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 (6 days ago) by mmmousemaid
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 8
I've been on the same small dose (1.50mg) for approximately 30 years. I don't feel it much anymore, but I certainly feel it in withdrawal.
I'm 58and recently crossed over from xanax 3mg a day to clonazepam 2.5 mg a day. which is not high enough.
I've been on Benzos 43 years for health anxiety, depression insomnia stress and BIPOLAR 1/PTSD
NOW THEY WANT To TAPER ME DOWN TO 3 5MGS A DAY WHICH
THE CUT IN JULY Totaltally STOPPED ME.
AND THEN THE END OF August came and never fails Seasonal Depression stopped me right in my tracks. All I do is sleep im so depressed. I can't get the doctors to understand that I dont need 15 different meds that I just need the clonazepam and 3 mg a day is what would be the highest I would need. Im tolerance right now and it really wouldn't be high enough but I know they will never give me more than 3mg a day
My gram was 83 and still took librium and 5 minutes before she passed away she had her last one. My while family in my dad's side takes them but their all in Chicago I'm in 1200 miles away.
I am sorry you are going through this. Any chance you can find a different doctor to work with? I am 51 and have been on klonopin about 20 years. Have tried to get off and I just can't.
I was diagnosed with Panic Disorder at 16, but was not put on clonazepam until 18. I'm 54 now. I would not be alive today if it weren't for this medication, literally! I also have chronic pain due to scoliosis & 3-4 other spinal surgeries. My pain doc was prescribing me my pain meds, my clonazepam, & Cymbalta for depression. Two or so months ago he closed his practice. I saw my PCP & was told that I cannot be treated for both. I HAD TO DECIDE WHICH ONE TO TREAT! I had been taking the same meds at the same strength for 10 years! Of course my panic disorder was my first priority. They tapered me off of clonazepam & opioids at the same time, at home! I was bedridden for 3 full weeks. I went thru hell. I was in terror every single minute of the first week or so & that's when I was considering taking my own life. But I still couldn't take a step. And then Panic Disorder reared its ugly head.
Not only could I not leave the house (agoraphobia set in) I couldn't leave the bed! And the hallucinations started which was caused by hydroxyzine which they gave me instead of clonazepam. So I was going through hell for 3+ weeks & my husband just couldn't stand there helpless. He called my PCP & she said as long as I'm off opioids, I can go back on clonazepam & she'd write my scripts. It's been a week since I got my clonazepam and things are so much better. I can think clearly and make my own choices again. I even lost 17 lbs while stuck in bed. Unfortunately, my back & hip pain is off the charts. But at least I'm sane again! I WILL NEVER GO WITHOUT CLONAZEPAM AGAINST MY WILL EVER AGAIN!
Hi. I am so happy you are back on. It is awful when you are on for that long and a doctor gives you a choice. I hope you find something for your pain. I've been on it for almost 7 yrs. Tried going off once, will never do that again. I'm 61 and take it for anxiety and nerve pain from a dental injury.
I'm glad you're back on it. I switched doctors once and she took me off of it cold turkey. My anxiety was so bad, I couldn't leave the house like you. Thankfully I found a new doctor and he put me back on it. I don't understand why many doctor's won't prescribe it. If they had to go through the anxiety that we do, they would change their mind.
(My sister accidentally posted using my account not long ago, so I hope that doesn’t mess things up on this.)
I posted on here when I had been on Clonazepam for only 9 months. It helped pull me out of a horrible decade of chronic insomnia. I was barely functioning because I was so sleep deprived. Thankfully, a friend who is about 10 years older than me had the same issues and told me about this med.
(We had both tried everything natural, and a couple of other sleep meds before finding this one that has worked for both of us.)
It has now been 3 years on 2mg per night for me, and things are still going well. I have added liquid melatonin to my nightly regimen the past year, and that has helped with my sleep even more. As we age, our melatonin levels severely decline. I take 20 mg under my tongue about 30 min after my clonazepam and fall asleep within 10 minutes or so and sleep 7-8 hours.
A sleep clinic doctor prescribed mine, and anytime I have mentioned wanting to wean off, he tells me “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” and that he has patients who have taken this “for decades” with no problems at all.
I always feel better after talking with him and reading comments on this thread. I never read negative threads like I use to.
Thank you!
I really got caught up in trying to get off, which launched me into over three years of hell. I can't spend years of my life trying to get off klonopin just to say I am med free. I don't feel it has any adverse effects, it does not work for sleep as well anymore but I do think it helps my anxiety. I don't think we should be demonized for taking medication that helps us live a normal life.
