I have been using clonazepam for over 20 years now. Is there any significant side effects and is it safe to use the rest of my life. The minute I try to come off clonazepam my mouth begins to burn and I can't stand it so I put myself back on clonazepam. I just was just diagnosed with autoimmune desease and have just had an appointment with a internist and he wants me off of clonazepam. I weaned mtself off but BMS returned immediately so of course I started using my miracle drug again. What are the thoughts on such long term use? I hope you can help me because if anyone with BMS knows, you need some relief or you can't live with yourself or anyone else. Thank you for your help.
Long term use of clonazepam?
Question posted by fernsawyer on 20 Nov 2012
Last updated on 6 May 2020 by Bridgettleaf
4 Answers
All I can say is I've been on this off and on for 7 to 8 years, I only experience the memory loss when I try to get off of it and even so its mild and I eventually remember what I forgot, little non important events it seems, and it not a lot at the same time, my memory actually has been better then other peoples who dont take meds but I have successfully weaned off of it a number of times just because I dont feel I always need it, wean slowly if you ever decide to but when my anxiety and panic disorder for what I take it for, I use it again since it's been the only thing that has saved me from horrible experiences. I'm not sure if long term would be bad, I think you just got to get different opinions from, I've heard people say they were on it for 30 years or so and doing fine be open to advice from doctors and be extremely open to possibilities.
Specifically if they want you to try a new med just do your research on how many people have good experiences on it and the bad and decide if you want to experiment with something different. For me since I deal with anxiety and panic disorder, little bit of ocd, I have gone into studying herbs, I'm actually taking a course on how the body systems works and looking at what herbs target those symptoms to help bring them back into balance along with eating cleaner and less processed food all for my overall health but in the end if I have to take clonazepam long term I think I will just be cautious with it, it makes me feel a lot better, normal so along that I'll be experimenting with herbs to help keep the dose hopefully low but herbs can be a tricky thing to get into because theres so much misguided information with it from lack of science but if you go into herbal community's you might find other ways for helping yourself, there are herbs for all types of diseases, its just not widely talked about and brain herbs that can really help brain health if your worried about the memory thing with clonazepam, and lots of herbs and food for longevity. I personally would trust anything written by Rosemary Gladstar and any books and references she gives you in the back of her books. And any books written with david Winston are helpful. I'm taking a course called The Science and Art of herbalism by rosemary gladstar , it's a homestudy course to help get a better understanding of my body and tools to treat myself and become an herbalist. I also want to go to school for being a nutritionist and to just keep expanding my knowledge on how to take care of my health so that even if I'm in medication, clonazepam, I'm still giving my body lots of great things to help it function stay healthy, normalize and last it's best. Hope this helps somewhat in a way or gives you new ideas to help you feel better for what you could do to take care of yourself optimally with or without benzos. Hope you find all your answers. Best of luck <3 thanks for your question. I guess what I'm really trying to say is that if you are going to be on it, take care of your health and look into herbs that nourish the nervous system and brain and the parts that clonazepam effects and be safe about it, other then eat healthy, no diet just healthy. Maybe take a organic multivitamin proven to work, look at reviews ect. I like garden of life brand multivitamins and gaia brand supplements.
While this isn't an answer to your question, I am noting this because of your reference to the autoimmune disorder. I have been on Clonazepam for 30 years and am obviously dependent on it. I really had no effects and had a good life with MS until I had a bad neurologist who POISONED me with one of the new therapies for MS (I say POISONED because I was allergic to it) and had 20 days and nights of double heartbeats which, after having it purged from my body, left me with PTSD and a psychiatrist to tell me I needed to get off the clonazepam for all the reasons mentioned (and I'm 67).
We've tried Hydroxyzine Pam (current) to replace it and side effects are like going thru hell (extreme sedation, disorientation, restless sleep and sweating. Also lack of energy. At this point, I would rather take my chances with the Clonzepam.
