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What Are The Major Clonazepam Withdrawal Symptoms?
Question: I have been on xanax for three years. I am trying to get off of it. My doctor prescribed clonazepam 0.5mg 3x day as a step down drug with gabapentin at night 2 x day 600 mg I took a gabpentin last night and slept well but woke up itchy. I read some terrible reviews on clonazemam terrible wirhtdrawals etc. Please give me your thoughts on this. Correction in the text I take 1 .05 of xanax at 6am and the second .5 around 2 -3:00.
Brief Answer:
Treatment plan is fine; dose adjustment needed.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.
I can understand your concerns.
When we have to withdraw from one benzo, we usually replace it with a long acting benzo like diazepam or chlordiazepoxide.
Some clinicians prefer using clonazepam.
I think the strategy is appropriate. But you must take the drug as suggested by doctor. Take care that you gradually reduce the dose of clonazepam.
The equivalent doses are 0.5 mg alprazolam= 0.25mg clonazepam. The replacement therapy can be dosed accordingly.
All benzos can cause withdrawal symptoms, whether it is clonazepam or alprazolam. But the longer acting drugs cause lesser withdrawals. There can be restlessness, anxiety, burning sensationsin body.
However, The intensity of withdrawals drastically reduces if the drug is taken as per advice.
Hope this helps.
Thanks.
Treatment plan is fine; dose adjustment needed.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.
I can understand your concerns.
When we have to withdraw from one benzo, we usually replace it with a long acting benzo like diazepam or chlordiazepoxide.
Some clinicians prefer using clonazepam.
I think the strategy is appropriate. But you must take the drug as suggested by doctor. Take care that you gradually reduce the dose of clonazepam.
The equivalent doses are 0.5 mg alprazolam= 0.25mg clonazepam. The replacement therapy can be dosed accordingly.
All benzos can cause withdrawal symptoms, whether it is clonazepam or alprazolam. But the longer acting drugs cause lesser withdrawals. There can be restlessness, anxiety, burning sensationsin body.
However, The intensity of withdrawals drastically reduces if the drug is taken as per advice.
Hope this helps.
Thanks.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Veerisetty Shyamkumar
Answered by
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