I was just prescribed 1mg clonazepam twice a day by my doctor. I was prescribed this over a year ago but I have pretty much no tolerance I guess. At first I was on Xanax 0.5mg PRN for a few weeks and now I'm taking 1mg Klonopin twice a day.
I have a question though. I'm of course not wanting to get high on my medication, but do you "feel" when your medication kicks in? I can say that it lasts a long time and I haven't had any panic or anxiety episodes since I started taking it a week ago, but I don't feel that wave of relief that Xanax provides (which I didn't like because it makes it way to habit-forming).
Now, I take my 1mg twice a day, and I never feel much sedation or that loose feeling like I did on 1mg xanax for example, but instead I just don't get the anxiety in the first place. It seems that for me the klonopin is preventative for my panic and anxiety rather than acting as a med that leaves me feeling sedated and such, thus relieving anxiety. The first half tablet (0.5mg) klonopin I took last Monday, an hour later I felt sleepy, good, and my muscles were so relaxed and I went and took a great nap. Now, I'm taking 4 times that amount in a day and experience nothing of the sort, but I almost don't want to.
My point is that even though I still have basically no tolerance, I feel nothing when I take a 1mg clonazepam, other than the fact that my anxiety doesn't surface as usual.
My question: What do you feel or how do you feel after your klonopin dose(s) every day? Is my experience pretty normal?
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
43 Answers Page 3
DA
Danagregory00
22 Dec 2015
Hello so I'm needing help... I've just been diagnosed with major anixiety disorder ... It's literally consuming my life. I'm a school teacher and have been for several years... I had to quit my job due to this ... :( My anxiety is taking over mylife I've been on ever ssri drug there is and my body is so sensitive I have major reactions!!! Well my dr has just put me on klonopin... I took my fist dose today and he also put me on Paxil which I'm scared to death to take cause it's also an srri drug:( but I'm starting that tomorrow . So I was thinking the klonopin would calm my anxiety and give me some relief ??? But my anxiety is still here after several hours waiting for it to calm down!!! and somewhat worse!!! But gotten to the point where I can't even leave my home cause my anxiety is so bad!!! Anyone have any words that could help!! ???
Votes: +0
MO
Morrisseyjunkie
23 Dec 2015
I've taken Paxil before and it just gradually made my depression worse, when I needed it to work due to a failing marriage. I take Zoloft 100mg. now. As Far as the Klonopin. How much did your Psychiatrist prescribe you to take daily? I'm up to 3mg. a day. 1 mg. in the morning and 2mg. in the evening. All I can say is give it time to kick in. It can take anywhere from 1-4hrs. for full effects to be noticed. But it is a high potency long acting benzodiazepine. So if you just started taking it, give it time to build up in your system. It's half life can be up to 50hrs. after taking a scheduled dose. If after a few days you are still suffering from debilitating anxiety then talk to your Psychiatrist and let him or her know what is going on. Keep them informed, otherwise you'll be a mess. I hope this information helps. Godspeed!
KE
KeyKat
24 Dec 2015
Dana, your angst about taking sri's (tomorrow!) may be causing the effectiveness of the klonopin to be diminished. You didn't say what mg.but I have found that taking it on an empty stomach with a cup of chamomile tea seems to take effect in 15-20 min. You may need to increase your dose. But also address your concerns about sri's. Keykat
IN
Inactive
4 Jan 2016
Have you tried buspar? I'm a school reacher too and suffering major anxiety. Very discouraged.
WA
wannabbetter
20 Feb 2016
Klonopin is great to take at nite as a sleep aid. 1 mg helps me w/anxiety but not w/depression. Does the Paxil help you?
SU
SuziCue
25 Feb 2016
My heart hurts to read your story. I have also been housebound from my panic disorder (once for 18 months straight), have lost jobs over this god-awful disorder and still fight it after 25 years. When the Xanax was no longer strong enough I was switched to Valium, which worked fine for a while, but I moved to Texas for a while and the heartless doctors down there refused to give me ANYTHING for my panic disorder. Needless to say, Texas didn't flip my skirt over that so I'm now back in Missouri where I can get some help. I just started Klonapin a week ago myself. I do really miss that feeling of "relief" that I would get from the Xanax. I understand the Klonapin is used more to stave off the attacks, but like you, what happens then when I get hit with a big old ugly attack?? Bearing through it is no longer an option. At that point I'll b ready to start carving my name into some shell casings !!! I'm so sorry, I hope you get yours under control!
