Clonazepam (Klonopin, Rivotril)
- Thread starter erik
- Start date
Inge
Member
Just google benzo protracted withdrawal syndrome. One of the symptoms is T. I took 3 mg a day for 8 years but then i started abusing it for two years. Going of it cold turkey most likely made the withdrawal worse. If you want to get of benzos you should taper very slowy.
Well 3mg is not big dose, but it is not low as well (6-8mg is daily dose for ephilepsy)... So have go of it could turkey or slow?
I take 0.5 mg before a sleep
Inge
Member
That is a very small dose. Why not try cutting it in half and take that for a while before stopping it completely. The longer you use klonopin the more tolerance you develop and you will need more to achieve the same effect. Good luck
MemberMore than a year. I am not worried, member Inge as u see used it for a 8 years, 3mg daily...people with ephilepsy use it for a years in averege 6- 8mg daily (maximum dose is 20mg daily). So 1 year on 0.5 is not heavy, it is smallest dose u can take, 1/4 of pill...
@markoana ive been taking .25 mg and Gabapentin for over a year just wanted others opinion . I hear so many horror stories makes me feel like I should stop imediately ....never know what the right thing to do is? For now I'll just stay the course I'm on thanks
Carlos
Gapabetin + klonopin 0.25. Klonopin dose is really low, about Gap. I have no experience. My advice is just do not go on higher doses, most important is to feel yourself well with less as it's possible dose.
I hate that I need to take anything (even only this one), but we have to cope somehow with this sh*t, until something real come to market...
Stay well Carlos
John Meyers
Member
- Oct 7, 2015
- 364
- Tinnitus Since
- 09/2015
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Just One (1) Loud Rock Concert!
A fellow sufferer mentioned to me that he took .5 of Klonopin/day starting about a week after he got T.
He would split the tablet in half and take .25 at night and .25 in the morning. -- It brought his T down to a 1 (out of 10) with no side effects.
He is tapering off slowing and now that he found the cause of his T (jaw damage from a root canal). -- Unfortunately, he is getting treatment on his jaw now so we won't know if the T came back after stopping with Klonopin.
I took it a couple years ago for mild depression but it turned me into a Zombie and I stopped after a week. -- However, I think that I was taking at least 1 mg/day back then.
My T is currently at a level 6 from a very loud concert 5 1/2 weeks ago. -- I'm only going to take .5/day and will keep you all posted..
He would split the tablet in half and take .25 at night and .25 in the morning. -- It brought his T down to a 1 (out of 10) with no side effects.
He is tapering off slowing and now that he found the cause of his T (jaw damage from a root canal). -- Unfortunately, he is getting treatment on his jaw now so we won't know if the T came back after stopping with Klonopin.
I took it a couple years ago for mild depression but it turned me into a Zombie and I stopped after a week. -- However, I think that I was taking at least 1 mg/day back then.
My T is currently at a level 6 from a very loud concert 5 1/2 weeks ago. -- I'm only going to take .5/day and will keep you all posted..
@John Meyers
T from AC/DC concert? I was at a lonnnnnng distance from a place where they held one concert in open air, and couldn't believe their volume. Probably the loudest band in the world. I wonder how many other victims they made among the people in their unprotected and unaware audience, inducing them T, while they enjoy super professional noise filters. You may find the word harsh, but I think they are nothing less than criminals.
People don't know about noise induced T, but the band members know, and they don't care.
Sorry for the off-topic message, but had to get that off my chest.
Ok, back to Clonazepam.
T from AC/DC concert? I was at a lonnnnnng distance from a place where they held one concert in open air, and couldn't believe their volume. Probably the loudest band in the world. I wonder how many other victims they made among the people in their unprotected and unaware audience, inducing them T, while they enjoy super professional noise filters. You may find the word harsh, but I think they are nothing less than criminals.
People don't know about noise induced T, but the band members know, and they don't care.
Sorry for the off-topic message, but had to get that off my chest.
