Taking klonopin to wean off xanax

[Peaches5036]

Hi,
I have written seveal posts regarding my process of tapering of xanax. I am planning to enter a hospital upon advice of my psychiatrist, for tapering/withdrawl process.
It was suggested that taking klonopin can help with withdrawing from xanax, ( XANAX WITHDRAWL IS EXCRUCIATING AND DANGEROUS) EXPEIENCED IT AND WAS ADVISED ABOUT IT BY DOCTORS
Is weaning off of klonopin is less dangerous and less painful?

Is this a valid medical treatment?

I have no idea what to expect from my 15 day stay at peachford in Atlanta GA. They have an excellent staff and am planning to go for an assessment soon, most likely followed by an 15 day stay, with follow up with my doctor at home.

I would love to hear form anyone who has accurate knowledge of this process, anyone who has be a patient at peachford, anyone who has been successful at weaning off of xanax.

I have tapered on my own at home with psyciatrists knowledge from 3mgs a day to 2mgs a day taken in 4 .5mg dosages. Now my psychiatrist informed me after last attempt at taper, that it was way too dangeous, not to mention painful, to do alone at home.

Thanks, peaches

[Emh3020]

Hey Peaches.. I personally weened myself off about 10mg of xanax a day last february. Every 5 days vut your dosage down by .25 until your off. Anything more than .25 will give u withdrawals. Trust me. Secondly, you will think youre going to die but its ok. You aren't although if not taken serious it could happen due to seizure. Yes you can replace or sub kolonopin to help with the xanax withdrawal.  Also u can use a benadryl which will ease the effects as well. Vistaril is sometimes prescribed as a sedative in these cases. It took me 2 months but I did it. Although I am currently weening off them again but only 2 mgs now thank goodness. It is an awful experience. My prayeras are with you. I never went to the hospital but I should have. Anything over 2 mgs of benzos should be taken extremely serious. Hope this helps!

[tret24]

it is not insane to use a long lasting benzo to ease the withdrawal from a short acting one like xanax or halcion. it is necessary most of the times. i was on 4mgs a day of xanax and a lot of oxycontin and heroin, they put me on 3mgs of klonopin for the xanax addicition and suboxone for the opiates, i am now over three months clean, without the klonopin i wouldnt ahve been able to kicik my addiction to xanax,and i am clean from klonopin now too

[girlybuff]

I realize they DO do it but just because you CAN do something doesn't mean you should.
To me, it's INSANE to use a benzo to help fight an addiction to benzos.
You have to really put it into perscpetive I guess.
I don't know the poster on a personal level so I don't know what their addiction history is but addiction is addiction and if you really want to quit then trading one drug over your DOC is insanity and that by itself means repeating the SAME behavior whilst expecting DIFFERENT results.

[Summer123]

Doctors do use Klonopin or valium to wean patients off of xanex.  It is not in addiction to the xanex, but instead of the xanex.  Both Klonopin and valium are longer acting benzos vs. Xanex (short acting).  See Benzobuddies for help on tapering.  

[desperatehousewife21]

i am so glad u posted ur question my husband is on day 3 tapering from xanax(10) a day, vicodin( 30 yellows) a day, oxycotins(3 blues), and solmas(5) a day, and he is also using clonopin now to taper, b/c his mom believes it will help w/ the anxiety. He is also using suboxin for his withdrawl symptoms. But reading all this I am going to call his mom later on today and have him get off of clonopin. Anyways good luck to u!

[girlybuff]

Trying to use klonopin to wean off xanax is like an alcohoic trying to stop drinking jack daniles by drinking beer.
Wean off benzos carefully but do NOT under anycircumstances wean off by replacing one drug for another.  

[againnot]

2 years ago I did taper off Xanax with the help of my dr. and Nuerotin for possible seizures.  I was on 1.5 mg/day.  It was really really hard, but doable.  It took months.  I was on it for at least 8 years.  But...if your dr. thinks you need 24 hr supervision, given your symptoms, I myself would not question that and follow his directions.  Good luck.  You can do it...take it slow.

[kellyyoung]

wat was your tapering schedual?
Hi:)
i hope your stay at the hospital helped....i am currently taking 3 mg xanax twice a day, klonapin to help wean off xanax at same time and read your post.  U said that they used clonapin to help wean u off xanax so u dont go through withdrawl symptoms?  i know i cant take both pills at the same time or i'll prob be drunk.  i was wondering wat your tapering schedual was becuz my doc didnt really tell me how to do it.

your friend kel

[Peaches5036]

My doctor said it was dangerous for me to continuing tapering at home as I was having severe pain , tics, high pulse rate, dizziness, nausea and disorientation. I am a 64 year old woman who lives alone .

She thinks it is better for me to have 24 hour supervision. The 15 day stay in the hospital will PROBABLY NOT, completely wean me off xanax totally. It may help me go down some more. I have good insurance so I am looking at a one year process maybe longer. I am not sure if they use valium or klonopin. I got a post yesterday an another thread I've posted re: xanax withdrawl and a person responded  and mentioned the benefits of KLONOPIN in managing this process.
SO I AM SEEKING GOOD INFORMATION, PREFERABLY FROM FOLKS WHO HAVE

1. GONE TO A HOSPITAL DE-TOX.. DIRECT PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.. POSITIVE/NEGATIVE/INFORMATIVE, WHATEVER

2. ARE CURRENTLY XANAX FREE DUE TO ANY METHOD OF GETTING OFF THIS DRUG

I have bought the Ashton Manual.

Thanks to all who share their experience , strength and hope.

sincerely, Peaches

[avisg]

Useing kolonpin to taper is jumping from the frying pan into the fire .
Yes tapering is a must with benzo withdrawal however your best bet would be valuim if you really need something.

[Summer123]

Don't know why your dr. said it was dangerous.  It is dangerous if you go cold turkey off of 4 mg/day xanex.  My dr. said that if you go c/t off of 2 mg of xanex, you will not risk seizures.  However, it is best to withdraw a little at a time as you are doing.  Go to Benzobuddies website and see other people weaning off of tranqs.  They all say that going into a detox to withdraw from xanex or any other benzo is very bad.  They even call it dietox.  Best to withdraw over several months.  There is something called an Ashton Manual that may help you taper off.  The dr. suggests using valium to taper, but Klonipin is a longer acting benzo that can be used as well.