Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Suggest Methods To Detox Clonazepam From The Body
Question: I am currently taking 0.25mg of Clonazapam 3x daily and want to detox slowly over the next 3 weeks, by going 2x/week, then 1x per weekand am scared of seizures happening. Is this a reasonble course of action?
Brief Answer:
Need slighly more info.
Detailed Answer:
Do you have a liver ? are all your medications that go through the liver really having a lot more than their usual effect?
This question is because this is the very lowest dose of clonapin already. One might use it for someone with liver impairment. In which case the dose is lowered gradually maybe 2 weeks per dosing level but 1 week per level is reasonable also. Futhermore, while in general, klonapin is given 3 times a day because it won't be there for most of the day, it is reasonable to give it less than 3 times a day if it isn't being removed normally.
If you have a normal liver, then the question is whether you have more than the usual risk of seizures. A lot of people do because of a history of previous seizures or previous stroke or previous alcohol problems.
But, I suspect you do not actually have any of these conditions and in which case the tapering won't get you into any trouble but it is quite safe to taper faster if someone doesn't have other issues.
There's another reason to do exactly as you outlined....the drug is highly PSYCHOLOGICALLY addictive. People withdrawal off of it and have feelng bad, or wistfulness or anxiety far far more commonly than they have seizures ffrom ont taking it. Difficulty sleeping is also very common when stopping this group of drugs. Going at a gradual taper will get someone used to not having it.
Need slighly more info.
Detailed Answer:
Do you have a liver ? are all your medications that go through the liver really having a lot more than their usual effect?
This question is because this is the very lowest dose of clonapin already. One might use it for someone with liver impairment. In which case the dose is lowered gradually maybe 2 weeks per dosing level but 1 week per level is reasonable also. Futhermore, while in general, klonapin is given 3 times a day because it won't be there for most of the day, it is reasonable to give it less than 3 times a day if it isn't being removed normally.
If you have a normal liver, then the question is whether you have more than the usual risk of seizures. A lot of people do because of a history of previous seizures or previous stroke or previous alcohol problems.
But, I suspect you do not actually have any of these conditions and in which case the tapering won't get you into any trouble but it is quite safe to taper faster if someone doesn't have other issues.
There's another reason to do exactly as you outlined....the drug is highly PSYCHOLOGICALLY addictive. People withdrawal off of it and have feelng bad, or wistfulness or anxiety far far more commonly than they have seizures ffrom ont taking it. Difficulty sleeping is also very common when stopping this group of drugs. Going at a gradual taper will get someone used to not having it.
Note: In case of any other concern or query related to prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, or the recovery of persons with the any type of addiction or substance use, follow up with our Addiction Medicine Specialist. Click here to book a consultation now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
