Clonazepam and Anxiety: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Dan...
• April 1, 2014

Clonazepam for Panic Disorder "I recently switched from Xanax to Klonopin for panic disorder. Klonopin does help me get through the day but doesn't totally eliminate my anxiety. I like the fact that I don't get heavy rebound anxiety on Klonopin (as I did on Xanax) due to its longer half-life. Overall quite long-lasting, pretty effective, but in the crisis of a panic attack, a Xanax is 1000X better for getting through it."

• Tes...
• April 30, 2017

Clonazepam 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."

• Wil...
• October 2, 2019

Clonazepam 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."

• Muc...
• April 15, 2010

Clonazepam for Anxiety "I've taken Klonopin as needed for several years now. It is the only thing that works when I feel a major anxiety issue coming on from progressing into a full-blown debilitating attack. However, it always helps with that, too. Like someone else said, it has a longer half-life, and you don't experience the drop-off anxiety spike like some people do with Xanax. Xanax actually made me feel more anxious when it wore off between doses. I haven't had a problem with dependency, as I only take it for a few weeks at a time every other year or so. I'm careful to taper off over a couple of weeks, so I don't get rebound anxiety. All in all, it's been a lifesaver for me."

• Anonymous
• July 18, 2012

Clonazepam for Anxiety "I'm a 48-year-old male, 6'2", 230 lbs. I've been taking Klonopin off and on now for the last year. It works pretty well for anxiety and takes about 40 minutes to kick in. I take 0.25 mg twice daily. I just started taking Lexapro 20 mg and have been on it for about four weeks. Not sure if it's doing much. We'll see in about another four weeks if I can stop the Klonopin. I have to agree with others, Xanax works well and quickly, but leaves your system quicker and leaves you more anxious. Klonopin seems to be a little bit smoother and longer-lasting, about 3-4 hours at 0.25 mg. This medicine gets a bad rap due to the people who abuse it. I'm in law enforcement and I see it every day, who abuse these."

• Sun...
• November 19, 2017

Clonazepam for Panic Disorder "I was prescribed Klonopin about 6 years ago when I had a sudden experience of 'Zoloft poop out.' I was on Zoloft 50 mg at the time for Panic Disorder, and it worked beautifully for over ten years, but just stopped. I went from a high-functioning manager to a terrified mess, afraid to leave the house. Got myself to a psychiatrist, she prescribed 1 mg daily taken in two doses, and it was a godsend. Got on another antidepressant, citalopram, which did the trick. I was able to slowly taper off Klonopin with no side effects. Recently, I've been having some rebound anxiety (I'm in medical school: hello stress!), and once again I find myself utilizing Klonopin. I've done a lot of work with acupuncture, CBT, breathing, but KP is the most effective."

• djs...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 23, 2015

For Insomnia "I have had insomnia since March last year, and it turns into nervousness or anxiety and then becomes panic attacks. Then I asked my wife to go with me to a doctor, and it was a psychiatrist because insomnia was in our mind, and it does not mean that you're crazy when you go to that doctor. My doctor gave me clonazepam or Rivotril here in the Philippines. First, I took 2 mg, 1 mg, and 0.5 mg as of now. I take it in the morning when I need it for anxiety panic attacks and add another 0.5 mg if my attacks are strong. I take 0.5 mg every night for sleep since March last year. I don't know what to do if there is no Rivotril or clonazepam in my life. So far, the best medicine for me! Thanks to my doctor."

• djs...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 23, 2015

For Insomnia "I have had insomnia since March last year, and it turns into nervousness or anxiety and then becomes panic attacks. Then I asked my wife to go with me to a doctor, and it was a psychiatrist because insomnia was in our mind, and it does not mean that you're crazy when you go to that doctor. My doctor gave me clonazepam or Rivotril here in the Philippines. First, I took 2 mg, 1 mg, and 0.5 mg as of now. I take it in the morning when I need it for anxiety panic attacks and add another 0.5 mg if my attacks are strong. I take 0.5 mg every night for sleep since March last year. I don't know what to do if there is no Rivotril or clonazepam in my life. So far, the best medicine for me! Thanks to my doctor."

• Jax...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 14, 2018

For Anxiety "I was stable on diazepam and was prescribed it off and on for 30 years. I had tried all the SRIs and selective SRIs with only worsening conditions. I tried them all, some more than once. Finally, it dawned on my new GP that I had serotonin syndrome with the SRIs. After 4 months of trying other things, nothing worked. My new pain doctor tried me on clonazepam. The first dose worked wonders. My constantly struggling with anxiety all day was gone. No more waking up with immediate panic attacks either. I am a different man. There is no high with a drug if your body needs it. Same with opioids. Benzos and opioids can safely be used together if you cannot tolerate SRIs due to serotonin syndrome."

