he agreed I continue on lorazepam, he would continue to prescribe it for me. I knew it was a ploy so he wouldn’t have to prescribe it any longer for the hospital system he belongs to frowns upon prescribing benzos. I thought the psychiatrist was on board with me remaining on lorazepam, but he has been decreasing it by 1/2 every two months; thus, I am now taking 2 mg. per day. I do not want to taper and it should be my decision. I’m 73 years old and as you say, how long am I going to live? Probably not long, for I have other serious health issues. I have been trying to find a new psychiatrist and they either don’t take Medicare, they are self-pay, they are not taking any new patients, or they are retiring. I think I found one today and I hope he will agree that I can remain on 2 mg. of lorazepam per day. Sorry for the book!
carol, if you feel this way, why are you on the site?
I have been taking Teva clonazepam for 23 years at 2 mg. Daily. Teva no longer sells the medication, and the substitute made by another company makes me feel worse. I would like to know more about tapering, as I have no understanding of how to do this correctly.
I have been taking Klonopin long term and would also like to get started. Have you started? Is your doctor helping you?
If you decide to taper, find a doctor who knows something about it. If they don’t you will suffer needlessly. Do your research before you go to the doctor. If they say they won’t taper, find another doctor.
Hello
I’m confused. I’m at 8mg valium. When cutting 10% every 2 weeks it starts off looking like this:
8
7 – 12.5%
-.7
6.3 – 10%
-.63
5.67 – 10%
-.567
5.10 – 10%
-.510
4.59 – 10%
-.459
4.13 – 10%
How does one get to each of these odd sized doses?
I appreciate your help.
Dave
One of the major problems covered here is dosing preventing safe withdrawal: https://benzoinfo.com/2018/02/06/why-currently-available-benzodiazepine-dosages-prevent-safe-withdrawal/
Some suggested ways can be found here: https://benzoinfo.com/2017/10/09/benzodiazepine-tapering-strategies-and-solutions/
Thanks for the info. Do you have info with specifics answering my question above. How do I dose fir instance 5.67?
And Dr Ashton’s drops on her schedules aren’t 5-10%. If I’m not mistaken. Still trying to find a plan to drop 10% every two weeks from 8mg valium. The numbers I come up with are 5.67,4.13 etc. hope I’m being clear.
It’s explained on tapering strategies page. You need a 0.001 g scale or a compound.
Dave it shouldn’t make a difference until you are almost done with the taper and then just maybe. if you are tapering from 10mg just cut 0.5mg every 2 weeks until 5mg then cut .25 until. 2mg. The worry about smaller cuts, but you’ll be 805 done by then.
That taper rate suggested by Yoman is too fast and it does make a big difference.
Yo
That’s way tooooo fast . Perhaps you don’t have sensitivities to taper . Please reconsider your amounts and references.
I know this is old message, but it may help others.
If you bought a cheap milligram type scale off ebay, you can cut up the pills and weight them, so when 5.67mg is needed just weight it out….
I have gone through this and I used a compounding pharmacy to take my pills and powderize them and suspend them in a liquid, it was real easy to dose out even 0.05mg! Due to the fact that the solution I got was very “watered down”, it was done using a syringe. For example 100cc of liquid may contain 10 mg of drug, so taking 1cc or 1cc/100cc would mean you took 1/100 of 10mg of drug or 0.1mg, then when you need to taper even less get 100cc with 5mg of drug and then each cc has 0.05mg…. its very accurate this way!
No do you not follow that 10% rule that’s BS the Ashton manual is OK but it’s not for a lot of people. If you want to do this successfully go to YouTube and type in crazycanuck Watch all four of his YouTube videos and follow his method he was taking 1 mg of clonazepam which is equal to 20 mg of Valium he’s been off now for 15 months now and he has had zero with drawl symptoms this allows you to make microdose in reductions if you do start to feel some type of with drawl symptoms you hold at that point I am following his method and it’s better than the ashen manual remember don’t use the percentage use the ML method please watch his videos I tried the action manual it took me a year to get off of my Valium and then on the 15th Day I started to have severe withdrawal symptoms I had to be reinstated now it’s going a lot better zero with drawl symptoms following the crazycanuck method.
