My Klonopin Journal: Recent Episodes
Ben Zo
The Show Opening: "Pill Street Blues aka 275 Days aka Klono Pain aka Klonopinterest aka The Wrath of Klon aka Klonocles: Chronicling my Journey off Klonopin is an audio version of my journey off Klonopin. Part 1 of my Klonopin journal takes the audience through my 275-day micro taper, utilizing a liquid titration method, while part 2 takes you into the ups and downs of life with full blown benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome."
Background: Between May 6, 2014 and February 5, 2015, I engaged in what turned out to be the most difficult thing I've ever done: I slowly tapered off 2.5 mg of Klonopin -- my 20th and final psychotropic medication. In retrospect, this made the decisions I had made earlier in the year to go on leave from graduate school, to quit the best job I've ever had, and to give up all of my other commitments in life a no-brainer.
This podcast is an audio version of my thorough, 2-part, written account of my journey off Klonopin (aka clonazepam). These recordings will guide you through the ups and downs of the hell that is benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome, along with the hellos and goodbyes of various people and my awakening to the painful Truth of Western medicine, psychiatry, and the rest of the world I live in.
Each entry is intentionally 5 minutes or fewer. This is due to the often indescribable nature of benzo withdrawl. I will release new episodes (days/ journal entries) on Sundays and Wednesdays.
Part 1 of my journal is the 275-day micro-taper off 2.5 mg of Klonopin, while Part 2 is about adjusting to life after my final dose as somebody in full-blown benzo withdrawal. (For Part 2, I suggest the following: Think of the Brooks character from the movie THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION after he's been let out of prison.)
After it goes live, visit www.klonopinandsugar.com for more info or to connect.
All music, artwork, and writings are original works of the person you hear (me) in these recordings.
All Rights Reserved ©
Day 25 of my 275-day journey off Klonopin. Subtracted ("pulled") 23 mL from 300 mL of liquid titration (K + H2O). Start of Taper: 2.5 mg of Klonopin After this day: 2.308 mg of Klonopin
Day 23 of my 275-day journey off Klonopin. Subtracted ("pulled") 22 mL from 300 mL of liquid titration (K + H2O). Start of Taper: 2.5 mg of Klonopin After this day: 2.3167 mg of Klonopin
Day x of my 275-day journey off Klonopin. Subtracted ("pulled") 21 mL from 300 mL of liquid titration (K + H2O). Start of Taper: 2.5 mg of Klonopin After this day: 2.325 mg of Klonopin
Day 22 of my 275-day journey off Klonopin. Subtracted ("pulled") 20 mL from 300 mL of liquid titration (K + H2O). Start of Taper: 2.5 mg of Klonopin After this day: 2.33 mg of Klonopin
Day 21 of my 275-day journey off Klonopin. Subtracted ("pulled") 19 mL from 300 mL of liquid titration (K + H2O). Start of Taper: 2.5 mg of Klonopin After this day: 2.3416 mg of Klonopin
Day 20 of my 275-day journey off Klonopin. Subtracted ("pulled") 18 mL from 300 mL of liquid titration (K + H2O). Start of Taper: 2.5 mg of Klonopin After this day: 2.35 mg of Klonopin
Day 19 of my 275-day journey off Klonopin. Subtracted ("pulled") 17 mL from 300 mL of liquid titration (K + H2O). This was my 2nd "hold," meaning no additional amount of liquid K was removed on this day. Start of Taper: 2.5 mg of Klonopin After this day: 2.3583 mg of Klonopin
Day 18 of my 275-day journey off Klonopin. Subtracted ("pulled") 17 mL from 300 mL of liquid titration (K + H2O). Start of Taper: 2.5 mg of Klonopin After this day: 2.3583 mg of Klonopin
