Klonopin and Insomnia: What Users Say

• adm...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 31, 2016

For Panic Disorder "I had my ovaries removed (outpatient) 5 years ago at age 41. Next day (never fell asleep) I had paralyzing fear, but had no idea why. My husband took me to the ER where my heart rate was 173! I was in the hospital for a week, 3 days no sleep. I was given Klonopin, it was AMAZING! I had been admitted for my first ever panic attack! After leaving the hospital I continued having insomnia and panic attacks. My GP now prescribes 0.5 mg as needed. I have a bottle in my purse and by my bed. I only take HALF a pill, ONLY WHEN NEEDED, and RARELY do I take the other half 30 min later. Just knowing I have a med that works on hand reduced number of attacks. When used RESPONSIBLY, Klonopin is a LIFESAVER! Never take more of any med than you actually need!"

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 8, 2020

For Panic Disorder "Was prescribed this three months ago for muscle twitching and involuntary movements related to antipsychotic withdrawal. Medication works great, sometimes too great. Am aware of the risks of taking it, but it does help insomnia, anxiety, mania, and twitching. Please be careful and don't take more than prescribed."

• emo...
• August 13, 2013

For Anxiety "I've suffered with depression, anxiety, and panic along with various health problems. I have tried just about most medicines that claim to help with these problems. Nothing, until I tried Klonopin, and it just changed so much about me. Although I will say, in the beginning, I felt very cheery and super friendly. Though that particular feeling has decreased, it still controls my anxiety. And no side effects, only thing is that it doesn't help with sleep, so I take a Seroquel instead at night. It also helps keep me calm when worrying over my bad health conditions. Found deep belly breathing can help while in the midst of a panic. I plan on staying on it. Take care."

• Fir...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 8, 2016

For Anxiety "I was put on Klonopin at age 17. I took it as prescribed for 20 years, going from 0.5 mgs to 3-4 mgs a day. While it worked great for anxiety and insomnia, I wish I had never taken this medication. Last year, I was detoxed off of it. When I tapered off, I didn't sleep at all for 11 days. After that, I had extreme anxiety and agitation. I couldn't sit still for months, I had to take a non-addictive medication to be able to sleep at all. I was unable to eat well for months. Doctors don't think to tell you that this medication makes you physically dependent. You cannot stop abruptly, or you risk seizures. It is made for short-term use, about 2 weeks. I wish I had never taken this medication. I will never take another benzodiazepine again."

• Res...
• July 14, 2015

For Anxiety "I went through severe panic and anxiety that debilitated my life. I experienced shakes, suicidal thoughts, fear for no reason, a fast throbbing heartbeat, no sleep for ten days because of fear my body was dying, a 38 lb weight loss in 1 month, vomiting, a foggy mind, couldn't speak, and so much more. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. I visited hospitals over 6 times with no answers, but the doctor telling me I'm crazy, smh. Went through gastric procedures, and nothing was found but GERD, which is a symptom of anxiety. I finally broke down and took the meds prescribed to me. Xanax was the only one that worked for a short time, and I had taken many medications. Clonazepam is working amazingly with no side effects. I feel great along with Zoloft."

• Bon...
• June 24, 2017

For Panic Disorder "I was diagnosed with general anxiety, social anxiety, and panic attacks about 17 years ago. I was prescribed many different medicines, but what has worked best with my panic attacks and overall anxiety is Klonopin. I was prescribed 0.5 mg 3 times daily, it has been a godsend. I do not go above my prescribed dosage and can take it any time of day and stay right on track at work, etc. I have been on this dosage for 7 years, and it's made a huge difference in my quality of life. I will say that I ran out over a holiday weekend and couldn't get any more until the following Tuesday. 3 days without it caused severe withdrawal symptoms: unable to sleep, watery mouth, dry heaves, and clammy skin, it was awful. So don't miss dosage(s) and you'll be fine."

