How long can I expect to feel withdrawal effects from clonazepam?

[pwolfe22]

I had been on clonazepam for about 5 years up until a week ago! I started out at .5mg AM & PM and gradual increase until 3 mg (1mg AM and 2mg PM) for about the last 3 years. In October 2010, the gradual decrease started down to .5mg from February 17, 2011 to April 17, 2011. Now, since LAST WEEK, Monday, April 18, I was totally taken off the clonazepam and prescribed divalproax. It has been 7 days today and I am REALLY in a battle within my own body. I do not know how much longer I can continue to fight these INCREDIBLE symptoms (increased heart-rate, intense craving, increased anxiety & fear... LOTS OF FEAR! I have experienced a utter lack of concentration, loss for words when speaking, ringing in ears, diarrhea,  upset stomach, increased trouble sleeping, nightmares, anger, hopelessness and extreme irritability.
Is there any SAFE alternatives or ANYTHING that will help ease these feelings? How long will they last? Am I through the hard part yet? I have never experienced anything like this before and it truly scares me!!!

[mira230]

I was prescribed 0.5 mg three times a day of clonazepam about 8 years ago for panic attacks as well as 10 mg prozac. I was told just to take the clonazepam when needed since it was addictive and have mostly only taken 1/2 a 0.5 mg tablet when I needed it. I do not like to take any medications. I took the prozac for 9 months went off without any problem and continued to take the clonazepam "as needed". Recently however, I had increased anxiety due to a breakup and other issues and was taking it more frequently. I became concerned because it wasn't working and I would have to take it in the middle of the night to get through the anxiety. My doctor then prescribed venlafaxine, which gave me extreme anxiety and then prozac again. I decided not to continue with the prozac after a couple of weeks since the anxiety was just increasing and I had gone cold turkey off of the clonazepam. With some research, I realized I was having classic withdrawal symptoms, though my doctor said he doubted it because of the low dose. I know otherwise. I decided to taper instead and though it has gotten somewhat better to handle and I am now down to .125mg a night the hardest thing to cope with is the insomnia which I have never had the likes of. I have been tapering for about 2 months now and the insomnia has not subsided. My brain from both the drug withdrawal and the sleep deprivation feels like it is buzzing and under pressure...not a pleasant sensation and I cannot wait until I am out from under this drug and can sleep and feel normal again. I bristle that this drug that alters your brain chemistry is handed out in such a cavalier fashion and not really monitored at all. When I'd run out the office would without question or comment or caution write out another script.In short, this trip has been hell. I have gotten quite good at managing my anxiety. Had I known that this drug that was supposed to manage anxiety attacks would end up giving me them as well as insomnia and a host of other symptoms including the electric zaps that literally shock you out of your sleep which thankfully have passed as I've tapered....If I can make it through the insomnia I can come out the other side but this is very hard to cope with and I am wondering how long it will go on.

[Skippytgr1]

My mother in law is currently on clonazepam and is trying to get off the drug because she no longer has medical insurance. She having trouble sleeping and starting to get the sweats. anyone know of an over the counter method to help her through her withdrawals?

[goawayanxiety]

My only thought are, hang in there! I have been on the paxil and klono mix for only a few months when I started tampering. paxil first then klono. The zaps were total weird and scary, but I made it. There rest was tolerable. It's been two weeks paxil free. I am two days off klono and feel like I am losing it!!!!!! Worst anxiety since before starting both drugs. Every darn symptom it back. I tried to make it and ride it out, but I broke down and took a klono just to try to get sleep...here I am two hours later and no luck. My self help tools have not been able to break through this attack and I feel like a failure. I am trying to tell my self to just get by little by little and start over again tomorrow. I can't face that this may just be what life is like without meds. Hopefully a little more time and this will get better.
Good luck...you are not alone in this.

[Dovahkiin]

I am not sure my post even belongs here, as I can't be sure what I'm experiencing is klonopin withdrawal or just me, off klonopin.  When I first got on it a few years ago, I thought it was the best thing ever.  I had been having severe and nearly constant panic attacks, deep depression, and health phobia for the first time (anxiety issues started when I was a child, first panic attacks in middle school, agoraphobia to varying degrees since then).  

