First things first. It is possible to get off this shit. I was on kolonopin for almost 7 years, never at doses lower than 2mg as well as Xanax. The Ashton manua

First things first. It is possible to get off this shit. I was on kolonopin for almost 7 years, never at doses lower than 2mg as well as Xanax. The Ashton manual is invaluable. So is the Benzo Buddies forum. Be aware that most doctors don't know anything about benzos. In my experience, in the US at least, you're on your own. Even psychiatrists have no idea how to taper. Most have no interest in helping their patients taper because they also do therapy and hate to lose clients, especially on the west coast where these things are typically combined. General practitioners or even psychiatrists have no business prescribing this for longer than a week without fully discussing the inevitable dependence and taper plans. Any doctor who does not do that is akin to a murder on my mind and should be treated as such. This has been my experience with over a dozen doctors in two different states in both coasts. It's a horrible situation this, but it is possible to escape. Best of luck to everyone who is struggling with this. I was able to taper off in a few months with few side effects. That was incredibly rapid for benzo withdrawal. I'd definitely budget at least three to six months at a minimum with the idea that it could be a lot longer. There are some scary stories out there but it's possible, given time, to do it gradually enough that it's not horrible. It's now been almost a year and a half and I haven't looked back since. The one blessing is that after the taper I've had no cravings. I had to give up a life I had spent seven years building and return home with no money and no savings and no job to taper, but it was worth it to get my life back. The "doctors" who prescribed that shit, I will forever wish they lose their job. In my opinion, jail would be the only proper place for them. But it's big pharma. Never going to happen while the profits roll on. After all, they are indeed the most ruthless drug kingpins out there. Source: seven years of hell on benzos under a dozen so called "doctors."