Ok. I can’t do anything smaller on the klonopin so I’ll just hold it here for a bit. Wasn’t planning on working that one to zero just wanted to get a little lower to see if it helps.

Do you think I screwed myself bu going to .75? Now I’m worried I’m going to crash and have crazy anxiety.

49 minutes ago, Need to End said:

Ok. I can’t do anything smaller on the klonopin so I’ll just hold it here for a bit. Wasn’t planning on working that one to zero just wanted to get a little lower to see if it helps.

Okay, I'd do whatever you feel most comfortable doing. If it's holding at .75 mg, you can do that. If it's going to your previous dosage of .875 mg, you can do that. You have made only 1 reduction to .75 mg so you could return. But also keep in mind that when you made your 25% reduction a while back, that went to .75 mg also and you actually felt better, so I wouldn't conclude that you're screwed or anything.

I'm not sure why you are limited to reducing by .125 mg. What are your tablets like? The only .125 mg doses I know about are the ODTs that disintegrate in your mouth. Is that what you have?

I’ve made 2 klonopin reductions. First was from 1 to .875 for 2 weeks then from .875 to .75 2 days ago.

I have .5 mg tablets

Klonopin is available in .250mg. You can ask your doctor for it and make smaller reductions

34 minutes ago, Need to End said:

I’ve made 2 klonopin reductions. First was from 1 to .875 for 2 weeks then from .875 to .75 2 days ago.

I have .5 mg tablets

Yes, I know you first went from 1 mg to .875 mg and then held. Then you recently reduced from .875 mg to .75 mg. So you've been on .75 mg for 2 days? We may live in different date/time zones. Your signature says you started on your .75 mg on 6/27. It's 6/27 where I live, so that's why I thought you had been on .75 mg only 1 day.

So with your .5 mg tablets, are you splitting those into quarters of .125 mg? Are your tablets scored like that? I'm thinking you have a scale to weigh out your Prozac doses or use a liquid. I'm asking all this so I can help you with this better.

I goofed in the date. I just updated it. I have liquid Prozac.

No the tabs for klonopin are not scored so I’m doing my best to evenly split them.

I appreciate your help very very much.

@Need to End I can see you have had some great help from @Gaucho. When making a reduction you should use Micro scales to weigh the dose rather than eye ball it so it is nice and consistent.

Preparing Doses for Tapering - Weighing & DIY Liquids

I don’t feel anything additionally negative since cutting the klonopin to .75mg.

I’m freaked out tho because I read a stat that mortality rate if benzos are used is higher and also I’m not supposed to taper both of these at the same time.

So it’s like I’m stuck being on this klonopin longer which. Increases my mortality rate?? I just want off both!!

@Need to End

The mortality statistics you've read are population-level observations, not predictions about what will happen to any one person. They include many people who are much older than you (65+ years old), have significant medical illnesses, take quite a few medications, or have substance use disorders. They don't tell us that a person in their 40s (like you) who is carefully tapering a prescribed benzodiazepine is likely to have a shortened life because they're staying on it during that time.

In fact, stopping too quickly because you're afraid of those statistics could create much more immediate problems than taking the time to taper safely. A gradual taper is meant to reduce those risks, not increase them.

From what you've written, your reduction to .75 mg appears to be going better than you feared. I'd focus on that as encouraging rather than looking for a new reason to panic.

Ok. I just want to make it back and then do what I wanted with my life.

I lowered to 1.59mg today on Prozac. I’ll hold the klonopin for at least 2 weeks.

I’ve had a bit more calm in moments. Could be either drug reduction or my doctor has me taking 20mg of Zyrtec a day to help with my histamine sensitivity which he said can help with anxiety. I do think I’ve had a histamine issue my whole life. When I was a kid I went to er for a simple bee sting (not sure if I shared that). I had a severe allergic reaction hives throat swelled up where I almost could t breathe. So maybe the Zyrtec is calming things down?

I’ve also read that klonopin can all of a sudden start making things worse even if it worked originally. Ever since klonopin my eyes have looked much more sunken in and swollen with a dark circle under each - like as soon as I stared taking it I’d wake up the next morning looking strung out.

Also what do you do when people in your life tell you that you should be doing more. You should do mediation, death work, zero gravity egg pod etc…. None of that stuff touches this withdrawal. It’s hard to be settled enough to do all these things esp when there’s no proof they will work.