TR
trp2003
18 March 2017
I can't leave the house either. My Paxil quit working in 2015 and I can't get off of it to get on another antidepressant. I've had to increase my clonazepam to 2mg just to keep from being so anxious I am pacing the floor. Seeing a new doctor now. Praying to God she can help me.
LY
Lynell McClure
26 Sep 2018
I too, have problems srri drug. They make my anxiety worse. I have been taking Klonopin as needed for ten years, but I take a low dose. I used to have anxiety attacks, but no longer because of the Klonopin. It was really a life saver for me. I just take it for insomnia. I have always tried not to use it all the time, because I didn’t want to have to go up on the dosage. If I take it too many nights in a row and then stop, it gives me insomnia for one night. But I’m fine after that one night. Sometimes, I will take a benedryll to help me sleep in order to avoid taking a Klonopin.
cwake19: Yes all is normal with what you are feeling Try not to read into it you can't ask for much more than to take an medications and not even feel those weird high feelings. Klonopin may do that for your first few dose's, but it goes away and sounds like the feeling is it's working very good for you and you can't even tell it is working.It is one of the longer acting Benzodiazepines and this is why you don't get that spaced out feeling. Just remember never increase the dose without the doctor's okay and the same with lowering the dose you can get withdrawal effects. And also the Wellbutrin does have times when it can make your anxiety feel worse but this goes away and that is what the Klonopin is for.Sounds like you are doing real good and don't worry as long as it is working this way it's a lot easier than having to deal with the high and lows or spaced out periods. Just make sure to take it just as directed
Votes: +3
MO
Morrisseyjunkie
21 Nov 2015
At first when I started taking it on Active Duty I was diagnosed with BipolarI, SAD,GAD, panic disorder and PTSD from a total of 4 deployments in the Middle East as a Corpsman with U.S.M.C. units. So I saw some pretty gruesome stuff. In any event I started out at 0.5 mg. of Klonopin twice a day. I didn't notice anything right away but after a little while I felt calm a little bit tired and care free. The more I took over the weeks, I was very docile. I was medically honorably discharged. And am now utilizing V.A. Health Care System. Now i'm taking Klonopin 1mg. three times a day. I sleep a lot. Take lots of naps. Every so often my mind gets the best of me and I go to the E.R. for panic attacks or anxiety that nust won't go away. They give me I.V. 2 mg. of Ativan. Klonopin has been a lifesaver for me. At my dosage of Klonopin to include Zoloft, Geodon, Atarax. I'm not a functional human being. I have my good days and bad days but I fight the stoned behavior and try to act "normal", which to me.is a setting on a dryer.
Votes: +0
TE
Texasgal79
20 Nov 2015
I was googling and came across this. I have been on generic Wellbutrin for about seven years. The last couple months however have gotten bad. I started experience nag worse depression. Not sleeping well, panic attacks, stomach aches and lost my appetite to barely eat so I lost weight. My doc prescribed me fluoxetine and also klonopin in the generic form. I am wondering if you felt these side effects when first starting klonopin. I have some anxiety still. I have only been on it a week. How long does it take to fully work and is there still anxiety because my body is trying to rid of old anxiety. I get a hot tingly feeling in my arms or some head pressure. I get indigestion but when I take a half of a klonopin it calms it down. Any feedback to familiar feelings would be appreciated. Also do you feel achy or tired. Ugh depression is no fun
Votes: +0
MA
marylaprad7834
2 Nov 2015
ur response is pretty normal as for me i felt the same way when my doctor tried to switch me from xanax 1mg to the clonazepam 0.5 and then took me up to tje 1mg clonazepam and i didn't like it and it didn't hwlp me at all with my anxiety and i told my doctor i wanted to be switched back to my 1mg xanax and they help me and haved helped me for the past 10yrs that i have been on them... its all up to u and how they make u feel and if they help u
Votes: +1
CH
chuck1957
3 Oct 2015
cwake19; All I can say is I agree with you and just because you don't get the buzz like xanax does not mean it is not working you know it is because you are not getting the panic attacks.I RARELY GET ANY BUZZ OFF THE KLONOPIN, but it works so much better and longer than Xanax. once in a while if i forget to take the Klonopin I well get a slight buzz because I just take it and sometimes on an empty stomach it hits me harder, but this is rare. As far as dose you can't compare the Xanax 0.5mg to Klonopin 1mg because they are different drugs but in the same family so 2 xanax 0.5 is not the same as 1mg Klonopin. It is like comparing an apple to an orange both fruit but not the same.But one thing I well say part of the reason you might not feel anything is you were on Xanax then switched to Klonopin and they are both benzo. Drugs so it could of helped you not to feel the sedation that you feel with Xanax. so glad it is helping you.Stick with it
Votes: +0
MO
Morrisseyjunkie
3 Oct 2015
I take 5 (0.5 mg.) In a 24 hour period of Klonopin. Along with Geodon, Zoloft and Atarax. A very potent coctail to put my manic mind and body down for the count. I sleep anywhere from 12-16 hrs a day and when i'm awake, i'm in a daze. ALL DAY LONG. Sometimes when the anxiety breaks through i'll pop a couple more Klonopin. I like the Xanax effect on the body but it is short lived due to it's short half life. But Klonopin at any dose, the half life is anywhere between 20-50 hrs. So you can imagine how much backbuild of residual Klonopin is still in your blood. It dose take a couple of hours to kick in which is the only downside. 0.5 mg. of Klonopin is = to 10 mg. Of Valium.
