hi Gordie, sorry you have had a bad experience, but congratulations on your determination to end the cycle. As you know, Klonopin is a drug in the benzodiazepine family. And as you have experienced, abruptly stopping it has high risk factors. To find out information on how to safely taper home detox from a benzodiazepine drug, I would suggest you review the tapering guidelines established by Professor Heather Ashton in the United Kingdom. She has published her extensive work free online. The tapering guidelines are in The Ashton Manual accessible on her website. Just type her name and The Ashton Manual into Google and it should take you to it. I would provide the direct link here for you, but posting website links is a violation of the site rules. You may want to print that portion of the manual related to Klonopin taper and review it with your doctor to develop a support plan for the taper. As I recall all of Professor Ashton's guidelines for benzodiazepine is for a very slow taper so you will need prescribing assitance support. Good luck:)

Gordie, a couple of more things you need to know.

1. There is a study discussed online warning about do NOT take antihistimines during a benzodiazepine detox; antihistimines may increase the risk of seizure by lowering your body's threshold of tolerance against it [Seven C. Schachter, MD, March 2004].

2. Also, other online source information suggests taking the OTC supplement Taurine can help lessen seizure risks. It allegedly has anti-convulsive properties. Whether there is absolute concrete medical evidence or not, I would take it as a precaution. It is inexpensive around $5 at a good health food store; discount drug stores are not likely to carry it. Call a few local health food stores to find one that does. One manufacturer, and I am sure there others, is NOW FOODS in Bloomingdale, Ill; they have a website online.

Quote from Sarandipity:

Hi All,
Is Clonidine the same as Klonopin?

hi Sara, no, not at all. Klonopin is a benzodiazepine. Clonidine is not; it is a high blood pressure medication that has a secondary benefit factor that also effectively helps with opiate WDs. When you stop taking the clonidine you will likely need to taper end as abruptly stopping can spike your blood pressure; risks are probably greater to someone who already has high blood pressure. I am sure your doctor will guide you out of it. At what level is he prescribing the clonidine for you?