Clonazepam for Benzodiazepine Withdrawal User Reviews (Page 3)

• Ang...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 6, 2017

"This is a great drug, but you have to be disciplined with it. It's not a cure, only an aid. Writing this review in April 2017, I've been on it for a month shy of ten years. I started at 0.5 mg twice a day, and that's the dose I'm still on. You have to resist the urge to increase the dose and instead work on yourself. There will be bad times...you just have to accept that and work to minimize them. And don't drink on clonazepam. It multiplies the effect of alcohol to an astounding degree, and I find it to be extremely unpleasant. Giving up drinking, even socially, wasn't hard, though when I refuse drinks, people assume I'm a recovering alcoholic. Even nursing a single bourbon and coke will get me pretty sloppy...it's just not worth it."

• Jes...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 23, 2019

"I've been on it for five years. Started with Ativan, then went to Klonopin. The highest I've been is 1.5 mgs with more if needed for panic and anxiety attacks. I'm currently weaning from 1.25 to 1 mg a day. On day 3, having anxiety, heart palpitations, and some wiredness in my head. I want off this so bad, I hate being dependent on a pill I gotta carry with me everywhere I go. I think my next reduction in a few weeks will be half of a half, might make it less noticeable. I don't recommend anyone taking this. I was put on benzos without being told how addictive they are. I experience tolerance withdrawal as well. Good luck to everyone trying to get off."

• Anonymous
• November 13, 2011

"Clonazepam helped me a lot with my oxycodone withdrawals, except it did not help so much for the severe pain, but it did relax me some, so it helped with the psychological part of my withdrawal."

• mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 25, 2020

"I have been off and on this medication clonazepam multiple times, no withdrawals so far. I have multiple, if not close to all, anxiety disorders. I've also been on multiple SSRIs, SNRIs, atypical antipsychotics, and hypnotics. I have been on Ativan 2 mg three times daily, Valium I can't remember the amount. Now I rely on 1 mg clonazepam before bed while I search for the appropriate medication that will help me in the long term (Prozac now). I might have to go through withdrawals, but truly, if this medication leaves you worse off than when you started it, it probably wasn't for you. For some people, this is a godsend when you can't live or even remember where you are in the moment, for others, it's a nightmare. Everyone is different, don't let the comments scare you. Find a doc/psych that will understand you the best they can. Don't ever give up and search for the solution that suits you best. Good luck."

• kaj...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 19, 2014

"My neuro started me on 0.5 mg clonazepam in June 2013 to help me with extreme insomnia. I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in Jan. 1995. My neuro in Sept. 2013 moved his office almost 3 hours away and no longer treats M.S. I am having a hard time finding a new neuro in my area that does not have a several-month waiting list (north Louisiana & Arkansas border). I ran out of this medication a month ago; obvious withdrawal symptoms have not been 'enjoyable': severe insomnia, nausea, extreme weakness; to me, it felt like it was causing my M.S. to get worse. Today is the 1st day in 4 weeks I feel semi, aka 50% back to my normal. Cold turkey off soma in 2012 was as bad as this drug."

• Ann...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 22, 2019

"I've been on clonazepam 0.75 mg per day for 4 years for my supposed epilepsy, with horrible side effects: memory loss, sleep issues, weight changes, irritability. Now another doctor has found out that there are no indications of epilepsy, and I'm finally going on a tapering plan. It will take me up to 1 year to finally be clear of this awful drug, and I just can't stand it. Removed the first 1/4 off one of the doses the other day - I'm scared of the side effects, but I so want to be free of this nightmare."

• Jen...
• November 14, 2017

"I have been on Klonopin for 10 years. Nobody told me what this stuff does to you. 21 days into a cold turkey withdrawal, and I wasn't here. I was trapped in my own body like I was paralyzed. You cannot use one benzo to come off the other. They have a new IV drug you can use. It will detox you in a week. And you are supposed to be fine, plus it's a benzo blocker also. So please don't trade one for the other. If you are on Xanax or anything like them, please, please just wean off them. Quickly!!!!! I'm personally going to detox in the next couple of days. I'll leave another review then."

