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Klonopin Taper HELP


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Hello BB,

 

I have been tapering from .25 or 1/2 of .5mg Klonopin since January 15, 2021. I am almost at the end of my taper BUT:

 

I was tapering from a 1mg pill and now they changed it to a .5mg pill.

With that said, I was tapering based on the pill weight of 0.170g using a Gemini 20 scale.

 

I started by cutting the pill in four which was .250mg each quarter.

Its weight on the scale was .042g (give or take)

I reduced by one number every 2 weeks or more.

 

Today I am taking only .015g

 

What does that mean in milligrams? I don't know.

This is the way I have been doing it because I didn't know any other way.

 

Today my prescription was changed to .5mg pill.

The pill also weights 0.170g.

If I cut it in half to get .250mg, the pill weights .085g

If I go by the pill weight, would I need to double it? Bring it to .030g?

That would mean I would have to taper another 60 plus weeks? ??? That can't be.

 

OR: Should instead of dropping one number every 2 weeks I should drop 2 numbers?

EX.

.015g            .015

.014g            .013

.013g            .011

 

Can someone help me out because I am way too confused and can't figure this one out.

 

Thank you in advance for any help you can provide.

 

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Hi OnceUponaTime,

 

I've moved your post to the correct board to get the most input about your taper questions, hopefully someone who understands them will be along to help you soon.

 

Pamster

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I am sick right now but let me try to help you quickly.

 

For your 1 mg pill which weighs 0.170 grams.  When you ate 0.015 grams from it, you were getting 0.088mg of drug.

 

Now you have a 0.5 mg pill which also weighs 0.170 grams.  To get the same 0.088 mg of drug, you will weigh 0.030 grams on your scale.

 

Bob

 

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Hi Bob,

 

Sorry you're not feeling well. Thank you for your help.

 

I do understand that I have to take 0.030g BUT

My questions is:

Since I was dropping 1 number on the scale every 2 weeks or so, since I'm taking.015g, I only have another 30 weeks to go (or if I drop every week then 15 more weeks.)

 

Now, if I start taking .030g I would be tapering for another 60 weeks?? (30 if I taper every week)

That really cannot be.

 

So, should I drop 2 numbers every 2 weeks???

Would that be tapering the same amount of medication?

 

Thanx for the help!

Hope you feel better soon.

 

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Yes...with a 0.5mg pill you will drop two numbers every two weeks and receive the same amount of medication you are receiving by dropping one number every two weeks with a 1mg pill.

Examples with 1 mg pills

0.015g = (0.015g) x (1mg/.170g) =.0882 mg of medication

0.014g = (0.014g) x (1mg/.170g) = .0823mg of medication

0.013g = (0.013g) x (1mg/.170g) = .0764mg of medication

....and so on.

 

Examples with 0.5mg pills

0.030g= (0.030g) x (0.5mg/.170g) = .0882mg of medication

0.028g= (0.028g) x (0.5mg/.170g) = .0823mg of medication

0.026g= (0.026g) x (0.5mg/.170g) = .0764mg of medication

...and so on.

 

The formula will always be the same.....(gram weight of the actual dose you are taking) x (mg dosage of each INTACT pill/gram weight of each INTACT pill) = mg dosage of medication being consumed ( / = divide).  The calculation can be run in straight line on a calculator without any concern for the parenthesis.

 

Should you have any confusion or questions, please feel free to ask.

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Yes...with a 0.5mg pill you will drop two numbers every two weeks and receive the same amount of medication you are receiving by dropping one number every two weeks with a 1mg pill.

Examples with 1 mg pills

0.015g = (0.015g) x (1mg/.170g) =.0882 mg of medication

0.014g = (0.014g) x (1mg/.170g) = .0823mg of medication

0.013g = (0.013g) x (1mg/.170g) = .0764mg of medication

....and so on.

 

Examples with 0.5mg pills

0.030g= (0.030g) x (0.5mg/.170g) = .0882mg of medication

0.028g= (0.028g) x (0.5mg/.170g) = .0823mg of medication

0.026g= (0.026g) x (0.5mg/.170g) = .0764mg of medication

...and so on.

 

The formula will always be the same.....(gram weight of the actual dose you are taking) x (mg dosage of each INTACT pill/gram weight of each INTACT pill) = mg dosage of medication being consumed ( / = divide).  The calculation can be run in straight line on a calculator without any concern for the parenthesis.

 

Should you have any confusion or questions, please feel free to ask.

 

BRILLIANT!!!!!

I finally get it!

Thank you for the formula and explaining it to me.

 

Many blessings your way!

Once

 

 

 

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It's my pleasure.  Congrats on your taper and all the best going forward.  One more equation that may help you or someone else someday.  If you know the dosage you want to take, but do not know what weight to shave or cut the pill to:  (desired dose in mg) x (gram weight of one INTACT pill/mg dosage of one INTACT pill).

So if you wish to take 0.323mg of a 0.5mg pill....(0.323mg) x (.170gm/0.5mg)= 0.109gm weight of desired dose.

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Thank you so much.

 

These are very helpful.

I looked everywhere on this forum for the formula but couldn't find it!

 

Where did you get it from, if I may ask?

 

 

 

 

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You're welcome.  Nursing school over 25 years ago :laugh:.  There are many ways to arrive at the right answer, for example wanting to take 0.323mg of a 0.5 mg pill.  (0.323mg/0.5mg intact pill)/.170g intact pill = 0.109g..works fine.  But my formula are dosage calculations strait as they were taught in nursing school.  Should you, or anyone else on the board, every need help with dosage/weight calculations, I'm happy to help.  Just ask.
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