Ok, back to Clonazepam.
John Meyers
Member
- Oct 7, 2015
- 364
- Tinnitus Since
- 09/2015
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Just One (1) Loud Rock Concert!
I agree Dana.
In Europe, they hand out ear plugs before concerts. -- If that was done here in the states, I would have at least thought twice about cupping my drunk'n ears to hear the guitar solos. -- I don't know how they sleep at night since I'm sure they have T themselves.
I wasn't even supposed to go to that AC/DC show since I saw them twice before and was sort of done with loud concerts. -- Hind sight is 20/20 though, and now this is my new challenge.
This whole T thing has been humbling to say the lease. -- Really makes me appreciate the little things more and is forcing me to be healthier (especially with eating good).
Back to Clonazepam, I just put myself on .5 mg/day and not really noticing much yet but it takes a couple days to fully take effect. -- No plans to do more than .5/day since I did 1 mg/day a couple years ago (for slight depression) and it turned me into a walking zombie.
This forum has been a life-saver for me. -- Although most of the techniques people are trying are less than stellar, talking about it and knowing I'm not alone is keeping me sane (and able to coop).
Just think, before the internet, there were no T support groups and people just had to come to grips with it..
John Meyers
Member
- Oct 7, 2015
- 364
- Tinnitus Since
- 09/2015
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Just One (1) Loud Rock Concert!
Clonazepam Update: I have been on .5 mg/day of Clonazepam for 3 days now. -- I'm also at 6 weeks with T from a incredibly loud concert.
At first, Clonazepam seemed to quiet it down from a 6 to a consistent 4. No side effects except that I am not as spunky and tend to "drift off" at times. I lost my urge to workout and my wife mentioned that I am walking zombie (not to mention lacking with other things!
.5 mg/day is a low dosage, however, I am going to cut it back to just .25 mg/day (just in the evening).
I still think eating healthy and exercising is key to getting T under control and hopefully ridding of it. -- I am taking Omega-3s, B-12, Magnesium, etc but was never a big vitamin supplement believer before T.
Even at a level 5 (no Clonazepam), I am in such a better mindset when I am exercising which ALMOST offsets the T (I emphasize "almost" since we all know that T is extremely annoying especially in the first few months).
P.S. I also cut back on masking (white noise, cricket sound bytes, etc) since I have read that it can actually hamper recovery. -- I guess our brain gets tired of the T ringing sound too and tries to block it out so it may be best to let the brain keep hearing it.
Hang in there everyone!
At first, Clonazepam seemed to quiet it down from a 6 to a consistent 4. No side effects except that I am not as spunky and tend to "drift off" at times. I lost my urge to workout and my wife mentioned that I am walking zombie (not to mention lacking with other things!
.5 mg/day is a low dosage, however, I am going to cut it back to just .25 mg/day (just in the evening).
I still think eating healthy and exercising is key to getting T under control and hopefully ridding of it. -- I am taking Omega-3s, B-12, Magnesium, etc but was never a big vitamin supplement believer before T.
Even at a level 5 (no Clonazepam), I am in such a better mindset when I am exercising which ALMOST offsets the T (I emphasize "almost" since we all know that T is extremely annoying especially in the first few months).
P.S. I also cut back on masking (white noise, cricket sound bytes, etc) since I have read that it can actually hamper recovery. -- I guess our brain gets tired of the T ringing sound too and tries to block it out so it may be best to let the brain keep hearing it.
Hang in there everyone!
I've been on 5 mg to 10 mg nightly of Valium for the last year. I vary the dose to keep the body from fully adapting while getting the anxiety relief I need at times. I'm am going to start tapering off it very slowly and gradually. Prior to the Valium, I was on .25 to .5 of Klonopin night for 6 mos. and that is when my Tinnitus started - but I was also using Buspar. It all might have been coincidental as I do have some mild hearing loss, but Buspar is known to cause ear ringing (and didn't work well for me at all - caused light headedness too).
undecided
Member
Valium (diazepam) is a totally useless medication, i'm suprised its still been used to this day...
