Clonazepam for Bipolar Disorder User Reviews (Page 2)

• JMa...
• May 18, 2015

Clonazepam "I have been taking Wellbutrin SR for about 4 years, in combination with a few other different meds. I didn't think I would ever find my cocktail, but recently I do believe I finally have found it. So I'm on Wellbutrin SR, Seroquel, and Klonopin. I was taking Lamictal and Ativan before, but unfortunately got the Lamictal rash. I love the combo I have now. I have been sleeping like a baby. No more 100 miles an hour at bedtime."

• hol...
• May 14, 2014

Clonazepam "I've been taking it for 2-3 years now, and it's the only thing that helps my panic attacks, counseling and other things just don't work for me. I was taking 1 mg 3 times a day, but I'm down to 2 times a day."

• ana...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 19, 2013

Clonazepam "Helps balance antidepressants with sleeplessness and twitching and stuff. Helps me calm down, take the edge off the other medicines. This is not to be used by itself for bipolar disorder. It's used in combination, so don't take Klonopin and think it's going to help you that much. It works best with other medications."

• Ver...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 3, 2015

"I have been taking Klonopin for several years. I find it helps more than the short-term benzos like Xanax and Valium. For one with BPD, bipolar, and anxiety attacks, this pill is a godsend. I usually do not advocate pharmaceuticals, but I have never had my anxiety quelled like Klonopin does. It is highly effective for any type of anxiety and stops panic in its tracks after 15-20 minutes of administering. This is the only pill that I'm on that I advocate. The only warning I have is that it has high potential for dependence, and the body gets used to having it constantly. Sometimes it requires upping the dosage. Please start on 0.5 mg. If your doctor starts you on 1 mg, it will bring on extreme fatigue and decreased motor function."

• Ash...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 17, 2015

"Don't take it for longer than 1 month. I'm addicted to 4 mg daily, and I can't get off. Side effects - Short-term memory and long-term memory are gone (REALLY GONE). I'm so, so tired (I sleep all day), and I have 0 motivation. It's amazing for short-term anxiety of all kinds. Just do not get addicted. IMO, max 1-2 mg for max 1 month. 2-year user. 27-year-old male. Kills anxiety in its tracks, but not to be used long-term. Look into Nardil/Parnate if SSRIs fail. Asenapine is great if you need your racing thoughts controlled. DO NOT LET ANY PSYCH GIVE THIS TO YOU LONG TERM."

• Gre...
• March 2, 2020

"I have bipolar and am a rapid cycler, every 2 weeks. Take Depakote daily, and 1 mg Klonopin at night. Since my cycle is predictable, I take 1 extra 1 mg Klonopin 2 days before my cycle starts, and it prevents me from going up. I am really tired the next day, but it's worth it. 1/4 Klonopin under the tongue helps me with panic attacks, especially in traffic."

• BIP...
• March 28, 2014

"I have bipolar type 1. I was on many medications over the years. None of them were very effective. I've been hospitalized on many different occasions. I was in an outpatient program. At that time, Seroquel had just come out. It did half or less of the Seroquel XR, this was a major game changer for me. Clonazepam has been literally a lifesaver for me. It stops my thoughts from going out of control. When a major situation happens, I'm able to stay calm and not act on impulse. When driving, if someone is going too slow and catches a red light, it takes away a lot of the anger I would feel. I would say it would be about 85%, but flare-ups can happen on a much lower scale. One more medication that can help is lamotrigine."

• Dub...
• July 30, 2016

"My experience is very similar to Manuel123 reviewed here. With Bipolar Disorder, once you learn how to recognize when you are feeling a little high, this drug is excellent to reset back to normal. For me, it's just 0.25 mg before bed when needed. I tend to wait for Friday night as it will make it harder to work on a workday. That way, you can relax in bed on Saturdays due to the good half-life of the product. Much to say, I have been on various BPD drugs throughout the years since my 20s, now mid-30s, and find this is the best and works for me for self-medicated management. Take care, guys."

• amn...
• December 29, 2008

Clonazepam "This has been the best medicine I have ever gotten for my problems. Every other doctor just ignored my feelings until finally I found the right doctor who listened and put me on Klonopin. That was the best day of my life. It was like I had found me again. Thanks, Klonopin, you're my lifesaver."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 27, 2024

"I started using clonazepam or Klonopin in 1990 when I was hospitalized for bipolar disorder for the second time. I had such insomnia I could not sleep whatsoever. They finally gave me clonazepam and I finally slept, and I was able to be discharged from the hospital. I've never been addicted to it since 1990, and I've never taken more than the prescribed dose. I don't know what the big thing about it is that you're going to be addicted to it because I'm sure not. It helps me tremendously with sleep, which is a huge problem for me."

• AZW...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 23, 2016

Clonazepam "After being treated on four antipsychotics and two mood stabilizers for bipolar hypomanic disorder, I have never felt better in ten years. Currently on Seroquel 400 mg XR (three tablets at bedtime), take 1 to 2 mg Klonopin daily as needed. Never felt better. Tried other sleep aids like trazodone and other TCAs. Nothing. Best with Klonopin because of no cravings or physical need because half-life is long, and one doesn't get a high off Klonopin because of very slow onset."

• Dan...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 10, 2020

"I need Klonopin to function, but the Veterans hospital that I go to doesn’t believe in giving them out. I have to beg my psych doctor to prescribe them to me, and he will give me fifteen 5 mg tabs for the month. They help, but if he would give me 1 mg at night, I would be able to function like a regular human being. Sometimes I even have to resort to buying some off a friend. I don’t care! They help get me out of bed and live in the real world. I would never abuse these. They are a lifesaver for me."

