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 9
Hi, I have been on Klonopin for 16 years at various doses. It was originally prescribed by my GP in Southern California, for PTSD and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. (GAD), when I was 30. She worked alongside a Psychiatrist in diagnosing and prescribing for me. I was fine until I moved to a different state for my spouse’s job. Then it became disastrous. Other doctors told me how ”bad” it was or messed with my dosage. Many tried to wean me (and still are) with disastrous results. I'm really sick and tired of it. After finding this board I feel like I have found the light. I have found (now that I am 47, that I advocate for my health more). The next appointment I have with the latest resident Psychiatrist they have assigned to me I am going to speak up for myself and tell them I want to stop the wean at a certain point before I become sick again.
I found this great board (and I believe support group) after I have just returned home from surgery having had my ovaries and fallopian tubes removed because I had a mass on my right fallopian tube and I have the familial history for ovarian cancer. Worse, because of the ”new” laws, I was given 5 tablets of pain medication and told to take Motrin and Tylenol for pain.
Our country’s health system is (at times) ludicrous. We are made (or tried to be made to feel ashamed) because we are in pain or actually need help.
I'll just bet if I were related to the doctor or someone on the board at the hospital I would not be suffering and told to take Tylenol for a surgery that removed my ovaries and fallopian tubes.
Additionally, the last time they tried a ”safe” medical wean with me I ended up in the ER with seizures and DT’s. Because there is no long term study for what determines a safe medical wean for the long term prescription of benzodiazepines like Klonopin. All we know (as patients) is that it has been a medication that has effectively worked for us, then all of a sudden it is ”bad” and we must be ”weaned.”
What is ”bad” or actually unethical is making these decisions then taking our choice (as patients) and advocates for our own health, out of the equation and letting actual patients who have done nothing wrong suffer. Of course, this is just my opinion. It is nice to see a community of support here: I am glad to finally see people posting positive health benefits and results. I now take 3/4 of .5 mg 3x per day. At my best health (11 years ago) I took 1 mg 1x per day.
I am hoping to achieve that goal and it gives me hope to see others have used this RX with no signs of dementia. Thank you so much - I will definitely check back for messages of support.
I have already posted in the past. Tried to taper for three years from 1 mg. Could not get below .5 without becoming very sick. Eventually updosed back to .75 mg about 18 months ago and am doing much better. I originally took klonopin for sleep and it doesn't work well for that any more which is why I would really like to be off but I can't have a taper ruin my life for years. I may taper very, very slowly at some point in the future once my crazy periomenopause/menopause symptoms have calmed down. Right now I have at least four-six nights a month with no sleep at all which is discouraging. I know there is so much pressure to get off ... I just can't right now.
I believe the pressure to come off Klonopin comes from the media and it gets in our heads. Every drug has a side effect. Again we are not the abusers. We are not the ones taking more and more everyday to get high. Be it for pain, sleep, anxiety, it's ok to be on it. I will never try to come off it again. Not worth it to me.
Hi JerseyGirl12, Your post definitely came at a good time. First, please do not worry about the pressure to get off of the RX. If it is not causing you any problems then I can vouch with you that perimenopause/menopause is pretty awful and now I'm going to be thrown into overnight menopause. But my kids won't have to say I died from ovarian cancer as my grandma did. If you read my post above you will understand. I'm surprised, someone prescribed it for insomnia but I'm not a doctor that's for sure. Second, if I try to go below 1 mg I have the same thing happen - I get very sick. One time I was hospitalized. Worse, the doc in the ER was suspicious at first that I had not followed my medical wean correctly. The whole shame/blame game. But my GP knew I had, and luckily one of my lifelong best friends was an RN and on duty at the time and she spoke up for me. She knew for a fact that I had followed the wean directions to the letter.
Yet, there I was in the ER with serious side effects. I suffered for years before I was prescribed Klonopin. When I was young (in my early 20’s in the military) I thought I was choking, I couldn't breathe, and I would wake up that way huddled in the bathroom. It was after I went to the doctor shortly after I honorably separated from the military (10 years), I was told I had PTSD and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, I have been through Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Talk Therapy, Several Medications- (antidepressants and Rx's for anxiety) absolutely nothing has leveled me or stopped what I later learned were panic attacks than - yep- Klonopin. So, I do not feel like I need to be weaned down below 1 mg anymore after finding this board. Finally, I hate to share this part but I have always struggled with insomnia and it seems to have gotten worse since I have gotten older. I have no idea why and no one seems to be able to help me. I have tried everything from Sleepy Time Tea to Ambien, Trazodone, etc.
