This means that it is reduced by smaller increments as the taper period proceeds (since 25% of each dose becomes incrementally smaller). Because a taper is structured this way, a person who has been using Klonopin for longer and at a higher dose will have a much longer and more drawn out taper process with a variety of doses before they’re off the medication completely. Someone who took a lower dose of Klonopin will complete the withdrawal and taper process much more quickly. Someday you may face a sudden, short-term health problem such as surgery or an injury. If an opioid is prescribed, let your healthcare team know if you had any trouble tapering off opioids in the past. If you’ve successfully tapered off opioid medicine in the past, taking opioids for a brief time — with guidance from your healthcare professional — may be OK.
Clonazepam, often prescribed under the name klonopin, is a medication usually prescribed to treat conditions like seizures, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and panic disorder. Since clonazepam early signs of liver damage from alcohol can help you feel relaxed and euphoric, it’s possible to become addicted. Withdrawing from clonazepam can be difficult because you can experience withdrawal symptoms.
- Additionally, benzodiazepines should not be withdrawn abruptly because there is a risk of epileptic fits or a person can become confused or experience paranoid psychosis.
- In many cases, people who experience post-acute withdrawal should seek mental health treatment to help cope with these symptoms.
- The results of this study indicate that cognitive-behavioral therapy is able to greatly help people overcome their Klonopin addiction when combined with a slow taper.
- There are many instances of patients developing a protracted withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) from rapid tapers of this nature.
- Videos and resources are available in online support groups explaining the various approaches.
It was prescribed by another physician who had since retired, and she insisted that it was the only thing that helped her symptoms. Over the past several months, she had been taking more alprazolam during the day and at bedtime, because it had not been working as well as when initially prescribed. The duration https://sober-home.org/ of a taper depends on how long a person was using Klonopin. Additionally, if a person is thought to be at a high risk of overdose, it could be in their best interest to attempt a more rapid taper. Your healthcare professional may recommend that you have naloxone available to lower your risk of an overdose.
Why Benzodiazepines Withdrawal Symptoms Occur
A much safer option is to taper down the usage of the medicine naturally. Even safer than that is to seek the supervision of a professional.If you decide you want to quit Klonopin and know you’re going to go through Klonopin withdrawal, the best option for quitting is a slower taper. Tapering gradually reduces the medication in your system which makes your Klonopin withdrawal symptoms much less severe and keeps you safe while you are allowing your body and brain to adjust to life without it. Many medical detox programs will slowly taper clients off of Klonopin to help safely manage withdrawal symptoms. A typical tapering process reduces doses by 10 to 25% every two weeks, but it can be slowed down when needed to maintain the person’s comfort. In some cases, the process can take months, particularly if the person took high doses or used Klonopin for a long time.
Klonopin (Clonazepam) Withdrawal Symptoms and Side Effects
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Medications to Alleviate Withdrawal Symptoms
Ask your healthcare team if you’re not sure when you can stop your opioid medicine. This withdrawal phase usually starts within a day or two, beginning when the last dosage leaves the bloodstream. Specifically, Klonopin works by enhancing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. GABA is a calming neurotransmitter, and Klonopin helps it to be more effective.
In the fourth week, have them lessen their dose to 12.5 percent or .25 mg daily. Finally, by the fifth week, they should discontinue their dosage completely. Sometimes, despite a taper, a person needs adjunct medications like anti-seizure drugs in the last stages of a benzo taper. Both carbamazepine (Tegretol) and pregabalin (Lyrica) have that data to support their use for this purpose. Medical detoxification from benzodiazepines often involves tapering down from the drug. Tapering down can mean reducing the dose or prescribing a less potent benzo.