Clonazepam and Drowsiness: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Bru...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 10, 2018

For Restless Legs Syndrome "When my doctor diagnosed RLS, he put me on clonazepam. It worked 100%. I started at 1/2 mg, then up to 1 mg, then up to 2 mg, and now, after 8 years and still going, sometimes I have to take an extra 1 mg in the middle of the night. I am groggy in the morning, but it could be other drugs doing that. Now I have a new psychiatrist, and he just had an absolute fit because I am on 2 or 3 mg of clonazepam, and he has refused to treat me until I am totally off of the clonazepam. What's with that?! It works. But, as many have noticed, it does tend to require more and more for it to work. I am also on tramadol (for back pain), but it does not seem to help RLS. Genetics, I guess."

• PLM...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 18, 2021

For Periodic Limb Movement Disorder "I have severe PLMD. Clonazepam has been the most effective medication for it. Initially took 0.5 mg 2x/day, then moved all (1 mg) to bedtime. It was initially very effective in reducing symptoms (for 6-12 months). Finally felt rested during the day. But since, I have had to add other agents/medications which had a similar effect - initially very effective, but after a few months back to baseline sleep disturbance and daytime lethargy. When we've tried to reduce the Clonazepam dose, severe symptoms return immediately + withdrawal symptoms. It will make you groggy during the day initially, but it gets better. There is an increased risk of cognitive decline after years of use. So, it is a pretty effective medication but will build tolerance, become less effective, is really hard to decrease, and has significant risks for decline in mental functioning. My advice is to not start Clonazepam or increase the dosage unless absolutely necessary and take the risks very seriously."

• Anonymous
• November 21, 2009

For Anxiety "I have terrible problems with anxiety. Psychiatrists tried me on mood stabilizers, which are terrible and made me sick. My doctor tried Xanax, and it made me drowsy, and it couldn't touch my anxiety. I finally found a doctor who prescribed me clonazepam, and my anxiety completely disappeared. My doctor realized that the chance of getting addicted to this drug was outweighed by what my anxiety was doing to me. I take as little as I can because I don't want to be addicted to anything, but my anxiety would have killed me eventually. I am going to try to quit every so often to see if my condition has changed, I don't plan to stay on this all my life."

• Sug...
• January 3, 2011

For Anxiety "I was prescribed this medicine for panic attacks, anxiety, and difficulty falling asleep. I initially started with Xanax, but Clonazepam was offered as a better, longer-acting, less habit-forming alternative. It has been very helpful to me. I am a big person (250 lbs), and was prescribed 1/2-1 mg as needed. I've taken one almost every night during this rough patch (3 weeks). It takes a good hour or so for it to kick in for me, but when it does, I get drowsy and get a good night's sleep. 1/2 pill didn't do too much for me, though. 1 does well, and 1.5 seems even better."

• Anonymous
• January 8, 2012

For Anxiety "Absolutely wonderful medicine at alleviating anxious states. I take 0.5-1.5 mg occasionally as needed, transforms anxiety and panic into a state of relaxation and tranquility, allowing me to drop off into a deep sleep or have a productive day. I have no side effects whatsoever, such as sedation, dizziness, or amnesia."

• bub...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 31, 2019

For Anxiety "I've been taking 0.5 mg of clonazepam for about a week. It has helped tremendously with panic attacks. I still feel anxiety, but it's less bad than it once was. I take 0.5 mg in the morning when I wake up to prevent a panic attack and 0.5 mg at night to help me sleep. The only thing is it makes me so weak, shaky, I have no appetite, and it makes me way too drowsy to drive. I really need to fix that because I have a road test for my license. I won't be able to take my clonazepam to help my panic attacks because I can't drive. Seeing a psychiatrist soon. I hope everything works out. The drowsiness is killer. My whole body wants to sleep, but my mind is trying to keep pushing forward."

• Bec...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 14, 2022

For Restless Legs Syndrome "Have suffered with restless leg syndrome now for 20 years. Day and night, the attacks became unbearable. Tried all the normal medications for Parkinson's but made me feel so sick and didn't work until the doctor said, 'Try clonazepam.' She said in her opinion it was one of the best treatments. Excited and with the thought of getting a night's sleep, I took 0.25 the first night, and oh man, it made it worse. So, the second night I took 0.5, and again within 20 minutes I was really drowsy, but the intensity of the restless legs was awful. I've read how this is amazing for some, but sadly this drug makes mine worse. I really need help with the RLS because I'm so tired."

• pep...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 31, 2015

For Panic Disorder "I had started taking this medication after I slowly went off lorazepam since it stopped working for my panic attacks. I found that clonazepam took time in the beginning to work since it's a long-lasting one. After a couple of hours to days, it started working for my panic attacks and insomnia issues. It helps my pins and needles issues too, and my blood pressure is normal too. The only problem is it makes my depression sometimes worse. I also get a little bit oversleepy, like in the daytime, I feel a hangover of sleepiness, and sometimes I feel a bit dopey, so I take two 5 mg of it at nighttime, but if I feel it too much, I sometimes take 1.5 to limit too much sleepiness. I also am afraid to lose my brain because I tend to forget where I put things."