Votes: +1
BI
biggn
6 Oct 2015
Morrissey,
I had been suffering from sever panic attacks and anxiety for the past few months. It just showed up out of the blue and the doctors can't give a reason why it showed up. I lost my wofe to cancer aboit 3 years ago and I had cancer back in 2006 but I never dealt with anxiety. Thats whats so strange. Well one "doctor" tried me on every pill under the sun but none of it worked. I finally visisted a psychiatrist this past week and he put me on. .5 mg of klonopin twice a day and 2 more at bed time. He also put me on zoloft but so far my results havent been too good. After reading all the comments im hopefull that this medicine will work. I have had to miss so much school and work because of it. What do we do when it gets so bad we cant leave the house???
DO
doggie492004
18 Dec 2015
I get really bad panic attacks, And this always drives my blood pressure through the roof; Before I knew and understood what was going on I thought panic attacks were fake. Now because of the blood pressure being out of control, it lead to kidney disease. Now I take 1 mg of Klonopin 2 times a day, and my overall health is improving,
My point is, Anyone who says panic attacks can't cause physical problems is dead wrong!!!
SU
SuziCue
25 Feb 2016
THANK YOU DOGGIE20094!! People who don't have these disorders/or don't live with someone who has them JUST DONT GET IT!
CC
Ccasey83
25 Oct 2017
I know this is a old thread but I was just wondering what I'm in for my Dr prescribed me 50 mg Zoloft along with my 1 mg Klonopin I tried paxel I didn't like it made me weird
BI
biggn
25 Oct 2017
Ccasey83,
I was put on the Zoloft along with 2 mg of klonopin when my panic attacks started to happen more often. At one point I was have 3 or 4 a day. However, when the Zoloft was added to the Klonopin my anxiety level started to decrease. After a few weeks i felt so much better. Soon after I began to feel better, my doctor slowly took me off both medications. And believe it or not, within 4 months I was completely off both medications and I have been much better. I guess I just learned how to handle the stress when I was on the medicine, and when I was taken off of it slowly the mental stress slowly went away. Just make sure you take one day at a time and try to slowly work through anything that triggers the anxiety. It will work! If you need any more help, please reply and I will give you my email. I know the struggle... believe that. You got this!
Klonopin has a longer half-life than Xanax. The idea is for you not to 'feel' the usual high you get from Xanax, but to get the same benefits (reduction of anxiety). That's why you don't feel it. You're not supposed to.
Votes: +1
PA
Pacman71
2 Sep 2015
I think so I don't get a high from mine and they make me feel so much better. I have let it melt under my tuonge so it kicks in faster or chewed it up And that helps sometimes cause they don't taste that bad which I like. I think meds work different on different people.
Votes: +1
KM
kmaree
6 Jan 2015
Clonazepam was the first medicine prescribed to me to combat my anxiety, and it certainly did its job. Like you, I couldn't really feel the meds kick in, but the anxiety didn't surface. However, instead of barely being able to function because I was so anxious, the clonazepam made it so I was barely able to function because I was just so tired all the time. I felt like a zombie, and for me the fogged over feeling was almost worse than anxiety. I started taking vyvanse (typically and ADHD medication but even though I don't have ADHD my doctor thought it might help the racing thoughts that usually accompany my anxiety) which helped a lot, and actually gave me more energy instead of making me want to sleep all the time. I was still having panic attacks and anxiety attacks though, so I was given alprazolam and told to only take it when I needed it.
