Clonazepam and Dizziness: What Users Say

• tab...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 2, 2020

For Benzodiazepine Withdrawal "Withdrawing from this drug has been the worst experience of my life. On 0.5mg twice a day for five years, I wasn't told by my doctor that it is addictive and not for long-term use. I told the doctor I wanted to stop taking it, and he advised me to wean myself off it. After 3 months of reducing it, I stopped completely, and during the weaning process, I never experienced any withdrawal symptoms. Within a week they started: dizzy, ringing in my ears, tremors, terrible headaches, nausea, lack of appetite, and weight loss. Every time I feel a little better, all of the symptoms come back. I am told that this can go on for months. My advice, don't start on this drug."

• Dan...
• October 13, 2019

For Benzodiazepine Withdrawal "I've been on clonazepam 0.5mg for three years now. Six months ago, I started having really bad vertigo. My PCP said I can just stop it completely without fear of seizures because I'm at such a low dose and I wasn't abusing it. I have been weaning myself off week by week. I'm down to 1/4 of 0.5mg, taking it two days, then nothing for one day, and then again for two days. I'm hoping to be done by November or by the end of November at the latest. I will post again once I'm off and recovered to share any symptoms. Best of luck to all trying to get off the medication."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 31, 2023

Clonazepam for Panic Disorder "I have been on Klonopin for around 4 years now. I had panic attacks so debilitating I couldn't go out of my house. I didn't eat. I couldn't sleep. I would finally fall asleep and wake up 2 to 3 times a night with terrible panic attacks. Sweating, heart racing, dizzy. I swore I was losing my mind. I didn't drive for a better part of a year. I couldn't work. I was a mess, and the hardest part was feeling very distant from my children. I give Klonopin 10 ⭐ s as it gave me my life. It helped me to breathe again. I don't care what anyone says, I will take them for life if I have to, to help me not feel that way ever again. I never want to endure such a breakdown."

• low...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 17, 2025

For Anxiety "I am someone with severe anxiety as well as panic attacks. Even on this medication I have so many restrictions in life, like sometimes I can drive small distances and sometimes not at all. When I am feeling anxious, I sometimes will freeze, even if I am walking. When I am standing in a line at a store I feel like my legs are sinking into the ground and they feel like jelly. I also get the choking feeling, dissociation, and everything else. I am currently on daily 1 mg in the AM and 1 mg PM. I do feel dizzy and lightheaded. It helps, but I still feel symptoms. I am never free of it. I just increased from 0.75 mg to 1 mg twice a day, and I am hoping that it will be the correct dose for me. I have been on benzos for ten years. I have been on this for 18 months, prior, I was on Ativan but did the GeneSight testing, and of course, it was toxic to me. Anyway, this helps, it hasn't been a miracle for me yet, though."

• Iam...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 4, 2014

Clonazepam for Panic Disorder "I suffer from Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia and Generalized Anxiety Disorder and some Social Anxiety. I have severe panic attacks, and they come on out of nowhere with no warning. I'll get the derealization in my head and won't know what's going on or feel out of body, dizzy, heart will race, extreme feeling of dying. It will actually physically make me sick. My doctor put me on Klonopin 2mg, 1 tablet 5 times daily when I was 19, and it's a wonder drug. I'm 23 now, and I'm not panic-free completely, but when I feel it coming, I take a tablet, and the fear is all gone in 20 minutes. I'm 23 now, and if you take it properly, it will help you greatly. Anxiety runs in my family, and it's a terrible thing. My life is normal thanks to Klonopin."

• Mar...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 24, 2021

For Insomnia "After trying pretty much everything at different times - melatonin, meditation, hypnotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, CBD, 5-HTP, Seriphos, Ambien, Alpha Stim, and a combination of apigen, magnesium, and L-theanine, I discovered clonazepam. I found that CBD, which if taken in high doses will send me to sleep (although with short-term memory loss and next day ‘hangover’). Ambien just made me feel really weird, dizzy, and hallucinating, whilst not really improving my sleep. Apigen, magnesium, and L-theanine occasionally work but it’s a bit hit or miss, and the other therapies make no real difference. I find that 0.5 mg-1 mg clonazepam, if taken an hour or so before bed, usually relaxes me and takes away my anxiety, ensuring a restful sleep. For me, the biggest concern is physical dependence, and so I’m careful not to take clonazepam more than 2-3 times per week unless I’m going through a particularly intense period of insomnia."