• pep...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 31, 2015

For Panic Disorder "I had started taking this medication after I slowly went off lorazepam since it stopped working for my panic attacks. I found that clonazepam took time in the beginning to work since it's a long-lasting one. After a couple of hours to days, it started working for my panic attacks and insomnia issues. It helps my pins and needles issues too, and my blood pressure is normal too. The only problem is it makes my depression sometimes worse. I also get a little bit oversleepy, like in the daytime, I feel a hangover of sleepiness, and sometimes I feel a bit dopey, so I take two 5 mg of it at nighttime, but if I feel it too much, I sometimes take 1.5 to limit too much sleepiness. I also am afraid to lose my brain because I tend to forget where I put things."

• KTO...
• October 21, 2013

For Insomnia "I'm on Klonopin 1 mg 3x a day. Still can't sleep. I was put on Klonopin for anxiety years ago. My doctor added one pill at dinner to help sleep. Thus, 1 mg 3x a day. Still, my mind wanders and cannot sleep. I was put on Seroquel for insomnia. Worked well. Lost my insurance and job. Now back to being up all day and night. Seroquel without insurance is $15.50 a pill. Sleepless in Ohio."

• Ben...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 17, 2022

For Panic Disorder "I've been using benzodiazepines for over a decade now. My doctor has me taking diazepam 10 mg (3 daily) and every several months, per my request, gives me clonazepam 2 mg (3 daily). I find the clonazepam extremely helpful. I use the ODT (orally disintegrating tablets) formulation of the medication. It completely eliminates my anxiety, excessive worrying, and agoraphobia that I suffer from. Side effects are mild to none for me. Maybe a little more drowsy at times, but it doesn't last long. The diazepam helps my painful leg spasms slightly more, but the clonazepam is effective."

• veg...
• January 11, 2011

For Anxiety "My husband of 41 years passed away 5 months ago. I went under care at a mental health clinic for therapy and group therapy. They changed my clonazepam to 1 mg per day. I had two incidents of crying uncontrollably, and they upped the medicine to 1 to 3 per day. This made me sleep a lot during the day. Finally, the psychiatrist did a medical check and has changed my medications to different times of the day and has the clonazepam 1 to 3 times on an as-needed basis. He said I could also cut them in half and take 1/2 the dosage at a time to keep from sleeping all the time. Yesterday, I didn't take the medicine at all, and today I woke shaking and cramping in my legs. Took the medicine and it all stopped. Good for anxiety."

• Ete...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 20, 2021

For Anxiety "Honestly, I’ve never been prone to depression in my life; this med was super potent (far too sedating during the day; not enough at night) and generally was not a great experience daily. I say this as a former clonazepam fan, but I’ve switched from 1 mg of clonazepam daily PO to lorazepam 4 mg PO (≈2 mg clonazepam daily) (personally, lorazepam was by far my best experience, but good luck getting it, lmao! Xanax is too much for me, and Ativan was perfect). Now I’ve moved to 20 mg diazepam PO (2x daily) (≈2 mg clonazepam 2x daily). Hoping the diazepam works out as nothing worked better than the Ativan, but it was the one I stayed on the shortest. Overall, I really started off with a good experience the 1st go-around but got switched shortly to lorazepam; saw way less side effects and way more anxiety relief, and the entire experience with clonazepam overall I’d only recommend to those who respond well to sedation."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 26, 2021

Clonazepam for Panic Disorder "When I developed severe panic disorder, I tried Ativan. However, because my brain could feel when the medication took effect, it made me panic more. Klonopin was a lifesaver! You don't notice it taking effect until it's already working, and it was amazing! I took it daily for several months and then was able to just take it when needed. I wish this medication was not addictive because I could have benefited from it longer on a daily basis. But to be safe, I slowly dropped down frequency over 6 months. I had no issues with drowsiness or impairment. I took it while I was on Lexapro, and I still carry it with me just in case, but my panic disorder has subsided to almost none."

• Mia...
• August 25, 2015

For Anxiety "I've been on Klonopin for over a decade. It helped with the anxiety for a really short time, but I still had to self-manage, which is why I rate it 1 star. The only reason I was on it for so long was that the doctor told me I would be a lifer on it. I'm finally off of this medication, and I am suffering severe withdrawal. I have had insomnia for 8 months off of it. I think it's best to manage sleep or anxiety issues on your own because being on this stuff is not worth it. Klonopin made it difficult to get up in the mornings. I felt irritable and groggy for years. My anxiety on it would skyrocket. I also had a difficult time remembering things, studying, and learning new information. I don't recommend this drug at all."

• Mis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 31, 2017

Clonazepam for Bipolar Disorder "When a person has mental symptoms, they're supposed to have a medical workup always. The reason is that many medical conditions mimic mental illness until treated. Then zero symptoms forever (mentally). If a person has myxedema (severe hypothyroidism), gets misdiagnosed as mentally ill (schizophrenia, bipolar, delusional disorder, depression, anxiety ... all common misdiagnoses in thyroid disease), Klonopin can induce coma. This happened to me, and then they realized I was not mentally ill. Had no symptoms since healing from this dreadfully dangerous drug. Read 'Physical Illness Presenting as Psychiatric Disease' before taking any psych drug. Any sedative, hypnotic, even Advil, can cause myxedema coma 40% chance death. See iatrogenic coma & other articles."

