I am 61 and just started clonazapam for GAD. I cannot take SSRIs, can't tolerate side effects. I managed to not need a benzo for 21 years by taking Buspar, but it is not strong enough for my recent problems. I have to be on something lifelong now to keep from relapsing. I am hoping to find members who are my age and need to be on clonazapam for life, as I feel alone in my age group. I do not have panic attacks, just GAD. I hope to live into my 90s and wonder if I can take this at that age? Hope so, I am very healthy otherwise and my mom is 91 and grandma died at 97. I really like the clonazapam and how it makes me feel, if I could just stop worrying about it. I would like only positive feedback as I don't want to add to my anxiety. Thank you for listening.
How many years have you been on Klonopin? Who is the oldest person you know taking Klonopin?
Question posted by iamalady on 22 July 2013
Last updated on 27 April 2025
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.
208 Answers Page 13
I too am 61 and have been taking clonazepam for 21 years. I take it for SAD and panic attacks.
I started at .5mg a day and after 8-10 years went to 1mg daily. It has been a wonder drug for me although my doctor wants to take me off of it. He has tried several other drugs, all of which gave me bad side effects.
Instead of listening to his patient he is moving ahead with getting me off of it. He says he read a New England Medical Journal report that linked long clonazepam use with dementia. I too read a 2016 British Medical Journal report that said no link existed with long term use and dementia.
This drug gave me my life back. Now that I'm heading into later stages of life he expects me to deal with my issues with nothing that helps. This could lead to use of alcohol to ease issues that would have been taking care of by the clonazepam.
One more thing. I do not like taking drugs. But when one is needed they're better be a real good reason and a suitable replacement before a patient is taken off.
All of that being said, I feel there are no issues with long term use of clonazepam. 21 years is a long time with no problems. Doctors do NOT know everything. My advice to you, which I am going to do myself, is find a doctor that will listen to you, not a report.
I wish you good health.
I just found this positive thread on clonazepam. I have been taking 2mg for sleep for 9 months. I am 50. I have worried (a lot) about long term use as well, but I feel good and sleep great. So, I decided to stop worrying and enjoy life.
I am healthy and this is the only prescription med I have ever taken.
Hi Illiene,
I was just thinking about this thread wishing others would post or people who have previously posted come back on and tell how they are doing. I'm still on now after 5 years. I just recently wondered if I could decrease from .5mg a day to .25. I went slow and it was not too bad, but after 8 weeks I felt that I wanted back up to .5mg a day and I am on that again. I was not planning to come off completely, as it helps me so much without side effects other than I guess if I quit. But I have several friends who are on antidepressant's and they had hard times getting on and then it quits working and they have to up their dose or switch to something else.
I was just reading an article by psychiatric times where a psychiatrist in Buffalo New York says newer antidepressants are no better than benzos and it's a matter of big pharma, so he still after many complete studies done believes in benzodiazapines as best treatment for anxiety among other things without the side effects that so many people can't tolerate with ssri's, which is my case. So I'm 66 now and was greatful to find his artical. I still worry that's why I hope people keep coming back so we can support each other. Thanks a bunch.
Liz
I'm almost 55. For 10 years I took .5 mg Klonopin every night, along with Lexapro. The lexapro gave out after 10 years and I've had lots of anxiety problems. I changed psychiatrists and nowake 2 mg daily. I too have worried my self to a frazzle about the meds I take. I'm trying to stop worrying, if they work, that's just life.
I am also wondering if anyone on here is taking it for sleep only and is it still working after long term use? I get zero sleep without it and sleep 7-8 hours with it.
I'm 49 going on 50.
Clonazepam .5 mg has been a friend of mine for about 10 years. It is a 'as needed' med. I've probably filled the 30 day script at least 3 times during the 10 years.
Over the course of time, I have been diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulosis, vestibular migraines with constant tinnitus and frequent dizzy & vertigo spells, depression, anxiety, panic disorder, generalized panic disorder, hip dysplasia, cervical spinal stenosis, scoliosis, and my most recent is supraventricular tachycardia (SVT).
