Klonopin and Depression: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 31, 2022

"I have been taking Klonopin for over fifteen years. It worked well for about ten years on my sleep disorder. Now I am 63 years old, and I wish I had taken a different path. I feel like a zombie, irritated, bored, losing my family, depressed, and it’s not easy to stop. I have tried to get off gradually without success. I am on my third try and have been told to take six months or longer to succeed."

• Har...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 8, 2016

For Anxiety "This 'medicine' ruined my life. I took it just as the doctor prescribed Clonazepam, 5 mg every night before bed. He said I would probably need them for the rest of my life. He failed to tell me these are very powerful tranquilizers (all benzos are). We are only supposed to take these for no more than 2 weeks! It worked well for many years until one day it quit working. Tolerance, withdrawal, sick 24/7, med no longer works, sheer panic. Suffering all since that day, and it's been one year off now. These meds also cause depression over the years. I had a great life until this med caused me to lose everything! Nightmare! Please, don't walk, run from this poison!"

• Zac...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 6, 2015

For Anxiety "I was on this medication for approximately 5 years. The last couple of years, I had increasing anxiety and depression. I never increased my initial dose of 2 mg at night to help with sleep. My PDoc continued to insist that it was not the Klonopin that was causing my anxiety and depression. Who knows? I weaned myself off of the medication SLOWLY over 4 months. It really took me that amount of time, even that may have been too fast for me. When it works, it's helpful for me. The problem is that many people tend to build a tolerance to the med and will likely need to increase the dose to get the same effect, hence feelings of withdrawal that can come on automatically. I know everyone has his/her own opinion about this drug."

• ser...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 11, 2012

For Panic Disorder "It did stop the uncontrollable panic from post-traumatic stress disorder, but the side effects were unbearable for me. I had loss of appetite, uncontrollable weight loss, stomach pain, memory loss, headaches, dizziness, urinary pain, thinning hair, bad acne, depression, and constipation. It was so difficult to taper without severe withdrawals that I needed a 6-month tapering schedule. My dose was 1 mg twice daily. I find that Valium or Xanax have fewer side effects."

• ind...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 25, 2016

For Panic Disorder "I was taken off of Ativan 1 mg x3 per day and switched to Klonopin. This drug made me ache all over and my joints, had crying bouts and severe depression with very dark thoughts. I finally got switched back. I hate this drug. Made me want to sleep all the time as well, zero energy and aggressive."

• Eri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 10, 2019

For Panic Disorder "I was first prescribed Ativan for panic attacks and was to take it as needed. It made me extremely depressed and suicidal, and I couldn't focus. So I switched to Klonopin, and in my experience, it's so much better. I don't feel 'drugged up' when I'm on it. I just feel calm and have a good sense of well-being. Also helps with social anxiety, I'm not constantly worrying what people are thinking of me."

• Bxw...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 10, 2025

For Panic Disorder "I have been suffering from intrusive and ruminating thoughts that I could not control. I could eat, sleep, and even get my work done. I am also having chronic health issues at 32, otherwise fit and healthy. I was on Prozac, Trintellix, Lexapro, Viibryd, and a few more. Nothing helped. I told my doctor my anxiety was causing suicidal thoughts as it worsened my depression immensely. She prescribed 0.5 mg 2x daily (1 mg per day), and oh my goodness, I actually feel sane! I'm able to drive without any anxiety, hang out with family and friends, and stop worrying about literally everything. Amazing medication."

• kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 15, 2019

For Seizure Prevention "I really liked this medication at first. No bad side effects, way better than other meds I had tried, but after a few weeks, started to get very depressed. Don't know if it's worth taking."

• Nes...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 19, 2019

For Panic Disorder "I have an anxiety disorder, finally gave in to see a therapist, who recommended me to see a psychiatrist. I suffer from daily anxiety attacks. I've been through multiple medications that I felt didn't help me. She decided to try me with Klonopin 0.5, taking half of it in the morning and the other half in the evening. Within the week of taking it, I started experiencing nightmares, my anxiety was a lot worse, and I also felt more depressed. I felt terrible the whole time taking it. Everyone is different. Hope to find the medication that can help me with this."

