I have severe anxiety and panic attacks. I feel like I'm going to freak out. My skin is crawling and my chest is tight. I have no patience and am in desperate need of something to calm me down. I have general anxiety, but this is different. I can't function when I have one of these attacks. It is completely disabling. I can't get in to see my pysc doc for awhile so I went in to see my primary doc today and he prescribed Klonopin .5 mg twice a day. I took the first dose at 4pm with no results, and so I took another at 6 or so, still I don't feel a bit calm. I would like to know how well this med works for others, how long it takes to work, what dose you're on, etc... Thanks!
How long does it take for Klonopin to start working?
Question posted by PurpleButterfies on 20 Feb 2012
Last updated on 8 August 2022 by Slitherz
Added 21 Feb 2012:
It is now a little past 9pm and I am finally feeling much calmer. Yay!!! So I am wondering now how often I should take them. Says twice a day. Do I have to take it consistently or just as needed? My panic attacks have been really bad recently so I realize I should let it build up in my system for the full effect, but I don't want to have to be on it long term if I don't have to be... If I do have to be, I guess that's ok too, but anyway... If anyone can let me know what they think I would appreciate it...
17 Answers
Slitherz
8 Aug 2022
15mins-one hour. And the effect remains for about 8-12hours. Hope this helps.
garykonecny
16 May 2022
I take a 1/4 - 1/2 clonazepam before bed ! I sleep better and wake up without the drowsiness ! The residual effects carry me through the day with little or no anxiety panic attacks or drowsiness ! For me clonazepam works better than anything else i've tried ! Just a matter of adjusting your meds to work for you !
Mikejoness
12 Aug 2021
Well.
I might just say a lot at once but hope it helps in anyway shape form or fashion.
I been taking benzos over 10 years. Prescribed and well, not. Klonopin lately I’ve been taking a lot more than usual for the simple fact where I’m located people are not pressing the Xanax and including fentanyl!!! Omg. I can’t even believe this crap because it’s affected me in the worst way, first hand!
Back to the klonopins. I thought to myself at first. Should I take more? I don’t feel anything??? But then an hour or so later, especially if you’re on an empty stomach. You just feel worry free. I mean just ok. Without any nervousness or panic. Confident in public. Confident anywhere really in a perfect manner I say. Xanax made me more, Belligerent... don’t let your mind tell you that you’re not feeingn it and you need to take more. I made that mistake many times.
Allll it does is make you take more and more... Effed up, if that’s what you’re looking for no judgment here! But I just hate that anxiety. In general. Panic or not. I want to just be calm cool and collective all the time and I wish I can master it without any drugs! God willing, may god truly truly give me the strength to. Pray for me Guys and Girls. God bless you all and whatever you have going on in life. Whatever you’re fighting or dealing with or just at the whits end of. Just hold on. Be patient. Turn back to god. That’s to me before any single person on the planet. I’ve hit so so sooooo many rock bottoms and GOD. Yes, god has gotten me through the absolute IMPOSSIBLE. But thank GOD!!! Without him. I really truly cannot even imagine. I just truly want to ultimately better my entire life. Be secure in every single which way, financially physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally religiously etc. god willing. I wish this and more for every single person and if you need to talk feel free to contact me at 16316444967!
Also if you’d like to help out in any which way whatsoever I don’t want to get into all the details because I’m genuinely not asking for a hand out. We’re all struggling one way or another. At the moment I’m really struggling in between jobs. Trying to figure out a way to really financially support myself to the point of completely financial independence then the complete finincial support of my family and friends and those around me. Then GOD WILLING. The WORLD! I want to help the entire word, as god as my witness. God willing!
God bless you all , I typed from the bottom of my heart. You can text me for literally anything or even Snapchat me if you’d like! It’s Alshankss . Let me know where from.
Dylan1503
13 April 2020
The person who said that the half-life is only 18 hours, is just misinformed. I'm an NP in psychiatry. The half life is 30 to 50 hours depending on how your body breaks down the metabolites. However, it is certainly longer than 18 hours.
Mickey6
19 Aug 2019
No one ever mentions Cannabis as a solution to your issues. Wonder why, it’s awesome medicine.
