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Suggest Treatment For Insomnia In An Elderly Person While On Clonazepam
Question: I have been on clonazepam since 1996 or 97. Now tryin to get off it. Down to 1/2 of 0.5 every third night and 1/4 every morn. Have some insomnia. Was told on a benzo forum that i needed to take it everyday and taper slowly. Is this true. What is best way to taper this dose? I'm 63. It's not hard to cut the half of 0.5 in half to make a fourth but would be hard to cut the fourth down like forum says. I don't have patience for the liquid tapering of mixing part of pill with water. Do they make clonazepam in smaller than 0.5?
Brief Answer:
Consultation
Detailed Answer:
Hello, and thanks for your question.
It is very good that you are trying to get off Klonopin. This is an addictive drug and this is the best thing for you!
This needs to be done very carefully, as you can have withdrawal and even seizures. Make sure a doctor is monitoring your progress. You cannot do this safely on your own
They do make dispersable 0.125mg and 0.25mg tablets. They also make 0.5mg scored tablets that you are cutting in half as you say. Cutting in fourths is difficult and probably unnecessary. I would simply stop the morning dose and see how you do. After a month, decrease or stop the evening dose. This is likely safe.
In the future, for continuity of care, I encourage you to contact me at my private link below. After you ask a direct question it would be my pleasure to be your dedicated personal physician on this website. My name is Dr. Sheppe, and I am an XXXXXXX doctor working in New York City at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, ranked #1 for Psychiatry in the United States (tinyurl.com/psyrank). For a personalized comprehensive evaluation, treatment recommendations, and individual therapy, ask me at HealthCareMagic at this private link: tinyurl.com/DrSheppeAnswers
Consultation
Detailed Answer:
Hello, and thanks for your question.
It is very good that you are trying to get off Klonopin. This is an addictive drug and this is the best thing for you!
This needs to be done very carefully, as you can have withdrawal and even seizures. Make sure a doctor is monitoring your progress. You cannot do this safely on your own
They do make dispersable 0.125mg and 0.25mg tablets. They also make 0.5mg scored tablets that you are cutting in half as you say. Cutting in fourths is difficult and probably unnecessary. I would simply stop the morning dose and see how you do. After a month, decrease or stop the evening dose. This is likely safe.
In the future, for continuity of care, I encourage you to contact me at my private link below. After you ask a direct question it would be my pleasure to be your dedicated personal physician on this website. My name is Dr. Sheppe, and I am an XXXXXXX doctor working in New York City at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, ranked #1 for Psychiatry in the United States (tinyurl.com/psyrank). For a personalized comprehensive evaluation, treatment recommendations, and individual therapy, ask me at HealthCareMagic at this private link: tinyurl.com/DrSheppeAnswers
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Should I start back on half of 0.5 every night instead of every third night? And leave of the fourth of 0.5 in mornings? Is that what u meant? Or what?
Brief Answer:
Followup
Detailed Answer:
I would stop the morning doses altogether. You're on so little it would be safe to discontinue. Continue to take half of 0.5mg at night, but make it every night instead of every third night. This will help the insomnia. After about a month I would decrease to 0.25mg every other night, and after another month I would stop.
In the future, for continuity of care, I encourage you to contact me at my private link below. After you ask a direct question it would be my pleasure to be your dedicated personal physician on this website. My name is Dr. Sheppe, and I am an XXXXXXX doctor working in New York City at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, ranked #1 for Psychiatry in the United States (tinyurl.com/psyrank). For a personalized comprehensive evaluation, treatment recommendations, and individual therapy, ask me at HealthCareMagic at this private link: tinyurl.com/DrSheppeAnswers
Followup
Detailed Answer:
I would stop the morning doses altogether. You're on so little it would be safe to discontinue. Continue to take half of 0.5mg at night, but make it every night instead of every third night. This will help the insomnia. After about a month I would decrease to 0.25mg every other night, and after another month I would stop.
In the future, for continuity of care, I encourage you to contact me at my private link below. After you ask a direct question it would be my pleasure to be your dedicated personal physician on this website. My name is Dr. Sheppe, and I am an XXXXXXX doctor working in New York City at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, ranked #1 for Psychiatry in the United States (tinyurl.com/psyrank). For a personalized comprehensive evaluation, treatment recommendations, and individual therapy, ask me at HealthCareMagic at this private link: tinyurl.com/DrSheppeAnswers
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
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