• Don...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 16, 2016

For Panic Disorder "My doctor began prescribing Klonopin 1 mg 3 times a day when I was 23 years old to help treat anxiety and sleep disorders. I took Xanax for 11 years, and it did help my symptoms, although I did build up a tolerance pretty fast but kept at the same dose. But when my doctor retired and a new doctor took over his practice, I was abruptly discontinued from Xanax. This was a dangerous thing to do. I began to go into withdrawals within one day without the Xanax. The withdrawals were excruciating and lasted for weeks. I was in constant extreme anxiety. Sleep was nearly totally absent for more than two weeks. My thoughts started to become almost to the point of psychosis, which also lasted for weeks. So never abruptly stop benzos unless medically supervised."

• sin...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 19, 2013

For Seizure Prevention "I have taken Klonopin for at least 20 years now, and it is the only medication that prevents absences and myoclonic seizures. Sometimes I have breakthroughs, but not often. I vary in my doses from 1 mg a day to 3 mg at times due to needing a little more or less. Since I have been on it for so long, I am able to do this. I take it at nighttime because I cannot function during the day if I take it in the morning. I think I have been on every seizure medicine there is and have had nightmare stories concerning them, but Klonopin works the best for me. I believe every person is different, and what works for one may not work for another. I do have to put up with occasional side effects like bouts of insomnia and breakthrough optical migraines."

• Pop...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 25, 2015

For Anxiety "Was warned about benzo's by my first psychiatrist, but in all fairness, I haven't seen a (major) dosage increase. I first started with .25 mg when I needed it, mostly at night, to .5 mg again, mostly at night. To then routinely taking .5 mg in the morning and at night. Never straying to take any more doses per day because of said addiction warnings. I have had some lapses in taking the prescribed amount for a couple of days, of which I paid for with loss of sleep, but with any negatives I've found for this drug, the positives have outweighed the negatives significantly. The biggest negative for me is the controlled substance and the hoops one must go through in order to maintain a routine for the medication."

• dj1...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 8, 2018

For Seizure Prevention "I have a seizure disorder that isn't epilepsy. I had an incident where I had seizures back to back for days and was sent to multiple hospitals to try to help me. When I finally came out of them, I was on Klonopin and Keppra. Keppra alone wouldn't stop them from happening again, is what I was told by medical. I also read about Klonopin and know that it is prescribed for preventing seizures and happens to be good at stopping seizures that happen quickly back to back, or whatever it was that was going on specifically with me. I am glad something worked. I have never had anything so rough and weird happen to me. I love Klonopin because I also have anxiety and insomnia, both things that Klonopin helps and eases as well, which also could be triggers for seizures or symptoms of."

• Tes...
• April 30, 2017

For Panic Disorder "Have been taking Klonopin for nearly 20 years. At one point, my doctor was prescribing 3 mg per day. The past couple of years, I've been taking 0.25 mg (1/4 mg) per day. It has been very helpful in preventing panic attacks and reducing my anxiety in general. My only side effect has been mild drowsiness. My doctor has tried to help me go off this medication completely on two occasions. The first time, I developed muscle spasms throughout my body, including rapid heartbeat. The second time, I became unable to sleep, and anxiety attacks resumed. Both times, my dosage was decreased gradually over a period of 2 to 3 months after I'd been taking 1 mg per day. Since then, when my doctor suggested trying to wean me off it again, I reminded him of the prior problems."

• Sad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 7, 2021

For Panic Disorder "Klonopin destroyed my life and damaged my whole family, especially my young daughters. It was given to me for panic, to take as needed. It does calm you quickly, but at the highest price. Very real side effects include paranoia, fatigue, confusion, and impaired judgment. I made several terrible, terrible business decisions while taking it. But the worst side effects come when you stop it. For me, zero sleep, insomnia, chest pain, fatigue, muscle loss, emotional emptiness, and suicidal thoughts/acts that go on and on. It has been four months since my last dose, and all I do is lay in bed. My daughters are watching their once vibrant dad erode to nothing, and I am helpless."