I have had similar experiences. I was on clonazepam @.5-1 mg. for ten years for sleep at night only. I was fine. I was arbitrarily taken off in March of 2017. Decreased for four weeks, I have been researching and doing cross-referencing. PA from a Mental Health provider decided "Since I am not treating you for depression, I am putting you melatonin and you need to see your medical doctor for insomnia." First off, Clonazepam is not a treatment for depression. It purpose is for various seizures. It also has been used for anxiety. Panic attacks. As to memory... I have only notice past life events have come flooding back. I have been put through HELL... I ended up in the hospital because of the tactic used. In addition, put on non-benzyls that were worse then the clonazepam... it was the Zaleplon that sent me to hospital. I almost died. The Hydroxyzine salts also sent me to hospital... I have done allot of research and cross referencing...
there is a serious lack of responsible medicating done right here in the states... I wonder if FDA knows about this? Former Senator claims that in disclosed misdiagnosis is leading cause of death here in the U.S. the next being 'knives' as it is a weapon of opportunity. I have serious concerns about what these alleged professionals are allowed to get away... they will even give wrong diagnosis. I have a record showing they do... is the greater good more important than the common good?
Depending how the doc is treating the autoimmune disease, it could help the BMS. My thought is you have gotten into a psychological dependence on the med, and believe that if you don't take it you'll immediately be back to square one with the symptoms. There are other things he could give you for anxiety before he takes you off the BMS. Wean off of it slowly, it will take a while. Trying to get off of it fast isn't going to be successful. He could give you buspar or one of the anti depressants that is used for anxiety. That would help get you off the clonazepam. And when you're off of it, get rid of the pills or you'll go right back to it.
Hi kaismama, are you recieving double notifications when someone else answers a Q?
Your friend, Mac
I haven't noticed that
OK, thank you KM, for answering my query.
Mac or Lara
It is not psychological, I have tried many times over the years to get off of clonazepam and the same thing happens all the time. If I get below 1.0 mg a day it right back with all the burning. I do wean off it slowly. I already use an anti depressant. Thank you for your advice.
Hi Fern, is there any way to get a new doc? Or do you need to stick with this one for insurance issues?
Hi Fern, I would say that this internist is cruel. I hope you cut her/him lose and find a different internist.
Memory loss is the only side effect that I can think of, it's short term as well, not long term memory loss.
Best wishes to you, and I hope you find a different internist who is kind and doesn't expect you to go off of a medication that helps you live a normal life!
Mac
According to the Mayo Clinic, clonazepam is the number one medication used, for burning mouth syndrome.
I'm amazed. I worked as a pharmacy tech. for 4 years, and had to put-up with ladies testing the perfumes & coming over to pick-up their meds. My mouth burned until sleep, & was ok in AM, until I smelled an odor that messed with me.
Hi John,
I'd NO idea that wearing a fragrance could exacerbate BMS, or start ones mouth burning for the entire day. I best cut back on my fave perfume!
Thank you for the information.
Lara
Hi Fern. I have been on clonozapam for a long time as well and I am wondering if the memory loss will go away when I stop taking the clonozapam. Do you know if when you stop that your memory returns to normal again? I have noticed that my memory is declining and it's scarey. \
Thanks for any help or suggestions you can give.
I was on Clonazepam @ .5-1 mg. for ten years. Taken evening only for sleep. I am survivor of several TBI. My psychiatrist PA arbitrarily took me off saying, "I am not treating you for depression, you need to be decrease for next four weeks and get your medical doctor to help with "insomnia". Insurance companies will not cover sleep study because the PA gave premature diagnosis of 'insomnia.' I tried to relay this to the Psychiatrist and he refuses to change it. It may have aided in possible petit mal seizures. Point to this is many medical whether it is physical or mental they do not know what they are doing. Accountability or responsible medicating is needed. So why is one any crueler then the other? I almost died, and ended up in the hospital...
In addition, I have used clonazepam responsibly for ten years. I did not have any of the above mentioned side effects. I am also on Adderall. I take in early A.M. hour as it is advised that Clonazepam should not be taken with Adderall. There are natural supplement that can not be taken with Clonazepam. I am wondering how thorough is the alleged professionals? Former, Senator Whittle claims that misdiagnosis is the leading cause of deaths in U. S. Would you agree?
Related topics
clonazepam, side effect, burning mouth syndrome, mouth
Further information
- Clonazepam uses and safety info
- Clonazepam prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Clonazepam (detailed)
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