Ccatz1st
20 Oct 2018
I have been taking Klonopin for years I have severe anxiety I am also bipolar and I have PTSD I have stopped my bipolar meds recently because of all the side effects are the side effects of Klonopin are not great either but the medication does work I take 1 mg three times a day I did wean myself off of at least 1 mg of it so now I take 1 mg twice a day two at one time in the morning and that seems to work for me coming off the medication the longer you’re on it the harder it is to come off of it I’ve read About coming off this medication and it isn’t a field day but for me I have to take a long time without the medication I cannot breathe it’s been the best anti-anxiety med I’ve ever been on
daniellemedina
24 Aug 2017
today was my first day taking clonazepam also. i took a dose of .25 of it at 9 pm and it's now 1130 and i'm still anxious. i read that it takes about 45-60 minutes to start working. but it's been 2 and a half hours. and i don't feel any calmer. at least not like i did when i took xanax. should i take the other half of the pill? idk if i am allowed to? anyone know
novelyn
30 Dec 2017
+daniellemedina Klonopin takes a little longer to kick in than Xanax. However, once Klonopin does get in your system, it lasts a lot longer than Xanax and keeps the anxiety at bay much better than Xanax. I am not a doctor, but I can tell you from experience that during the first few days on Klonopin it is okay to double up (or triple up) on your dose. After about three days - when you aren't overwhelmed by the anxiety anymore - start taking your prescribed dose. You'll no longer need to double up on the original dose. I hope this helps you.
Rakoontay
20 Sep 2016
I suffer from general anxiety disorder and bipolar. I take 2mg clonazepam twice daily. I've tried the Under the tongue thing and thst just wastes the pill. Doesn't work. But when I just swallow the pill it only takes 30 mins to kick in, for me.
jpriolo
17 April 2016
I agree with one poster about putting it under your tongue. I noticed it will kick in about 15 minutes after, if you let it dissolve under your tongue fully. I've just started taking clonazepam after taking Xanax for about 10 years my doctor switched me over. It seems to work okay so far. I hope your feeling better.
Cheers.
dreamyrae
5 Feb 2016
Hi George top cop, I don't see anywhere where you mentioned if you had had your thyroid function tested before giving the benzodiazepines? Thyroid out of balance can cause many if not all the symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder. Just a note of concern. I hope you can get to feeling better soon
jadedjus
25 Dec 2015
I take 1 mg 3 times a day with 2 mg at night. Put the pill under your tongue and let dissolve. Then wash down with a bottle of water. Should feel effects in 15 to 30 minutes. .5 mg never really helped me. Try taking both pills right when you start feeling anxious and hopefully it should carry through the day. It has a half-life of 50 hours so maybe.
Rsugg8878
16 Jan 2018
I don't mean any disrespect, please believe me, but clonazepam has a half life of 18 hours. I am a pharmaceutical technology major. But you are right, klonopin does half an extremly long half life
ftm68_99
8 July 2015
First, thanks to all for your comments and questions.
I'm wondering what people mean when they say they have anxiety attacks. For me, it's usually when I've been asleep; I wake up with a start and a feeling of disorientation. My heart is beating rapidly and I feel a sense of doom. But it "only" lasts for a few minutes, as opposed to long-term anxiety, which I also have. But it does not involve a feeling of compression in my chest, as others here have mentioned; rather, what I feel most is a painful and persistent knot in my stomach.
I did try Clonazepam in February to get relief for long-term anxiety, and if memory serves, it gave me relief within the hour. I eventually got off it within the week and continued on Paxil. I also did--and do--10 minutes of meditation every day and 25 minutes of aerobic exercise three times a week. But the anxiety has come back again; I don't know why.
I finally broke down today and took another Clonazepam; 5 mg, I believe. And while it's given me some relief, I don't feel the almost complete relief I felt the first time I tried it. I am feeling drowsy, but I still have the stomach knot and a feeling of sadness. For example, when I saw a garden tool my late mother had, it reminded me both of her and of her telling me about how her own mother had like to use it. And that memory is just leaving me with such sadness and emptiness.
In any case, hoping clonazepam will help me again, cause it's the "big guns," and if it doesn't work, I'll feel like I've lost a major defense.
Again, thanks for comments.
ABowen0621
2 Dec 2015
So I know this was posted months ago, but I wanted to say this is exactly how I feel when I have anxiety. It really hit home when you said the feeling of doom. I feel panic, worry of death, doom, just something terrible is about to happen or what will happen if it does. I feel like for the most part I function normally. I didn't think my anxiety was common either, but there are so many different types.
jalyn23
22 Dec 2015
In case it hasn't been diagnosed yet, your wake up attacks are more likely sleep apnea, nightmares/night terrors rather than panic attacks
Chris316
20 Feb 2016
Everybody responds differently to anxiety attacks. I used to walk around in circles or pace very fast back and fourth and I would be in the emergency room once or twice a week it was crazy. For me it was so bad that they had me on valium 25 mg.