My primary doctor just packed up and closed his office.Stopped taking my insurance anyway.Have went to 2 different new doctors that accepts my insurance. None would fill my prescription for Klonopin 0.5 mg once a day?? Been taking same dosage for 6 years.. Now I’m out with no where to turn?? Want to taper off this crap,but nobody wants to help?? Any advice?? I know there getting heat to quit prescribing this stuff ?? Shouldn’t they at least help you taper?? Not cold turkey?? So much for the oath they take??Sure could use some help?? Can’t keep taking off work driving from doctor to doctor to refill this crap so I can taper off of it!!!
How awful. Check out our resources https://www.benzoinfo.com/resources there’s support groups and doctors willing to help patients taper on there.
Thank you!! I will..
BIC. There are no Drs listed for where I live which is CT🙁 Can anyone help??!!
Hi. I also live in CT and need to find a doctor to assist me taper. Just wondering if you found one yet?
When either of you find one please let us know if they’re reasonable and willing to be listed! https://www.benzoinfo.com/doctors/
I had one dr. In CT who supported my taper many years ago but knew nothing about how to do it. I followed the Ashton Manual but it did not work. As a PhD in Biopsychology as of June 2019 I know of no drs. in CT who supervise a taper. I even tried a “detox” facility in Florida who didn’t know what they were doing. BIC resources list a few drs. in a few states but none in CT. 😥
Need help here too mike
Is there any way to force someone to taper off the klonopin, as my nephew has been hospitalized over 3 times in the past two months, he is now in matc, ordered sectioned by a judge. I’m sure he is suffering severe withdrawal symptoms, hallucinations, paranoia, rage, lost 80 lbs in six months, and more, our family is hoping the treatment center will taper him, because he is acting psychotic, but he is in such denial, and so stubborn, his life is in shambles, he is suicidal also. Currently he is prescribed suboxone and klonopin, but he cannot manage his own meds as he is out of his mind. He has been prescribed Xanax adderall, adavan, Valium, and other meds for over 15 years. We’re at a loss on how to help.
My doctor has now prescribed Clonazepam in liquid form, so I have more options and the ability to reduce at 10% a week as suggested in the Ashton Manual.
Right now I’m trying to stabilize after reducing my morning dose from .25MG to .125MG on May 24, then reducing my evening dose just one week later on May 31 from from .25MG to .125MG; so I updosed my evening dose back to .25MG on June 5… so I’m loosely giving myself 3 weeks to stabilize continuing using the Clonazepam tablets before transitioning to the liquid Clonazepam the week of June 25… probably on June 28. Even after speaking with the pharmacist I have some questions as now I have more options as it seems.
Do I stay at the current morning and evening dosages and do the liquid equivalencies (morning 3.3 mL, evening 6.7 mL), which is 10 mL a day… or do I make it simpler (as stated by the pharmacist) and just take 5 mL in the morning and 5 mL in the evening?
Also, going forward, when I do my weekly 10% reductions, do I do an evening reduction one week, then a morning reduction the next week, etc.; or do I reduce the morning by 5% and the evening by 5% (as stated by Jim) so both are reduced by the same amount each week?
In addition, the pharmacist said he went over my list of current medications and said he believes I would have reduced withdrawal and anxiety if I used CBD Oil — he brought this up; he said he recommends trying it at 1 mg doses as needed. He also recommends using L-Theanine at 200 mg, 2-3 times a day for anxiety and withdrawal symptoms. He said the amount I’m getting from drinking decaf green tea is minute. Thoughts and insight on this are greatly appreciated.
L-Theanine will not help, and more likely to hurt. Some people have success with CBD oil, some are worsened by it. Check out the resources at https://www.benzoinfo.com/resources
L-theanine hasn’t helped me, personally, during any type of taper be it sedatives or cannabis. It’s not necessarily a stimulant, but it seems to make my inner voice sort of hammer on and on in deep focus, and I really don’t want to be focusing inward so much for hours. People are different though and may not notice anything, or it might help them get into the right place, you won’t know until you try it, and if you can, trial a very small test in very small portions. With pills, breaking off a small piece (if not time released!) or pouring out some powder from a capsule is a good way to go. I like that for supplements/vitamins/herbs in general since I’ve had mostly bad reactions that I wouldn’t otherwise have outside of withdrawals. With that being said, with everything being on the fritz things could go any direction, any time it seems. Sometimes I’ve found myself to like foods or doing certain things which were the total opposite of what I preferred before. It’s a reminder of how powerful and intricate we are inside down to a microscopic level.
