Having to withdraw from Klonopin, direct taper-diazepam or ??

[Brac]

This is not a real case of substance abuse since I took the drug as prescribed, but I cannot find a better place so I am posting this question here.

I have been on the drug for about 10 years, for over 5 years at 2 mg a day, taken in the evening.
Prescribed as a muscle relaxant and for neuropathic pain but that is no longer an issue. Dependency is.

This drug always had some unusual properties and paradoxical or troublesome side effects, but I could tolerate them easily. No longer.
The past few years my health (physical, and as a consequence ´mental´ too) has declined seriously and it´d incredibly hard to either tolerate or taper the drug. I simply took it too long.

Typically, this drug is either tapered directly or one switches to diazepam. I did try diazepam, and for me it is a completely different drug. Short acting too. (´ half life´ vs ´duration of action´)
Diazepam was hard to tolerate, and I know it will take forever to get it out of the body if I would start a taper.

Doctors have been no help, on the contrary. In my experience they generally don´t have a clue. This drug is not commonly prescribed here.

What are my options, really ?
One the one hand there is the ´taper the drug directly´ school and on the other hand there is the ´Ashton cult´, to put it not so subtly.
I have read the Ashton manual, the promotional material. But the fact is that the ´duration of action´ of diazepam is shorter than clonazepam/Klonopin. The half life of both drugs is long.
The ´clonazepam vs. diazepam´ section of the Ashton manual is mostly nonsense. She did not taper people off clonazepam in her clinic. For me, all benzodiazepines are NOT the same.

Typically, people either taper the drug directly or they switch to diazepam. But what if both are problematic ?
I believe that my problems are partly due to some of clonazepam´s unusual properties (e.g. binding to receptors, serotonin). It´s also the case that I cannot split the dose in an afternoon dose and an evening dose.

I have no theoretical framework beyond the ´Ashton method´. Which is at least partly incorect.

Suggestions, advice ? At one point I considered a ´C-T´ with carbamazepine, but at this point that might just make things worse.

[Brac]

I wish I had done a C/T some years ago. Now I'm just a mess !
I don't see how I can do a real taper.

Aside from other issues, this drug has some mjor action on serotonin. Tapering it with diazepam is somewhat like tapering an SSRI with a benzo !

Does anyone see a point in tapering with lorazepam or another non-diazepam like drug ?

[VICourageous]

How is it going??
All mind-altering drugs whack out the Neuro-Chemisty in our Brain..In return it also can send some false singles to the body. This is why Addiction is so hard on us..Genes play a big role too. I also believe that the Benzo hit, yet another area of the brain too.

You are so right about the Klons. I too went c/t almost 3 yrs ago off of that one and 2 more. The klons are why it took so much longer. They prescribe this drug for anxiety, but it was made for Seizures and Epilepsy.
I talk with the Drs all the time and now they say that any Benzo should only be prescribed for a Short period. If taken to long they will flip on you and cause more Anxiety. I see this in a few friends that still take this med.

I do know from experience that I should of done a nice slow taper. However, I am alive today!! You can cut it back a bit and take it only at night. You have done some great Homework about this med. Being on it for so long is going to be a bit uncomfortable.  I always wondered about going down from the klons to ativan, or diazepam, or others that are short lived. Not on anything, but maybe I will do some more homework for my Friends. I wish you all the best and I sure hope you can figure out a good Plan.
Bless

[Coperniki]

Whatever you do, DONT GO COLD TURKEY. I did this after 8 years of taking klonopin, taking 6-15 mg a day. Experienced seizures, psychosis, etc.... Take it slow whether reducing the klonopin intake or trying diazepam. Nothing's as dangerous as quitting c/t

[vicki595]

I sympathize with your situation although I don't understand it. In a way, I think you're giving Klonopin more power and control than it deserves...

You know time can't be frozen even though you have that feeling. Some of what you've described are symptoms of withdrawal. I still don't understand why you can't taper the drug in small amounts and you have essentially dismissed offering an explanation or can't offer one.

I think my suggestion of tapering by TENTHS is a sound one. A pharmacist can help you cut back those tiny amounts; they have ways to create a lower dose pill or powder.  If you cut back SLOWLY you WILL be able to tolerate the change in dose; especially if you cut back 1/10 at a time every month. I can't believe THAT won't work.

Beyond those suggestionsk I've got nothing else to offer. Give it a try and stick around here for support!   All the best-

[Brac]

As far as addiction docs go, I talked to one and had contact by email with another one. Neiter had any experience with clonazepam. I can't expect to find an addiction doc in this country who has any experience with this drug.
One suggested tapering in 4 weeks with oxazepam (but that one lasts only 6-7 hours!, I tried) inpatient, another suggested tapering with diazepam in 6 weeks, inpatient or not.
They don't have a clue. Those who tolerate diazepam well would have to deal with the withdrawal outside the clinic ('loading of diazepam').

[Brac]

The manufacturer is Roche , or gene.com

I think there is a telephone number on the website, but I can't expect them to give a patient more information/advice. And international calls are so expensive.

I have workked my way through a lot of PI sheets and other material. I understand some of clonazepam's unusual properties (mechanism), but I get only half way.

I haven't been able to find a long acting (that is something different from 'half life') benzo to switch to.