Clonazepam (Tapering?)

[Bart]

I have been taking clonazepam (rivotril) for a week now, and before that I have been using it occasionally on and off for a couple of weeks.

I take one 0.5 mg pill before I go to bed, the ENT at the hospital said I can take it up to one month without any problems and without the need to taper down afterwards at this small dose.

My GP on the other hand said that it is advisable to take half a pill 0.25 mg for a couple of nights after I want to stop it , any advice or experience from other Clonazepam users here on how to best approach this as I plan to stop taking it soon?

Many thanks.

 

[Karl28]

Ask on the forum benzobuddies but I think it's been such a short time you don't need to taper

 

[dayma]

That's such a small amount for such a small time. I don't think there is any issue.

Addiction is based on genetics and predisposition. AKA do you or anyone in your immediate family have any issues with addiction? If not, it's lot less of a risk etc...

 

[Michael Leigh]

I have been taking clonazepam (rivotril) for a week now, and before that I have been using it occasionally on and off for a couple of weeks.

I take one 0.5 mg pill before I go to bed, the ENT at the hospital said I can take it up to one month without any problems and without the need to taper down afterwards at this small dose.

My GP on the other hand said that it is advisable to take half a pill 0.25 mg for a couple of nights after I want to stop it , any advice or experience from other Clonazepam users here on how to best approach this as I plan to stop taking it soon?

Many thanks.

HI @Bart

I was prescribed Clonazepam in 2010 by my ENT consultant, and advised to take 2x 0.5mg tablets when my tinnitus is very severe. I was told if it is taken too often, the body will quickly habituate to it and the medication will no longer have any effect. Addiction (dependency) can develop as well as unpleasant side effects, if larger dosages are taken to get relief.

Fortunately, I haven't had any problems taken it and haven't increased the dosage. I take it about twice a month only for around two days. I have found it very helpful when my tinnitus reaches severe levels as nothing else will calm it down. Sometimes, I will not be too quick to take this medicine as my tinnitus will reduce on it's own. However, when the intensity is just too much I have no other option but to take it and I'm thankful that I'm still able to get it on prescription.

Michael

 

[Jiri]

At such a small dose and the time you've been on it I don't think you need to worry too much about tapering. I've been on it for 3 months and then I was recommended to taper 0,5 mg every 14 days.

 

[glynis]

You should be fine but a small reduction is always good and im sure make you feel better from worrying if you have enough meds to do so.
Love glynis

 

[Luman]

I was on it last year, similar dosage to you, used it as needed about 34 times from Sept. through the end of December 2017. During December, I took it about 15 times, including the taper doses, and this was a big mistake. Due to my ignorance about dependence with this drug, and insufficient tapering, I experienced cold-turkey type withdrawal symptoms, after taking half-doses (.25 mg) for a few days and stopping. I still don't feel completely right, some three months since I took the last tapering dose. I don't want to alarm you, but this is a very powerful drug, despite what some doctors say, and it stays in the body for days. Michael Leigh's doctor was correct, it should not be used for our purposes more than occasionally, such as once or twice a month. It was originally developed to treat epilepsy and seizures. To be on the safe side, I would advise that you start tapering within a week or two, if you can manage it.

 

[DebInAustralia]

linearb?

 

[kelpiemsp]

Benzo addiction is a very different type of addiction. While you may or may not be predisposed to addictive behaviors, your brain and body certainly at some point become addicted to the drug. Benzo's enhance your bodies ability to use GABA. GABA is inhibitory, its like the brakes on a car. In return, your body starts to make less GABA, since it is using the GABA it has more efficiently. Also as a side effect, more Glutamate an excitatory neurotransmitter has to work harder, produce more for the same effect. This has nothing to do with your genetics as far as addiction. It has more to do with how your brain regulates itself. Very quickly, in 3-4 weeks, your brain will begin decreasing its GABA production and you will have to take more of the medication for the same effect, and your Glutamate production will increase. The reason your doctor is suggestion splitting the pill is because once your body becomes starved of that benzo, its efficiency at using GABA returns to normal. One of the side effects is Glutamate overproduction which will return to normal eventually. But this eventually takes time. In your case, more than likely a few days is suffice. Your doctor is advising you to taper so the brain has a little more time to adjust.

Does that make sense?

TL;DR Taper, taper, taper