My panic attacks have become more frequent. Not really certain why other than stress .. always thought I handled stress well as I am a single mom, raised 3 kids and an adopted friend of theirs, worked full time, rescued animals, and tried to do right all the time.
I have been off work for 2 months and slated to return soon.
My new script of a calcium blocker I truly hope helps as I do not like anxiety or not feeling well.
I have found that I introduced magnesium into my life and it has been a life saver. It's called "Natural Calm" and is a powder which i put into my water and drink daily. Now, my attacks have returned but with much less intensity.
To be honest, I just don't understand why life is so truly hard on some folks .. I'm realistic and find positives in any situation except for my own right now.
I have a good day, then back step. I have a good few hours, then need to lie down for several. This isn't life ... :(
Hope you all are doing well :)
Continue to take what makes you feel better and survive this place.
Wow you have e a lot on your plate. I also have tachycardia, started at 60, caused by anxiety they say. I was put on diltiazem calcium channel blocker and Klonopin or clonazepam at the same time. If I try to stop the clonazepam the tachycardia comes back, the blocker keeps the attacks at a lower heart rate and not so forceful. I take the clonazepam every day ,5 in divided doses. It helps a lot. I was on Calm for 2 years to help get over 340mg of magnesium a day for my heart, but it just has not helped me so I finally quit taking itt. I read a new study that said healthy adults only need 165mg of magnesium a day. I get way over that in my food intake, I have a very healthy diet, so I quit the Calm. So then I wonder if it's big pharma companies trying to make more money because calm is so expensive, all supplements are. Anyway a lot of people swear by it helping. I'm glad it helps you.
Have you considered taking Klonopin every day to see if you feel better? You sound like a very strong willed lady. I admire the way you continue to meet each new challenge. I hope you get relief as time goes on.
Thank you for your response!
I'm so glad these are working well for you. I have not considered taking the clonazepam daily as it tends to knock me out for several hours .. guess I could take it at night time.
Today I'm to start my calcium blocker but my silly mind keeps putting it off .. I've had bad anaphylaxis twice and I'm very apprehensive with new things.
Did you notice anything upon taking it?
Sometimes the more I read and research, the worse my mind fights with me on things.
I went grocery shopping yesterday and to pick up meds and almost passed out a couple times. I worked through those as I felt it was my anxiety creeping upon me .. I've always been active except for the last couple of months while Drs have been trying to figure me out. So I chalked my episodes up to inactivity. I also feel like a burning sensation at times in my left breast area .. not "in" my chest cavity but directly within the breast. Is that a trait too?
Which blocker are you on. Diltiazem is a good one according to my heart doctor. For me it makes me a little more tired, I take it at night, but I can still exercise, my blood pressure runs slightly lower and I worry a little, but no side effects, but it was normal to begin with. If you are normotensive, reg blood pressure, diltiazem will not affect you much lower, but if you have high blood pressure it works to lower it. Crazy right? I started at 120mg a day for 4 years, the past year 180mg a day only because my tachycardia got worse, but I was only on .25 clonazepam a day and when I doubled that dose the same time my diltiazem was raised my tachycardia stopped, so it really is caused by my anxiety and the 2 meds work to keep it under control I guess. I have short little 4 second bursts of racing heart, but not many, but it's been 15 months since I have had an hour long one, knock on wood, those really freak me out, cause worse anxiety.
My doctor said all my tests are normal, my heart is very healthy. lol. Really? If a small palpitation even hits me I don't feel so normal. He has them too, and is my age, but takes a beta blocker. He wants me to try that, but I've read they really make you tired and I still enjoy walking, biking and kayaking. Maybe when I'm 70 I'll try the beta blocker, still feel nervous to try those, though I know many relatives are on them for heart problems. As far as the pain in your chest, I did have something like that a couple years ago, my family doctor put me on over the counter zantac for about 3 months and I have not had it since, she thought it was possibly a sore in the tube leading to my stomach because I had been drinking way too much orange juice for potassium causing possible acid reflux, so I switched back to organic milk, gave up the orange juice and all has been okay since. Wow, so many things to go wrong with are bodies.
