Coming off Clonazepam

[Jamie]

A saw a spealist earlier this year who put me on 2mg clonazepam and 50mg amisulpride, he told me if I didn't see any improvements in 2 weeks to stop but he didn't explain why, I had no idea it was addictive. I took it for 2 months.

I saw my doctor a week a half ago who told me to stop taking it and it's been a hell of a time, I had also changed jobs while on it but now I'm staying put, the anxiety was that bad.

Now though my ears have spiked badly, I am getting very little sleep, can't eat, and feel very anxious about my tinnitus. I have been back to see my doctor but he doesn't want to taper me off he thinks it should be fine.

Has anybody been through this? How long can it take to get over it? Any advise would be appreciated.

 

[glynis]

Going cold turkey the withdrawals kick in around 48 hours after your last dose and take the rest of the week or just over to go through withdrawals.
As they are chemicals that work on the brain your tinnitus can take 2-4 weeks to settle back to your base sound....lots of love glynis

 

[Jamie]

withdrawals

Thanks Glynis,

My doc also prescribed me some Prozac after I stopped, I took half a tablet, 10mg for 2 days and stopped, I read that it can make your T worse, do you think this would have an effect?

Really annoyed with myself, should have done some research and found out how addictive it is, I would have stopped after the 2 weeks.

 

[RaZaH]

Dont stop cold turkey, that is my advice .

 

[TopdogX3]

I tapered off a 2 mg daily dose of clonazepam. Took this dose for 18 months. I tapered off over a 4 month period. Interruption of sleep pattern was a big withdrawal symptom. It took several months after my last dose for sleep patterns to go back to normal. Poor sleep = spike in T for me. Educate yourself on the Benzos and their side effects. Don't go cold turkey.

 

[Jamie]

I tapered off a 2 mg daily dose of clonazepam. Took this dose for 18 months. I tapered off over a 4 month period. Interruption of sleep pattern was a big withdrawal symptom. It took several months after my last dose for sleep patterns to go back to normal. Poor sleep = spike in T for me. Educate yourself on the Benzos and their side effects. Don't go cold turkey.

Thanks for the advise, I got the dosage wrong I was on 1mg a day. I talked to my doctor about not going cold turkey but he doesn't want to do anything about it.

 

[glynis]

Hi @Jamie,
Always best to do a slow tapering.
Even low doses can be reduced by half a tablet.
Let's hope your over the worst side effects now and give it a little time for your ears settle too ......lots of love glynis

 

[Jamie]

Update.
2 Weeks now and things aren't great. Been quite ill last 2 days and now feel better but my ears have spiked badly, can't concentrate and I just seemed focused on the ringing, I'm so worried I've made things worse and feel foolish that I didn't check up before taking clonazepam.
My doctor has indicated he wants to put my on some anti-depressants but we thought to get over the withdrawl first, of course now I'm terrified to take anything else.
If anyone has any advise or what to take I'd be pleased to hear it.

 

[glynis]

Hi @Jamie,
If you go down the anti depressant route ,you might find a slow release one better as less side effects .
stay strong you can get through this ..
download some Christmas songs cheer yourself up a but and if like me ,a good sing works wonders too..take care ...lots of love glynis x

 

[Simone]

Hello everybody, mi doc prescribed me clonazepam, 3 drops a day before going to sleep for 3 months. I never took benzodiazepines before and i'm a little scared. Does anyone have any advice? I've read i must not drink alcohol or smoke (i don't abuse any of them, just recreational use) cause there can be bad side effects.
My tinnitus is light and the cause of it is still unknow, i'm perfectly in health, but my ear keeps whistling for the last 4 years.

Simone

 

[LadyDi]

Best advice I can give for any benzos is take the absolutely lowest dose possible that has any effect. Helped me when my doctor me parameters: the minimum dose to be effective and a maximum dose (one that was the equivalent of an average dose, not something high). I stuck to the minimum as much as possible.

I also would consider this a short-term solution for now. Try tapering off it after a few months and see how you feel.
Never heard that smoking interacts with benzos. But of course, smoking isn't a good idea in general.
Good luck. All benzos should be used with caution and under qualified medical supervision. But they can be helpful.

 

[bigerjim]

Hello Everyone, ok here's one for you, i've been taking teva clonazepam 4mg at one point i was up to 6 mg. for more than 16 years ! I'm now 66 years old and trying to taper off this i also have tinnitus in both ears, not your average T but ringing in both ears with wavering sounds up and down at least four noises in both ears, i just droped 2mg I felt for the first week that i was dying, it was horrable still on 4mg, i know now i did it way to fast going to see my doctor tomorrow i hope he can give me some answers although he is a country doc i'm hoping he can get me to the right doctor for tapering off this junk, my BP is high right now and this is scary because i'n already on bp meds, ok good luck to everyone here i'll check back still nervous as the devel but better today

 

[BobbyH]

@bigerjim I can't tell you what to do about the benzo withdrawel but I can offer a suggestion. From your past post, you said you're a Marine so I will assume your Clonazapam use may be related to your service. Generally speaking, the VA prescribes Clonazapam for PTSD and/or other mental health reasons. My suggestion is to set up ongoing sessions with your local VAMC mental health department and ask them to help you taper from the benzo, if that is what you want to do.

You mentioned "country doc" so I'm thinking you're either not in the VA system or, due to your age, using both Medicare and the VA together. If you're getting your prescription through the VA, I'd do as I suggested above. If you're getting your prescription through a private doctor, I'd probably go through that doctor.

I understand what you're going through. I'm a veteran a few years older than you and have been on benzos long term. In my case, the benefits outweigh the risks so I still take them but I've learned to cycle and taper so as to maintain the benefit and minimize the risk. Many years ago, I went through benzo hell because I hit the wall on dosage and had to stop to re-establish a baseline. My usage is due to service connection and the VA docs help me as long as I'm willing to ask for help.

There are many here who would say benzos are bad for everyone especially the elderly. They may be right. And, I'm certainly not saying they are good. We are all individuals and what works for one may not work for another. In my case, I have a good team of VA doctors who monitor me and my meds to help me survive. In my case, the benefit outweighs the risk.

I will state that benzo use without a doctor monitoring you and benzo taper without a doctor is definitely not a good idea. Asking how to taper in a public forum may be helpful for information but the correct person to help is a doctor you trust.

You are a Marine and I offer my suggestions as one veteran to another and also a person close to you in age.

Take care and welcome home.
Bobby