3 hours ago, Need to End said:

Also what do you do when people in your life tell you that you should be doing more. You should do mediation, death work, zero gravity egg pod etc…. None of that stuff touches this withdrawal. It’s hard to be settled enough to do all these things esp when there’s no proof they will work.

Less is more. More time for your body to heal at its own pace. Thank them for their opinion and do what's right for you.

1 hour ago, Catbird said:

Less is more. More time for your body to heal at its own pace. Thank them for their opinion and do what's right for you.

100% this @Need to End

Thank you. I have a friend who is tapering Ativan and said he will be doing so for years (4-5 total). He only took it for 2 weeks after he crashed on a zoloft fast taper. He started tapering the zoloft but then held and has been doing the ativan.

My question or concern is that he is taking 4-5 years on something he only took for 2 weeks. Im probably going to be off prozac after a 2.5 year taper. It scares me to think Im going too fast when I talk to him compared to his pace.

I have never felt okay on prozac or since my fast taper of zoloft. During 3-5 month holds I never felt okay either. As you know Im trying to gret off of it and I guess this just freaks me out and makes me feel like I am doomed to be in this state for my whole freaking life since Im going at a faster pace than he is.

As @Catbird and @Chippy said, only you know what's right for you. Referencing other peoples' journeys or putting too much value on their opinions just leads to more anxiety. Let it take as long as your body and mind tell you.

I am struggling feeling like I am supposed to feel normal and amazing before I taper but I never get to that point. I feel like I need to keep moving. I am so confused like am i supposed to not feel this sadness and axiety before i taper? If so, that has not happened in over 2 years. I feel like I need to get off this as you guys know.

Im just really scared.

I didn’t feel “normal” till well after I finished my taper. Your taper depends on the symptoms you have and how you feel you can handle them. You’re learning a whole new way of dealing with your emotions and thoughts, and that takes time and patience.

Okay so feeling anxiety and fear and panic and depression are not things I should wait to have go away before dropping dose right?

I can only speak for myself and my experience. I stuck to a fairly regular schedule. But you seem to be experiencing more intense symptoms right now, so holding till you feel a bit more stable may be best. This isn’t a race. Taper when you feel you can handle the symptoms that may come. That’s why I keep advising members to use coping methods. They make the tapering experience far more tolerable.

Ty. Honestly I don’t feel any worse now than I have for months/years. It’s been constant like this. Today and Friday were slightly better and I think it may be because of other factors like Zyrtec and trt.

If I wait until I can tolerate more pain / symptoms I feel like I’ll wait forever. It’s just not improved markedly really this whole time.

I dropped to 1.58mg tonight

Edited June 30Jun 30 by Need to End

8 hours ago, Need to End said:

Ty. Honestly I don’t feel any worse now than I have for months/years. It’s been constant like this. Today and Friday were slightly better and I think it may be because of other factors like Zyrtec and trt.

If I wait until I can tolerate more pain / symptoms I feel like I’ll wait forever. It’s just not improved markedly really this whole time.

I dropped to 1.58mg tonight

If Zyrtec is helping, that's great. I'd continue that just like your doctor recommended.

It can be difficult to know for sure whether it's best to hold or continue tapering. As you have consistently pointed out, it doesn't seem to really matter in terms of how you've been feeling. Unfortunately, it's common for those tapering to feel bad. Everyone's experience is different, with some eventually feeling better as they lower their dosages or get to zero. At this time, in my opinion, I don't see your Prozac taper as being too fast. Remaining functional day to day is important, and although tapering from a position of stability is certainly helpful, it is not a requirement.

Again, we don't know med-wise how much of what you are going thru is withdrawal vs adverse/paradoxical reaction vs destabilization after your rapid discontinuation of your pre-Prozac meds. Add to that your life stressors and fears of your future. That's a lot to sort out.

You mention your pre-Prozac rapid tapers quite a bit. Would you say back then (2.5 years ago), you were suffering much the same way as you have been since being on Prozac and tapering it, or that your suffering since going on Prozac till now has been noticeably/markedly worse?

Def worse since Prozac. Before the crash and then switch ti Prozac I was stressed and anxious due to life stress but it didn’t compare to this. This is existential and much more limiting and constant etc…

Guys I’m having one of those hopeless days where I feel like it’s too late for me and I can’t make it back. This age thing is really grinding on me bad super bad.

In terms of what you can do with your life and your potential for success and fulfillment, age is irrelevant. Your anxious mind has found your emotional weak spot and is exploiting it to keep you trapped in ruminations. The only person who views your life as a failure is that part of your mind that needs to keep you trapped to maintain its power.