• Zer...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 21, 2022

For Anxiety "My whole life I have dealt with severe anxiety. Palpitations every day, usually multiple times. Panic attacks put me in the hospital too many times. Almost no sleep because of my anxiety, etc. It was destroying my life. My quality of life was horrible. I can't begin to tell you how bad my mental health was. I have tried everything under the sun: Buspar, hydroxyzine, Wellbutrin, all the SSRIs, you name it. I would still have terrible anxiety with all of these, even combining them. If you suffer from bad anxiety, don't be scared away because of the stuff that you find on Google search results. Klonopin is the best medication for anxiety. It helps with depression as well. When I am taking it, I never have an attack. It is a lifesaver for me. I take it with Effexor, and my quality of life is now a million times better. I am finally able to be happy again. Can't say enough good things about Klonopin, it has given me my life back."

• Drd...
• March 31, 2022

For Epilepsy "Clonazepam is a lifesaver for me. Other benzodiazepines like Xanax were too harsh and had a super short half-life. This medication has the longest for me. If you don’t take one for a couple of days, it’s okay. It doesn’t give you harsh withdrawals. No seizures and no anxiety! A winner in all categories for me."

• NIC...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 9, 2017

For Anxiety "I had debilitating anxiety, panic attacks, sometimes so bad I was constantly dizzy, out of it, and feeling like a completely different person. The pain in my chest would subside after taking this, and I would feel better. I'm so thankful my doctor prescribed this to me, and I only take it if I really need it, so when I get really bad panic attacks or increased anxiety. Different ones work better for different people, but I will never go on SSRIs again, they made my anxiety 1,000 times worse, panic attacks from morning until night, no sleep, couldn't eat. My quality of life was so bad I felt as though ending it would be better. So, I'm happy I have a doctor who listens and cares about my mental state and wants to improve my life."

• Not...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 13, 2019

For Anxiety "My clonazepam brand is complete garbage. I doubt that there’s a half milligram in a 2 mg pill. They don’t work and actually cause more anxiety, put you into withdrawal, cause massive nausea and headaches, and more side effects than I can mention. Making this product in India with poor quality, them shredding documents and you guys selling batches that don’t meet quality standards so you don’t lose profits at the cost of people’s health is disgusting. Even though the FDA is useless from your big money lobbyists, I am filing a complaint along with others that had to experience this horrendous fake medication. Everyone that works for this company belongs in prison."

• Ash...
• December 14, 2013

Clonazepam for Anxiety "I was placed on 150 mg x2 a day Wellbutrin & 0.5 mg Klonopin x 2 a day. Wellbutrin gave me the initial energy I needed to stay awake. At one point, I didn't have enough Klonopin to get me through, so I cut my dosage in 1/2 for the Klonopin to 0.5 mg. Wellbutrin was overpowering, it made me too hyperactive and made my anxiety rage, so I stopped taking it and it helped calm me down. My depression disappeared and my anxiety leveled out. Since I've been back on 0.5 mg x 2 a day, extra as needed, and stayed off the Wellbutrin. The depression hasn't come back yet. If I forget to take Klonopin for more than a day, I start losing my thoughts mid-sentence, and I forget everything that I'm trying to say. Then my anxiety comes back and I'm a mess until I take it."

• Sei...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 3, 2018

Clonazepam for Panic Disorder "I used to have a heroin problem for years and years. I was prescribed 2 mg clonazepam 4x a day (that is 8 mg, guys). My husband at the time would steal them and my gabapentin I take for seizures. He and I split, and I knew I was going to have to go to jail for my past. I had a doctor taper me down and was taken to the hospital 3x while in jail for my seizures. I don't know if they were just my regular epilepsy, stress-induced, or from the benzo reduction. In jail, they detoxed me over 10 days with Ativan... it took weeks to feel 'normal.' Anyway, horrible experience, but I am clean and sober now. I take Keppra, Lamictal, and gabapentin for seizures. Gabapentin is also supposed to help with my anxiety. Celexa seems useless, but I take it... and I reintroduced clonazepam orally dissolving wafers, 1 mg up to 2x a day. Noticing a tolerance. Sometimes the 1 mg does nothing. I want to avoid the benzo hell... but I also don't want to live my life afraid to leave the house and having panic attacks."

• Ali...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 6, 2022

For Insomnia "I have taken 1 mg clonazepam for at least 15 years at bedtime and rarely during the day for panic attacks. No issues. I did try to wean off because of how long I have taken it, and it wasn't fun at all. Decided to go back on, and glad I did. I recently read that it interferes with my blood pressure medication. Now I don't know what to do. My doctor and pharmacist agreed on lowering it from 1 mg to 0.5 mg for thirty days and then I would be off. From everything I have read, that is way too fast. I had bad brain zaps and major anxiety with jitters so bad it really scared me, so I still take it. What do I do now?"