Klonopin was the only thing that seemed to help.  I've been on the following drugs for years now: Paxil (40mg), Klonopin (2mg a day, 1mg morning and night), and Wellbutrin (150mg).  This year though, I wanted to start tapering off my meds, so we started with the paxil (30mg a day now) and that was pretty bad.  Then  my doc suggested we reduce the klonopin.  I figured a .5mg reduction wasn't so bad and did it.  I had terrible stomach pain for the first few weeks along with constipation.  Then that cleared up.  However, I've been having bouts of difficultly concentrating, anxiety, severe worry, and tonight - I have the lovely experience of having a mild panic attack through a migraine.

I'm posting because i made the reduction May 17th, and it's June 6th now.  I feel like I'm so close to losing my grip on reality... my dreams are vivid and it's hard to calm my mind.  I don't know whether I can blame the medication withdrawal or if I have to face that it's just me.  That this is how I was before the meds and this is how I'll always be without the meds.  I have done extensive therapy and self-help work, have many tools I can use - but just haven't been.  My motivation feels like it's dying.  I'm scared of my own weakness...  I have had withdrawal that felt like headzaps, lack of concentration, heart palpitations, nausea... but nothing that made me quite undermind myself like this... so I don't know if it's the meds.  

Any thoughts?  Besides 'yeah, your nutz...' Thank you.  

[anna_q]

I am now 70 years of age and this has been my experience.  Klonopin (clonazepam) was prescribed for more than 10 years.  Among other drugs I was prescribed 3mg Klonopin for quite some time.  In 2007 the decrease began, slow and steady (dr. assisted for much of the decrease).  I have been on .25mg since December 2010, but in February 2012 totally discontinued the drug, finally.  

The outcome is not a good one.  After severe anxiety that could be dated back to Dec. 2010, I have learned that I have been experiencing withdrawals for better than a year now, even though I had been on the low dose.

You might want to Google "benzos withdrawal symptoms" and read what the Wikipedia has to say.

I am back on the .25mg, I simply could not deal with the overwhelming anxiety, it was dominating every fiber of my being.  I do still hope to be set free.  Set free should be free to me and paid for by the pharmaceuticals, they are responsible along with Dr's who prescribe long term use of this drug against manufacturer's advice.

[pwolfe22]

How are you doing? Are you still at the same dose? I cannot believe I have gone from 3mg a day (for at least 5 years) to .125mg!! I started this tapering roughly 9 months ago... I think... ? All I know for sure is, it has been one incredibly hard journey and it is not quite over with yet!
It is now 10 days since the clonazepam has been at .125mg. The first several days at this dosage were still quite rough. I had several harsh panic and anxiety attacks the first 5 or 6 days and I completely broke down Sunday. It has settled down the past few days, but if I encounter any amount of stress, fear or anything that makes my heart thump or creates those "butterflies" in my stomach, I think I am going into panic. I lose my focus, get frustrated or angry and I have to consciously get myself through it. This is when I implement my tools like a warm bath, no phone, music, play cards... PRAY!!  
I finally had a session with my old counselor who has been with me through the beginning of its tapering too. I have to credit her with giving me some of the tools I have been able to utilize. Like, recognizing triggers and keeping my meals, sleep and meds on schedule. Over the past 4-6 weeks, I have finally been able to establish a decent schedule for these things.
Regardless of all the struggles, I still see the progress and people who know me recognize it too.
However, a part of me is truly scared to have it gone for good. Should I have a low dose for an emergency? What is going to happen if I have a huge attack and have nothing for it? I cannot help but be scared because my body has been dependent on it for so long. During those really bad moments those first 6 days.. I had to take .25mg on two occasions. I recognize when my body craves that chemical. I know this because of that "cold-turkey 10 days" that other doctor made me go through!! I told my husband, when this is over and has passed... I will quit smoking!!! I am quite sure I can handle it because I did quit cold turkey before for about 3 months (I am stupid for picking them back up... but I did.) and that was NOTHING like this nor those 10 DAYS!! I truly thank GOD for those days!!! Not only for bringing me through, but allowing me to experience it in the first place because I KNOW NOW!! That is one reason why I am so scared too!! Any thoughts?