Theresa Nick
26 April 2017
Hi, I, too, have woken up with a start. Heart pounding fast and disoriented , which caused me to have a quick panic attack. I was diagnosed with MVP and prescribed metoprolol and I have not had one in a very long time. I used to have severe panic attacks and also depression and my GP put me on fluoxetine 20 mg and it was life changing for me. Very few attacks and normal ups and downs. If I do have panic attack, xanax works like a charm. I hope you find relief and peace of mind✌
Idahojoe
1 Oct 2017
I have this same horrible sense of doom every morning. I wake up with adrenaline pumping, and sense that something terrible is going to happen soon. It's outright fear, heart racing for a few seconds. I'm sure I'm going to get fired that day., etc. It usually calms down when I get going but not completely. My psychiatrist said there are many types of anxiety and this doom and fear is not uncommon. Had no idea other folks experienced this.
Morgants1966
18 Nov 2017
I just wanted to ask do u have rational mind but out of no where get this fight or flight response?This happened to me last year.I explained to my new dr.that I'm clear rational and been having bizarre things lately.Waking up fight or flight feeling of doom,panick attack out of no where .No feeling of self harm or anything just felt stressed.like mind rational but body going crazy... normal level of anxiety was normal with my life style,four kids,clients with disabilities... excedera.She told me it can be pitutary gland,vitamin d, and your thyroid that cause weild thoughts,anxiety,fight or flight,or also low iron... Thank goodness I went in because unusal for me... only slightly anxiety every 6 months at a time bearable..Well she called and found problem ...
vitamin d absent and low iron .She stated can cause mood swings,bad thoughts,fright or flight even when dead asleep,and panic attacks.She put me on 50,000 units vitamin d one a week .After one pill after one week mind,body,soul returned back to rational and normal... quick fix thank goodness... Hoping to point out every thing in body intertwhined and would never of knew it was that... hope this helps..Also taking a good Omega three daily Ward's of anxiety,muscle aches,tremers,and I was amazed... Also stay away of extreme caffeine,I water down instead of remove..Sandi
Sandi
sactown916712
13 May 2015
Omgoodness! I know how u feel. I personally take 1.5 to 2 mgs of klonipin when im having a bad attack and feel like im freaking out and heavy chest pressure..
Breathe and just remember it's a panic attack and I'm probably going through one with you.
Well make through..
God bless you.
Paul Sr
theresa06
10 Jan 2014
Does it take days for you to feel the effects of klonopin or is it supposed to be hours please let me know
georgiatopcop
14 Jan 2014
Theresa,
I can give you my experience with Klonopin (generic name: clonazepam). I've been taking it for close to a year now, but I've been thru the benzodiazapine ringer for about 4 years. You should feel the effects kick in 30-60 minutes after taking it. Klonopin is much slower to get into your system than most other benzo's, so if you are taking it for anxiety, keep that in mind. It's NOT going to hit you in 10 minutes like Xanax, so if you are aware of a stressful event (flying, giving a speech... ) take it knowing it might be an hour before you feel the effects. It can be taken with food, but, like most meds, it is quicker, and a bit stronger, taken on an empty stomach. BUT (and this is the GREAT thing regarding Klonopin) it has a very, VERY long half-life, meaning it stays in your system for a very long time, whereas Xanax and Vallium get into your system quicker, but also peak and begin to wear off in 4-8 hours.
Commonly, about 50% of the initial dose of Klonopin is still in your system 24 hours later. I am kind of an exception, but most people take it 2 or 3 times a day, and if you are new to these types of drugs, you MAY feel a little tired/sleepy/lazy kind of feeling for a day or so, but truthfully, once you are in your second day, you will begin to get a more constant, continual relief from anxiety. So, with half of the medication still IN your system, the next couple of doses will very smoothly and gently "build up", so the end result is a steady, constant relief of symptoms. I've tried alot of benzo's: Xanax, Vallium, temazepam (Restoril), flurazepam (Dalmane), and even though they are all in the same family of meds, clonazepam has made a remarkable difference for me. I do hope you, and others, can benefit from this answer. Take care!
fayfaith
29 Jan 2014
Thank you Georgiatopcop for responding to the question. Your answer has also been very helpful & knowledgeable for me. I've just started taking it too and also have had some of the same concerns!
Laykan
25 July 2018
If you don't have relief in 45 mins I (personally) would take another
franklin8905
21 Feb 2012
So glad you are feeling so much better. I take you have been having an increase in these episodes. You did not mention whether you were on other medications for the general anxiety disorder. But if it was me I would probably take the Klonopin two times a day like your doctor ordered until you can get in to see you psych doc. It does build up and from my understanding you can't get hooked on it over the short haul and it is so much better than suffering from panic attacks.
Related topics
klonopin, anxiety, panic disorder
Further information
- Klonopin uses and safety info
- Klonopin prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Klonopin (detailed)
Similar questions
Search for questions
Still looking for answers? Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question.