It's shorter acting than the clonazepam, so instead of making it so I don't feel anything ever, I just take it on the days where I feel like I'm going to end up freaking out at some point.
Votes: +4
PA
Pacman71
2 Sep 2015
I was prescribed klodipin a year ago and it has worked for me. I have taken Valium and find them very weak and I've taken Xanax and find it too strong, as soon as I sit down on Xanax I pass out... So the klodipin has worked wonders for me, I've been through so much lately in my life and the panic attacks were awful, especially the racing thoughts in my head. I also like that I can take my Lexapro and Wellbutrin with it and no side affects. I have noticed lately I'm a little more anxious than usual , wonder when the beat time to up my dosage is. I am on 1 much and maybe should try a 2 mcg. Any thoughts on that out there?
RO
rogerlig
2 Dec 2014
Klonopin has a much longer half-life than does Xanax. It 'kicks in' much more slowly than Xanax does, so you shouldn't feel a 'high' at all.
Your anxiety will be lowered just as much by Klonopin, as it will by an equal amount of Xanax. The latter will take effect much more quickly, and wear off more quickly, too, hence the 'high'.
Votes: +2
WN
wntitgogetit
5 Feb 2017
Any drug for the most part could & will give you some kind of "high" if taken a high doses. However i have been on xanax to ativan to klonopin within the coarse of ten years & i got to say that klonopin is exactly like xanax except with a much more relaxing feeling a pose to xanax & also due to it's Half life it lasts much longer.And for the people who truly do have anxiety an or panic attacks & have just started taking a benzodiazepine is this.when taking it. it's best to space out the day's in which it's taken so maybe take it three-four day's a week like every other day so not to gain a high tolerance for it & it will work Beautifully
BU
Buggs333
11 July 2018
Great answer!
RO
Ros7381
7 Oct 2014
Hi cwake19. When I first starting taking Klonopin, I felt very weird, dizzy, it was like I was in a fog that wouldn't go away, I didn't feel that quick relief because Klonopin has a longer time period of working than Xanax or Ativan, so it lasts longer and takes a little bit of time to start working. After I started taking the Klonopin, I felt very weird on it but my body got used to it within a week. I didn't have panic attacks like I would normally do and it helped me more than the Ativan. I do not feel anything when I do take it like you said, it makes me drowsy, and after about 20 minutes or so i can feel that it's kicked in. Everyone is different and has different responses to medications, just a thought, I know you said that you have no tolerance but maybe over time you have developed a tolerance to Klonopin and that's why you're taking 4 times the amount you initially started taking. It's just a thought.
If your anxiety is not showing at all than the medication is working, maybe talk to your doctor about this, maybe he/she will have some info that would be helpful. i hope this helps you.
Votes: +2
AN
AngelPie77
14 May 2015
This is finally what I was looking for.. I took Xanax AS NEEDED for almost 15 years. Once in a great while for years & in the past few years diagnosed with severe anxiety & panic & taking .5 to 1.0 at least once a day. Have tried all those brain juices ex. Prozac, zoloft ect. & my body refuses it all. Only the xanax helped. Finally found a Dr. That would continue with my meds but after 3 months with him he just started me on Klonopins. Not happy but I just want it to go away So I told him I would try it. This is my 3rd day & instead of taking .5 - 1.0, 2-3 times a day, I'm only taking .25, 3 times a day. The 1st night I took .5 & I started Wiggin out. Not bad but enough to scare me. So easing into it felt more comfortable. I know it's only been 2 full days but I feel weird, my mind feels scattered..shake at times.. Confused.. To the point I wanna jump & find a xanax.. but I havent.
No REAL panic attacks but I feel like a mess! I wish it would relax me! And I'm so nervous to take more.. I just wonder if that overall feeling will go away, & if I do have a panic attack, can I take a little more like I could with xanax? Any help would be amazing! Thank you..
HA
hailey26
31 Aug 2015
Your comment seemed helpful, and with no support mechanisms for me with having panic and anxiety, I look to websites like this where I just registered for help. I am a female, who 'hit my breaking point' going through a divorce, demanding job, three kids, ages 5-17 and I had a bad attack in the middle of the sound on a ferry. I had attacks previously in life, but this was the worst, so I was my physician of 20 years the next day who put me on Zoloft. This was the worse experience of my life, the panic was worse, I didn't know where or who I was and I ended up calling 911 and in the hospital due to thinking I was going to die. It was a severe panic attack and odd reaction to the Zoloft, so I went off of it, which only after three days was worse, I wanted to die. Finally, I was put on the clonazapam after a visit to a psychiatrist who confirmed this would help and NOT give me the affects like the Zoloft did.