——-
On CBD… TL; DR: CBD has helped me on all the major fronts (sleep-regulating and quality, pain, anxiety, nutrient absorption), just give it time and trial hemp CBD products. Be prepared to spend $30-100+ on some products, but for me, they’re completely worth it and may be helping me get through this third taper and very possibly the last.
——
I tried only hemp CBD, to ensure no ingestion of THC since I’m quite sensitive to THC at this time. After some trials for the last 3~ months, I have found significant relief on 3 major levels. First of all, I want to say in the beginning when I take anything new, I tend to get anticipation anxiety in general, so this can sometimes skew the results in the start. Take that into consideration if you do feel some anxiety come up and try to work through it if you can with breathing and reassuring yourself you’re safe and will be okay. If not, at worse, you can wait it out or see a doctor but you will probably already be able to calm down by the time your name get’s called in the waiting room and you could just be laying in bed or relaxing at home for all that… CBD is best used consistently, letting it build up in our system for at least two weeks to get a better gauge on if this is something you find helping you. CBD first noticeably helped me with sleep. I felt like I had something I could take to relax that wasn’t going to cause adverse effects, a new dependency, and is working naturally WITH my body, actually helping to guide it to natural homeostasis. I would suggest looking up the role the endocannabinoid system in the body plays…it’s about as complex and spread out as our GABA receptors, which this also will not tamper with. Some things like chamomile even are gabaergic, being it won’t help the GABA receptor recover as it too is acting as an uptake regulator continuing the cycle of your brain is dependent on something else to regulate GABA. No beuno. Not only could I nod off without feeling like I needed a benzo before bed, the sleep was SOLID, like, 8 hours of deep quality sleep. I looked it up and it turns out it does improve the quality of sleep, so not just sleep, but deep healing type of sleep. I know many people have insomnia going through the taper, and I’m not on the lowest end yet or off, but I don’t see why this wouldn’t be of help on some level as opposed to nothing. It’s not going to knock you hard like a Seroquel or something, it just feels subtle, yet natural. Whew, moving on, pain. There is so much weird pain ranging from weird nerve signals to aches of inactivity or the pains that come with depression and being in such a horrible slump in life. You might not be eating the best so your inflammation is up. Prior injuries or arthritis is compounded. It took me some time to notice the pain management qualities. I’ve tried products ranging from the tincture drops, pure concentrate pastes (both raw and decarbed CO2 extraction), pure isolate, CBD ediles, and Plus brand CBD oil capsules. I personally avoid coconut/MCT oils as they can upset my stomach and be stimulating. I aim for a pure form, the concentrated paste (nothing added), and if drops, I go with just hemp oil and CBD hemp infusions, as long as there’s no coconut I’m good.
So far the best way for me is taking the Plus CBD capsules, 15mg each. This gets all the way through my body and I noticed, finally, CBD is the ONLY thing to ever cut through nerve/neuropathic type of pain. I take 1 when I wake and don’t take too much because I can get a bit too tired by noon and need a nap which messes with my sleep schedule. I must say though if I do mess up on my sleep I can usually fix it in a day or two easily with extra CBD. Extra won’t hurt once you’re on a solid regimen with no negative effects. If anything I just get more tired, but that’s preferred to pacing around in panic and wanting to crawl out of my skin. So that’s sleep, and pain, two very big complaints during taper. Then we have the elephant in the room, anxiety. So far it’s something I have felt take a panic attack from a 9 to a 4 in a couple of minutes with some belly breathing. For these occasions, I use the sublingual method with the drops or paste. It works well for on the spot anxiety pangs, it won’t knock you down but you will notice it’s better than nothing at all. It seems to mostly keep things balanced, but not 100% and I couldn’t expect that during a benzo taper. No other medications have helped and often make things worse, but CBD is like that missing supplement that is natural and so safe compared to other pharmaceuticals that could worsen or cause NEW symptoms. Ugh, enough with the psychiatric drugs already. Some extra bonuses I discovered were it helps me to stay calm and cool. I have quite a temper, especially around PMS time, and mood swings with tapering. On CBD I rarely yell, my partner noticed as well. Just realized it one day like, I haven’t been infuriated by some stupid thing in 2 weeks straight. For me that’s big, huge, and such a relief for others I’m sure. Finally, not to say this is it with the miracle stuff, but, if you didn’t know, benzos block nutrient absorption, among other things. I am skinny, but booooy did I waste away on klonopin. I could feel my body falling apart, I felt 80 years old, I’m 30. I was prone to injuries and couldn’t do as much at work at one point. I could just feel that unhealthy feeling where I felt so frail no matter how much or good I ate. With CBD, and incorporating more vitamins gradually, I feel less frail. I feel stronger and I looked it up, guess what? CBD increases nutrient/mineral absorption! It’s a miracle supplement for this situation on many levels. You may not feel it take away all of your troubles, but wow, I haven’t found something natural, that covers so many bases, in a way that is so beautifully harmonious. CBD products are not cheap, but they are 100% worth every penny you can scrounge up. They may be cheaper than some other alternatives, snake oils, and nutraceuticals and DVDs etc… I’m not wasting my time with anything else at this point. I feel CBD may have not only offered me a life raft out of this pit of hell, but a new way to manage my anxiety going forward.
