I have been taking Klonopin since the end of August. I started out taking .25 mg, (cutting a .5 mg pill in half) and the first few days I noticed a big difference in my anxiety level. I kept taking .25 mg for the next few months, sometimes I would take the other half if I kept having really bad anxiety and it would make a minor difference. I didn't take it for the past month though. I started taking .5 mg again a couple days ago and I don't even know if it's doing anything. I am thinking maybe I need a higher dosage. I have heard of people taking up to 10 mg per day, so taking .5 doesn't seem like much. I am also taking 60 mg Vyvanse, 25 mg of Seroquel, and sometimes I take 50 mg of Lamictal but I don't think it does anything, and Depo-provera. I don't know if any of these other meds has any effect on Klonopin. Does .5 mg of Klonopin make a big difference or does it usually take a higher dosage to have an effect?
Is 0.25 to 0.5 mg of Klonopin a day enough to have an effect?
Question posted by yesdnil on 1 Dec 2009
Last updated on 11 February 2020 by midnightmidway
In the past I have taken Buspar, which seemed to help some, but it takes a few weeks to actually start working and I needed something that worked right away, which is why my doctor prescribed Klonopin. I might ask my doctor if I should take that instead of Lamictal. Has anyone had success with Buspar for anxiety?
Added 1 Dec 2009:Also I got a ticket for running a red light the other day and the cop asked if I was on medication and I told him I was on Vyvanse and Klonopin. And he almost gave me a DUI for Klonopin so now I have to take it at night. Well that kind of defeats the purpose since assuming I can fall asleep, I wouldn't need it at night. I need it during the day when I am awake feeling anxiety, but I need to drive to work, etc. What do I do? The cop was really rude, and I don't know if he was on a power trip or what but can you get a DUI for taking Klonopin?
12 Answers
I'm way late answering this but I'll answer anyway... .5 mg a day will do nobody any good, there's no point in even taking .5 mg a day. I'm 47 years old. Even when I first started taking Klonopin 5 years ago I was started out on .25 mg 3 times a day, and it had no effect whatsoever. So the Dr. upped it to .5 mg 3 times a day, and I noticed a VERY slight effect but it brought me very little relief. Eventually he increased it to 1 mg 3 times a day and then it finally started helping some, but not enough. He refuses to increase it anymore. 3mg a day still isn't enough. I have changed my diet, I exercise, and I meditate. But 3 mg a day just is not enough for me. I always feel nervous and anxious and feel like something bad is about to happen. I always have butterflies in my stomach. I need the 2 mg tablets 3 times a day. But the Dr. would never give me that much. In my opinion he is a poor Dr.
and cares more about covering his own ass than giving me any real relief. He doesn't even have a therapist or social worker in his clinic. He just gives out medication. I tried explaining to him how I feel and what I'm going through and his response was, "That's therapy. I don't do that."
It really depends on the person's body chemistry and weight. 0.5 mg is not a high dosage at all. I wouldn't recommend driving until you know how it affects you. If you take it in the evening, I would strongly think that it will cause the Seroquel to be even more sedating than it already is.
I have a friend who took .25 mg of Klonopin daily for ten years without ever having to increase the dose. It is best to take the least amount that is effective. Avoid taking it every day if you can. I take 1 mg twice a week on average , and it has really, really helped when the anxiety is very bad. Doctors aren't always right. I was prescribed 2 mg a day for a psychiatrist five years ago and it stopped working after about six weeks. I was able to get off the Klonopin for a couple years before the anxiety resurfaced. I also do yoga, meditation, tapping (Emotional Freedom Therapy), journaling, heavy aerobic exercise and social interactions in small groups tremendously helpful. I also think intermittent fasting has helped me. And don't forget how valuable a good therapist can be. You are on a lot of different medications, and there could be some possible negative drug interactions. Don't rely only on drugs! Good luck...
.25 Klonopin helps a lot to take the edge off in the morning for me. I also take B vitamins in the morning to assist with my anxiety, and 50 mg. of trazodone at night which helps me sleep.
Over the years I have tried many different SSRI's to no avail. Most make me feel like I am losing my mind - Buspar in particular. Helped initially then insomnia for two weeks. Definitely do not recommend that medication.
A person needs 2 mg a day to be anxiety free and if you have panic attacks you need 4 mg a day.
In regard to the DUI issue. Sure you can be cited for DUI despite the fact you are prescribed the drug. It says very clearly on any literature accompanying the medication that you should "be carefull when operating heavy machinery". A car is fairly heavy and also quite dangerous. I have 2 seperate DUI's, both for benzo's 6 years apart. Luckily both there were no injuries to anyone. But undoubtably I was impaired as the officer noticed as did your citing officer. You will find that most police officers may come off "rude" when confronted with an obviously impaired driver after seeing many many fatal accidents resulting from impaired drivers not knowing when they should NOT drive. We as responsible citizens should know when we are too medicated too drive. Not just pass off blame to a doctor who is trying to help you with a medical issue, not an unrelated transportation issue.
Like after a short outpatient type surgery where an anethstetic is administered you are told to have ride to take you home. IF you were to ignore this advice, attempt to drive home on ypur own and kill a pedestrian, is your fault alone. Not the doctor who warned you not to drive or the literature that advised you otherwise. That is where "personal responsibility" and old fasioned common sense comes in.
