How hyperbolic tapering works?

August 3, 2026··

I was going through the Ashton Manual (again) and currently I can't switch from Clonazepam to diazepam since it's not available in my country for ambulatory tapering. Last time I CTd from 1 drop clonazepam (0.125mg) and the sumptoms were so intense that I had to reinstate. Once I've gotten the 1 drop dose how can I start the hyperbolic tapering? Should I reduce 10% of 0.125mg each time for 1-2 weeks? Thank you for any feedback.

Klonopin — 1,75mg — 6 months — actively tapering

8 Replies

guava378Aug 3

Community AnchorAbilify · active

Hold the dose until all your withdrawal symptoms stabilize. Are you using liquid medicine ?

- Aripiprazole / Abilify:
17-May-2026 (15mg -> 10mg)
11-July-2026 (10mg-> 7.5mg
17-Aug-2026 (7.5mg -> 5mg)
28-Sep-2026 (5mg -> 3.6mg)
10 months - actively tapering
- Procyclidine 5mg - 10 months - actively tapering
- Propranolol - 20mg - 13 months - holding
- Xanax - 0.25mg - 8 months - holding

⭐

CatinaAug 3

Community AnchorEffexor

Hi Azul, according to AI: If 0.125 mg is the lowest dose you can reliably take, you can generally begin a hyperbolic taper from there by reducing a small percentage of your current dose each time. A 10% reduction is often used as a starting guideline, but many people need to go slower—especially if they've had severe withdrawal or have already had to reinstate. Given your history of intense symptoms after stopping from 0.125 mg, I'd be inclined to be more conservative. You might consider reductions of 5% or even less, holding each new dose for at least 2–4 weeks (or longer if symptoms haven't settled) before making another reduction. The taper can always be adjusted based on how your nervous system responds. Since diazepam isn't an option where you live, a direct taper from clonazepam is certainly possible—just take it slowly and let your symptoms determine the pace rather than following a fixed schedule.

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.92 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Levothyroxine - 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.

AzulAug 3

NavigatorKlonopin · active

Thank you Catina. I'm doing the math to use the equivalents of clonazepam for diazepam doses according to Asthon Manual. My guess is that the first time I just tapered too fast.

Klonopin — 1,75mg — 6 months — actively tapering

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CatinaAug 3

Community AnchorEffexor

"My guess is that the first time I just tapered too fast." — @Azul

That's probably what happened. Hopefully this time it will go smoother!

AzulAug 3

NavigatorKlonopin · active

Guava378. Symptoms like tinnitus don't fade away no matter if I hold a dose for 26 days or for two weeks. It is just louder some days and others in the base line. I already had a neuralgia wich I'm welcoming again, more painful some days. No anxiety anymore. Just mood changes and existential sadness. Yes, I'm using the liquid form. I already have the pipettes since I have to split a drop by half sometimes. But once I get 1 drop I don't know how to make the compound dose for instance 0.9 0.8 0.7 and so on.

Klonopin — 1,75mg — 6 months — actively tapering

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CatinaAug 3

Community AnchorEffexor

"But once I get 1 drop I don't know how to make the compound dose for instance 0.9

0.8 0.7 and so on."

— @Azul

Have you tried using AI to help?

AzulAug 4

NavigatorKlonopin · active

Catina, yes, I've tried AI a bit but I rather go with body lead symptom tapering. It's hard to be patient when symptoms hit. Thank you for replying ☺

Klonopin — 1,75mg — 6 months — actively tapering

⭐

CatinaAug 4

Community AnchorEffexor

"It's hard to be patient when symptoms hit" — @Azul

I understand, and I'm so sorry. It's hard to be patient sometimes.

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