• Mo ...
• April 2, 2013

Clonazepam for Panic Disorder "In my opinion, this medicine is great. It feels good to be able to go outdoors with confidence. No more anxiety or dizziness. I can say hello to a nice girl at a coffee shop or even read a book without thinking everyone is looking and laughing at me. This medicine worked for me. I now go to the gym, have friends, and a lively weekly routine. I slowly want to see if I can handle life without them, but I always keep them around just in case I have an attack. Good luck, guys."

• Dan...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 25, 2019

For Benzodiazepine Withdrawal "So I have made two previous posts about reducing my dose of clonazepam and wanted to keep you updated. I've been down to 1/4 of .5 mg, which is .125, for about 2 months now. I'm at 7 days in a row without taking any. My PCP prescribed a patch of clonidine .1 mg to help with withdrawal symptoms. I haven't felt like I needed it yet, but it's good to know there is something to help if I need it. I still get anxiety, muscle cramps, dizziness. Exercise, hydration, and meditation have been helping me. I will push myself to be off of meds for a longer period of time, hoping to be off completely by the end of January. Will update again when I'm free of it. Good luck, everyone. Perhaps a detox facility will work for some who want off ASAP but need to be safe from seizures."

• lxm...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 16, 2014

For Anxiety "Clonazepam is the best medicine I've ever taken. I've been dealing with anxiety most of my life. Clonazepam makes me more relaxed, eliminates my racing, worrying thoughts, and lets me get back to enjoying life again. It even gets rid of my dizziness brought on by stress."

• JBB...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 2, 2016

For Burning Mouth Syndrome "After suffering with burning mouth syndrome for over a year, my doctor said that he had had good luck with one other patient using orally disintegrating clonazepam. I quickly got his Rx for it. It dissolves easily on my tongue (no bad taste), and I take it twice a day, 12 hours apart. After about 10 days, I can say that I am ecstatic that my burning mouth syndrome seems to have disappeared. I have a little leftover mouth pain, but that I can attribute to my upper denture. I don't know if this will work for everyone, but I certainly think it's worth a try if you can tolerate it. My only side effects were a little dizziness for a couple of days (didn't drive), then daytime drowsiness. I don't work, so this posed no problem for me. Hurray!"

• Dan...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 1, 2019

For Benzodiazepine Withdrawal "So my withdrawal symptoms are horrible. I know everyone is different, as I am very sensitive to everything. I have blurred vision, vertigo, confusion, anxiety, labored breathing, and my temples feel like they are bulging out. I'm weaning myself off, and I've been fine up to this point. I think I'm going too fast. Weaning slowly is the way to go to lessen the symptoms. I've also noticed it triggering my bipolar, so be sure to talk to your doctor before weaning off or as you wean off. Good luck, everyone."

• Dee...
• September 12, 2015

Clonazepam for Panic Disorder "I started having panic attacks that rendered me unable to even get up. My first one landed me in the hospital. I was disoriented, rooms looked like they were sideways, objects that were not moving looked like they were. I couldn't get enough air in, I needed to close my eyes, driving was out of the question, and I was nauseated and terrified. After two weeks of being out of work, I was put on Klonopin along with antidepressants. It is the only thing that has allowed me to function like I could before the panic/anxiety attacks started. The only drawback is that I have to take it at the same time each day and cannot miss a dosage or the dizziness, panic, and feeling like I am going to pass out comes back. It has been a lifesaver."

• Nic...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 20, 2019

For Benzodiazepine Withdrawal "I started taking this medication four years ago. I was taking 0.5 mg twice a day, and then all of a sudden, on March 25th, my doctor took me off these and put me on Valium, and I've been withdrawing since March 28th. I've experienced anxiety, headaches, dizziness, nausea, tremors, and gastric disturbances. I went back to my doctor, and he took me off Valium and put me back on my Klonopin. Today is the first day I've taken Klonopin. They work great for anxiety, but stopping them cold turkey to be put on something else will put you through major withdrawals between the side effects from the Valium and their withdrawal symptoms from the Klonopin. For three weeks, I was beside myself and didn't know what else to do. So I'm going to start today back on my Klonopin, and after I get back on and I become myself again, I will start to go off them slowly so that my withdrawal symptoms are not too severe."

• ast...
• April 4, 2012

Clonazepam for Bipolar Disorder "I've been taking clonazepam off and on for 20 years at the lowest dose: 0.5 mg. The script is to take 1 up to 3 times a day, as needed. I take lamotrigine, 100 mg twice a day as my primary mood stabilizer. But there are times when stress starts to overload my already noisy brain, and that's when I take the clonazepam. There are side effects. If I've been taking it on a more or less daily basis for a while, I get constipation, dry mouth, and lack of coordination (I get wobbly and bump into things or list to one side like a boat in a swell). It's momentary, though! Despite these side effects, I continue to take it because it really helps me. Bipolar disorder is bad, and this helps me function 'normally'."