Sometimes, I even listen to boring audiobooks, ha! I'm actually not kidding! Maybe this will help? Best of luck to you. In the meantime, good luck and please don't feel bad about your decision. I should have stood my ground when I moved. But I became confused by the doctor’s telling me different things and fearful of other things other doctors were saying. I had a trusted GP and Psychiatrist in CA and I should have owned my truth and advocated for my health until I found the right fit for my health in the new community.
I’m 63 I have been on Klonopin for 35 years
I have GAD too.
RS
This answer is for Catfish/not sure how to tag you, I Agree! The new/old Teva is not the same. The 1mg is not scored and it does not work as well at all::(
I am screwed and cannot afford the name brand until my deductible is met, which is $6500. Actavis Accord are like taking nothing, was happy that Teva is back... but it’s not the same.
I am not the oldest one here but I wanted to add a response. I'm 39 years old and started taking klonopin at 23. During that time I've taken between 1 -2 MGs a day. Klonopin hasn't really caused me any problems. The horror stories and the pressure to get off is what has really caused me problems. I didn't even know what a benzodiazepine was until 2 years ago and at that point I had already been taking it for 14 years and was very dependent on them. I was taking 2 MGs a day at that point and was terrified that this was going to start causing me problems. I researched taper plans and created one that would hopefully get me off of klonopin in a few years. It took 18 months to get down to .5 MGs and I didn't really have any issues with the taper up until that point. Once I got below .5 MGs, all heck broke loose. Tinnitus, GI problems, weight loss, severe anxiety and severe insomnia. The insomnia is what broke me because I was starting to miss work.
I then made an appointment with my Psychiatrist and she believes that I just can't handle being below .5 MGs so I moved back up to 1 MG. My Psychiatrist is fine with me being on these for the rest of my life but she isn't going to be there forever and this is now a controlled substance. However, the withdrawals are just too much for me. I can't imagine going through that again and being able to hold down a job so I plan on taking it for the rest of my life or until I'm forced off. In the meantime it makes no sense to intentionally blow up my life just because there could be adverse effects down the road. Even if there are adverse effects down the road my quality of life was severely impacted by trying to come off of klonopin and I don't expect to voluntarily do that to myself ever again. This experience really shook me up but it's nice to read a thread where other people have taken klonopin for a very long time.
animositisomina35, I'm glad you went back on. I also tried to get off my .5 twice a day and weaned off with a doctor's schedule. I was actually off for about 3 months and boom my life was turned upside down. I take it for neuropathic pain and not only did my pain come back but my heart was racing , I was a mess. Doctor put me right back on it. I too had read the horror stories. Now I don't care, the drug helps me and I'm sure I will be on it the rest of my life. I'm 61 now and it's been 7 yrs. My son in law is also on it and will be for the rest of his life. We are not abusing the drug, we need it, our body needs it and I'm ok with that.
Quick question... I’ve been on klonopin for many years... had my ups and downs with this med but it’s the only thing that works... last year they switched my generic from Teva to actavis... I was fine with the switch a bit nervous but it worked out... now my refill said Teva but I took the “new” Teva and it’s not working well... my anxiety is horrible and I feel very drugged... anyone else having a problem or does my body just needs adjusting? I hate they keep switching... has anyone took the name brand? Would that be better? Thanks
Teva stopped making theirs for a while. The other generics have been awful for lots of people, myself included. Actavis and Accord..just awful. I started to not sleep and have anxiety during the day. There are literally entire threads on this subject, just Google it. I was taking the name brand (while my deductible was met last year) and it worked GREAT. Now, it's a new year and the cost is almost $200 a month for me. Cannot do it. Teva has now brought back the original version because so many of us complained, BUT... I don't feel it's the same. The 1mg is not even scored, like the old one was. I am just screwed here. I tried the new Teva and am waking up multiple times during the night. Really, why would they bring back the old one?? They PAID to buy the Actavis formula, right?
I take the name brand. I do not like the generics. It costs more money but whatever they put in the generics causes rebound anxiety all the time. Solco generic made me poop 6x a day, i'm not joking. I thought Accord was ok until it seemed like it was giving me anxiety when it wore off. Terrible. Brand name is great. Before Klonopin, I was on generic xanax for a couple months. no problems. then generic ativan for a couple months. No problems. I would like to wean off Klonopin. Been taking it for a 1.5 years. .5 or .25 daily. I got food poisoning horribly and puked in a restaurant with people everywhere. never got better. was bed ridden for 6 months. (long story) Anyway, I developed PTSD after that. I'm alot better but i can tell my body is dependent on Klonopin.
