How Would I Go About Tapering Off of 1mg Clonazepam?
Question by Cody.: How would I go about tapering off of 1mg Clonazepam?
I’ve been on 1 mg of Clonazepam (Klonopin) for Anxiety for over a year and a half now and I can’t afford the doctor visits anymore, therefore I must taper off. I have about 2 months to taper off. Is this more than enough time?
How should I go about tapering off? Help much apreciated.
Best answer:
Answer by Mathieu
Will your doctor write refills for your clonazepam? Why type of doctor is prescribing?
You most likely do have time to taper off of Klonopin however in some cases it will not be sufficient time but it typically is. I recommend that to see your doctor again (if you can) to discuss tapering the dose.
You have a few options and they really depend on the severity of your anxiety and how well you do tapering. Some people have no problems and can taper very quickly and other have serious issues. But severe problems on your dose is rare.
Do you take 0.5 mg twice daily or 1 mg at one time?
Klonopin lasts a long time so it requires fewer daily doses (typically two) than other benzodiazepines. Due do its long half-life and long duration of action any withdrawal symptoms should be fairly mild.
These are some generalized ideas but you will need to experiment a little to figure out what is best for YOU.
If you take 0.5 mg twice daily (with 0.5 mg tablets) cut 1/4 off a tablet. You will need a pill cutter. First take 1/4 off on the morning dose and keep it there for about 2-3 days. It is important to avoid reducing so quickly that you need to increase the dose again. That tends to cause more severe problems and will end up taking longer.
Next either cut 1/4 tablet from night or morning. If insomnia becomes an issue leave most (or all) of the Klonopin for night. It might be fine to eliminate the first dose completely without touching the second dose.
Then cut another 1/4 off morning and wait 2-3 days.
Cut either 1/4 at night or morning. I would cut off the night time dose unless you have serious insomnia. Wait 2-3 days.
Now your dose should be in 1/2 a pill in the morning and 1/2 a pill at night.
Continue and try to cut the half tablet in half (1/4th of a tablet) in the morning. Wait 2-4 days.
Cut the nigh time or morning dose in half (1/4 tablet)
When you are down to 1/4 tablet twice a day you can stop the morning dose or if you have problems cut the 1/4 tablet in half (1/8 tablet) first in the morning and then at night.
Hopefully that was not too complicated. Basically just cut 1/4 off a tablet every 2-5 days. Remember even though you are cutting 1/4 a tablet off each time you are cutting a larger percent than you were before so you might start cutting every 2 days and then as you get further do 4-5 days.
Or cut (in the most comfortable way for you) 1/4 a tablet every week for two months (if you take 0.5 mg twice daily).
If problems occur just go slower. And you should have more than two months of medication left because you will not be taking the full dose during the last two months. You can also ask your doctor for four 0.25 mg tablets a day which will make it easier to reduce the dose more slowly. If insomnia does occur you might take the OTC sleeping medication, diphenhydramine (Benadryl and other names).
Please feel free to email me at [email protected] (yahoo answers messaging has a character limit so it is not very good).
I can give more specific information depending on your exact dosing schedule and about ways to make tapering more comfortable. Also my use of terms like “detox” and “withdrawal” do not indicate addiction. And physical dependency to benzodiazepines is normal and not addiction. Lastly, make sure you have a thermometer to check your temp one or two times a day, especially after cutting the dose. If you have any fever (even a little) take Tylenol and/or Ibuprofen to lower it. If it continues or worsens see your doctor.
Good luck
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