I've taken--as needed (low dose) Xanax for about 1 1/2 years due to the stress, etc. of the Meniere's and hearing loss--and life in general. Never thought I would but you do what you have to do. Recently was switched to 1 gm. of Klonopin 2 x's daily--in the same family as Xanax but takes longer to work and stays in the system longer. Was feeling some better--not ongoing anxiety and then after a week, began to feel soooo off balance (I mean trying to turn or walk any distance, I had to work at it). I have had some of those issues and finished a few weeks of balance therapy and was doing very well. Then this last weekend, I began to be 'soooo sleepy' and even in an event we were at was fighting sleep--same thing at home--so I have to nap and then feel worse when I waken. Since I was on 1 gm two times daily--and no more Xanax, I thought the two of these conditions going on were the cause--still do. Called my doctor an he ok'd me cutting back to 1/2 a Klonopin 2 times a day. So, I feel a bit sleepy this morning and I've just been up and taken the pill about 2 hrs ago. Hoping in time it helps and then I hope to wean off of it by just cutting back''very slowly'. Anyone here had this happen, especially the balance and sleepiness going on? Please post if you have. Thanks. My hearing is still not good but shows some improvement. No vertigo now for 4 years--yea! But so dizzy and anxiety due to these two things going on.
2 mg per day of Klonopin is a high dose. Be very careful about taking it daily, as it is extremely addictive. This site will give you a lot more info about benzos. http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/
Glad to help out. I was on K for years, so i know what you're going through. Also, you might consider cutting down even more. Usually, people find relief at .25 mg per dose. No point in taking too much if you don't need it. You can always go back up if needed. Also, note that it can cause tinnitus and hyperacusis, so watch out for that.
That sounds like a good plan. If you feel withdrawal, it will kick in worse on Days 2-7. So you might even consider just dropping to 1.75 today, hold for 2 days, drop to 1.5, hold, drop, etc. Don't rush it. Withdrawal from benzos is a beast and you've been on them long enough to have issues.
Confused on dosage. Felt awful today after taking the 1/2 pill this morning (it's a 1 gram pill). So, took another 1/2 at 2:30 (6 h ours later) So, now I'm at a gram for today. Have been so 'weepy' and off kilter all day. Did ok yesterday on 3 (1/2 tablets.) of the 1 gram dosage. I Is each gram 100 for a full gram or am I misunderstanding that. So, thought I'd do that again today--so far have had 2 halves of the one gram. Dr. said cut back to one gram daily from 2. Guess I'll take another 1/2 tablet at bedtime--that's 1/2 a Gram. Is that correct or am I taking too much You said 1.75 and hold to days but each tablet is 1 gram. So do you mean take one whole tablet and 3/4 of of the other. Not sure how I'd cut that or is that what you mean. Cut the tablets in 4 instead of two. Not easy as they are not large. Each one is 1 gram so 1.75 would be 1 tablet and 3/4 of another one or am I misunderstanding it? Confused. Think I'll just try as Dr suggested and take one table only per day for a few days--and split it so I take on in the a.m. and one in the p.m. unless I have problems--like today and then will add another 1/2 tablet. Sound reasonable? If I know it will ease eventually I can deal with it but sure hope it's not long. Thanks.
It sounds like you're getting hit pretty hard with withdrawal. Benzos are powerful drugs, and Klonopin is one of the toughest ones. Some people have terrible withdrawal and can even have seizures. This is not something to experiment with at this point. I would strongly recommend getting back to your doctor and work out a safe game plan on how to approach this. Perhaps go back to 2 mg and then taper off much more slowly. See what he says.
Well, I am already tapering off more slowly--now taking just the 1 1/2 grams thru tomorrow. Then will go down to 1 gram for as long as needed--hopefully no more than a week or so. He had told me to drop to 1 gram a day but I found I needed 1 1/2 the last two days. So far this morning, have had 1/2 a gram and plan to do the other 1/2 about 2 or 3, then the other at bedtime. This morning, I'm feeling better--not nearly as 'off kilter'. So, maybe the 'plan is working'. I'll let you know. If I don't do well these next few days, will call him. However, he told me to just 'stop' it if the side effects were really bad (since I've only been on it for 2 weeks. And I've not had any Xanax all this time--so that's a blessing. It could be going off of it along with taking the new drug it hit me hard. So, I'm going to really try to bear the side effects until I can hopefully 'wean off' of it altogether. If I need to take it at this dosage, I will, but just want to get past the side effects. Thanks for your helpful advise--I'll let you know.
Well that was 'short lived'! Anyway, today was not bad at first, then after 1/2 of the 1 gram tablet, I began with the feeling 'yukky'. So waited 3 hours and took the other 1/2 (doctor said cut back to 1 gram from 2) So, now I've had the what he advised and it's only 3:00 p.m. and I had to lay down, was feeling so sleepy and drugged. I'm up and it's some better. Am trying to do the 1 1/2 grams instead of 1 a day for few days so my system adjusts better. May not be a good idea. So, tomorrow I'll do just the 1 gram as the doctor said. And do that for at least 2 weeks, then hoping to cut to 1/2 gram for a week or so then -done! I just feel most of my problems have been due to he effects of Xanax and now the Klonopin. I may need a Xanax for an occasional anxiety episode due to the Meniere's thing, but I don't want to feel drugged all the time anymore--just want my life back as much as possible. I know you know what I mean as do many here.
Update! Well, I was having such bad side effects--crying alot, feeling really irritable, trembly, etc. I decided to 'wean off' the Klonopin. It's been 5 days today that I have had 'none'. I cut back gradually from only a 1 gram a day (the last two weeks I took it), but I'm still having withdrawal. Of course, I had been taking 2 tablets of Xanax prior to this--and stopped it as soon as I started the Klonopin so have had 1/2 a Xanax in 5 weeks. I suppose I may still be withdrawing from it but have had 4 rough days. Ranging from depression to shakiness to head pressure--hard to tell if any is the weaning off the Benzo or some is the Meniere's and I suspect some of it is that, since that is the reason I was having to take them in the first place. Anyway, If I have to take something on a truly bad day--it will be a Xanax but I am going to try to stay off of all of that. I can't do anti-depressants either, at least none I've tried--and they are many. So, I just have to 'toughen up'. Keeping busy as my body will let me and trying to 'think positively'! Just wanted to update in case someone has something to add and perhaps to help someone else going thru the Benzo trial thing.
Many of the withdrawal symptoms are identical to MM symptoms, so it's not surprising to see those. You're very lucky to be able to wean off so quickly. Many people takes months to do that. It is also not uncommon to see it take several weeks or even months to completely eliminate the wd symptoms. Good luck!
Wow! Well since I was only on the Klonopin for 4 weeks and the last two, only on 1 gram a day, I'm hoping this won't be a long process. As to the Xanax--I stopped it when I started the Klonopin as directed to do--so guess that is still working it's way out too. Gee--the things meds can do to and for you! A mess sometimes.