• Dan...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 1, 2019

"So my withdrawal symptoms are horrible. I know everyone is different, as I am very sensitive to everything. I have blurred vision, vertigo, confusion, anxiety, labored breathing, and my temples feel like they are bulging out. I'm weaning myself off, and I've been fine up to this point. I think I'm going too fast. Weaning slowly is the way to go to lessen the symptoms. I've also noticed it triggering my bipolar, so be sure to talk to your doctor before weaning off or as you wean off. Good luck, everyone."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 1, 2019

"Do not take this drug. It destroyed my life when my GP didn’t tell me and said it was a sleeping pill. I lost a year of my life to benzodiazepines withdrawal."

• Ste...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 19, 2019

"Clonazepam helped anxiety for 2 weeks, but I was on them for 8 months. Terrible withdrawals - been off for 4 months now and feel like I'm dying, withdrawals could last years. Do not take for more than 5 weeks, dangerous benzo. Doctors need to be more educated on these dangerous drugs and not hand them out like candy!"

• OLi...
• December 3, 2014

"Been on it long term, coming off it slowly but seem to be having some side effects. Then again, doing better than I thought."

• Dam...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 26, 2019

"The worst drug; will destroy your life."

• Nic...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 20, 2019

"I started taking this medication four years ago. I was taking 0.5 mg twice a day, and then all of a sudden, on March 25th, my doctor took me off these and put me on Valium, and I've been withdrawing since March 28th. I've experienced anxiety, headaches, dizziness, nausea, tremors, and gastric disturbances. I went back to my doctor, and he took me off Valium and put me back on my Klonopin. Today is the first day I've taken Klonopin. They work great for anxiety, but stopping them cold turkey to be put on something else will put you through major withdrawals between the side effects from the Valium and their withdrawal symptoms from the Klonopin. For three weeks, I was beside myself and didn't know what else to do. So I'm going to start today back on my Klonopin, and after I get back on and I become myself again, I will start to go off them slowly so that my withdrawal symptoms are not too severe."

• Mes...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 13, 2021

"Why hasn’t anyone mentioned the Ashford protocol, the worldwide manual for weaning off benzodiazepines painlessly? I started taking Clonopin at my doctor's advice seven years ago when I went through a terrible experience. Two years later, while still on the Clonopin, I had an awful car accident which ended my career and a lot of my life activities. I started at 2 mg to begin with. Very slowly, I have come to 1 mg. This last wean from 1.25 to 1 has been horrible, but how come no one here mentions the Ashford protocol? It’s the best manual in the world. It has strict instructions about how to wean off any amount of any benzo. The success rate is phenomenal because as you taper more clonazepam, they add diazepam at night. Why? Diazepam is much easier to remove when you are tapered. Make the taper last as long as you want (stay on dose longer if still feeling bad), but have a plan! Heather Ashford died last year, but her work is used worldwide. It’s the ONLY way, in my opinion."

• Con...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 6, 2022

"Until 30 days ago, I took 1 mg twice daily for decades, after a long-forgotten provider prescribed it for generalized anxiety disorder. I was told clonazepam was a safer alternative to similar meds because 'it was slow acting.' I didn't really know what that meant, but it sounded good, there were no cautions given to me, and the doctor wouldn't prescribe anything harmful, right? Also, BOOM! It helped! I finally felt free from anxiety that plagued me all my life! I didn't know in the following decades, I'd be cluelessly numb to the world around me and perplexed as my ability to function deteriorated. Then, 5 months ago: screeching halt. I had intense panic all day, every day. I started to pop an extra pill per day and ran out. A new prescriber scurried to prescribe every med on the shelf to ease withdrawal, but several weeks after the hellish acute stage, I am one hot mess. I feel sick. I am in pain. My muscles twitch and spasm. I can't walk straight, think straight, or talk right. Shame."

• Anonymous
• May 7, 2008

Clonazepam "This has really helped me with withdrawal symptoms."