I have been taking klonopin for 25 years. I have tried to get off it a couple of times over the years which was a disaster. I have been taking 2 mg a day for years all of a sudden my doctor decided when I called in a refill that he was going to take me down 1 mg a day right now. I am very disappointed and will fight this especially since my doctor knows what I went through trying to get off it before
Wishing you the best Michigan guy, hope your doctor listens to your concerns and keeps you on the dose that helps you most.
I am 58. I have been taking clonazepam for a little over a year. I take .5 mg at night. I am so happy to find this discussion because all I read about clonazepam is Doom and Gloom and it was creating more anxiety for me. My sleep doctor prescribed it for me to use nightly as he felt my anxiety was creeping out in my sleep and causing me to wake.I have GAD and severe health anxiety. I also have diastolic dysfunction so I need to stay calm. I can tell I've developed a little tolerance for the dosage that he prescribed. Last time he gave me an additional .25 to take as needed. I haven't done the whole .25 yet but I take .125 or a bit less. Clonazepam has been a lifesaver for me. I used to take BuSpar and it didn't do a whole lot. Of course, I was on a very low dosage.
Hi, my name is Sarah and I’m 37. I know I may be a little younger than you. I have had severe anxiety most of my life. It’s getting worse with age, and that scares me. I am having an issue, so to speak. I have been taking clonazepam 2mg a day for 12 years. I saw people on here that had been taking it for over 30 years so, I feel a little better having heard that. I have tried to get off of the Clonazapams over the years... but I have HORRIBLE withdrawals. The kind where you don’t want to live anymore. I’ve lost jobs over this. I’ve been to several doctors through out my life... moving and having to find new doctors. None of them has ever asked me about why I’m on Clonazapams. They ask me what I’m on and I tell them. NONE has ever talked about me on Clonazapams. I’m afraid to take it the rest of my life but I’m more afraid of the withdrawals that will happen if I get off of it.
I do have an appointment with my doctor tmw. I missed my doctors appointment 2 weeks ago. And she wouldn’t give me a refill on it. I’m afraid she will take me off of it for good! I’m TERRIFIED actually. I know you said no negative... I just feel like maybe someone out there who is older could be of some kind of help. Thank you.
~Sarah
Hi Sarah. I was 40 when my anxiety became severe, I was put on Buspar and was on that for 20 years, stopped a couple times for 2 years at a time, but always relapsed. Then at 61 I started having tachycardia, which maybe I inherited from my mom who has it. But the fear and anxiety it caused me I was put on Klonopin, clonazepam, generic. I was told to continue the buspar as well. I was taking 5mg 3 times a day of buspar. Then started .25 clonazepam once a day. Then after 4 years my tachycardia got worse and now I take .25 twice a day. Klonopin stops the tachycardia, keeps it in check, as it was caused from my anxiety they say. Right now I am in a period where winter really bothers me more than I can ever remember. So instead of taking more clonazepam, I upped my buspar to 30mg a day from 15 in divided doses. 5-10-10-5. You might ask your doctor to try buspar along with the Klonopin as helper, so you could stay more stable or even possibly decrease Klonopin a bit.
I did go off Klonopin by reducing .125 a few weeks at a time. Did real well off for 4 months, felt good but had an anxiety day that seemed not too bad, but darn if it did not set off a tachycardia event. At the emergency room they told me to go back on the Klonopin, so I did. And now the tachycardia is pretty controlled again thankfully. So I'm on for long term, am now 66 in April. Klonopin is used for a lot of things, not just anxiety. If you feel good on it, stay on it. Hope others can help with your question. Life is not worth living if you feel sick all the time. If Klonopin helps you then why go off. Hope you get calmed down and feel good for what time you have to live. No one knows how long we have so feel good for what time we do have.