I promised him if it did I would have to jump off a bridge due to how scary it was. I also felt like I was in a fog the first few days and actually still had mild panic attacks. After three weeks on two doses a day, I had another attack, but it was the racing pounding heart, hard to breath kind, and I talked myself out of it, drank a gallon of water and got in to a quiet place. I find it's hard for me to still enjoy normal life activities, as if I'm in a fog around groups of people on clonazapam. I now have started having extreme itching all over my body due to the drug, I think, has anyone had this? I go back to the doctor tomorrow, but don't' know what is worse, the extreme anxiety and panic, or the itching and fog….although, anyone on this site knows, panic and anxiety are debilitating, and I feel like I will never get back to normal. I want to find herbal remedies rather than be on clonazapam, but doctor says not now…..
LY
Lynply415
6 Aug 2017
I'm so sorry for what you you going through cause I go through the same thang and it's scary I take them as well and it took 2 weeks for my body to get use to them but be for that I was controlling them myself and still till this day I only take them when I feel depressed when you have a attack sit are pay down be still close your eyes and thing of something that make you happy and stay focus on that I promise you it works it takes me about 20 mins mines be gone my daughter was shot when she was 15 she is paraplegic from the top of her stomach down she has them I'm now teaching her how to control them take deep breaths and tell yourself there is nothing wrong with you go to that happy place even talk to God I do it all in 20 min I'm fine and I go to sleep because it takes your energy I am sending prayers up for you in the name of Jesus that you may be heal. If you need to talk reply back I will get it asap take care of yourself and no you are not along on this
Hi cwake19. You pretty well covered describing how klonopin works and well. Its a long acting/lasting drug. Because its long acting, your body doesn't crave it. Some people don't seem to get a high from it say versus a valium or librium all be they also long acting. Klonopin is one of the benzodiazepines that I've not been on. Have been on valium, centrax, librium, xanax to name a few. The benzos are as you know addictive and were it not so, it would be prescribed much more, than they are, versus the ssris, such as zoloft, paxil, prozac, which although effective, but at a much lesser rate. Theres always the trouble with the benzos, the longer we are on them, the more difficult it is to stop. Having said that, they do great work. Be they taken during the day, or at night to help us sleep. Glad and hope that you find it continues to work for you, cwake19.
Oh, I may add that people do say that klonopin is one of the most difficult of the bnenzos to stop taking, but I sincerely believe that most all of them are much and the same when it comes to stopping. A taper is used, the formula might be different, but is certainly needed for each and every one, all be it xanax, serax, or valium etc. Best wishes,
Votes: +6
AN
annieemc
15 Dec 2014
Personally I have been taking klonopin for over 30 years and it is still doing its job well. It certainly is very effective on my severe anxiety disorder as well as controlling petit mal seizures and muscle twitching. Phenytoin does not work anywhere near as well for these. However, I can't even imagine stopping it now and that thought also causes a lot of anxiety. I also get awfully tired of being told I have a drug habit and that I use klonopin to get "high.". Even some doctors cannot understand my argument. . . .
TE
Tech73
19 Oct 2016
I have a question, I've been on xanax for over 20 years suffering from panic attacks. My panic attack are all about swallowing. It's something I've struggled with and I just got switched to Klonopin. Should I be worried about the side affects of going from Xanax to Klonopin? Do you think this will work better?
JO
Jordan3521
27 Oct 2016
Getting off of Xanax is very hard. Having said that, I have been on Xanax for over a year and my doctor has prescribed me a hundred and fifty tablets. I take klonopin as well so I don't know how you would react being switched from Xanax to klonopin. Fond of him has a short half-life I mean Xanax has short half-life where is clonazepam has very long have fun. So I think you'll be good especially since you're dosage is low on the Xanax
PZ
Pznivy78
24 Jan 2017
No go back to Xanax.
SY
syden
18 April 2017
Does I remember something?
TA
Tammy Moulton
10 Nov 2018
I was on clonazepam for years, after trying different medications for my anxiety. And panic attacks. Found out I have hypothyroidism and Hyperpituitarism which all contribute to my anxiety and may even be the cause. With all the new black box warnings and having to find a new Dr mine retired because of health problems. Follow all the rules and never been flagged for anything. My question is how do I get a physicist to understand and prescribe my klonopin back? Tried everything else they have given me with opposite side effects. Anyone else who is prescribed for medical reasons?
