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Re: Dalmane Withdrawal

Posted by Abby N on August 28, 2001 at 08:43:55:

In Reply to: Re: Dalmane Withdrawal posted by David on August 27, 2001 at 12:51:49:

David, I use 1.5 mg melatonin during the week of a cut in dose. Then if I feel fairly stable and am sleeping well, I reduce the melatonin by 1/2, then sometimes entirely before cutting the clonazepam again. I don't do another cut until one of the following occurs: multiple nights when I fall asleep so quickly that I'm pretty sure it wasn't due to the drug; 'accidental' cut in dose from not taking the additional tidbit when I wake in the middle of the night (and then sleep fine anyway); several good nights' sleep with no supplemental melatonin. One of these things always happens within about 3 weeks of the previous cut.

I agree with JoAnne about the poison vs. crutch comment. However, crutch also has some unpleasant connotations and reminds me of Dali paintings and sculptures. I am at a loss for another term, though.

Also, I must say, if I were still taking Dalmane, I would most definitely consider it poison. Clonazepam has allowed me to get really normal-feeling sleep with no drugged feeling or hangover. This has helped eliminate some of the "damned if you do, damned if you don't" feeling about taking sleep meds. I simply HATED having to take Dalmane -- although I would sleep, I wouldn't feel quite right about it. Clonazepam lets me sleep like a normal person (maybe that's why the stuff can be so addictive!).

Of course we're all different. If the Dalmane works and doesn't make you feel odd the next day,
Then this is the thing for you -- and it has a nice long half life (of its principle metabolite) which makes it decent for a taper.

The pharmacologists can't seem to agree on the half-life of Clonazepam so perhaps it varies from individual to individual. Maybe I'm lucky and for me it has a fairly long half-life.

A.N.

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