Klonopin does work for me. I was on Klonopin (.5 mg) for 10 years (2007-2017) due to anxiety that accompanies my Bipolar Disorder. After a decade, I was determined to get off. I titrated down SLOWLY. It was brutal. Lots of squirming around, clenching hands and fists, kicking my legs at night. BUT, I got off. Then I slowly got off my SSRI that I was being given also for anxiety. Then I was only taking a mood stabilizer for BD. What finally drove me back to Klonopin 4 months ago (Feb. 2020) was 3 full years of insomnia. Three years of never sleeping through the night, waking every single night with anxiety: adrenalin running through me, tapping my feet, getting up and rocking back and forth. Over the past year, my psych and I tried over 8 different drugs to try to help me sleep through the night without the need of Klonopin. Nothing worked. Tried suggested marijuana as I live in Colorado--only helped 4 hours per night or so.
Finally, I had to make a decision: Never sleep a full night again or take the Klonopin and risk dementia, or at some point being forced off of it because of aging and psychiatrists will no longer prescribe. My final decision: Klon is better than waking every night with anxiety. Final Note: I also went back on an SSRI to help treat the anxiety. Now, my depression is back though not intolerable on most days. None of these drugs have been miracle workers for me. I still feel drugged and just overall not so great on many days. But we all do the best we can with what the psychiatric community can offer. I am also trying to avoid caffeine, alcohol, sugar, gluten, processed foods which is basically the all American diet. And exercising, even if it is only a walk each day. Hopeful that will help some. I know that for many of us, there is no miracle cure, especially with underlying disorders. Hang in -- all of you -- and we will get through as best we can.
Is it the same with Ativan? Is it ok to use Ativan long term as Klonopin?
It's not the same, yet it is a benzo like Klonopin. Not sure why 2 benzos would be needed
Hi Nolie123. Did you feel numb before the Klonopin? You are taking a few different drugs, so did you feel better before klonopin? I take 0.25mg am and pm. for anxiety, but not for sleeping. I also take buspirone 5mg 3 times a day. I don't feel numbed out on klonopin. I'm 68. 7 years on klonopin. Hope your psychiatrist can help you figure it all out. Hope you feel better soon.
Thank you for taking the time to respond. I appreciate your concern.
I have posted on this thread a couple times over the years . I am in a three and a half year treatment resistant depression . I took Klonopin early on and am currently on ativan but in addition to that I have tried 30 medications to try and come out of this . SSRIS, SNRIS , antipsychotics, tetracyclic antidepressants; etc . I am beyond weary . My psychiatrist keeps insisting I continue down the antidepressant path until I find one that works for me . I believe my main issues are anxiety and ocd which led to a depression . This is my third depressive episode . I really just want to quit them all and go back on Klonopin and see what happens . When I was on it earlier it seemed to make my depression worse but right now I don’t really care . I’m just so tired. Any thoughts ?
Hi everyone. I’ve been on .05 mg klonopin at bedtime for 2 years. It’s mainly for sleep. I am also quite concerned of becoming dependent on this drug. I do sleep well on it but regardless of what time I take it and go to bed I consistently wake at 5:00.am. This is way too early. Prior to my taking Klonopin I would wake up around 7:00 am. The details leading up to my taking Klonopin are quite lengthy so I won’t bore you. I also take15 mgs Remeron at bedtime. I have been diagnosed with clinical depression with anxiety. I’ve had ECT rTMS which neither worked. I’m feeling numb emotionally and have lost all spiritual connection with God. I just go through the motions daily and am afraid I will feel this way forever which terrifies me. I’ve read that psyche meds can numb you emotionally but my psychiatrist says no it’s the depression. I failed to mention I am also on lithium 150 mg.
Trintellix.2.5 mg and 1 mg of Abilify. I just want to be me again. Has anyone else felt emotionally numbed out while taking Klonopin?
I failed to mention that I am 73 years old
withdrawals from klonopin are the worst. have your doc increase the dose or try to ween off of it. You could have seizure from withdrwals. i have gone up to 30 days without kpins ans lost 25 pounds. I could not eat or do anything. If u are experiencing withdrawals, u have become dependent like me. do ur best not to run out. i run out a few days short every month and it is the worst. good luck!! dont give up
@crazy in Iowa. For not having anything to say, you said a lot. Sorry it has not worked out for you. I'm thankful every day to have this drug available to me. Been on for 7 years now, am enjoying what's left of my life, and we never know when our time is up. It's also nice to share our positive journey on taking klonopin with others who take it and it has given them a better quality of life also.
