Clonazepam for Benzodiazepine Withdrawal User Reviews (Page 5)

• Ben...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 23, 2023

"I was prescribed clonazepam 2 mg per day 9 years ago and I have never taken more than that. In the summer of 2019, I had 5 weeks of severe insomnia while on this drug. My psychiatrist added sertraline to help with the anxiety. I began a very slow taper in November 2023. My plan is to reduce by 1/8 of a milligram every month. I am now taking one and three-quarters milligrams per day and have been doing okay. I realize that it can take up to 2 years to safely wean off a 2 mg per day prescription."

• Jer...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 12, 2021

"My experience with Xanax has been devastating. I am, well was, 280 lbs, and I was taking way too much a day for years and years. My tolerance is so high to the point where I couldn't just stop or I would have died. I went to rehab to taper, but they wouldn't let me when I got there. Some of these rehabs will tell you anything over the phone to get you there, and when I asked them about it, they told me they do that to save lives... smh. Most will tell you what you want to hear just to get you in the door for your insurance money, this has happened to me twice. But long story short, I went there 3 different times to states away from where I live in NY. So it's not like I could leave or whatever, so I just stayed, and I've been clean from heroin for over 8 years and just got mixed up in a unit that deals with opiates, not benzos. So I was the only one in my unit that was there for benzos, everyone else was alcohol, opiates, and crack cocaine. So I'm now struggling with the withdrawal, I can't just cold quit."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 3, 2023

"Last year I got the flu shot, and I got the flu regardless. I was taking Nyquil, Sudafed, and ibuprofen. I had a diabetic check-up. Plus, I needed refills on my clonazepam. So they did a UA at this clinic. The CPN came right back saying I had a micro trace of meth in my system. My diabetic check-up was totally forgotten, and her demeanor towards me changed immediately. I told her I had more sense than that. But she was adamant. So my labs got sent to another lab for confirmation. So for 3 months, I went in monthly like they asked me to. Now my regular PCP was a new doctor to the clinic. And each time they were supposed to be checking my urine for my clonazepam, which I had in my system. Instead, my labs were sent elsewhere because the doctor was drug testing me for methamphetamine, not my clonazepam. On my diabetes check-up 3 months from my last, my real PCP walked in and flat out told me the doctor was cutting me off my clonazepam. Now I'm sick and have anxiety."

• Dee...
• July 15, 2021

"I’ve been on this tablet for two years. I’ve tried to quit taking it, but the withdrawal symptoms are overwhelming. I have not slept in over four days. I have terrible headaches, mood swings, the worst anxiety, blurry vision, poor concentration, and no appetite, to name a few. I started off with Rivotril after having anxiety prior to a surgery I’ve had. The anxiety was terrible, and I had to sleep. My doc prescribed this drug to me. Had I known it was a benzo, I would never have taken it. Now I’m falling apart, and my doc said I can do more damage than good, so I need to restart. I just suffered myself for 8 days of not taking it."

• Red...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 8, 2022

"I was prescribed 4 mg of Klonopin a day for panic attacks and anxiety. I took 1 to 4 (1 mg) Klonopin a day for over 4 years. I quit cold turkey after 4 years, and I had no side effects that I noticed. It is concerning when it seems that everyone is having devastating side effects coming off Klonopin...and some with very small doses. I rate Klonopin a 10, and I think it was incredibly helpful for me. I now take it when I have major anxiety. I'll take it for a year straight and sometimes for just 1 or 2 days. I usually stop taking it when I feel I don't need it, and I've never tapered off it. I will take ¼ gram to ½ gram. Then I just stop after I feel okay. The time between taking Klonopin regularly is usually 6 months to several years. Klonopin has been a major help for me. I would highly recommend the drug for anxiety and panic attacks if I hadn't read these posts. I read that Klonopin is taken for intoxication as well. I get no 'buzz.' If I take >1 mg, I get tired though."

• Ann...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 31, 2021

"Clonazepam has very ugly side effects, but not for everyone. In exchange, it is very good for anxiety and insomnia compared with Xanax and lorazepam."

