Posted by delna on November 4, 2009, at 8:54:17
In reply to Clonazepam discontinuation, posted by tensor on November 3, 2009, at 15:20:13
> Hello, I'm again thinking of quitting clon. because of my depression. Since also I could use a mood stabilizer because of the recurring nature of my depression, would Lamictal make it easier to come off clon. I'm not talking about 2weeks but say in two months? Given the fact that e.g. Trileptal can be used for that. Thanks.
I brought my clonazepam dose done from 20mg to 2mg in a month or so, at home. Stupid, I know. I was on Lamictal but I don't think that it helped much with rebound anxiety.. I'm sure it stopped me from getting seizures though. But I was also on Neurontin (for pain not anxiety.) I think it was the Neurontin that possibly helped the anxiety.I have been withdrawn from Xanax 3 mg in hospital with Trileptal but that didn't help rebound anxiety at all. It just stops you from getting seizures. You just have to suffer it out. No one gave me any cover for the anxiety.(cruel pdocs)
Personally, if I had to place a bet, I would say that Neurontin helped me to not feel the withdrawal. I don't think the Lamictal did, though. Sorry if that is not what you want to hear.
From my experience, the only time you feel no rebound whilst withdrawing cold-turkey is if you go to hospital and they cover you with phenobarbital. Then you are just knocked out for 10 days while they stop the benzo cold-turkey. But you feel the rebound anxiety later.
I would not pin much hope on the Lamictal if its the rebound anxiety you are worried about. If you are starting that anyway then go ahead because IMHO Lamictal is a great mood-stabilizer. But when you are reducing your clonazepam dose, add something like Neurontin (which is given for anxiety anyway) and titrate that up to a decent dose before you commence withdrawal. That's just my suggestion. I think its what helped me. Withdrawal from Neurontin was not hard at all (for me anyway, I can't say about other people.)
Also there are other things you can substitute for Neuontin whilst you slow taper like Zyprexia, Seroquil etc.
Good luck
Take care (Taper slowly)
Love
D
poster:delna
thread:924310
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20091029/msgs/924397.html