Hi. I have heard of using the CBD as well….actually your post is the only thing i have read that actually gives me hope. Im a single mom and i really think this would make my taper easier. I have heard of it but im at a loss as to where to buy it or how to buy it and what brand? Please help me with that information. You would be saving a life. Thank you
After working in the medical field 18 years and being on klonopin 2mg at bedtime I am starting the liquid method this week . I watched Lisa Ling’s program on Benzo’s the hidden new crisis and decided I wanted off. So I was told if 2mg equals 5ml I will take 4.9 ml for 2-3 weeks then taper down to 4.8 2-3 weeks and continue until I’m completely off. It could take me a year or longer but I don’t care . This stuff is bad news should of never been put on it and especially 20 years . Problem is, Doctors know how to prescription, but have not education in getting someone off . I’ve been on it so long it’s not helping with the anxiety so why would I want to continue taking . My body is terribly addicted. I tried cutting from 2 mg to 1-1/2 by pills per my doctor. Fourth day was hell . He told me to go back to my 2mg . However no help was offered . I had to do all the investigation and I’m praying that thru liquid form , exercise that in a years time that evil drug will be out of my system. I am not substituting it with anything. I want to see what it feels like to be me . If the panic and anxiety returns I’ll get my talk therapist to help and learn how to manage through tough times without any drugs . Any compound pharmacist can make for you , insurance will not cover , it’s costing me roughly one month $55.00. God bless all of you , we all can do this ..get off it ! It’s again a very bad drug .
So this was 9 months ago? Did u make thru your taper? And how are u now?
I have tried CBD Oil even with THC as well as L-theonine and they did nothing to help me. Resources listed by BIC are very very sparse.
Mark. If you go to benzo.alwaysdata.net you’ll find a different methods of tapering.one is liquid. With the help of your farmacist you can put the numbers and you have the option of what percentage you want to reduce or qty. The good thing is that you can produce a spreadsheet where you can reduce daily (most recomended)you can figure also if you want cut and hold. Have a look is going to help track your progress. Im in the same bote like you. Im at 0.375 of clonazepan and is getting tougher to cut the pills. So im switching to liquid and tappering daily reduction. Not stated yet. Kind of anxious how it will go. But ill do my best to get rid of this poison. Let me know how it goes.
How are you doing miguel
I was put on Valium at age 15 approx. I am now 66yrs. I tried to withdraw many times,many years ago…with groups, it was cold turkey then but I was younger, however, I always felt tapering slowly was better.
I suffered fits and ended up in hospital only to be…..yes, you guessed correctly, put back on Valium again.
I currently take 10mg daily to keep withdrawal at bay. I feel after so many years it is deeply ingrained in my body and mind. Is it worth the protracted withdrawals? I have made attempts to wean off SSRIS but have suffered greatly with rebound depression. The withdrawals themselves , I was able for [although I had to keep saying to myself, this is not you, this is the tablets].
