i can't seem to get off that medication. i've been on it since july and i want to stop now but i can't seem to. for the past couple of weeks i've reduced to taking half of a .25 mg tablet once a day. i've attempted to slowly decrease it to, like, every other day, but i can't seem to. after a day without it, i just feel irritable and a little paranoid. is this a withdrawal symptom or is my head just playing with me? i feel trapped.

I'm having the same problem with Klonopin. I got down to 0.125 mg 1x day this summer and I just can't seem to stop it. I actually went to the hospital for an evaluation but of course the nurse told me my problem was that I wasn't on enough medication! ARRGH! I have a new therapist and he is very committed to trying to help me get off it. The lesson materials he has given me list a book which sounds helpful: "Stopping Anxiety Medication: Panic Control Therapy for Benzodiazapine Discontinuation - Patient Workbook" by Otto Pollack and D.H. Barlow. There is also a web site about benzodiazapine withdrawal where you can get support from other people trying to get off of the medication. I've lost the link but maybe someone else on this forum has it?

I just wanted to add that you need to taper off of benzodiazapines very slowly, like about one quarter of a pill at a time. You need to do each taper for two-four weeks to allow your body to adjust. Work with your physician to set a target date for stopping the medication based upon a reasonable tapering schedule.

You do need to taper off of this under a dr's care. Preferabbly a psychiatrist who specializes in this very thing. Good luck.