• Bif...
• June 22, 2019

"I took clonazepam to help me sleep with my epilepsy. The first night was awesome; I slept until 10:00 a.m. I never go into deep sleep, by the way. A few weeks ago, my neurologist told me I had to quit because of all the regulations concerning this drug. I would have to see her every three months and possibly see a psychologist. That being said, I was told to quit taking it. So far, my sleep is crummy as always, and I'm sure it will get worse. So far, I've noticed some tingling sensations that I didn't have before. I'm a runner, so I stay in shape fairly well. Coinciding with that, I've noticed that my heart seems like it's faster at times. All I can say is it worked for me, but it sounds like a lot of people have had problems. I could have quit stone cold, but I knew the dangers of it. My doctor had told me specifically not to. Based on the ramifications of seeing a psychologist alone, I would stay away from it."

• Fre...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 2, 2016

"I have had a shaking problem since I was eight, and I had insomnia. I was self-medicating with Xanax, but if I went one day without one, it was hell. Plus, they would not last all night, I would wake up and could not sleep. Then the doctor prescribed clonazepam, and I had no problems. I had to increase my dose after a while to two mg twice daily, and I never had side effects, slept well, and was calm. It worked great for three years now."

• Lov...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 10, 2021

"ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE!!!! I ran out of 0.5 mg tablets one weekend and I usually take them twice a day and thought, “I’m surely going to pass away!” My husband came home after I had managed to make it three days alone to find me spun out on the couch. When my doctor finally sent the prescription over and I HAD to take one, I was angry. Now I am angry at myself and my doctor. I feel forced to pursue some damn drug at an unthinkable age (over 60). If this keeps ANYONE AWAY from this drug and Xanax."

• Hay...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 9, 2021

"Now I'm worried about a few people here - especially Chrissy. Read Dr. Peter Breggin's book on psychiatric medication withdrawal. He is a renowned psychiatrist, often referred to as 'the conscience of psychiatry.' You can do it yourself, but remember that the time it takes to withdraw without too many symptoms is dependent on how long you have been taking it and the dosage level you've been on. It took me two years to w/d from 0.5 mg after 20 years. I also took melatonin to ease withdrawal - very helpful! When you reduce and you experience the type of symptoms described here, just know that they are temporary and there WILL come a day when it will be OVER. You are not alone! My love to all that come here. Stay strong!"

• Anonymous
• January 10, 2011

Clonazepam "It's very effective and lasts longer than most benzos, but alprazolam is stronger!"

• cha...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 26, 2015

"Was taking very small doses (0.1 mg) for 3 years - and one night after taking it on the previous night for sleep, I drank a few beers and had some type of dizzy spell - which resulted in becoming 'sensitized' to clonazepam. From that point on, I suffered side effects from either taking the drug or from trying to withdraw. I only gained relief after quitting clonazepam with the aid of substitute medications (olanzapine & fluoxetine (3-25 mg)."

• Mr ...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 25, 2022

"Started 0.5 mg twice a day in college for panic, whilst on an SSRI. Over the years, increased to four a day. Twenty-five years later, after weaning off the antidepressants, Doc and I suggested attempting coming off of clonazepam too, carefully. I agreed and couldn't get lower than 0.2 twice a day -- it serves a purpose in my life that I cannot live without. When the pandemic struck, I saw less of Doc, and she cut me off the clonazepam without supervision. I was trapped in my apartment, sparing food and toilet paper... eventually, I didn't need any more toilet paper, and after God-knows-how-many months, I lost a third of my body mass. When I passed out washing my briefs in the tub, which I thought was due to lack of food (probably), I called the cops. After endless pleas to my doctor and family for help, the cops are the ones who saved me. They somehow found some social workers and people who could prescribe me clonazepam again. The social and professional damage is irreparable. I'm 50."

• Ton...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 15, 2022

"I regret ever taking this awful drug, clonazepam, in the first place. I wish my doctor never prescribed it to me. I want to sue her so bad. Never told me how hard it was to get off of it or that it was addictive. I've lost almost one year of fun moments, memories, and quality time with my family because of this drug. I always have to stop the vehicle and walk it off, or I have to do breathing techniques just to calm myself from the withdrawals of gradually getting off of it. Thank God it took me 4 and a half months to finally lose the effects of it. SMH, this truly is an awful drug, worse than anything I've ever encountered."

• ric...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 8, 2012

"It helped greatly in reducing my nerves after weaning off of Soma."