I’m 64. Been on Klonopin since I’m 28
Singer 430
That's a long time. I assume you are still doing well. Thanks for replying here.
I am 65 years old and was prescribed klonopin 4 years ago. If you only want positive feedback I don’t have a thing to say about it. Any doctor that’s prescribes it long term to anyone... let alone someone over sixty should be held accountable in a court of law. Do the research lady!!!
I’m sorry you are having a hard time getting off klonopin... May I ask what made you decide to stop taking it?
Well, I've been taking it for over 15 years and I can surely call it a life saver. Medicines can have different effects to different people.
If I stop taking it, yes I get anxious (but that's just the same old anxiety I had daily before I ever took it).
This is all very upsetting. I am a 58 year old female on Klonopin since 1982.
I started having severe panic attacks in the 80s and went to a psychopharmacologist at McLean Hospital in Massachusetts. It was what saved my life - along with Prozac and other medicines, which I am mostly free of. I was on 1 mg and then increased to 2, but am back to .5-1 mg / day. I’ve taken it one a day for over 30 years. In 1980 was I had visited Shelter Island NY, and 2 weeks later woke up with a 12” bullseye rash on my thigh. Dr thought it was a staff infection and made it worse by lancing it. Two months later I woke up with a swollen face and head and migraine. Went to Mass Gen and diagnosed with Viral Encephalitis. It took years for me to feel better. The depression and Anxiety was the worst part but I never put two and two together until I because extremely ill in 2002. And was diagnosed with Lyme Disease.
I’m mostly concerned with my memory. I have gotten myself down to 1 mg at night to sleep, and when I weaned off of it, I had horrible side effects that I didn't realize were from the withdrawals. Doctors pretty much would scold me for being on Klonopin but only because they said I would be addicted not anything about my having permanent physical changes to my brain.
No psych would give me a regimen to get off of it but told me to go ahead and do by myself.
It’s all very Frustrating, and now with this short-term memory issue affecting my while life, I’m freaking out that this could be the reason. I’m just reading this for the first time.
Anyone with similar issues?
Lyme disease is caused by tics, encephalitis was viral, and the staff infection. What would any of this have to do with klonopin
If a doctor tells you to get off Klonopin by yourself after being on it for years is just awful and unprofessional. It's not the type of drug that is easy to come off without the proper way to do it. I would suggest finding a competent doctor if you feel you must come off.
I have been on klonopin for 33 years I was 34 years old. I call this my 1.75 mg success story since I was on this dosage for over 30 years . It saved my life I was diagnosed with a panic disorder. I had a young family at the time and my wife gave me her full support as did my psychiatrist. I had a full time job as letter carrier with a 7 mile walking route along with a 30 min commute.
With the help of the klonopin I was able to do my job and I even volunteered to be a safety specialist , travel to Europe three times and numerous times to Disneyland and other parts of the USA!
I cannot say that it was all peach’s and cream, because there were times when I had to give my self a little extra, like flying for the first time since being diagnosed, or dealing with numerous mri treatments for knee surgeries and hip problems do to my job, let alone the dog attack’s and yes rattle snakes.
Please take care of yourselves I am now retired after 43 years still on 1.75 and what ever anyone says you are in charge of your mind and body!
For those of you who know of the NFL quarterback Steve Young read his latest book called My Life Behind The Spiral, he talks about his anxiety and was prescribed non other than klonopin!
Awesome post, thank you. I am an avid reader, so you know I just ordered this book:) I've already posted, but have been on 1.5-2 mg for over 23 years. Only had to increase once. I've also used Xanax or Ativan for my numerous MRI's. My shrink always says you need to think about the QUALITY of your life... not to sacrifice it for someone who thinks you don't need this med. Thanks so much for posting your story.
Another good book is about NFL Hall of Fame running back Earl Campbell “A Football Great’s Battle With Panic Disorder”
Please try to remember, We are all human and therefore, we all have our own unique struggles!
Hi reddirtgirl. Glad you found us here. We all tend to stick together and help each other out with our true experience of our years using klonopin and it's good side. It helps alleviate the fear some try to instill in us. I come here regularly to read new comments and it has been the highlight of my day many times over. I hope you find the doctor who listens to you and is not afraid of peer pressure to prescribe a drug that really is not evil as some claim...
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buspar, klonopin, anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, clonazepam, side effect
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