Ask your doctor to switch you to prazepam. Less side effects, similar half life (so its as easy to taper off benzos using it as valium is), substantially increased therapeutic value (more effective on anxiety and probably the only benzo that has a positive effect on depression as well).
- Aug 21, 2014
- 5,049
- Tinnitus Since
- 1999
- Cause of Tinnitus
- karma
err... both diazepam and prazepam are ultimately metabolized to N-desmethyl-diazepam, so they acheive their long half lives through exactly the same mechanism.
I am unable to find any significant differences in the overall pharmacokinetic profile of prazepam compared to other standard benzodiazepines, so I am hard pressed to imagine why it would be "positive" for depression when benzos are known to create or exacerbate depressive states if used long term?
Bias: I like diazepam better than any of the other benzos, and it definitely knocks my tinnitus way back... but I take it very, very sparingly.
undecided
Member
Prazepam was unknown to me, my neurologist mentioned it during a discussion.
I did a bit of research, mostly out of curiosity, and came across this study. It seems to indicate that prazepam is more effective than diazepam as far as anxiety is concerned.
And this study. It concludes that prazepam is more effective than diazepam for patients with a mild case of depression (that is, it has a measurable effect, its not a cure by any means).
I also happen to be one of those whose T is greatly affected by benzos and much like you, I believe that using them once in a blue moon is not that big a deal.
Using Phenibut is also a good alternative for me, since I get a same-ish effect (on a high dose though).
ive been having mild tinnitus for 15 years, nothing annoying really. lately its been getting more loud, and ive been looking into treatment.
i just dropped a 2mg clonazepam for the first time, and the tinnitus level definitely dropped for me. its not gone at all, but its at my previous low non-annoying levels. so this actually works, atleast for me.
i just dropped a 2mg clonazepam for the first time, and the tinnitus level definitely dropped for me. its not gone at all, but its at my previous low non-annoying levels. so this actually works, atleast for me.
Clonazapam (klonopin) does reduce the tinnitus for some people. However, if taken regularly the body quickly habituates and more needs to be taken to get the same relief, and that's when addiction can set in. I was prescribed it 5 years ago. My ENT Dr advised me of it's addictive nature and I was told to alternate the dosage so the body doesn't get used to it. I never went above taking 2x 0.5mg tablets. I only take it occasionally now when my tinnitus is very intrusive.
When tinnitus increases there is usually a reason, I'm not talking about a spike. If your tinnitus was originally caused by exposure to loud noise and you have habituated for a while, then noticed it is begining to get louder, think back at what you're doing. Are you going to music venues where music is played loud or listening to it through headphones? This could be the reason. Even listening to music through headphones at low volume, some people (not all) can make their tinnitus worse, so be careful.
Michael
When tinnitus increases there is usually a reason, I'm not talking about a spike. If your tinnitus was originally caused by exposure to loud noise and you have habituated for a while, then noticed it is begining to get louder, think back at what you're doing. Are you going to music venues where music is played loud or listening to it through headphones? This could be the reason. Even listening to music through headphones at low volume, some people (not all) can make their tinnitus worse, so be careful.
Michael
i have previously talked about my various things over the years to try to lessen the tinnitus i have had for over 30 years. I cannot even remember all the things i did try. most were herbal things and some medications that i read about on pubmed that said if you have chronic and disabling tinnitus it can and mosre than likely will help reduce the noises.