• Tod...
• January 3, 2021

For Panic Disorder "I’ve been taking Klonopin for just over a year now for panic disorder and epilepsy, along with Valium for epilepsy, and temazepam and Ambien for sleep. Klonopin is great for me at preventing panic attacks as I normally get on average 4-5 per week instead of 20 or more before I started it. However, this medication has made me antisocial. I have intermittent explosive disorder now and it makes me aggressive and I have rage attacks. I take 10-12 mg per day. I’m giving the medication a 3 because even though it helps my anxiety and epilepsy, I have become emotionally numb and cannot empathize with others at all."

• Wil...
• October 2, 2019

For Panic Disorder "BEWARE! My doctor prescribed me this medication to help control my severe anxiety attacks. I was informed this medication was for emergencies only and was to take two .5 MG pills a day as needed. I only took the medication for emergencies and had no problem... UNTIL I took the medication for 5 days in a row, as prescribed, to control a bad string of anxiety attacks. When I stopped taking the medication after the 5 days, I felt horrible. I literally felt like I was losing my mind and experienced the worst anxiety and depression. It took two weeks before I felt close to being normal again and was able to leave my house. Please read about the risks of this medication. It’s highly addictive and the withdrawal symptoms are horrible. Research Stevie Nicks and how this medication ruined eight years of her life. Everyone should do some research before taking this HIGHLY addictive medication. If you get comfortable with the medication, you’re dancing with the Devil."

• lau...
• November 7, 2016

For Anxiety "Stay away from this nightmare drug. It can most likely cause depression and more. It's dangerous. I had withdrawals for months. Horrible."

• fla...
• January 23, 2016

For Anxiety "Increased depression at higher doses, which are needed as your system becomes tolerant, and you always will need to increase the dosage to get relief of the anxiety, negative thoughts in general, fear of withdrawal, agoraphobia if you do run out before refill, severe memory problems the longer you are on it, tolerance develops quickly, and what started out as 0.5 twice a day is now 3 mg a day, which leads to almost constant fatigue and a general feeling of hopelessness that doesn't go away."

• fla...
• January 23, 2016

For Anxiety "Increased depression at higher doses, which are needed as your system becomes tolerant, and you always will need to increase the dosage to get relief of the anxiety, negative thoughts in general, fear of withdrawal, agoraphobia if you do run out before refill, severe memory problems the longer you are on it, tolerance develops quickly, and what started out as 0.5 twice a day is now 3 mg a day, which leads to almost constant fatigue and a general feeling of hopelessness that doesn't go away."

• Pax...
• October 19, 2015

For Anxiety "Upping my 10 mg Paxil dose to 20 mg sparked quite a few anxiety episodes for me. My doctor said the Paxil would take 2.5 weeks for the new increased dosage to kick in, so in the meantime, he prescribed me 0.5 mg of Klonopin to take twice a day (morning and night). A year ago, when I initially started Paxil (after a terrible 6 weeks of trying Zoloft), I took a Xanax because the anxiety was so bad. For some reason, the Xanax made me so depressed. Anyway, my first dose of Klonopin was awesome and has been since then (about a week ago). It took an hour for me to start to realize that I wasn't anxious anymore, and I seemed to be really productive and felt normal, which is a great feeling! Klonopin is awesome for those of us who have generalized anxiety."

• aal...
• August 21, 2015

For Anxiety "I have severe panic and anxiety attacks and have for over 20 years. When I tried to go off this medication, lowering my dosage slowly because of a pregnancy, I ended up with the bad anxiety again. Needless to say, I ended up going back on, and my son was born perfectly (at the time, 20 years ago, they were not sure of long-term effects). If anything, he is smarter than my other two children. I also take an antidepressant that works very well with it. I definitely recommend this medication. I am on a higher dose, probably more than most, I take 2 mg in the morning and 2 mg at night. Probably because my depression is worse than it was, but the anxiety is finally under control."

