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How To Avoid Withdrawal Symptoms While Weaning Off From Klonopin?
I have been on clonazepam, 1MG for about 12 years. I was put on it when I was having 3-5 major panic attacks day, due to a nervous breakdown as a result of an emotional abusive marriage. I have over the past 5 tears been taken off all my anti-depressant/anxiety medication except cymbalta for pain and been doing excellent. Now my psychiatrist at last visit 2 months ago said to taper off Klonopin. I was taking two 1 MG all these years. He said instead of two whole ones( one in the AM and one in the afternoon) to take a whole one at night and a 1/2 tablet in the afternoon. When I see him in mid May, I assume the next 1/2 will be removed. The whole tablet at night does not help me sleep at all. I am so sleep deprived but have tried to push through the day with exercise at the YMCA. I have heart palpitations too. I ve had an anxiety disorder most of my life. Depression usually follows if it is very high, like right now. I am an artist and my hands shake so bad I can t draw or paint and lack of sleep makes it difficult to focus. How long will this reduction take as I am starting to panic over it and need sleep. My daughter takes Salexa for her anxiety disorder and has never been happier. i know once I m off of this Klonopin, I will still need an anti-anxiety medication. Is Salexa a good one to take? Approximately how long will I feel like this and how long will it take to be completely off of it? I am desperate and now starting to cry a lot also. My psychiatrist will not see anyone before their appointments because of an overload of patients. Please help me. I am losing HOPE!! Any suggestions in the mean time. The pharmacist told me to take two benadryl for sleep. I sleep about 2-3 hours and wake up in a panic and exhausted and sick to my stomach. I now find it hard to cook and eat healthy and/or at all!! I love people and enjoy doing activities with them. I want to feel calm and very happy again like before I started this process. I am an active 71 year old woman and want my life back before we drive out to MA to see my daughter and grandchildren the first week of June! I have two young grandchildren here nearby also and very involved in their lives. I volunteer for Hospice and nursing homes and make extra cash with my Art. but won t go in this condition. Please make me feel better and give me a timeline, if possible how long this will take? Melatonin does not help me sleep.By the way, my marriage has been healed for about 4 years now. My husband has been my greatest supporter!! But this withdrawal has put me in Hell again!! PLEASE RESPOND SOON!!
Fri, 5 May 2017
Hi,
I have read your question and understand the pain you are going through.
you have been taking Klonopin for many years and your body got addicted to this medicine. Timeline for withdrawal symptoms is different for different patients, depend on duration of the drug taken. Patients who take klonopin for longer period may experience withdrawal symptoms for longer period, as their body had been dependent on that medication.
Gradual tapering off of medicine may help to reduce withdrawal symptoms your doctor would reduce the dose every two weeks and will take you off of the medication and might put you on another medication under his close monitoring.
withdrawal symptoms usually start within 2 days of your last dose intake and can reach to peak in 2 weeks and can subside after a week in some patients and in some it may continue months.you might need to consider for klonopin rehab if symptoms do not go away or your doctor may put you on another medication to control your anxiety.
In some patients anxiety is life long and they might need to be on medication life long if it keeps relapsing.
Its good celexa is working for your daughter, but its not necessary it will work for you as well. Do not try to take any medication without doctors prescription.
For sleep I would suggest you to do breathing exercise, meditation along with melatonin, if it does not work, I would recommend try over the counter medication like kavinace ultra PM after discussing with your doctor. Kavinace is a amino acid approach to brain nutritional supplement, it promotes healthy sleep cycle, help reduce stress and anxiety.
As I have seen in my practice in some patients anxiety returns if patient stops taking medication, in those cases I would suggest them for counselling, exercise, cognitive behavioral therapy, breathing exercise and meditation along with medication.
These alternate therapies are very helpful in calming your anxiety especially cognitive behavioral therapy and meditation helps you to reach root cause of your anxiety and can heal you internally and treat your anxiety.
you seem to be involved in so many activities which are good for your health, keep pushing yourself to be involved in these activities and do not let your anxiety take over you.
Hope this answer is helpful. Take care of yourself.
Thanks
Dr.Pari
I have read your question and understand the pain you are going through.
you have been taking Klonopin for many years and your body got addicted to this medicine. Timeline for withdrawal symptoms is different for different patients, depend on duration of the drug taken. Patients who take klonopin for longer period may experience withdrawal symptoms for longer period, as their body had been dependent on that medication.
Gradual tapering off of medicine may help to reduce withdrawal symptoms your doctor would reduce the dose every two weeks and will take you off of the medication and might put you on another medication under his close monitoring.
withdrawal symptoms usually start within 2 days of your last dose intake and can reach to peak in 2 weeks and can subside after a week in some patients and in some it may continue months.you might need to consider for klonopin rehab if symptoms do not go away or your doctor may put you on another medication to control your anxiety.
In some patients anxiety is life long and they might need to be on medication life long if it keeps relapsing.
Its good celexa is working for your daughter, but its not necessary it will work for you as well. Do not try to take any medication without doctors prescription.
For sleep I would suggest you to do breathing exercise, meditation along with melatonin, if it does not work, I would recommend try over the counter medication like kavinace ultra PM after discussing with your doctor. Kavinace is a amino acid approach to brain nutritional supplement, it promotes healthy sleep cycle, help reduce stress and anxiety.
As I have seen in my practice in some patients anxiety returns if patient stops taking medication, in those cases I would suggest them for counselling, exercise, cognitive behavioral therapy, breathing exercise and meditation along with medication.
These alternate therapies are very helpful in calming your anxiety especially cognitive behavioral therapy and meditation helps you to reach root cause of your anxiety and can heal you internally and treat your anxiety.
you seem to be involved in so many activities which are good for your health, keep pushing yourself to be involved in these activities and do not let your anxiety take over you.
Hope this answer is helpful. Take care of yourself.
Thanks
Dr.Pari
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