Is is hard to get off of klonopin after 16 years of use?!
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It probably will be hard on multiple levels to get off of klonopin after such a long period of use. Physiologically, your body is dependent on the medication if you were taking it regularly. What this essentially means is that there is no way you should try to take yourself off of the meds. Instead, you need to be supervised by a trained physician (most likely a psychiatrist) who can slowly taper the med. The importance for supervised discontinuation is that withdrawal from klonopin and other benzos can lead to seizures, confusion, even death. When supervised, your doctor can provide medications that will reduce the risk of seizures. Psychologically, coming off of the klonopin may be difficult because you will be taking away something that you have grown accustomed to having for anxiety, and the absence of something that you've depended on for 16 years could be saddening or anxiety provoking. With proper assistance from a trained professional, though, you should be able to successfully get off of the klonopin. Just be patient with the process.
Other Answers:
It is not a medication that you would want to stop quickly. You would have to very, very gradually decrease the dose to stop its use after all that time. It should also be done by your doctor.
I am sorry it took so long for you to feel strong enough to ask. The brain damage is slow and not noticeable and you are not bothering the public anymore. Now can you start to get free of drugs and begin to learn a way to cope with life. I don't know. The government usually has you boxed into meds and nurses and you will have a set back if you drop the drugs and go crying to the hospital to let you take the pills again. This is what I have been told by some who tried. Maybe you are happy and the nurses are all you need in life. God bless you Sir.
My mother (who died in 2000)was on Klonopin (to the 2nd person who responded to this question - Being on Klonopin isn't the same as being on an illegal drug. Klonopin is a drug prescribed for you by a doctor. My mother took it because of her panic attacks.), Doxepin and Zoloft and June of 1999 she decided to stop taking them cold turkey. It seriously messed with her system and she went back on them and got back to normal.
Don't just quit - cut back gradually with your doctor's knowledge and slowly wean yourself off of it.
Good luck!
To the first person who responded, Klonopin does not cause brain damage. It's very useful for anxiety when used for short time periods. It is extremely addictive. I am sorry to the person answering the question that your doctor didn't realize that Klonopin shouldn't be used for more than a few months at a time. Although it isn't impossible, it will be difficult to stop taking this drug. You need to be supervised by a competant psychiatrist who knows what they are doing with these drugs. I am willing to bet it was prescribed to you by a family doctor. Anyhow, goodluck! It will be hard but not impossible if done slowly and properly
Source(s):
I am a veteran of psychoactive drugs and I have a M.A. in Clinical Psych.
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