Suggest Dosage For Abilify And Klonopin

Posted on Tue, 9 May 2017

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 9 May 2017 Answered on

Wed, 31 May 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : Hello, I was taking 15 mg of abilify for three months and 1 mg of klonopin three times a day for five months, and then reduced the dosage to 10 mg of abilify and 1 mg of klonopin twice a day on Saturday. I would like to taper off of abilify and klonopin so that I can take natural medications. I went to my medical doctor, and he said he could not give me a prescription, but that I should take 10 mg of abilify, and two mg of klonopin for one week, then cut the abilify pill in half and take half for one week and one mg of klonopin for one week, and then cut the abilify pill in 1/4 and take a quarter for one week and take one half of a klonopin tablet (0.5 mg) for one week then stop. Is this the proper way to taper off of abilify and klonopin? When I have broken the klonopin pills in half in the past, I get shaky so will I have a seizure breaking them in half or the breaking the abilify pills? I just want to ask a psychiatrist if this is the proper way to taper off of these medications because a medical doctor may not always have all the knowledge about psychiatric medications, and I don't know if my psychiatrist will cooperate in helping me taper off of them. Since I get shaky when I break the klonopin pills in half, can I take 2 mg for two weeks, and then take 1 mg for two weeks and then stop, or is the way my medical doctor suggested the right way? And will I have any problem with breaking the abilify pills in one half and then one quarter? Please respond as soon as possible.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (39 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It is partially correct

Detailed Answer:
Dear xxxxx,
Thanks for using Healthcaremagic.

What your doctor recommended is correct but some what crude way to taper off the two medications simultaneously.

As you said it is 3 mg klonopin and 10mg abilify following regimen can be followed.

Week 1
Abilify 7.5 mg and Klonopin 2.5 mg (1 in morning, half in afternoon and one in night/evening)

Week 2
Abilify 5 mg and Klonopin 2 mg (1/2 in morning, half in afternoon and one in night/evening)

Week 3
Abilify 2.5 mg and Klonopin 1.5 mg (1/2 in morning and one in night/evening)

Week 4 Klonopin 1 mg in night

Week 5
Klonnopin 0.5 mg

Week 6
Klonopin 0.25 mg in night

Week 7 stop

By following this schedule there is negligible risk of seizures if any and you will be safe from withdrawal effects of both medications.

The breaking of abilify is difficult but can be done precisely as it is scored tablet.

I hope this answers you.
I will request you to use my direct link so you can reach me to get exclusive answer from me for continuity of care.
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Thanks and regards.

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