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Has anyone in here successfully weened off benzodiazepines?

Posted on 7/9/20 at 8:55 am
Posted by Gcockboi
Rock Hill
Member since Oct 2012
7689 posts
Posted on 7/9/20 at 8:55 am
I'm currently on roughly 1.5 mg of klonopin a day. I say roughly because some days I'll only take 1 mg and other days 2 or 3 mg. I've heard it's a long process where you have to cut down by like .10 every month or something. Keep in mind that I'm trying to ween off slowly so I can limit the withdrawals.
Posted by rsbd
banks of the Mississippi
Member since Jan 2007
22179 posts
Posted on 7/9/20 at 8:57 am to
What are you taking if for??
Posted by MiloDanglers
on a dock on a bay
Member since Apr 2012
6546 posts
Posted on 7/9/20 at 8:58 am to
Process got the best of Jordan Peterson for about a year
Posted by Spelt it rong
Louisiana
Member since Oct 2012
10042 posts
Posted on 7/9/20 at 8:58 am to
Not personally, but I've followed Jordan Petersons battle with benzos, and it's been hell on him. I wish you all the luck in the world. Keep fighting the good fight and you'll come out successful on the other end.
Posted by redneck hippie
Stillwater
Member since Dec 2008
5601 posts
Posted on 7/9/20 at 9:00 am to
yes. cold turkey about 10 years ago.
Posted by supadave3
Houston, TX
Member since Dec 2005
30294 posts
Posted on 7/9/20 at 9:05 am to
quote:

I'm currently on roughly 1.5 mg of klonopin a day. I say roughly because some days I'll only take 1 mg and other days 2 or 3 mg. I've heard it's a long process where you have to cut down by like .10 every month or something. Keep in mind that I'm trying to ween off slowly so I can limit the withdrawal


You're taking 1.5 mg a day and still are concerned about withdrawals? I don't speak from benzo withdrawal experience but I didn't think that low of a dose would be much to kick. I have always heard that benzo withdrawal can kill you though so I can see why you're concerned, but I thought it would have to be one of these people that take 5-7 Xanbars a day.

Just start taking 1.5 for a week, then one for a week, then a half, then quit. It won't be very bad.
Posted by Nynna11
Member since Jul 2012
480 posts
Posted on 7/9/20 at 9:05 am to
I work in behavioral health and we detox people over a 5-7 day period. It can be done at home with support and a protocol from your doctor, but is best done inpatient so your vital signs and symptoms can be monitored.
Stopping benzos or alcohol cold turkey can be fatal.
Posted by tigerfaninsc
Alabama
Member since Dec 2004
503 posts
Posted on 7/9/20 at 9:08 am to
I was on Ativan for about 10 years. Took as needed. Last year, I was going through some stuff and was taking 3 a day. Doctor would not prescribe again after that. So basically, I was forced to go cold turkey. Probably the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. 10 years is a long time to be on “short-term” medicine. Had to take a LOA from work because anxiety was so high, I couldn’t drive. Felt like I was going to die constantly. Wanted to die at some of those times. Around day 5, tries to check into a rehab facility....they wouldn’t admit me because they said I had gotten through the worst of it. Eventually, I was prescribed Paxil, Buspar, and Hydroxyzine. That combination has worked wonders. I don’t wish going through it to anyone.
Posted by td01241
Savannah
Member since Nov 2012
22856 posts
Posted on 7/9/20 at 9:12 am to
A major specialty of my practice deals with this. I can give you a ton of info and answer anything you might need or want to know. Either on the board public or you email me for privacy. I will say you’re self escalating dose that’s a sure fire sign usually problems will be coming

Also any escalation over 4mg a day is the last straw or tipping point if you will. Any higher and no longer with you get much panic relief in diminishing returns. Eventually you’ll be taken 8-10mg a day and not remember week long periods. Klonopin is a very helpful medicine I use it often for the correct reasons but it is just as potent as Xanax with 3x the staying power
This post was edited on 7/9/20 at 9:15 am
Posted by ShoeBang
Member since May 2012
19367 posts
Posted on 7/9/20 at 9:16 am to
I took 2mg in a time release nightly for general anxiety disorder. I LOOOOVED it. So I stopped. I tapered off and did it successfully but even that came with some bad side effects
Posted by DavidTheGnome
Monroe
Member since Apr 2015
29231 posts
Posted on 7/9/20 at 9:32 am to
Yep I came off kpins, it was absolute hell though and I’ll never tough them again
Posted by Lawyered
The Sip
Member since Oct 2016
29497 posts
Posted on 7/9/20 at 9:32 am to
Start quartering tablets..

Go from there
Posted by Langland
Trumplandia
Member since Apr 2014
15382 posts
Posted on 7/9/20 at 9:34 am to
I weened myself off Flintstone vitamins at the age of 23. Twas difficult. Was popping 2 a day.
Posted by V Bainbridge
Member since Jul 2020
7795 posts
Posted on 7/9/20 at 9:42 am to
Are they prescribed? If so you need to be talking to your doctor about this not the O-T. If not don't completely stop but reduce your consumption of them drastically. Switch to just 0.5 a day for example and see how your body does.

Some people can drop them without much trouble. Others have severe withdraws. Don't be ashamed to get professional help on this my man. You will be better for it.
Posted by sleepytime
Member since Feb 2014
3589 posts
Posted on 7/9/20 at 9:43 am to
Benzo withdrawal can kill you and you run the risk of having seizures. Don’t attempt this without medical supervision.
Posted by whitetiger1234
They/Them
Member since Oct 2016
4919 posts
Posted on 7/9/20 at 9:51 am to
I hear that benzos are extremely hard to ween off of. Jordan Peterson had a very rough time. It sounded like hell.

Good luck to you.
Posted by 50_Tiger
Dallas TX
Member since Jan 2016
40228 posts
Posted on 7/9/20 at 9:53 am to
oof baw you got #Peterson'd
Posted by The Spleen
Member since Dec 2010
38865 posts
Posted on 7/9/20 at 10:02 am to
I'd probably talk to my prescribing doctor about weening off them before coming to a discussion board, but that's just me.


Posted by LSU Coyote
Member since Sep 2007
53390 posts
Posted on 7/9/20 at 10:22 am to
Benzos are easy, it was the roxies that really had their hook.
Posted by blueboxer1119
Baton Rouge
Member since May 2013
8041 posts
Posted on 7/9/20 at 10:28 am to
I quit cold turkey last July after over 10 years of use.

Medicinal marijuana saved me.
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