Hi, I was once put on upward of 10 1mg Ativan per day by a bad doc. I have PTSD & Major Depressive Disorder as well as a host of physical ailments-including post cancer-all physical since this event-the doctor decided he wasn’t going to refill my prescription, so I knew it wouldn’t be good but I just went with it. On 3rd day with no sleep I woke or began to full on hallucinate. I saw people in the trees around my house with long guns shooting into my home & no one would listen to me & get down. I kept closing the blinds & running from place to place then my mind would think,”Oh theres a window right there, they can see me. Or I’d be in the pantry huddled down & think, Oh the bullets can pierce this wall.” This went on for so long-during which time the war in Kosovos was going on & I saw refugees walking down my road with donkeys & children & I had them all come into my yard & stay & I gave them all my clothes then everyone got disentery & there were rivers of stool running thru my yard. One night a husband & wife with their children came to me in my room & asked if I could let them hide in the attic & I told them to use the shower & then I’d show them how to get into the attic. I went in & turned on the shower & put down towels & fresh clothes & sat on my bed & waited for hours while the water ran. Finally after several hours I lightly knocked on the door but no one answered so I said “are you okay?” there still was no answer so I told them that I was coming in & I opened the door. The room was empty but was full of steam & the shower running. I saw the clothing there & towels & pulled back the curtain to the shower & no one was there. I pondered it & thought, “Oh they went into the attic thru the ceiling! So they are safe.” Then I went outside where the men refugees hog tied me & hoisted me into the air naked & all began raping me. I looked towards my house & saw my son there with all of his friends so ashamed & blaming me for this mess. I felt worthless & horrid confused & frightened. I wound up back inside & the shooting began as the police had come & chased all the refugees out of the property & the shooters came back. I continued to run from place to place & my sons best friend who’d been over nearly everyday was there & this was into it’s second week. He looked at my partner & asked, “Hey how long are you going to let this go on?” He meant me & my bizarre behavior as he’d get popsicles out of the freezer & I’d run & take them from him mumbling poisoned. I kept screaming & pleading with everyone to please get down or they’d get shot. But no one listened or they laughed about it. Finally my partner talked me into going to the ER after my sons friend said that & I was worried how we’d get to the car without getting shot or my son getting killed when we left. But I trusted him & ran to get into his truck covering my head. As we started to go to the hospital I saw my son in a car headed towards the house & screamed for my partner to stop him. He just blew me off that my son would be fine then I looked back & saw the entire house explode as they’d shot the propane tank. I was screaming then as we got on the road to the hospital I looked at my partner & he looked like one of the shooters exactly & I opened the door & tried to jump out but he grabbed my arm just as I was going out. We got to the hospital & I saw the shooter raping a nurse on the lawn where we’d parked & as they were doing intake I saw him approaching the doors to the ER. I ran into the ER & into a room (I used to work there) I blockaded the door with equipment because those people behind the curtains were shooters too. The nurses knew me from work before & pounded on the door begging me to open it & I kept asking how do I know it’s really you and not the shooters? Finally I let one of them in. An old friend. I told her in a moment of clarity about the Ativan dosage & what had happened then I’d snap right back into the hallucination. She asked me to leave the door opened & I told her why I couldn’t & she went to call crisis who came over & interviewed me & didn’t believe me & just thought I was psychotic but gave me a 1mg Ativan which didn’t help. Then I again blocked the door as they called all of the local hospitals to see if they had a place for me but every hospital refused to admit me saying I’d destroy their facility-only one 3+ hours south of me said they’d take me but it’d take multiple ambulance transfers to get me there. During the ride I thought we were being put in protective custody & we’d all be reunited in Texas. However I remember arriving at a facility strapped down & explaining what was happening & why in another moment of clarity only to be injected with a ton of heavy psych meds & I remember nothing until the day they took me out of the watching room & allowed me in the day room with my hands shaking so uncontrollably I couldn’t