Hey, Sara I’m 36 and have been on Klonopin since The age 15. I’m currently taking 2.5 mgs a day. I would like to talk to you more about your experience. Pm on here if That’s possible
Hi all,
I am 66 and was recently prescribed clonazepam for anxiety. In January, 2018 when I had the flu, I went to the ER (doctor's office too busy with other flu patients) because of possible bronchitis. I was given a 10 mg injection of dexamethasone along with an antibiotic injection. About a week later I was hit with shaking, heart palpitations, tingling in my hands and feet and increbible anxiety. I had never had anxiety before in my life. When I saw my doctor he said it was from the dexamethasone. It is a long acting steroid and it has really messed up my body. The only medication I take is levothyroxine due to hypothyroid. I live alone and have always been very active and independent. My kids, grandkids, and siblings live near by and I see them often. When I read about the possible side effects of this drug, it makes me afraid to start taking it. I do not want to be unable to function and a burden to my children.
I'm so glad that I came across this post with all of your stories and responses. It makes me feel better about taking the medication. Do any of you take thyroid medication and have you ever felt that the clonazepam affected it in any way? So many of you have been through so much and have such great attitudes about life! I
would love to hear from anyone who would like to share their experiences.
Hi dzorra,
I take clonazepam, 2 mgs daily. I've taken thyroid meds for probably 25 years, levothyroxine, and now synthroid. I have seen no interactions. I have severe anxiety for what reason, I don't know. I take clonazepam, Lexapro, gabapentin, buspirone, phenytek (because I had two seizures about 15 years ago), and sometimes I even take vistaril, to relax me. It's a strong allergy med. But recently, I've started using natural hormone creams, estrogen and progesterone, and it has made a world of difference in the way I feel. I'm 54, post menopausal, and my blood work showed I had no estrogen, but my regular dr. still didn't want to give me hormones, so I found natural ones. I have anxiety over all the meds I take sometimes but I hope to not be taking all of them forever, and that's what it takes to make me be able to cope, so...
First, let me say you ALL may feel relieved when you hear my dosing! I have been taking Klonopin for 20 years now. It was initially prescribed to bind to gaba-receptors in my brain when I was just finally getting diagnosed with an ever growing myriad of auto-immune diseases: Lyme disease, epstein-barr, R.A., Lupus, and on and on. I was started on 1mg/day divided, increased to 2mg/day prn divided. Now over the past 10 years, increased to 4mg/day for PTSD. I get no high from it. I clearly know I have to have a physical dependence after so many years, and I'm okay with that. At first, it made life physically more bearable. That continues, but there is no way I could handle the physical and psychological without it. I wouldn't feel anything if anyone were to judge me. My psychiatrist, psychologist, rheumatologist, and gp are all in agreement, and for this, I am grateful!
Best wishes to everyone.
Hope you continue to do well. Thanks for posting and do what you need to do to make your life bearable. Thankfully some of us have found relief from using Klonopin.
I am 50 this year and I have been on Klonopin and ativan since I was 28. It has saved my life! I take 1 mg a day unless I'm having a tough time, then I have taken up to 3mg's a day for as long as it took to get through the time frame. I also up it a few days of each month when I'm feeling more emotional or having a bad anxiety day. I also take Ativan as needed for Panic attacks.
I have never abused this drug and it gave me back my life.
Hang in there and don't worry. Do what is making your life better. People are unaware of how bad anxiety.
Warmly,
Tara
Thx, Tara
You got it!!
Thanks Tara for posting. I'm going on 5 year's this month. I still need support from others using Klonopin. It really helps when you are thinking you are the only one struggling.
God, isn't that the truth. How wonderful these forums are!
