If I Quit Klonopin Cold Turkey Should I Start Again
In a world filled with recognizable drug names, the prescription medication Klonopin is sometimes an outlier. Klonopin, the brand name for the drug clonazepam, is often hidden in the shadow of other benzodiazepines such as Xanax or Valium. However, merely similar other benzodiazepines, Klonopin requires a careful taper if you discontinue the drug.
Article at a glance:
- If you have taken a benzodiazepine for longer than two weeks, it is of import to taper the drug.
- Following a tapering schedule is vital to avoid painful, physical withdrawal symptoms.
- Klonopin tapers are all-time conducted under the care of a md, such every bit in an inpatient medical detox environment.
Like all benzodiazepines, Klonopin is a controlled substance due to a risk of dependence and abuse. Rehabilitation facilities tin help individuals overcome a problem with benzodiazepines like Klonopin — a detox is one of the all-time ways to start.
Tapering Off of Klonopin
Quitting a benzodiazepine cold-turkey tin exist dangerous. This is especially truthful if you have been on the drug long-term. Luckily, a tapering strategy can be used to get you lot off the drug completely, by giving you progressively lower doses. This helps to avert the side effects of withdrawal and allows your body to adjust to reduced doses of the drug before farther dose reduction.
If yous take taken a benzodiazepine for longer than two weeks , information technology is of import to taper the drug. Subsequently that time , withdrawal symptoms tin occur if you try to finish the drug without a taper.
Klonopin tapers are best conducted under the care of a doctor, such as in an inpatient medical detox environment. They will be able to make up one's mind the safest taper schedule for you lot based on a variety of factors, including your medical history and any other substances that you may be taking.
Tapering Strategies for Klonopin
Some Klonopin taper strategies that doctors employ include :
- For people on loftier doses : Doctors sometimes cutting the initial dose by upwards to 30%. On a weekly ground thereafter, they continue to reduce the dose upwards to 10% per week. Sometimes, the person is put on another drug, such as an anticonvulsant, to help avoid withdrawal symptoms.
- For people who take Klonopin at bedtime : Doctors may cut the initial Klonopin dose past up to 25%. When Klonopin is taken at bedtime, information technology oftentimes aids in sleep. For this reason, cutting back on the Klonopin may lead to indisposition. Doctors can assist with this using a variety of strategies, including therapy, sleep hygiene techniques and alternate medications.
For people who take Klonopin during the day : Doctors often cut the initial Klonopin dose past upwards to 25%. Every one to 2 weeks thereafter, the dose may be reduced by another 10% to 25%.
Tapering + Therapy = Key to Success
Using additional handling strategies like therapy can assist a taper'south chances of success. For case, in people with panic disorder, group cognitive behavioral therapy during the taper had a 76% chance of successfully tapering off their benzodiazepine, compared with 25% of those who tried tapering off the drug without therapy.
Risks of Stopping Use Cold Turkey
Tapering off Klonopin prevents the debilitating side effects of quitting. Withdrawals tin can be week-long or month-long ordeals one time everything is said and done. A taper can brand all the difference in such harrowing times.
Symptoms that are characteristic of a Klonopin withdrawal include :
- Musculus spasms : Tremor, convulsions, muscle spasms and more serious symptoms like seizure
- Insomnia : Disrupted sleep patterns
- Mental status changes : Mood changes and more than serious symptoms like panic attacks, hallucinations or psychosis
A medically-supervised taper can help you stop taking Klonopin without suffering the furnishings of withdrawal. If you or someone yous love needs help stopping Klonopin or some other benzodiazepine, our squad at The Recovery Village is here to help. Contact us today .
- Sources
ClinCalc. " Clonazepam ." Accessed June 28, 2020.
Estivill, Due east.; Bov, A.; Garca-Borreguero, D.; et al. " Consensus on Drug Handling, Definition and Diagnosis for Insomnia ." Clinical Drug Investigation, 2003. Accessed June 28, 2020.
Hallare, Jericho; Gerriets, Valerie. " One-half Life ." StatPearls, January 30, 2020. Accessed June 28, 2020.
National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. " Effective Treatments for PTSD: Helping Patients Taper from Benzodiazepines ." January 2015. Accessed June 28, 2020.
Medical Disclaimer: The Recovery Hamlet aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with a substance utilise or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health atmospheric condition, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed past licensed medical professionals. The information nosotros provide is non intended to be a substitute for professional person medical advice, diagnosis or handling. Information technology should not be used in place of the communication of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.
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