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can i increase my clonazapam to get rid of withdrawal?

Posted , 5 users are following.

marbel
marbel

Hi I have been reducing slowly from two .5 clonazepam tablets a day and over the last five months got down to a quarter in the am and pm.  Things were all good until i decided to reduce a third of my aftenoon dose with a pill cutter 2 weeks ago.  I got a bit stressed but did not notice much withdrawal except a headache for the morning. So last week I started reducing my morning dose by taking little quarters to preempt a drop to 2/3.  I started to feel some depressive symptoms and a bit of tearfulness.  So I put the am dose back up to a full quarter on Friday.  Things were ok but tired until yesterday when I lost appetite not sleep well feeling stressed general withdrawal.  I am not sure if i should just up the pm dose back to a 1/4 as it was two weeks ago or continue the pm dose at the reduced 2/3 rate.  I am not clear if I have been getting an even dose of the 2/3 dose but received some scales yesterday so i can proceed to monitor this.  I read somewhere not to increase doses once you have dropped (not sure why anyone know why?)but I just want to feel ok again and plan to sit the winter here on the dose i do decide on and revisit reduction another time.  I would be happy to hear any replies thanks

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • marbel
    marbel

    Posted

    sorry not pill cutter - scapel
  • georgina525
    georgina525 marbel

    Posted

    Hi have you asked your gp for a liquid form as it is easier to make accurate cuts of 10% per Fortnight, if withdrawal symptoms too bad then cut 5% per fortnight. It is a horrible journey I know, took me five months to get off diagram.good luck
    • marbel
      marbel georgina525

      Posted

      hi G what drug did you get in liquid form?  Would be so great if clonazapam was!.  Last year they offered me to go inpatient and switch to Diazapam.  Still an option forn the future maybe
  • Cass73
    Cass73 marbel

    Posted

    There is an article in Men's Health on stands right now about insomnia and getting off drugs to sleep.  Still getting off Zop and encourage you not to increase to more again.  Stay where you are a couple of weeks longer before cutting again.  Some nights I get 4 hours sleep but surviving.  Article mentions how people on z drugs sometimes do things they gave no recall of later, and car accidents are possible.  Also They have no idea this was happening.  Can't believe how much sharper my brain is.  OMG when I sleep too, I'm going to be dangerous!  Keep going.  A year from now you will be so happy you did..
  • marbel
    marbel

    Posted

    thanks everyone for your encouragement.  I am a little anxious about not increasing as i dropped my olanzapine too quickly once and it never resolved and I ended up on an anti depressant and it took me ages to get off that antidepressant.  I will try and keep the faith.  i have dry mouth general worrying thoughts and lack of sleep last night.  AlsoThe pharmacist has given me some weleda relax drops b12 and clinicians sleep pills all natural. also i have a lack of appetite.
    • tonia_2003
      tonia_2003 marbel

      Posted

      What is weleda relax drops and clinicians sleep?
    • marbel
      marbel tonia_2003

      Posted

      hi tonia.  These are available in NZ.

      Weleda is the brand. Called Sleep and Relax Drops.  I have found them useful for residual anxiety.  Take 15 drops when needed.  A bit like rescue remedy.

      The sleep capsules - Clinicians is the brand.  Sleep Science is the name and are capsules with natural herbs and magnesium.

  • ianPTM-H
    ianPTM-H marbel

    Posted

    Are you being forced to reduce? Is your GP reducing your prescription? Can I ask how old you are? My heart goes out to you. Getting off benzodiazapines can be a nightmare. I think the idea of swapping to diazepam is a good one.

    Ive been treated with benzodiazapines for a long time for PTSD. I was originally prescribed Xanax. Eventually my doctor changed the prescription to diazepam. More recently he gradually swapped me from diazepam to Oxazepam, and I'm slowly reducing my dose.

    The point I'm making is that if you are over 65 it might be an idea to stay on a level you feel comfortable on and just leave it at that.

    Having said that, if you really want to come off the clonazepam, it's up to you. Changing to diazepam and tapering the dose as an inpatient seems to me the best option. If you do that you will be observed and they will go at a rate that doesn't cause you any great distress or anxiety. Also as an inpatient you can get written up for some PRN (or, as you need it) medication. This could be a little bit of Clonazepam, or a little bit of lorazepam, which you could take occasionally if you are really having a tough time.

    I do think it's a good idea for you to find a dose you are comfortable on and stick to that for the winter. Winters can be a depressing and bleak time of year, it might be best if you don't add any more stress to your life for the rest of the winter.

    • Cass73
      Cass73 ianPTM-H

      Posted

      Ian I am 75.  I decided to come off Zop over a year ago.  Several docs have expressed to me that I made the right decision.  It is the seniors who were fed these drugs years ago - 40 years in my case to survive a bad marriage.  Finally left and decided to get off.  Every single doctor said that they did not know how addictive Zop was, and I have a prescription for lorazepam in my meds box still.  Take 1/2 pill every 3 weeks if having a bad time.  They have found that these drugs can make you more sucseptible to dementia and cancer.  They don't cause it, just have enough effect in your nervous system and brain that puts you more at risk.  Oddly, I felt better on the wretched pills, still working to get sleep, but my mind is so much clearer.  All through these years I was a very busy administrator.  Now I could do far better.  Thing us, you really don't know that you have lost your edge in these things.  Wish I could stay on them but dementia scares the Heck out of me.
    • marbel
      marbel ianPTM-H

      Posted

      Hi Ian.  I decided to take the advice of the psych nurse and put my meds up to a half in the evening.  Its not been easy.  I spent the last week at my mums and had some residual anxiety if exercised or went out.  At home now. I was busy yesterday and had some funny feelings again about 5 so using relax drops and relaxation exercise.  I am 50 and will sit on this dose for the winter.  Thanks for your reply.  Every day getting better and better thanks.  Had to take this option in the end as was only sleeping 3 hours and was ready to take all my meds at once!.  Which of course could never do as have mum and partner and friends to consider who always remind me that I do get through it. Scapel for reduction will not be an option for me again.  I may consider inpatient in future and on to diazepam.  OHH my poor head!.
    • marbel
      marbel

      Posted

      The last two weeks have been horrofic with sleepless nights and anxiety going on and on.  I finally felt semi ok the last two days.  Someone did private message me that increasing these drugs plays with your body and mind and they are right.
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