I am 76 and at previous pdoc's recommendation (I have a new one) have been trying to get off klonopin, for several years. I can get down to .25 mg/day but at that level it barely controls my anxiety. I had a panic attack last night after I woke at 3am and spent the rest of the night perseverating about a problem with one of my kids. I walked around in a near panic state for a couple of hours with my coffee and felt awful. I decided I needed to take a larger dose of Kpin so I took 1.5mg which is three times what I had been taking (.5mg). My anxiety gradually receded until I felt almost normal and could function around my house, doing chores. Until taking it, I was a basket case. I am going to talk to my pdoc about taking the larger dose of Kpin and staying on for the rest of my life. I don't know any other way to live sanely. It's not generally recommended to take it indefinitely.
But if you read the horror stories of people trying to get off of it, you really wonder if it's worth it, especially for people like you and I, older. I am ready to quit fighting it. I want a life.
Robfur, hi, I am to be 66 soon, was taking .25 am and pm. A year ago Feb 25 I was able to drop the night dose to 1/8mg at night, for a year I had been okay but can't get lower now. I have been sick this winter in Michigan snow all winter now rain, no sun, worst I can remember for anxiety and S.A.D. Funny, I woke up last night at 2:30 with a panic attack and sat in the living room for an hour before I gave in and took another .25mg. was able to get back to bed but the panic screws up my chemical balance and then no appetite. My doctor wants me on for life and does not like that I am trying to reduce my dose. She says I'm torturing myself for no reason. Who knows how long we will live, and I confess Klonopin really helps me. Why go off? I tell my kids if I end up in a nursing home some day make sure I get my Klonopin, so I don't have withdrawal, that's what scares me.
Robfur, I look at it this way, if it helps you take it. Its been 4 Yes for me , when I've tried to wean off I realize it isn't worth it. Some take daily insulin to live and some of us take Klonopin to function. We are not abusing it. Yet our bodies sure know if we try to wean off.
Thx for the helpful comments, both of you.
I think we all have such similar stories and it's important for people to understand and for us to do what gives us quality of life. I live day to day with the ups and downs, and there will always be certain things that I don't do, ie: public transportation, large crowds, travel, etc. But I own a boutique in a sweet little town, I'm happily married with 3 grown children who are very supportive. I wouldn't have gotten out of my bad marriage or had this nice life if it weren't for Klonopin and Ativan:)
Hello. I'm 45 years old and have been on Clonazepam for 7 years. I'm a life long sufferer of panic disorder since I was in my teens. My panic disorder was a major disruption to my life as the attacks were frequent and severe. I was diagnosed at the age of 16 and put on numerous medications such as prozac, tofranil, trazadone etc. I had gone off of medication all together for 4 years when I was in college but my attacks returned full blast when I was in my early 20's. Again, I had to be put back on medication in which years later the medication that I was currently on was no longer working. I finally saw a neurologist/psychiatrist who put me on 1.5 mg of clonazepam daily and I have never looked back. I am able to live a normal fulfilling life and I have never had any suicidal thoughts or have become addicted. I take my meds as prescribed, do not drink and do not mix anything over the counter without consulting with a pharmacist.
At some point I might taper down to 1mg slowly but for now it has given me my life. Don't read all the negative comments because what works for you might not work for somebody else. Panic disorder is not an ailment that can be cured with breathing into a paper bag, listening to relaxing music or doing yoga. It is a neurological disease that is controllable with medication and not fatal. Responsibility is key!
Wow, well said, Nicks123. Best wishes for a happy wonderful life...
I am a 62 yearly female who has had panic disorder and GAD since I was 13 years old. I had many terrible therapists, and finally after my second pregnancy, found one that was wonderful. He suggested that I try Prozac, which was a blessing and an answer to the piece of the puzzle that my brain was apparently missing for all of these years. I have learned a lot since then about this disorder, and have tried other medications, such as Lexapro, since I also have a depression component, but the best response that I experienced so far is on Effexor XR. It is an SNRI, which targets the nor-epinephrine and serotonin that is lacking in patients with panic disorder and GAD. I was taking Xanax (generic) as needed for years, but a psychiatrist recently suggested that I try Clonazepam because I have trouble staying asleep. I also still have break-thru panic surges , especially when I am driving, so I am hoping that this medication will help with that.
