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Suggest Ways To Wean Off Gabapentin And Clonazepam

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Posted on Mon, 7 Nov 2016
Question: I HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FROM CYCLONIC BIPOLAR DISORDER SINCE 1998. DUE TO IT I HAVE CHRONIC SLEEP DISORDER. FOR ABOVE I HAD BEEN TREATED WITH 2MG CLONAZEPAM WITH PROTHEIDIN 75 TO 150MG, THEN WITH MIRTAGE 15 TO 30 MG, WITH ZOLFRESH10MG,NITROZEPAM 10MG,REMITEX 8 MG, THEN WITH QUETIAPIN SR 200MG +600MG GABAPIN SR +OTHER DRUGS. 2MG CLONAZEPAM HAD BEEN TAKING SINCE 1998. NOW I AM TAKING 1 MG CLONAZEPAM+400MG QUETIAPIN PLAIN+600MG GABAPIN SR +15 MG VALIUM. THIS DOSE IS OKAY FOR ME. I HAD BEEN GIVEN LITHIUM,BUT IT HAD SPOILED MY THYROID PROFILE AND S.CREATIN. SIR NOW I WANT TO QUIT GABAPIN AND 1 MG CLONAZEPAM. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (40 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Reduce one drug at a time.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome here.
I can understand your concerns.
In my opinion, you should try to discontinue one drug at a time.
I would first suggest you to stop gabapin.
You can reduce the dose of gabapin by 100mg per week.
Once you are stable without gabapin, you can consider reducing clonazepam.
Please make these dose changes under your doctors' supervision.
.Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Veerisetty Shyamkumar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shubham Mehta (13 minutes later)
Sir , had i been tolerent to clonazepam as it has been taken since 1998? How long can i take diazepam drug? Quetiapin plain is a bless for me. How much can it be taken in a dose?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (5 hours later)
Brief Answer: XXXXXXX for 1-2 months.

Detailed Answer:
Usually, drugs like clonazepam or diazepam should not be taken for more than 1-2 months.
You have been taking these drugs since long time. You must have become dependent on it now.
The maximum daily dose of quetiapine is 700mg. But that is very high dose as it can cause excessive sedation and fall in blood pressure.

Hope this answers your query.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shubham Mehta (9 hours later)
Sir i have been treating by Dr.Mrugesh vaishnav wellknown psychitrist.I have been doing as directed by him.He can put me down by reducing dose of clonazepam from 2 mg to 1mg now.Sir due to this treatment I have been living a nonproblematic life since 1998.Sir any remarkable side effects of clonazepam and diazepam?what do u suggest sir?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Benzos can cause cognitive decline.

Detailed Answer:
As I mentioned earlier, one drug should be reduced at a time.
I suggested gabapin. Your doctor chose clonazepam. It is absolutely fine as it the individual decision of the treating doctor.

Clonazepam and diazepam are habit forming and can cause cognitive decline (mental dullness in simple terms) on long term. There are no their major side effects.

Thus, please follow your treating doctors' advice. If need be, feel free to contact further in future.

I wish you well.
Thanks.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Shubham Mehta

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 2145 Questions

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Suggest Ways To Wean Off Gabapentin And Clonazepam

Brief Answer: Reduce one drug at a time. Detailed Answer: Hello Welcome here. I can understand your concerns. In my opinion, you should try to discontinue one drug at a time. I would first suggest you to stop gabapin. You can reduce the dose of gabapin by 100mg per week. Once you are stable without gabapin, you can consider reducing clonazepam. Please make these dose changes under your doctors' supervision. .Thanks.