Well it’s been about a year..I was able to find my old activas but now I have to switch.. I took the name brand last night and was up till 5am
I am 52. My parents started taking Ativan (Lorazepam) in the 1980s and then ended up later on Klonopin (Clonazepam). They were told the drug(s) were harmless, they used them for sleep, and sometimes daytime anxiety. They used them daily for 30-40 years. Once they got into their mid-70s, both began showing multiple symptoms of long-term use. My dad was in a memory care home by the age of 77, and died of dementia at age 81 a month ago. My mom started having serious falls around age 71 and has broken her hand, shoulder, back, ribs (both sides). She's now 77 and went into a care home yesterday. She's in a wheelchair and showing signs of early dementia. My parents were fitness nuts, avid exercisers and were very careful what they ate. They should not have had such a poor quality of life through their 70s. Because they both took Benzos for decades and both ended up on a terrible path before age 75, I truly blame the Benzos.
Any idea what dosage they were on?
It's hard to know what causes what. No one in my family normally lives past 80. I agree that these drugs should be used much more sparingly then they are, but once you are on, withdrawal can be horrific and seriously impact your quality of life; I spent three years wasting my life trying and failing to get off. I am very sorry for your loss but the quality of your parents life might have been better with the benzos than without even though their lifespans might have been shortened. It's really hard to know. I wish doctors would stop prescribing but if your parents were on that long, getting off might have been horrific for them.
Dad had a shorter life span than most of his family members. Mom's mom lived to be 95 and had all of her abilities to around age 90. My parents are the absolute laundry list of long-term side effects of Benzos. They were on a low dosage, however, most of the years they took them were prior to the drugs being classified as a "controlled substance", therefore, they would double-up on the dosage and then just go get a refill. For my parents to go from runners to unsteady and falling over, both of them, after turning 70, just makes no sense. If it were just one and the other one was OK, then I would not blame the drugs. But for them both to have such eerily similar paths is just odd.
I’ve responded before (probably 2 years ago). I’m now 73, so I may be oldest person to answer! I’m fine!! No dementia; no falling. I’ve been taking 1 mg every night for about 35 years. Luckily, my PCP has no problem with my taking it (what will I do when she retires?). I do take an extra .5 mg sometimes in middle of night if I can’t get back to sleep. If I didn’t take the 1 mg. every night, I’d be a wreck (I’ve always been an insomniac). My cousin is 80 and has taken it for 40 years. My son is 45 and needs it but can’t seem to find a doctor willing to prescribe it for him. He suffers so much without it. I think some people just need it. I plan on taking it forever. Friend’s mother had it taken away when she went into a nursing home and died soon thereafter, after going through a terrible withdrawal. I think I need to write something in my Advanced Health Directive about not taking away my Klonopin!!
It's nice to see this thread or forum still alive with new comments and also former people coming back in. I get alerts when a new person replies to this thread and I read every comment. Sharing is caring. I have told my children make sure I'm kept on klonopin if that day ever comes that I end up in a nursing home. I'm 67 now going on 6-1/2 years on kpin. I also had tried several antidepressants that had awful side effects, stopped them. Klonopin works for me at 1/2mg a day still. I want to stay on it. Nice to see you iloveevan. Glad you and your cousin are doing well. Your reply helps us all... and thanks to the other new people who took time to post their positive comments as well, I enjoy reading all.
You never noticed a difference when teva stopped producing them? I hit a wall i been taking them for 23 years im 40 now once i had to switch to different generics my panic attacks came back with avengence?
Thanks for any replies
Willye32 I did have a generic I felt was not working, I was a little ahead on my older scrip refills, so I did not keep taking that one and was able to get to my next refill and got Activas, which has been okay. I notice my last refill says Teva again. I hope it's as good as it used to be.
@willy I’m 36 and have been on 2.5 mg of kpin for 21 years. My anxiety and panic attacks came back horrible after I couldn’t get sandoz brand anymore. I now have the 1mg Teva pills and they don’t seem to do much either imo
Never heard of that brand i was always on teva
I was reading of late how some people hate Sandoz and others like it. Same with Activas, Accord, Teva, etc. I wonder if it has something to do with our unique individual DNA. One brand works great for some and is horrible for others. Interesting and confusing. Every time I go to get my klonopin generic refill I feel anxiety just wondering which brand I'll get. It should not have to be that way...