Day 17 of my 275-day journey off Klonopin. Subtracted ("pulled") 16 mL from 300 mL of liquid titration (K + H2O). Start of Taper: 2.5 mg of Klonopin After this day: 2.367 mg of Klonopin
Day 16 of my 275-day journey off Klonopin. Subtracted ("pulled") 15 mL from 300 mL of liquid titration (K + H2O). Start of Taper: 2.5 mg of Klonopin After this day: 2.375 mg of Klonopin
Day 15 of my 275-day journey off Klonopin. Subtracted ("pulled") 14 mL from 300 mL of liquid titration (K + H2O). Start of Taper: 2.5 mg of Klonopin After this day: 2.38 mg of Klonopin
Day 14 of my 275-day journey off Klonopin. Subtracted ("pulled") 13 mL from 300 mL of liquid titration (K + H2O). Start of Taper: 2.5 mg of Klonopin After this day: 2.3917 mg of Klonopin
Day 13 of my 275-day journey off Klonopin. Subtracted ("pulled") 12 mL from 300 mL of liquid titration (K + H2O). Start of Taper: 2.5 mg of Klonopin After this day: 2.4 mg of Klonopin
Day 12 of my 275-day journey off Klonopin. Subtracted ("pulled") 11 mL from 300 mL of liquid titration (K + H2O). Start of Taper: 2.5 mg of Klonopin After this day: 2.4083 mg of Klonopin
Day 11 of my 275-day journey off Klonopin. Subtracted ("pulled") 10 mL from 300 mL of liquid titration (K + H2O). Start of Taper: 2.5 mg of Klonopin After this day: 2.416 mg of Klonopin
Day 10 of my 275-day journey off Klonopin. Subtracted ("pulled") 9 mL from 300 mL of liquid titration (K + H2O). Start of Taper: 2.5 mg of Klonopin After this day: 2.4232 mg of Klonopin
Day 9 of my 275-day journey off Klonopin. Subtracted ("pulled") 8 mL from 300 mL of liquid titration (K + H2O). Start of Taper: 2.5 mg of Klonopin After this day: 2.433 mg of Klonopin
Day 8 of my 275-day journey off Klonopin. Subtracted ("pulled") 7 mL from 300 mL of liquid titration (K + H2O). Start of Taper: 2.5 mg of Klonopin After this day: 2.4416 mg of Klonopin
Day 7 of my 275-day journey off Klonopin. Subtracted ("pulled") 0 mL from 300 mL of liquid titration (K + H2O). This was my first "hold," meaning no additional amount of liquid K was removed on this day. Start of Taper: 2.5 mg of Klonopin After this day: 2.45 mg of Klonopin
Note: This overall decreased amount is the same as previous day.
Day 6 of my 275-day journey off Klonopin. Subtracted ("pulled") 6 mL from 300 mL of liquid titration (K+H2O). Start of Taper: 2.5 mg of Klonopin After this day: 2.45 mg of Klonopin Note: Likely made error during preparation of LT.
Day 5 of my 275-day journey off Klonopin. Subtracted ("pulled") 5 mL from 300 mL of liquid titration (K + H2O). Start of Taper: 2.5 mg of Klonopin After this day: 2.4583 mg of Klonopin
Day 4 of my 275-day journey off Klonopin. Subtracted ("pulled") 4 mL from 300 mL of liquid titration (K + H2O). Start of Taper: 2.5 mg of Klonopin After this day: 2.467 mg of Klonopin
Day 3 of my 275-day journey off Klonopin. Subtracted ("pulled") 3 mL from 300 mL of liquid titration (K + H2O). Start of Taper: 2.5 mg of Klonopin After this day: 2.475 mg of Klonopin
Day 2 of my 275-day journey off Klonopin. Subtracted ("pulled") 2 mL from 300 mL of liquid titration (K + H2O). Start of Taper: 2.5 mg of Klonopin After this day: 2.4833 mg of Klonopin
Day 1 of my 275-day journey off Klonopin. Subtracted ("pulled") 1 mL from 300 mL of liquid titration (K + H2O). Start of Taper: 2.5 mg of Klonopin After this day: 2.49 mg of Klonopin
This is my "about this podcast" entry, which details what you need to know about this podcast, including how and when it will be released.
Before Day 1 of 275, I started out with 2.5 mg of Klonopin. This amount will be dissolved in 300 mL of water daily before planned removal ("pull") amount.
In each of the episode descriptions, you will see my liquefied pull amounts and overall progress.