• Anonymous
• December 27, 2014

For Anxiety "Makes me feel very depressed, anxious, and agitated. It makes me feel suicidal, and I can't sleep."

• Ric...
• October 3, 2014

For Anxiety "I take 4mg of Klonopin per day. I have done so for more than two years. I went to a clinic where a 'no benzo' policy was established, and I was taken off the medicine. I went through two years of agony. Neurontin was given as a substitute... it made me depressed and nauseous. I finally had to go to a private doctor to be put back on my Klonopin and am returning to normal. The only issue I would mention is that it is not a fast-acting medicine."

• JAM...
• January 25, 2013

For Anxiety "This is the only medicine that has really taken my generalized anxiety disorder away with so many fewer side effects. I've had GAD just about all my life and am now 36. I have tried Celexa, Lexapro, Zoloft, Cymbalta, Effexor, Wellbutrin, Buspar and find most of them are too stimulating or make me so tired with no ambition, or feel like I'm going crazy. I would self-medicate and made my life even worse. I have been on Paxil on and off trying to get something that would work, but the Paxil is the best for me for anxiety, but I lost all my ambition, creativity, interest in just about everything. I would get so tired it's crazy. I would lose my sex drive."

• Ant...
• February 13, 2012

For Panic Disorder "Clonazepam makes me dizzy, sick, chilled, headache, constipation, depressed, antisocial, and constant nasal drip from my nose to throat. Not to mention starving all the time. I asked my doctor because I go into fits of rage if there was something that she could give me to instantly calm me down. I've been on several mood stabilizers, and they just aren't working like they used to. So she prescribed me this."

• big...
• February 7, 2010

For Anxiety "Klonopin has made me the woman I was prior to menopause. I am so very grateful. I could no longer stand the sleepless nights, horrific night and day sweats, constipation, anger attacks, anxiety attacks, and bouts of depression. A friend told me about Klonopin. It works without causing any side effects. I pray it continues as I honestly wished to just not exist any longer. I am once again functioning daily, interacting with family, and feeling normal, rested, and happy each day."

• Anonymous
• February 6, 2010

For Panic Disorder "I suffered from panic attacks, anxiety, and depression for years. Since I started taking clonazepam, I haven't had a single attack! This drug has changed my life for the better. I still have some anxiety and depression, but I'm taking something else for those. My only wish is that I didn't wait so long to try the medication!"

• Anonymous
• August 25, 2009

For Restless Legs Syndrome "This medicine stopped the restless leg issues, but it made me extremely groggy and a bit depressed."

• cdk...
• July 6, 2009

For Panic Disorder "I have had severe panic attacks since high school. I cannot be in or on anything that moves. I have been on 4 mg Klonopin a day for almost a year, and I still have 2-3 panic attacks a day. Plus, it has made me extremely irritable, agitated, angry, aggressive, and depressed. I have been on every benzodiazepine, tricyclic, SNRIs, and most SSRIs, always in combination 2 or 3 at the same time. Some worked for a short time, some not at all. The best combination was Xanax, Zoloft, and Imipramine for five years, then it quit working. I've even tried cognitive behavioral therapy with no luck. The only thing I've not tried is Paxil and Prozac. I have a doctor's appointment next month to discuss other medicines. Maybe I need a new doctor."

• Use...
• May 4, 2008

For Panic Disorder "I have been taking this medication for a long time now. Before I was put on Klonopin, I always took panic attacks and felt nervous all the time. I stayed depressed and also had thoughts of suicide. My doctor had put me on everything you could imagine. I was on Paxil CR, Lexapro, Vistaril, and Seroquel. They never helped me at all. So I decided to change from my foreign doctor and got a new doctor. I told him my problems, and he said he was going to start me on Klonopin. Since then, my life is great!"