Klonopin is the only drug that has helped me the last 2:years. Ssris don’t work, in fact they make me worse. I am 62 and quite honestly, be it addictive or not, whether it causes dementia or not, at this point if a doctor told me that I could take klonopin for the rest of my life and the rest of my life is only 10 years, then at least it would be quality of life. Without it, I don’t have any quality of life,
I know this is an older posting but I noted that some folks are still commenting. So many of us on Klonopin need a positive forum. I'm 56 and, for 11 years, I was on .5mg Klonopin 1x per day for sleep and anxiety due to bipolar disorder. 3 years ago I got off Klonopin with encouragement from my psychiatrist due to the things mentioned here: possible tie with dementia and concerns about balance and falling as I age. He said, "at some point, as you age, you will get some kind of illness and doctors will want to take you off the Klonopin. Klonopin use in seniors/geriatric is known to strongly increase the chances of death due to a fall." SO for the past 3 years, I've been off Klonopin and absolutely struggling. I've tried EVERY med he can think of, including meditation, exercise, yoga, etc. Nothing enables me to sleep. I've been an insomniac for 3 years now and I can't go on this way. I have no life because I have no energy.
So, today, I sent him an email asking to be put back on .5mg. I finally reached the place where I'd rather risk the possibility of dementia in the future than continue like this because I have no life whatsoever. I'm a writer and must work daily but simply cannot because I'm seriously sleep-deprived and exhausted all the time. This is not living. I'm sure he'll be ok with it as he's seen how hard I've tried to use something else. Nothing else works like Klonopin. It may not be the drug a lot of us would choose to stay on for life, but it's the drug that works! And since the future is unknown, better to be happy and functioning now than worry about future issues that may never arise.
I agree , good luck to you. Sleep is so important. I wish you well,,, live in the moment and enjoy your life. The futures not ours to see,,, no one’s is!
Thanks for sharing.
I've been on 2 mg for over 15 years (I'm 46) and understand your concerns about it.
Here's my two cents tough. I'll probably be on it for life because of three reasons:
1) Klonopin has been around for over half a century now, and still there's no real evidence that it brings dementia and so on;
2) my anxiety disorder is such that I wouldn't be able to function in the world (working, living a normal life) without it (I couldn't keep any social or professional life prior to taking this med);
3) Untreated anxiety DOES give you dementia, as research show (take a few minutes do Google on that).
So, cons and pros, I'm better off taking it.
No medicine at all would be the best of course, but from my own experience, I see that the major problem with benzos is that benzophobia that's become common place all over, with not a piece of conclusive evidence for it.
I hope I've been helpful somehow with what I've said, good luck!
My doctor is thinking of switching me to something else as the clonazepam isn't working. It seems like it hasn't worked well since i started using the Actavis brand. I am on 1 mg twice a day and still have panic attacks daily. My doctor was going to try Valium because it also works as a muscle relaxer for when i get chest tension from anxiety.
Thanks to those who have responded with their views and positive stories. Doctors who are reticent to prescribe have obviously never been through the torture of not being able to sleep or rocking back and forth to try to cope with extreme anxiety. I think some docs are a bit paranoid about prescribing because any time a patient fills a "controlled substance" prescription, which Klonopin is, the government (or whatever organization monitors such things) are notified, that is why they scan your driver's license (at least all pharmacies I've used have done this and I think it's law). The doctor and patient are then "flagged". Docs are looking out for themselves, which I get, but since I'm paying a hefty price for an office visit, I'd like to think I get the final word on what I'm willing to take in order to live a quality life.
And, believe me, I've fought the need to return to Klonopin, but after 3 years of trying a multitude of medications, as well as "alternative" treatments, there is simply nothing that works as well.
Started at 17 im now 40 so 23 years
What mg are you at, And how do you feel. I’m 36 and started at 15. So 21 years. I’m on 3mg
Terrible i just lost my union job of 15 years not sure if its because of the change from teva to actavis a bit ago started having my panic attacks come back real bad missed alot of work just been struggling big time now im out of work, hoping the new teva will help trying to find it now im on 1mg 2 times per day as needed i have been on 1 mg 3 times per day for the last 20 plus years im still taking it but it doesnt seem to help like i said not sure if its because of the change in brands or if i need to take more no idea its a mess
I’m in the same boat as you buddy. The exact same boat
Willye32: Very interested to read about your experience with TEVA pharmaceuticals. My husband and I both have issues with TEVA medications not working. My pharmacist has a note on my chart that says to NOT give me TEVA brand psych meds as they often don't seem to be effective. Might that be something your pharmacy would do for you?