• 2M_...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 15, 2022

For Epilepsy "I have multiple reasons for my lifelong prescription for Klonopin™ (1981-1996) Clonazepam (1996-Present - July 14, 2022, my 61st birthday). #1 Epilepsy (seizure prophylaxis) #2 Agoraphobia with panic disorder #3 GAD/Social Anxiety #4 Nerve pain. #5 Migraine #6 Insomnia #7 Because I don't have ANY interest in discontinuing the one and ONLY medication that's helped me live my life! I've been on various doses since 1981, but the best, lowest effective dose has been 2 mg × 8 daily. 10x/day - 20 mg - was just enough more to make me have dizzy spells. 16 mg is what keeps me at an even keel. I take 2, 2 mg tabs 4x per day. I know ALL the details - FDA BOXED WARNING ⚠️"

• Anonymous
• December 9, 2011

Clonazepam for Panic Disorder "I've been diagnosed with panic disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Two years ago, my panic attacks got so bad that I'd wake up feeling like I was suffocating, dizzy, nauseated, with heart palpitations, numbness, and a sense of doom. I finally went to see a psychiatrist who, unlike my regular doctor, gave me a proper diagnosis and put me on Zoloft and Klonopin. I have gone from several attacks a day to none. It's a great medication."

• 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."

• Pur...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 9, 2016

Clonazepam for Anxiety "The doctor prescribed this for my anxiety, not realizing what I was taking. After taking it for a year, I decided to look up clonazepam and found out what I was really taking and how hard it is to get off of it. It has been pure hell. How can something be so good but so bad? I tell everyone to stay clear of this medication and go alternative because the withdrawals are evil. It has been a total nightmare trying to get off of this pill, and I am on a low dose of 0.05. This pill was supposed to help my life, not ruin it. The headaches are unbearable, the nausea is miserable, and the dizziness is insane. Everyone, please stay clear of this medicine because when you try to get off of it, it is pure hell."

• Anonymous
• December 8, 2011

For Insomnia "My doctor prescribed clonazepam (0.5 mg) for sleep a few years ago when I was sleeping only an hour or two because I couldn't 'turn off' work at the end of the day. It's worked very well for me; I generally take 0.25 mg daily at bedtime. If work gets too nuts, I may take another 0.25 mg during the day -- it 'takes the edge off' and makes sleeping even better. When things are calmer at work, I can generally go down to 0.125 mg at night and still get decent sleep. I recently read that clonazepam can cause coordination problems and confused thinking -- both of which I sometimes notice, so I'm considering other options."

• Coc...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 14, 2022

For Anxiety "I have typical high anxiety, which results in a spastic colon. Over the years, the only, only effective medication for my spastic colon (doctors had made me try many other meds), Clonazepam is the ONLY medication that helps with my spastic colon! And I do not have any bad side effects, like sleepiness, dizziness, etc. Typically, Clonazepam isn't prescribed for spastic colon. But I am relieved of so much extreme pain, discomfort, bloating, etc., with just two Clonazepam per day!"

• JLS...
• July 17, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "Clonazepam is one of the very few treatments that help my migraine without making me fall asleep. I found it when I participated in a migraine study in 2008 and have been using it since. I usually take 0.5 mg to relieve the sharp pains, dizziness, and extreme light sensitivity associated with the migraines."

• Toz...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 24, 2019

For Anxiety "I had severe attacks of anxiety followed by vertigo for over a year that were not treated in time due to the wrong diagnosis of doctors. To shorten the story, after a while, I go to a doctor who recognizes the problem and gives me clonazepam, for which I have been around for almost a year. I am 90 percent better after ten months of therapy and even forget about a couple of days to take the drug. My anxiety caused dizziness, and I get this unpleasant feeling and I get a little scared, but after taking the medicine, it quickly passes."

• 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."

• Liz...
• October 10, 2018

Clonazepam "On Klonopin for the past 15 years. Zoloft made my anxiety and fear worse, and it was very hard to taper off it. I experienced brain zaps, extreme dizziness, and feeling like I may throw up at any second. Did not have these problems with Klonopin. There was a time when I needed 2 to 3 mg every day for several months, and when I decided I don't need that much anymore, I slowly tapered off. Today I still need to take it, but only 0.5 once in a while. So far, I didn't notice any side effects."

• pro...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 24, 2014

For Anxiety "I use it for social anxiety and continuous thoughts, it works well, and now I am far away from continuously thinking about things that are of no importance. But it makes me dizzy too, taking it for months: 0.5 mg at night, with 0.5 mg alprazolam during the daytime and 20 mg escitalopram."