Please help with klonopin withdrawal (w/response)

[Guest guest]

Kathy wrote:

<<On Klonopin 1.5mgs (three .5 mgs pills) at night for about 10 years for facial

neuralgia pain. Tried unsuccessfully to cut dose in December as was

experiencing excrutiating headaches all day and night. Could not get dosage

stablized so returned to origianl dose.

Discovered with 's help I was also going through Darvocet withdrawal as

I had been cutting my dosage due to the drug being pulled of the market. On

Darvocet-n for about 10 years, as needed.

Ambien as needed for 10? years

Stabilized my klonopin dose by increasing total dose by .25 mgs (1/2 pill) and

taking doses approx 9-10 pm and 9 am in early January. Headaches improved.

Jan. 6 last darvocet (2 that week and 2 week before). Stopped cold turkey all

darvocet and ambien. Went thru 3 weeks of detox and survived! with support of

husband a clinical pharmacologist.

------

Now attempting to get off the klonopin. Reallywant to be of this drug as truly

believe it has control of my life. Now that I am off the darvocet and ambien I

notice the effects even more and it no longer helps with sleep. Now take

Melatonin for sleep a few nights a week. Will attempt to cut that.

After a relaxing trip to get some sun in FL I felt strong enough to cut my dose.

On Thursday March 3 I cut my AM dose by 5% (1/4 pill) by cutting. New daily dose

1.6625 from 1.75. Kept nightly dose the same. I was going to do liquid

titration but did not have the supplies and in reading I believed in the

beginning I could titrate by cutting the 5%.

Had a social event with husband on Friday night and had glass of wine as I had

forgot about the titrating. Tired on Saturday. Took an afternoon nap. Saw

movie that night, not violent.

Woke up Sunday morning, 3 days after cutting, and was unable to get out of bed

with headache, fatigue, nausea,and stomach cramps,etc The day day continued

with severe agitation continuing and skin crawling. I could not be near anyone

due to the agitation and changed clothes several times to try to feel calmer. I

tried to avoid all tv and computer but I needed a distraction. Also had some

chest, ear and knee pain

Today is a little improved as I am able to type this info in stages. Sorry to go

on but I am trying to be specific with the background to get help with my

question.

Is this severe reaction expected on such a small cut? I did not have it this

bad in December when I cut by 15%. How long should this last? Do I go through

this with every cut? Would I be better off doing liquid titration? I have

questions on that but will not get into that right now.

Again sorry to be so long on this but I know it is important to have all facts.

I know has been laid up but I am hoping someone can help me.

Kathy>>

Hi Kathy,

** There is a certain part that is vague to me (the cut, the wine, and

then what you did). Does " I forgot about the cut " mean you didn't do it that

night? Or does it just mean you drank wine and wouldn't have if you remembered

about the cut?

In any case, it's always clear that if you have symptoms after cutting that

weren't present prior to cutting, you're experiencing withdrawal. Is it

" normal " ? It's all normal. Anything can happen. So when you feel this, you

bring your dose back to the last stable dose, wait a day, then do another

decrease except this time make it 2%. When you're down to such a low dose you

usually can't cut by 5%.

It's never a problem to have a reaction. Just back up a step, wait until

things are clear again, the do a smaller decrease.

Also, alcohol is a really bad idea while doing this. It feeds into the same

pathways as the drug and could very well have played a role in your experience.

Regards,