Also for Ms RN, not everyone who is on klonopin is a drugged out zombie. For myself, I feel functional and certainly experience full feeling. I tried several times to get off (for years), and my life turned into a horrible, unbearable mess. I wish I had never taken this drug but now that I am unfortunately dependent on it, I plan to continue to keep taking it for the foreseeable future. No one should judge others so harshly. I am glad you got off of it and are doing well. Not everyone is able to do that.
I am 40 now have been on it since i was 17 for anxiety and panic attacks, have taking 1 mg 2 to 3 times a day for years however my anxiety and panic attacks have been real bad the past 2 years lost my job a union job been out of work for 2 years now no income , multiple trips to the er was wondering if i should be taking more of the clonazapem just isnt working anymore i have been prescribed snri’s and ssri’s but stopped taking them i also take med for bp also,
actually just last week called 911 my panic attack was so bad my chest was hurting so bad they tried calming me they thought i was doing drugs i told them i wasnt they were putting stuff on my chest to get readings and my anxiety was so bad that my chest was in so much pain i was trying to get them off me they were going to give me ativan in and iv i told them no finally got to the hospital got xrays ekg done everything checked out tirned out to be a real bad anxiety and panic attack now im left again to what do i do? Like i said i never struggled with sleep i actually sleep to much i feel lethargic and extremely low energy not sure if thats from the combo of the cponzapam and the bp meds or maybe depression no idea, basically though i havent had any memory problems knock on wood 40 now been taking it since 17 my issue is should i be taking more of it where as my docs dont really want me taking it at all now they have been seeing me for 15-20 years
I would like to talk to you some more. I’m around your exact age, and have been on it as long as you. I’m currently coming off of it. After being on this drug, it starts to have adverse effects. Making your anxiety worse than it was before it started. Anyway I’m in the same boat: 37. lost my union job, been on the same dose as you since I was 15
You should really try L-methylfolate. It's a natural vitamin supplement that has been working wonders for me after only 10 days of taking it. I'm 46 and have been on clonazepam 2mg daily (no memory issues at all), but supplementing with L-methylfolate has helped me lowering my klonopin daily intake, like I don't need so much of klonopin anymore. Google about it man, and give it a try. I've tried many SSRIs as well and nothing of it has ever worked.
As far as I know, you don't need a prescription do buy the L-methylfolate, and as it's a natural supplement, there are no side effects from what I know.
10mg a day for me does the job. It's worth giving it a try. Besides, it's quite a cheap option. Look up about this over the internet and see for yourself.
Good luck and have a good day, best wishes.
Granted i also was on the teva brand of clonazepam up until about 1-2 years ago also i was switched to accord and mylan than switched to avtavis which i think is best but still dont feel like it was as good as teva
Teva is BACK people!
Thank you for contacting Teva Pharmaceuticals Customer Service. The 0.5mg and the 1mg strength of clonazepam are now currently available. The NDC (National Drug Code) for the 1mg strength is NDC 00093-3212-05. Since Teva only sells to wholesalers and distributors, I would suggest that you provide the NDC number to your pharmacist and request that they place an order for you with their wholesaler.
I got mine 2 weeks ago. 1mg. I asked my pharmacist for it and got it. It doesn’t seem as good to me
I turned 43 in December. I've been on Klonopin for 20 years straight up to this very day. Only 1 year off of it in that whole time. When I was 16 to 18 I was on Ativan and Xanax. I only recently learned of the horrible things associated with such long term use. I wasn't really surprised because in the last 7 plus years I'll be in the middle of a sentence and suddenly completely forget what the hell I was just talking about!! And I mean I CANNOT remember. The person can tell me exactly what I was saying up until the point where I forgot and it STILL doesn't help. I used to clean and visit with an older lady friend of mine. She had dementia and we'd joke about the fact that I'd NEED her to tell me where the heck I left the dustpan or some other cleaning thing. And of course there was the forgetting what the heck I was talking about with her. We'd joke that we'd have to get bunk beds when the time came for her to go into a nursing home. It wasn't very long before she passed. My poor beautiful Janice.
I have posted here before. I tried to reduce my dose of klonopin for 3 years from 1 mg to about .3 mg and was a total wreck. Due to life stress--my son is ill, my mom is sick, multiple job changes in a short amount of time, I gradually increased back to .75 mg and am mostly doing okay. Any anxiety/stress I feel is now just situational (my son is very sick and we cannot get a diagnosis and about to start on some scary medication), and I see a therapist. I don't know if/when I will try to get off again. I am 50 and have been on K since I was 30, first off and on at .5 mg, then daily at 1 mg for past 10 years or so. I need to be functional and could not be when trying to wean.
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buspar, klonopin, anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, clonazepam, side effect
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