But in regard to you actually being found guilty of DUI in court depends largely on the the level the drug was at in your system at the time of arrest which can be verified to be either at the prescribed level and/or exceeding reasonable expectation to drive safely. Obviously the burden is on the prosecution which most often in a case where there was no injury they will not bother providing legal medical testimony on the behalf of the DA. At least that is how it seems to be where I am from in Philadelphia, PA where there are more pressing legal issues.
Stupidly I plead guilty the first time not knowing this and found not gulity the next time, which ironically I feel I was actually not suitable to be operating a car safely... though mostly due to lack of sleep in addition to a morning dose of 2 mg. klonopin before coffee on the way to work.
Hello yesdnll. I just wanted to add my support in regards to the ticket you were issued. I hope that all has worked out for the better, best of health and wishes to you,pledge
I have not tried that medication but my heart goes out to you -- for following dr's orders. You ought to fight that ticket cause you work for a living -- just like that cop -- and you need that medication to function. I totally understand you on that my friend. You are in my prayers!!
I take Vyvanse and Klonopin everyday. 70mg Vyvanse in the AM. Wait til I get to work to take my Klonopin (2mg) and then take the other 2mg's at bed with my 2 Ambien IR 10mg and 20mg Melatonin.
In Texas they can site you, and arrest you for a DUI for medication even if it is prescription for a Chronic Disorder.
I think all States can ticket you dui for Klonopin, Xanax, Valium or Ativan. They are controlled substances. Just don't admit to using it if it doesn't impair your driving. I have PD and I don't admit to that due to possible repercussions it could have on my license. Unless they accused me of a dui I don't offer up that I have PD or any meds that I take.
Yea i didnt know that the law was pass in michigan that u can get ticket for been on klonopin while driving it was passed in 2015 i take it 5mg but every 12 hr i dont drive right now cause i just started
Vyvanse and Klonopin (as well as seroquel causing drowsyness)an upper and a downer are usualy bad to take togeather buuuut yeah the cop can cite you for a DUI BUT you can fight this since its for a cronic medical condition
i didnt read your whole comment but the DUI part got my attention.
I started out taking .5 mg of Klonopin and 50 mg of Pristiq (after numerous trial and errors), and had great results. Then after a year, my level of anxiety spiked way high, and also got fibromyalgia at the same time. Ended up having to have the Klonopin increased up to 4 mg, then decreased down to 3 mg (4 was just way to much for me). For some, .5 works just fine for a long time, and for some, .5 isn't enough. Totally depends on you and what you need. If your anxiety is taken care of, then .5 is probably doing a great job and I wouldn't mess with it. If you're getting continuous panic attacks and or general anxiety, then .5 isn't enough. Recently I've also had to have the Pristiq increased to 100 mg as well. A higher dosage isn't necessarily a good thing - once you go up to a higher dosage, it's pretty hard to come back down. Anyways, I'm doing much much better now.
HI
Is there any theuraputic value in taking that low of dose. At first it did help you but like all benzodiazipines people develop a tolerance and what used to work doesnt work any more and thats what my be happening to you. Anxiey and panic disorder do respond very well at first to these types of medications and sometimes these disorders resolve themselves over time or in therapy and the need to use these medication disapate but then you have to deal with withdrawal or even rebound anxiety. I think the best thing is to try alternatives first and if you cant then the lowest dose possible and .5mg once a day is very low with this medication under your doctors advise you could try it twice a day but monitor yourself and if in three months you dont get the same benefit you could take it three times a day and then monitor yourself and then up it to 1mg. You see were i am going with this. I hate anxiety and panic disorder but their are other alternatives and they do work.
Do your homework and ask questions and more questions.I would say stay on it for the shortest time possible and ask what is this anxiety about. good luck
Before you start adjusting your dose of your meds talk to your doc. I could ne that Klonopine is just not for you and a med change might be more beneficial than increasing your dose. Or he may just increase your dose or change they way you take it Sometimes adjusting our own meds can be more harmful than we think. I know this because I am guilty of trying this myself. It was a very bad experience. I am in the middle of paying the price for that right now. It has been very hard journey so far to start all over again. Good Luck and I hope that you start feeling better soom
Thanks for the advice. I believe the anxiety is partly that I've had mood disorders and ADD since 2nd grade, but my anxiety got way worse since I got PTSD a year and a half ago. It's been a very hard thing to deal with and I if anyone knows how to make it go away, please tell me! Anxiety and depression from it are ruining everything for me.
As said above, you should consult your doctor before adjusting dosages. I, for one, was just prescribed 4mg of klonopin per night for sleeping, so it's all relative (as in each drug affects each person differently.. most people are astounded that it takes 4mg to put me to sleep despite my lack of anxiety during the day... I just suffer from straight up insomnia and restlessness). But as far as dealing with the cops goes, never openly claim that you are taking any medication until provided with a warrant or until you fail an onsite sobriety test. Without just cause, they definitely can not give you a DUI for taking your prescribed (and awfully low) dose of meds. Good luck, and definitely speak to your doctor (and i mean really talk to him/her.
Docs get a bad rep, but there are those of them that really do want to help the individual and will be willing to listen to you and try different medications/dosages if you approach the topic both confidently and reasonably, without seeming like someone who's just looking for drugs) before taking any steps to alter your medications or doses.
Peace
Related topics
depo-provera, klonopin, vyvanse, depression, post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (adhd)
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