Hi, my journey started 20 years ago. Migraine and anxiety. Turned out it was my thyroid, but was placed on Xanax. .25 4 times a day. Did that for years. I weaned myself off and it took 3 years. A few years after a NP said, let’s try Klonopin. It’s completely different and not addicting!! Again, through testing and a great dr my thyroid levels were off. That’s the only time I have anxiety. One year ago I started weaning from the Klonopin. I was on .25 3 times a day. I would get to wear I was only taking it morning and evening. I kept trying to lower the evening dose. I’d get so far and I’d start all over. 4 months ago I ended up in ER. Anxiety they said and gave me Ativan. Well, who knew I was in withdrawal?! Next day my dr stopped Klonopin and put me on 1 mg Ativan twice daily. I was on it for 6 weeks. Sheer hell!! Every week I was begging to get me off this med. I was in interdose withdrawal. I was begging for 5pm daily and by midnight I was a mess. I’ve never before been in such a dark place. Stopped that med and started 10mg of Valium to taper off!! I did my first taper 3 weeks ago. I removed 1/4 of my evening 5mg tab. Day 5-6 I was feeling awful with 2 days of insomnia. I’m doing great now. I’m starting my next taper tomorrow and I don’t know if I should remove another 1/4 from my evening dose which gives me a 1/2 tab or if I should start tapering my morning dose. Any help will be appreciated!!!
That is one hell of a ride. The Ativan switch after years of Klonopin likely set you back more than anyone warned you, so the fact you got yourself stabilized on Valium and made that first cut is a real win. The insomnia around day 5 and 6 tracks with the timing of the dose change, no surprise there.
As for tomorrow, that is a question for you and your prescriber since everyone responds differently to splitting doses. But keep the cuts small and hold long, that is what got you through the last three weeks.
And please welcome new members when you see them, your experience with the ER and interdose withdrawal is exactly the kind of hard won knowledge someone three months behind you needs to hear.
Based, wow!! Thank you so much!! The Ativan was ugly. I figured I too was in withdrawal from the Klonopin too? Thanks so much for responding. I just want to be done and I know it’s not that easy. I’m hoping tapering from the Valium will be smoother. Just wanna make sure I do it right. That insomnia was crazy, but I’m leaning to not force sleep, but to go with the affects and to try to remain focused and busy!!
Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.28 mg Trazodone - 50 mg Synthroid - 25 mcg “Your brain and body know how to heal. Trust the process and keep going.” Please Note: I am not a healthcare professional. Any advice given is based on personal experience and that of others in the lay withdrawal community.
Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.28 mg Trazodone - 50 mg Synthroid - 25 mcg “Your brain and body know how to heal. Trust the process and keep going.” Please Note: I am not a healthcare professional. Any advice given is based on personal experience and that of others in the lay withdrawal community.
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