feed myself. I found out later from their notes that for nearly 2 more weeks I was in that room being watched day & night as I “literally tried to climb the walls”-their words. I was abandoned their by my partner who kept my child & wound up their for 2 months as I had no one & no where to go. Those hallucinations were so real that they still haunt me the smells the sounds the memories are so real. Then I was in 2 bad car accidents & got Breast Cancer as well as a broken jaw spine injury & head injury & was put on a ton of various meds including 140mg of Oxycontin & 600 4X’s a day of Gabapentin, 25mg hydroxyzine 4X’s a day, 25mg of promethazine 4X’s a day, Baclofen, Valium 5mg at bed, Lunesta highest dose at bed, plus 3 1mg Klonopin a day with a host of other meds. I stopped taking 1 of the Klonopin because I didn’t need it with the Valium at night & never missed it. Then I went into Heart Failure due to my labs being all over the place & fully coded but was revived. There I asked them to cut my pain meds as far as they felt they could safely & they told me I had to take the Klonopin wether I wanted to or not but that they were stopping the Valium & cut my pain meds in 1/2. Since then I have stopped all the other meds except now am down to the last 5mg of Oxycodone & was skipping the morning dose of Klonopin as I didn’t feel like I needed it until I changed my pain med schedule & cut the 5mg in 1/2 taking 1/2 in a.m. 1/2 in p.m. then with the 2 Klonopin 1mg each at bed & 1 25mg Metoprolol for migraines I couldn’t sleep for 3 days & got the worse headache I’ve ever had & couldn’t stop it. So I think I shouldn’t be trying to get off both of them at the same time so I started to take the 1 5mg Oxycodone w/2 1/2 mg Klonopin & 1 25mg Metoprolol so I could sleep but I went into a rage the night I started this before I started it. I punched a window, tried to put my head thru a window, tried climbing out a window when it was below zero, smashed everything I could screamed FUCK YOU! Over & Over & Over until I lost my voice. Then I went into my room & took the meds as described above & slept until 9:24 that morning this past Monday. Then I decided on Tuesday because I was still in a rage & not behaving normally that I should take 1/2 or .5mg of Klonopin around noon but I don’t think I should be taking the rest all at night but am terrified of getting another out of control Migraine. Do you have any advice for me? I am trying to get my life back & when they took the valium away I was in a rage for 2months & lived in the woods in my car alone so as not to hurt anyone or myself although all day I looked for a tree to hang myself on with the noose I’d made off of youtube. Please give me a hand & help me I don’t want to be in a hospital but want to get off this crap & have already had the wearwithall to get off of so much of it. Oh-I did see pain management & they said I had to stop the Klonopin but needed the huge amount of pain meds & their plan was to take a mg away every 3 days so I’d be off of the Klonopin in a bit over a week-I knew that was nuts as I’d just finally come home after the Valium fiasco. Hence my fear of even bringing this up to my doctor or anyone other than the person I live with. I just want life back! Please! Thanks, Bonnie
Honestly, and I am not an expert, but it seems to me that a detox facility or a hospital might be necessary to see you through a detox. That is just my view though. Good luck!
Usually they’re not of help, but harm people. https://benzoinfo.com/2018/04/20/why-prescribed-benzo-patients-shouldnt-go-to-detox-or-rehab/
That did not work for me and Benzo Info.com made up of experts strongly advise against it and since I had first hand experience with a detox facility in Florida (Longview) which only severely further traumatized me!!
Can you please supply me with this information as I am attempting a volume taper and not doing very well at all at this moment I feel like I am dying and don’t think I can make it. Thank you in advance for any information
Hi Lily, Thank You for the information. I will look into it. I got off the narcotic meds easily but then getting off of this garbage has been very challenging especially once I realized the danger my current Dr was putting me in back in Jan. & Dec. when I’d had several appointments cancelled upon arrival at the office & as I was leaving to get to the appointments. Then in July I saw my Dr & he assured me he had called in the prescription & I reminded him that I didn’t need it until the end of the month. He acknowledged this & said it wasn’t a problem until the end of the month came & I called the pharmacy to refill the script. The pharmacist said they’d never called it in & he would fax them & I should call them. I called & left them a message…waited till next day & called the pharmacy…still no prescription & I’m now out of the medication (Klonopin). The pharmacist told me he’d fax them again & to call them again. I called again & let them know about the situation & that I was out. The following day I called the pharmacy & still no prescription again they told me to call the Dr’s office again. I called & now it’s 3 days without medication. I was going with a friend who’d had cancer then to radiation treatments, when I got home I called the pharmacy & was told still nothing. The following day on 4th day the “nurse” called me & said it was called in earlier in the month but because I’d not picked it up it disappeared. This struck me as very strange so I thought I’m calling the pharmacy to see if this is true. The pharmacist was very upset & said to me, ” Listen, they are being super unprofessional. If they’d called that prescription in it wouldn’t vanish for 6months. It’s not a script that need a new one each time.” He asked me if I was going to be home because this was very concerning to him & psychosis can develop as I all too well know so he said he was calling them & would call me back as soon as he spoke to them. I was supposed to go with my friend again to radiation so I told him this & he said to stop on the way home. While at the hospital with my friend I became very sick & lost control of my bowels. When we went back to go home we stopped at the pharmacy & my friend went in to get my prescription for me because I wasn’t feeling well at all & hadn’t slept in days, with bad diarrhea. When my friend went into the pharmacy he was told by the pharmacist the the Dr’s nurse told him that I’d called too many times & was an annoying patient as well as ranting about me for over 20min. He didn’t want to share with my friend all they’d said about me but he thought they were very unprofessional but that he had gotten a “verbal” prescription finally from the nurse. Fast forward this week…I’ve been fighting for 2+ months with the practice which is tied to the local hospital. Yesterday I was having severe heart symtoms & had asked that this “nurse” not call me for any reason or escort me to appointments as I didn’t want to have to play nice when I knew what she’d said & done to my. Then the staff had her call me to tell me to go to the ER. I hung up shaking & sick…3 min later a 2nd nurse called & started an argument with me about the prescription after I was just told to go to the ER for heart symptoms. She 1st told me it was filled & disappeared. I explained that my insurance wouldn’t have filled it early for one thing and that the pharmacy leaves messages on the phone when a script is filled & how long you have to pick it up but this never occurred. She then said it was given to a female pharmacist & named her 1st name. I told her a male got the prescription straightened out for me not a woman. This arguing & upset lasted over 15 min until I hung up the phone on her. Then an administrator called & I went over everything that has happened over the past year & she said the there was a notation in my record that it was called in on the 17th of July which was also a false notation as well as a lie because I didn’t even call the pharmacy until the 19th & it wasn’t until the 22nd in the afternoon that it was finally okay’d by the office thanks to the pharmacist. I stressed to the admin. the repercussions of this for me…the seriousness of holding this over my head & making me go for days without the meds. She kept saying that she didn’t understand-“You did get the prescription right?” I told her eventually but not until going without it for almost 5 days. Then she told me the nurse was not the one who said these things except it was because the nurse told me the same lies as the pharmacist and the administrator was told. I was totally humiliated as well as my mental health put in jeopardy & now I don’t trust them at all & do not want to be on any medications for fear it will be used against me. I have in the past 2 yrs developed substantial MS symptoms & now know I’ve had them for nearly 20 yrs with no diagnosis due to just having symptoms treated while no-one was trying to see why these things are happening to me. I’d been feeling a ton better & every time I cut the benzo I felt better & slept better & I am now down to less than 1/2 a 1mg tablet & hoping my recurrence will begin to subside so I can get off the rest & use a natural med for the symptoms. If anyone has any tips for me please tell me I really appreciate all of your help & caring! Take Care-from 3mg down to less than 1/2 now!!!!! Just keep plodding forward folks,,,life is so much better without this in my system & though it’s not pleasant & has been a challenge I got off of 140mg of Morphine & Oxycodone as well as the blood pressure med & most of the Klonopin that I was on without the help or support of any one but you guys! You can do it if I have…I promise! Hang in!
How are u doing these days?