• kcr...
• January 10, 2009

Clonazepam for Anxiety "Recently, I was prescribed Klonopin 1 mg, not only for anxiety but to help alleviate my muscle cramps, which I think are caused by the Seroquel I take for mood stabilization and sleep. Klonopin works great. No more tremors, cramps, or anxiety. It is very effective. It works better than any related drug."

• bio...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 8, 2019

For Insomnia "I couldn't sleep, or when I woke in the night, I couldn't go back to sleep. At one point, I relied solely on Klonopin to help me sleep, but it is not designed for that. Plus, eventually, you must up the dose to achieve the same results, and that is scary. I tried many different meds, but none really did well with the anxiety. So my NEW Pdoc put me on the combo of escitalopram (Lexapro) & mirtazapine (Remeron). That really helped me sleep, and it did for 8 years, but now the anxiety is back (generalized, I think). It's always been there, but I managed to sleep, and that is all that mattered. So now it's back to Klonopin (in addition to the other 2) until I can find an alternative that isn't addictive in quality. I wonder, can we alternate between benzos so that we don't get hooked?"

• Kub...
• January 13, 2021

For Insomnia "My doctor prescribed 0.5 mg during a period of stress when I was finding it difficult to sleep or to function in public. It was hard to make decisions, and even small problems threatened to put me into a state of panic. With Klonopin, I can sleep through the night and wake up feeling calm and rested. Often, I don't need to take any in the morning unless I am facing a particularly stressful day. After taking it every night for 2 months, I quit cold turkey. For about three nights, I hardly slept at all. It took two weeks to get back to a reasonable state of normal. No real serious withdrawal symptoms other than being exhausted and anxious from lack of sleep. Definitely recommend tapering when getting off this drug. I still use it off and on to help me get through stressful events or to get a good night's sleep. But I am being very careful not to get hooked. For me, this drug has no side effects and has been a lifesaver."

• BXG...
• December 28, 2016

For Anxiety "I suffer from GAD, panic attacks, and digestive issues. I am grateful for being prescribed this medication. It has saved me from dozens of visits to the emergency room. Just 0.25 mg once in the morning takes off the edge so that I can get on with my day. I tapered off my daily use after 1 year with not too much difficulty except for dizziness, headaches, and some anxiety (over 6-8 weeks). Now I just take it twice a week as needed. Some of the side effects that I experience while on this medication are slight forgetfulness, and my eyes seem sensitive to bright lights. The key is using the lowest dose possible that works for you."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 13, 2017

For Insomnia "This stuff works great at first. I took it for both insomnia and mild anxiety, and within 20 min, I was so relaxed and could fall asleep like nothing. Unfortunately, my tolerance built up so quickly; I went from 0.5 mg a night to 2 mg a night in just 2 months just for it to keep working. And coming off of it is extremely difficult. VERY heightened anxiety and terrible withdrawal symptoms. It took me nearly 2 months to get off it completely."

• ann...
• August 28, 2009

Clonazepam for Periodic Limb Movement Disorder "It helps my stimulus-sensitive myoclonus. Ten out of 100,000 persons have this condition. It is caused by a flu virus, and when I do not take it, I have a jerking of the head. One can get the jerking in the arm, leg, and diaphragm. This medicine takes away all the jerking movement. I have a movement disorder since I have been 2 years old, and when I take this medicine, I am perfectly normal. At the age of 2 years old, I caught a flu virus and had to learn to re-walk and re-talk. I have above-average intelligence. I have been on this medicine since 1985. I have no anger fits or anxiety or other things people take this drug for, just stimulus-sensitive myoclonus."

• Rig...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 17, 2015

For Anxiety "Clonazepam probably saved my life. I've been on it for twelve years. It was originally prescribed to me because my antidepressant was not doing the job of suppressing panic attacks. Clonazepam worked incredibly well for me - for 12 years, 0.5 milligrams is all I need to stop the worst of panic attacks. I've never noticed any side effects, save for some drowsiness at times. The only downside that I've experienced is a mild physical dependence. If I go more than two days without clonazepam, I start to feel kind of jittery, restless, and tense. These periods of physical dependence have been easily remedied, though, by simply easing up on the dose over the course of a couple of weeks."

• Rig...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 17, 2015

For Anxiety "Clonazepam probably saved my life. I've been on it for twelve years. It was originally prescribed to me because my antidepressant was not doing the job of suppressing panic attacks. Clonazepam worked incredibly well for me - for 12 years, 0.5 milligrams is all I need to stop the worst of panic attacks. I've never noticed any side effects, save for some drowsiness at times. The only downside that I've experienced is a mild physical dependence. If I go more than two days without clonazepam, I start to feel kind of jittery, restless, and tense. These periods of physical dependence have been easily remedied, though, by simply easing up on the dose over the course of a couple of weeks."

• Anonymous
• February 6, 2010

Clonazepam 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!"