I started with .25mg last night and slept ok, but I am wondering if I should take .25mg as well during the day to help with the driving issue. I am afraid that it will make me drowsy. I may have to try it first on a day that I am off from work. I just want to express my gratitude for this forum to be able to read other people's experiences, and to take a little comfort that if I need to stay on this for the rest of my life, it seems that others are doing ok with that. My doctor also explained that this is a neurological disease that can't be cured, just like diabetes is a disease that can't be cured, and can be controlled with medication when used properly. Thank you everyone for sharing !!
Thank you for sharing.
I'm 59 and have been on for almost 4 yrs. .25 in the a.m ad .5 before bed. Works for my nerve pain in my mouth
I've been on it for 3 years, but it makes me tired doing the day.. But I would like to start taking 30 mg instead of 90
Hi all, glad to see this discussion keeps going even when long silence does occur. I'm still holding between 1/4-1/5mg a day. Winter is harder than summer for me. I always feel like I need to raise my dose in Mi gloomy cold days, but I try not to. I'm 65 til spring and 5 years on, and see no way I will ever be able to stop and glad my doctor agrees I'm on for life and she is willing to prescribe it. She is 20 years younger, hope she stays in practice many more years. We all still need support, so nice to have old and new members keep giving updates.
It is a relief reading these responses. I was given Klonopin 3 yrs ago for neurpathic tooth pain. I was taking .5x 2xday. I have been able to cut back to .5 once a day. I am 59 now. I have tried to wean off in the past with horrific side effects. I read so much of how horrible the drug is so it scares me . Reading the above posts calms me down and I am glad to read them, It is the first time I have read anything positive. I am also a 17 yr breast cancer survivor and suffer from PTSD. Even though a few weeks ago I wanted to taper down I think I will stay on it and stop focusing on the negitive aspect of this drug. thank you
I like success stories of people on Klonopin, and especially long term. There are many, but usually the bad reports make it on more. If you are doing great why go into forums that might depress you, so they don't. Try not to worry, glad it helps you.
I just removed myself from all the forums except this. I can't torture myself over this drug anymore. I will continue using it
Thanks for your post! You are amazing!
I'm 40 yrs old now and I've been on varying amounts of klonopin for 21 years. The most I was on was 1 mg 3x daily, but now that I have a new psychiatrist I'm on 1mg twice a day. I basically take 2 at night to help me sleep. I have bipolar 2, insomnia, GAD, and varying medical disorders that make it impossible for me to work. I have horrible withdrawal symptoms when I go more than 1 day without klonopin. But it has been a life saver once I actually started taking it. I know I'll be on it the rest of my life but that's fine with me. I still have the scars, emotional and physical, from the time I went without it in my late teens and early 20's.
I'm 40 yrs old now and I've been on varying amounts of klonopin for 21 years. The most I was on was 1 mg 3x daily, but now that I have a new psychiatrist I'm on 1mg twice a day. I basically take 2 at night to help me sleep. I have bipolar 2, insomnia, GAD, and varying medical disorders that make it impossible for me to work. I have horrible withdrawal symptoms when I go more than 1 day without klonopin. But it has been a life saver once I actually started taking it. I know I'll be on it the rest of my life but that's fine with me. I still have the scars, emotional and physical, from the time I went without it in my late teens and early 20's.
I'm 71 and take 1 mg. Every night.. I've been on it for about 30 years. My extremely sharp cousin has been taking it for about 35 years. She is 78. No bad effects. Can't sleep without a.
Thank you, you are giving me hope.
Thanks for your comment. It really helps me decide if it’s ok to take everyday.
Thanks for your comment. It really helps me decide if it’s ok to take everyday.
Related topics
buspar, klonopin, anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, clonazepam, side effect
Further information
Similar questions
Search for questions
Still looking for answers? Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question.