• PTS...
• October 18, 2021

"I have used clonazepam on and off for the last 4 years, each time not using it for any longer than two and a half months and tapering at the end of each session, approximately two or three times a year. It addresses my anxiety and anger issues, however, after 2 months or so, I feel emotionally numb, which isn't healthy. I finally sought out a psychiatrist and, after lengthy discussions, had a diagnosis of PTSD, OCD, anxiety, and insomnia. I explained how I had been treating myself, and he advised Remeron/Mirtazapine. This kicked in after two weeks, and my PTSD episodes and OCD were controlled and remain controlled. For the anxiety, they do work quite well, however, I have had to resort to Klonopin when I have had 'breakthrough anxiety attacks.' I am now facing tapering the Klonopin, I am not apprehensive, especially as the Remeron will assist during the reduction process. I have had 15 mg a day, so the process (for me) is 7.5 for 4 days and 3.25 for 4 days. After which I will be good."

• Ski...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 2, 2021

"I have been on clonazepam (started at 1 mg and went up to 1.5 mg) and started in November of 2019 after the passing of my grandmother, and things just got hectic. I had already been clean from opiates for 3 years, and dabbled in benzos when I used heroin. I started having panic attacks and eventually went to the E.R. because of them, and that's where it started. The Klonopin worked, I no longer have panic attacks, but I also don't feel 100% myself, and I still do sometimes abuse my medication - but I still try to take it the right way. Maybe I am torturing myself, but I don't know, I don't really see myself coming off them, and I wouldn't shame anyone for not. Just like I don't shame anyone for drug use. I abused my meds this month, only .125 till refill day. Feeling tired, anxious, numb on skin, and not sleeping well, cold sweats, that's 3-4 mg for 2 weeks to .125 for a week. 2 more to go till refill. Don't be dumb like me."

• lup...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 23, 2025

"I was successfully on this medicine for 22 years. I started with 1 mg 2 times daily! Then over time, I increased to 4 mg, 4 times a day as needed! It helped tremendously with my insomnia, anxiety, and panic attacks! My family doctor stopped prescribing this medicine! She took me off cold turkey! I suffered from hot flashes, seizures, fast heart rate, insomnia came back full force! I even had a seizure while driving! Thank God I didn't hurt anyone but myself! I totaled my truck. I have major memory issues now! It's awful coming off this medicine after having so many years of success!! It's been 3 years, and I'm still suffering with seizures! Going to see a new doctor soon to hopefully go back on them!!"

• Sep...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 30, 2021

"Story time: I’m 25 now, tempering off self-medicated meds. When I was 21, I started to do meth like a total idiot and realized I was gonna ruin my life and quickly stopped to deal with the withdrawal of that disgusting drug. I started to take Xanax. But I quickly noticed that yes, it helped with the withdrawal and my body felt great, but 2 mg of Xanax every day started to change how I was as a person. I went to get help from a psychiatrist, and they gave me over-the-counter medication that causes heart problems with long-term use (did some research). While doing research, I came upon clonazepam. I started off by taking 0.5 mg in the morning and 0.5 mg at night, it worked magic. But sometimes I will still have the strongest panic attacks you could ever imagine. We are talking about full-blown, you think you're having a heart attack. It feels like a heart attack, not fun. Time to stop, I say, going from 1 mg to 0.5 mg, not recommended. So what I did was 0.25 in the morning, 0.5 in the afternoon, slowly stop 0.25 in a month's time and then 0.5."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 11, 2023

"This medication is working better for me when I take antidepressants like Zoloft. I am getting suicidal thoughts, but 0.5 mg is helping me. I have been taking it for 7 days."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 17, 2022

"Is a very weak benzo. If you are really having panic attacks or anxiety, it takes a lot to help with my anxiety. If I have a full panic attack, it didn't help. Terrible benzo."

• Pik...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 18, 2021

"Was on 6 mg a day for 15 years, and I switched to bromazepam. Doctor said I should be fine. Well, it's been 6 months, and I am far from fine. I want to find a different benzo. I will not go back on clonazepam ever, ever again, but there must be another one. Bromazepam is no good at all. I figured they would work. I think they are the strongest benzo going - I mean, I am not a doctor, lol, so yeah, what should I do? What is the best benzo or strongest out there? Leave me your opinion. Thanks."

• TOR...
• July 24, 2015

"It takes about 2 weeks to even start working fully."