Bonnie, this post is over a year old. I hope your okay by now. Your partner was an A-hole for abandoning you. The Dr who cut you off cold-turkey 10 mgs ativan should be charged with attempted manslaughter as your lucky you survived. Your brain was damaged from that incidence. I’ve been on benzos for 7 years. A Dr reduced me from 4 mgs Xanax to 2 mgs and within a week added 2 mgs klonopin. He’s kept me year at .50 Xanax since my auditory hallucinations start 24 hours after last dose so now I’m on 5 mgs valium daily equivalent to .25 mg xanax. I’ve landed in psych wards twice for trying to commit suicide. Yeah i was discovered breathing about twice a minute and by a miracle I was found on time. Im sorry but you’ve been let down by the medical community. Don’t go to a detox facility for benzodiazepine withdrawal. They don’t wean patients long enough and it can cause brain damage that takes years to heal. My Dr considers them in-humane as many just rip you off meds and monitor your vitals in case you stroke out. Pish. So even with my history of suicidal depression, Dr shopping, failed urine screens (I’ve been difficult) my Dr still wants me in control of the length of time it takes to come off meds. We know our bodies the most. Sadly some of us are more sensitive to the effects of withdrawal and benzos are dangerous to cut off without tapering properly. Im saying this because I want people to know there are Dr’s who care and won’t allow you to suffer needlessly. My Dr saved a patients life after one Dr cut her off klonopin CT and the E.R Dr refused to help saying he wouldn’t support her addiction. She’d NEVER taken more than prescribed or abused meds. Physical dependence and addiction are seperate. Though I’m both. The E.R Dr wrote her off, sent her home and told her husband the withdrawal could kill her but he wouldn’t contribute to her addiction by writing a script. So just go home and die?? Hypocritic oath VS Hippocratic. My Dr wrote the script and helped her wean off. He also is the Dr who doesn’t judge opiate addicts and prescribes meds to safely withdrawal. Don’t let Dr’s dismiss your concerns. Its our bodies and we need to be our own advocates or find a friend who can advocate for us. Get a new Dr if your current one won’t help. I hope your doing well
Hi Rachel,
I appreciate your candid thoughts on this. I call doctors: Whitecoated Assasins. What NO ONE talks about is that the process of taking anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs is that it up-regulates the receptors for the hormone/neurotransmitters that it affects. Therefore, when you wean of the durgs the setpoint for the body expecting Serotonin or GABA or other chemistry is extremely high, so when you fall below that setpoint those excessive numbers of receptors are crying for more that then often pushes the person to take more drugs instead of weaning. That that does is raises the genetic upregulation of receptors so that now you are in a deeper hole then before starting the wean. This is Romper Room biochemistry yet I have never seen any ‘professional’ address this because they want patients for life. Well for as long as the person lives if they don’t kill themselves. Since I am not a doctor I cannot offer any solution to the downregulation of those receptors other than to say that Ashton says that GABA really isn’t the target so supplementing with that is not helpful. Added to the fact that GABA has some influence on growth hormone so it can affect someone with cancer. The strategy would be to find the hormone/neurotransmitter/amino acids specific to the drug damage and use that as a transition from the poison to life-molecules and allow PLENTY of time for those receptors to downregulate on their own so that you can lower and/or quit the poison with the least amount of distress. Anxiety as defined by the Ancient Chinese was to hold your breath. It is hypoxia. If you read the warnings on Valium it says it can cause respiratory depression. That sounds like the drug causes the thing that caused the problem in the first place. It also says it shouldn’t be taken over three weeks. For those who have suffered for decades then you call for charges on what I would call premeditated murder using chemical warfare agents is simply logic that you could teach to a third grader. All my best.
I was on 1 mg klonopin for over a year. Prior I had been off for a few years but before that I was always on a high dose over 3mg of xanax or klonopin. I always went into detox and detoxed rapidly and it was awful. 3 months ago I dropped my klonopin dose to .25 on my own (lots of anxiety) switched to valium 2.5 two times a day. Recently started to forget to take the other half at night. About a week ago I forgot to take the entire daily dose twice. So about a week ago I decided to just stop. I feel absolutely nothing and I’m shocked. Zero withdrawl, sleeping great no anxiety. It’s like I’m just waiting for the withdrawal beast to start and nothing is happening!!! Had anyone else ever experienced this?!
Jackie, I have been on clonazapam 3x in my life. First time on .5 once daily for 9 years! Second time same dose but only one month. Third time is current same dose now 20 months. I got off after 9 years on my own, tapered over 3 months and had basically no withdrawal. Stayed off 6 years. Second time was also easy, stopped all at once with no withdrawals. This time, not so lucky, but down to .25 once daily and holding. I’ve not switched over to Valium. I’ve switched to gabapentin and it’s stopped breakthrough anxiety and prevented increasing this dose. I’m shaving off a bit of the .5 Clonazapam with an emery board and will wait a month before doing it again. But, yes, it was so easy first time even though was on 9 years! I want off!! I’m happy for you!! Never again because no promises it will always be so easy.