Approximately 8-10 years ago a neurotologist put me on clonazepam .5 mg once a day at night. i took that for a long time. worried about memory and long term side effects. so i started taking a 1/2 of the .5 mg. told him im not getting much help. he said take the full pill. i took the full pill for a while and feeling drowsy and other side effects. Mostly brain fog. then i read the article about clonazepam and ginkgo biloba. i will not follow that regimen of increasing disage every 3 days till you cant tolerate the side eefects. Have a toddler son so i have to be awake! he moves fast and well he wants to play a lot. Can't risk my health being in a fog and no energy. Tried going off it and doc said take it every other day for a month. tried that but on the days not taking it i felt nervous. back on the 1/2 pill most days taken at eve/bedtime. I noticed when i took a sleeping pill or a half a sleeping pill the T sounds got lower the next day but of course sleeping pills have side effects too. More money must be spent on research to find a cure.
Approximately 8-10 years ago a neurotologist put me on clonazepam .5 mg once a day at night. i took that for a long time. worried about memory and long term side effects. so i started taking a 1/2 of the .5 mg. told him im not getting much help. he said take the full pill. i took the full pill for a while and feeling drowsy and other side effects. Mostly brain fog. then i read the article about clonazepam and ginkgo biloba. i will not follow that regimen of increasing disage every 3 days till you cant tolerate the side eefects. Have a toddler son so i have to be awake! he moves fast and well he wants to play a lot. Can't risk my health being in a fog and no energy. Tried going off it and doc said take it every other day for a month. tried that but on the days not taking it i felt nervous. back on the 1/2 pill most days taken at eve/bedtime. I noticed when i took a sleeping pill or a half a sleeping pill the T sounds got lower the next day but of course sleeping pills have side effects too. More money must be spent on research to find a cure.
I once read a newspaper article when I first got tinnitus, and I was going through a very difficult time like so many people do that are new to this condition. It read: 19 out of 20 medical conditions cannot be cured. That doesn't mean they cannot be treated, and being treated for a particular ailment doesn't mean one will be cured. At present the medical professional advises tinnitus patients to use some of the treatments below when available. There are also others.
At the moment the most common treatments for tinnitus is are
1. Tinnitus retraining therapy (TR)
2) cognitive behavioral therapy
3) counselling
5) wearing white noise generators ( for sound enrichment)
5) using sound enrichment via table top sound machine ( or listening to music mp3 player etc)
6) relaxation expercises.
7) Hearing aid. Improves hearing loss and can lower tinnitus.
8) Anti-depressants and other medications like: clonazapam etc.
9) Neuromodulation
The above treatments may help some people manage their tinnitus and hopefully go on to lead a fulfilling life. However, none of these treatments will work if a person is looking for a "complete cure" from their tinnitus. One must try and face the facts. Nineteen out of twenty medical conditions cannot be cured. You may be living on this mortal plane for some time. Help yourself, try and get the best treatment that you can and try to adopt are more positive approach to life for that is the only way forward until a cure is found for tinnitus.
Michael
Mindfulness mediatation can also help some folk and is becoming an accepted method of treatment. I was part of a trial and it did help me a lot at the time but you have to keep practising it which I find difficult. May suit some more than others but worth looking into.
I take clonazapm (klonopin) only a low dose occasionally and have above hearing according to my ENT Dr...
SoulStation
Member
SoulStation
Member
I know who you're talking about and he got the hearing loss from going off it cold turkey, his name is Hazar. Or his tag is RazaH
- Aug 21, 2014
- 5,049
- Tinnitus Since
- 1999
- Cause of Tinnitus
- karma
er, no... there's a single study which showed a correlation, which is not at all the same as causation.
http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/benzodiazepine-use-may-raise-risk-alzheimers-disease-201409107397
Put differently, people who are on heart medication are more likely to have heart attacks than people who are not on heart medication, but that doesn't mean that heart medication causes heart attacks.
Cold-turkey withdrawal from benzos, and withdrawal in general following long-term use, can definitely cause vestibular damage including tinnitus.
I have a regular prescription for it but rarely use it. My concern is my massive migraines which have become so severe that they are 2-3 a day now. Thank you Michael Leigh. I miss taking medical marijuana for all of them. It seemed to be my cure all, now living in Florida I am suffering without it.