• don...
• October 3, 2009

For Insomnia "I was given this medication because of fibromyalgia and insomnia. I was unable to get a deep sleep, and as a result, my fibromyalgia was very bad. I was not informed of the issues of long-term use and have been on it for years. I started with a new doctor, and the first thing she did was take me off of this medication, down from 1 mg to 1/2 for 30 days and then cold turkey. This is way too fast for this medicine. I have had heart palpitations, hallucinations, inability to sleep at all, lightheadedness, high blood pressure, racing pulse, really weird thoughts."

• Deb...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 4, 2017

For Panic Disorder "I've been diagnosed with bipolar and severe anxiety. I saw a new psychiatrist two years ago who prescribed Klonopin. Best thing that ever happened to me. I was taking 3 mg daily. But I also take Seroquel for trouble sleeping. Together, the psychiatrist and I decided to decrease the Klonopin to 2 mg. Well, the anxiety is back after 2 years. And I'm really upset. Going to see my PCP on Tuesday and calling my psych doc as well."

• Che...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 27, 2021

For Panic Disorder "Klonopin worked well for side effects of high-dose fentanyl. Fentanyl and other opioids impart nervousness, insomnia, and can trigger serotonin syndrome. Drugs.com is the premier interaction checker. I enlightened a physician that wrote me a prescription for amitriptyline, and in combination with fentanyl, I was hospitalized for severe serotonin syndrome. I lived after 48 hours in the ER. I dropped the amitriptyline and increased my Klonopin. I lived."

• Whe...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 28, 2018

For Panic Disorder "Doc put me on Klonopin 2-3 mg/day after a brain injury. After a few years, my quality of life started falling quickly. After much reading, I found that Klonopin was causing the anxiety due to tolerance withdrawals, caused by increasing tolerance with no dose escalation. I was ripped off of the medication and barely survived. Six months of severe withdrawals: didn't sleep, could barely eat, muscles so stiff that walking was difficult, severe tinnitus, etc., etc. DO NOT take this medication for more than a few days or you are risking one of the most severe addictions known to man."

• dul...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 5, 2018

For Panic Disorder "I was recently switched from Ativan to Klonopin as I had developed a tolerance to my moderate dosage of Ativan. Three days of insomnia, severe panic attacks, and dissociation. I literally haven’t slept in three days and was having disturbing thoughts at 4 a.m. this morning. Was on the phone with mental health services for two hours this morning, and they said I needed to get off it now. Had to beg the doctor to switch me back to a higher dose of Ativan. Immediately felt better."

• Fru...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 16, 2021

"The key to successful benzo withdrawal is slow and steady. Do not be in a rush to quit this class of drug, or you will trap yourself in an endless cycle of death-would-be-better withdrawal, followed by panicked re-dosing, followed by continued abuse until you are fed up and decide to quit again - either cold turkey or too quickly - and thus begin the circle anew. I tapered at a snail’s pace: 0.05 mg per week. If I started to feel any discomfort, I stopped and held for a month at the previous week’s dose and then tried again. I did not allow myself to suffer. I have now been 100% free of this drug for over 9 months. I had a few nights of insomnia here and there and was very easily startled for about 6 months. Other than that, I had no discomfort at all. Find a doctor willing to work with your taper schedule. Big picture, a year or so of continued use (but not abuse) of benzos is nothing. Subjecting yourself to torture just to shorten the timeline is nuts. Take it slow."

• Che...
• August 31, 2015

For Anxiety "I just started taking it, so my body still has to adjust, but I notice that I have gotten some sleep. I have extremely important medical issues going on right now."

• peg...
• December 8, 2008

For Anxiety "Mood is calm after taking 1 mg in the afternoon. If I have an outright panic attack, I take Ativan and 25 mg of Seroquel at night to help sleep."

• Anonymous
• December 27, 2014

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