• Sun...
• March 3, 2013

Clonazepam "Started taking this med for bipolar disorder, and it's been working for 6 months, it helps me rest at night. I have tried many other medicines, but in conjunction with Wellbutrin antidepressant, it seems to be great. I hope I never have another episode again, and this will continue to work for me."

• Ala...
• August 2, 2011

Clonazepam "Clonazepam is very effective in controlling agitation and providing much-needed rest for bipolar disorder. It takes away the racing thoughts and irritability associated with mania. I also suffer from very intense anxiety, and 1 mg to 2 mg/day allows me to be functional without clouding my mind. I prefer Klonopin to Xanax or Ativan because it lasts longer (up to 12 hours), and I don't feel the craving between doses. Withdrawal from clonazepam is not as hard as some people say, it must be gradual. If that doesn't work, ask your physician to switch clonazepam to its equivalent in diazepam. I found it easier to reduce my clonazepam doses from 3 mg/day to 1 mg than to stop taking 200 mg quetiapine/day."

• Cam...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 25, 2016

Clonazepam "It was fine for a year, but then made my condition much, much worse to the point that I lost everything I ever loved. Please research this med before taking. It is not intended to be used for more than three weeks in a row."

• Ori...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 19, 2013

Clonazepam "Stops panic attacks dead in their tracks at a high enough dose, but even my prescribed dose is enough to calm things down after about 40 minutes, so I can think. Doesn't help when I'm manic/hypomanic, but has stopped me from doing more than a couple of silly things while depressed."

• Anonymous
• June 18, 2011

Clonazepam "I have a very high-stress job. My anxiety got to the point of me hating my job and ending up crying in the bathroom at work most days. I am now on 1 mg a day, and this is a miracle for my anxiety. No panic attacks and no anxiety at work. I can now function normally at work."

• lil...
• July 23, 2011

Clonazepam "I've been on 2 mg Klonopin for 5 years now, and it works great for my mood swings caused by bipolar disorder, and it also works great for my anxiety and paranoia. It relaxes you and works well for stress. Also, Klonopin works really well for several different things."

• Man...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 25, 2024

"I do have to say I have substance use disorder, however, now that I am on Lamictal for the depression and Klonopin for the mania, I no longer feel the need to get messed up every day. The Lamictal was helping with the depression, but I would still get episodes of mania. However, once they added in the Klonopin, manic episodes have come to almost a complete stop."

• Ran...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 8, 2016

"I've been taking Klonopin, on and off, for almost ten years now. There are so many varieties that I don't know which ones work for me anymore. The doctors all tell you it's the same thing. If that's the case, why have I stopped and started so many times? The most common reason is tolerance, I suspect. However, it has been my observation over the last 10 or so years that the different colors, sources, and whatever 'fillers' that are in some of these clonazepam alter the effects too randomly. As sufferers of the horribly misunderstood disorder, we should have more resources to find out what is in these and more insight into which ones favor our individual bipolar characteristics."

• ros...
• February 4, 2017

"I went without nighttime sleep for 3 months, even more. I was about ready for the hospital. Clonazepam was the miracle that gave sleep back to me. I am grateful to this medicine. I have bipolar disorder. The other mood stabilizer that is now working better than any others I have been on is Lamictal. I am really happy to where I've come to be. It's a good place."

• Cla...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 12, 2021

"I was prescribed this as part of my Bipolar 2, PTSD, ADHD treatment regimen over 20 years ago. I took it daily. In the past 5 years, I was placed in hospitals twice for depression, where the doctors didn’t believe in benzodiazepines. The withdrawal was an absolute nightmare! No sleep for 10 days, extreme paranoia, depersonalization, and derealization. I realized I had to get off this medication. After a slow taper, I was successful. I wish my anxiety was addressed with a therapist and talk therapy instead of blanketing my issues with this medication in the first place. Been off it 286 days and counting."

• Mel...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 20, 2021

"I am 57 and have been on some dosage level of Clonazepam for about 20 years. I started it, with Prozac, when my first diagnosis was Major Anxiety/Major Depression. As my diagnosis changed to Bi-Polar I and I gradually developed a cocktail of drugs that worked together very well, Clonazepam has remained the one constant. At one point I was up to 4 mg a day, but I'm now down to 0.5 mg as needed (usually about every other day). I've never taken more than prescribed and have never had any sleepiness from it. Ativan, by comparison, makes me a zombie. Most anxiety drugs have that effect on me. The thing that has been the best for me is the feeling that I'm not on a drug when I take Clonazepam. Just the feeling of being anxious or overwhelmed becomes a bit more manageable. I understand why this drug isn't the right choice for everyone, but unless there is a definite alternative, I plan to stay with it. If I can be just that much more myself, why shouldn't I?"

• It...
• September 25, 2015

"I had been taking clonazepam for two years, then slowly stopped taking it. A couple of weeks after not taking it, I had a grand mal seizure. Then a few more smaller petit mal seizures after that. I started up Klonopin again and bam. No more seizures. It is a great drug for my BPD, but I will caution you to talk to the doc before stopping it."

• kem...
• May 31, 2011

Clonazepam "I have been on Klonopin for over 6 years now. It has been working great. I take it for bipolar disorder and panic disorder without agoraphobia. I have had my times off of it, but I am also experiencing epilepsy. I usually have seizures within 48 hours of being off Klonopin. Needless to say, I'm still taking it (0.5 mg tabs 4 times daily). It works great, and it was the first benzodiazepine I've been prescribed and the only one that works for me. I've tried Ativan, Xanax, Valium, and Restoril. They all work great, but I'll always prefer Klonopin."