• Anonymous
• April 8, 2009

"When I first started taking them for severe anxiety, I thought they were sugar pills. I then learned to use them before my attack hit, and it prevented the anxiety from coming as strongly, but it makes me drowsy and makes it difficult to go to school. I want the anxiety to stop, but not at the price of my education."

• Sle...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 29, 2022

For Night Terrors "Love only Yellow Teva brand help me sleep and not have sleep paralysis. Also helps with nervousness or anxiety for public talk. Does make me groggy and tired next day, especially 2nd day I’m exhausted. Don’t like the orange or pink brands, which made my sleep paralysis worse and not good feeling. Only yellow “Teva” brand works for me."

• Kit...
• October 15, 2011

For Anxiety "Also taken for occasional general anxiety, but mostly for social anxiety disorder. Taken 'as needed,' which for me is between 0.5 and 1 mg every other day or so. Excellent medicine, puts you in a sort of 'I don't care' state, so not much makes you anxious. Obvious side effect of drowsiness, but it is certainly bearable."

• Ban...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 25, 2021

For Anxiety "I feel like this drug would be great for anxiety if I could actually stay awake on it. Even if I take a quarter of 1 mg, I pass out for several days. It’s uncomfortable and leaves me feeling useless because I have so much to do."

• Kay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 24, 2020

For Insomnia "This drug Klonopin has got to be my least favorite that I have ever tried. I have nocturnal epilepsy, which causes nightmares, daytime sleepiness, and anxiety. This drug was prescribed because it is supposed to help all of those. It made me insanely tired when I would take it. I couldn't function afterward and would fall asleep. The worst part was the dreams. Naturally, if we sleep 8 hours, it doesn't feel like 8 hours. On Klonopin, I felt every single second of the night. It was awful and miserable. In my dream, I would walk around a clothing store for hours and feel each material. If water dropped on me, I would absolutely feel the wetness. Not in a good way. Also, importantly, I am in college and normally drink quite heavily. If I took Klonopin, I would become extremely nauseous and black out after a few sips. If you take this drug, absolutely do not drink while on it."

• 259...
• May 15, 2016

For Anxiety "It is horrible. I am cutting down according to doctors' recommendations! I now take just 0.5 mg at bedtime around 8 pm. I get hit with drowsiness midday, even though I haven't taken any medications or supplements! This horrible medication doesn't even help my anxiety! Xanax is the worst benzodiazepine! It caused terrible rebound anxiety! And if you have depression, or know anyone with this problem, NEVER HAVE MORE THAN 3 YEARS OF ELECTROCONVULSIVE TREATMENT! I HAVE MANY PROBLEMS DUE TO A FALL AND HITTING MY HEAD! MY LIFE HAS BEEN HELL SINCE THEN! TAKE EXTREME CAUTION! CHECK OUT YOUR DOCTOR VERY CAREFULLY! MINE WAS A QUACK!"

• xan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 29, 2014

For Anxiety "I took them for 3 months before I told my doctor to either change me or take me off them. The only thing they really did when I took them (I was on 6 mg daily) was make me a little drowsy and forgetful, something I could do without. Anyway, not to ramble, but the doc put me on Xanax, and I must say they work a lot better."

• Ex-...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 13, 2016

For Panic Disorder "I started this drug at about 12 years old, used it for about 7 years. Very effective for anxiety/panic attacks, but much too powerful. While on it, I was so drowsy I could barely stay awake, my mental performance suffered, I became an emotionless zombie, and suffered severe chronic constipation that made me late everywhere I'd go. Also true hell to get off of, even with a slow taper-worst panic attacks of my life, felt like I couldn't bear it, failed several times. And the worst part? I'm still suffering disabling cognitive impairment and chronic constipation to this day-about 7 years after stopping the drug. For all I know, I'm stuck with these now forever. My advice? Run-like hell-from benzodiazepines. They may just ruin your life."

• Dai...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 9, 2020

Clonazepam for Panic Disorder "I took Klonopin for the first time because I had a panic attack while driving on the highway. My emergency room physician prescribed me 0.5 mg prn as needed. I read some of the reviews before I took the medication. There were more negative comments than positive. So I broke the pill in half and took 0.25 mg because I didn’t know how the medication would make me feel. After I took the medication, 30 minutes later, I began to feel a warm sensation through my body. I started shaking, I was nauseated for 7 hours. Then throughout the day, I felt sedated for 2 days. During this time, I was at work and couldn’t function like I wanted to, so I had to leave my job because I didn’t feel safe at work and I couldn’t stay awake. This medication didn’t work until 8 hours later, I felt normal, back to the old me. After I took that one dose, I started having withdrawal symptoms and anxiety. I felt horrible. Please stay away from this drug."