Clonazepam and Insomnia: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Agi...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 15, 2019

For Anxiety "Was on Klonopin (anxiety) for 3 years till I started needing to increase the amount or I would have panic attacks, I couldn't sleep, couldn't drive, felt like my bones were going to pop, and had 3 seizures. Later, I had to quit my job. I hate this medicine with a passion and do not recommend it. It had me having horrible thoughts. I went to see another doctor, and he prescribed me Lexapro. With that medicine, I'm back feeling happy, no anxiety or panic attacks. I can drive like I used to and talk to everyone with no anxiety. I hope this helps anyone who is going through what I went through."

• K64...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 18, 2014

For Restless Legs Syndrome "I was prescribed this for anxiety and to help me sleep at night. Within an hour of taking the medicine, I had horrible restless legs syndrome and after the first few days, bad insomnia too, in addition to upper respiratory congestion. I am seeing my doctor later this week to see about changing medication."

• zio...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 16, 2015

For Anxiety "This is a wonderful drug for anxiety. I received immediate help...20 years ago! Since my initial dosage of 0.5 mg/day increased to 4 mg/day. This drug almost ruined my life and marriage. I became completely oblivious to my surroundings and to the people close to me. I did not know what was happening. Fortunately, my wife pointed out to me how damaging clonazepam had become. Beware: the withdrawal side effects are far worse than the original problems I started taking the drug for. It's ironic that the withdrawal side effects mimic what I was being treated for: anxiety, head/neck brain 'zaps,' inability to sleep, inability to care, complete detachment from my surroundings, etc. This drug should not be used long term. Withdrawal: very slow."

• Bri...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 19, 2019

For Night Terrors "I'm on clonazepam for somnambulism (sleepwalking). I started on a 0.5 mg tab, and 12 months later, I'm now on 2 mg (4 tabs). The problem is, one gets tolerance to them very quickly, and although I can fall asleep within minutes, after around 4-5 hours, I can be diving out of bed head first, kicking or thumping my ever-so-understanding girlfriend, or crawling/walking around the bedroom until my girlfriend wakes me up, etc. They're okay for an initial sleep, but unfortunately, with me, they wear off too quickly."

• Urb...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 18, 2017

For Insomnia "My story is I have 'parasomnia' (a catch-all for sleepwalking/sleep issues they [doctors] 'don't understand'). Clonazepam has been great (not perfect). I sleepwalk. Leaving the house...12-22 years old. Completely disrupted my circadian rhythm (if you're not familiar with circadian rhythm, I recommend you look it up). Basically never had a good night's sleep/chronically sleep deprived. 23 = 0.25 mg, then over 2 (?) years upped to 1.0 mg because of tolerance. 1 Dr. said 2.0 was max dosage vs. next per case... I held at 1.0 because I expected needing to increase dose over my life. First night was literally the best sleep of my life. Woke up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed! (gradually declined from there). Mitigated well, though not eliminated symptoms. Burying the lead - 2 side effects: - not taking it = not sleeping. - drinking i.e., 5+ drinks = wetting the bed. Living with it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 28, 2022

For Bipolar Disorder "I live with seasonal bipolar 2, and my manic phases have been getting progressively worse; when they start in the spring, it's like I'm going 800 miles an hour, and my movements and gait are all off. I go from being a rather well-coordinated person to crashing into things and practically ripping doors off because I can no longer calibrate my movements. I can no longer figure out how to make coffee or use the TV remote. It's beyond awful, and I become completely dysfunctional and have to take 2 weeks off work. Then it starts to slow down, and I gradually get to 'normal manic', where I function better but am still a little speedy and overreact to things and can't sleep more than a couple of hours, which makes me exhausted. It was at this point that a psychiatrist suggested 0.025 mg clonazepam, and it was like a miracle -- I could fall asleep, woke up happy and almost calm, and it has stayed that way. I can work normally. I feel the mania is still there, but under far better control. Life-saver."

• Nat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 8, 2021

For Anxiety "Taking Rivotril 0.5 mg daily for the past 1.5 months for insomnia, and I suddenly decided to stop cold turkey. I don't have any withdrawal symptoms, sometimes sleeping problems. Not sleeping for a few days does harm you, and the body will get used to it and go back to a normal routine. The main subject is you must not be afraid of the medicine, and you should control the medicine rather than the medicine controls you. Have a well-balanced diet, a lot of exercise, vitamins and supplements, meet people, move around, remove negative thoughts, you may safely come out from clonazepam withdrawal and lead a normal life. Put faith in your body as the body was created by God to protect and not to destroy you. Good luck."

• Sea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 7, 2019

For Panic Disorder "I've been taking clonazepam .25 mg with an SSRI more meant for depression. I have been diagnosed with panic disorder, depression, and social anxiety disorder. I have been on the clonazepam with citalopram (20 mg), and that was great for the anxiety, but awful for depression. I switched to Wellbutrin due to the side effect of lowered libido, suicidal thoughts, and self-harm. I've been on the clonazepam for almost 4 months, and I've noticed with the Wellbutrin it has caused insomnia, irritability, lowered libido, increased derealization/depersonalization, lack of motivation, and also I have started to build a tolerance to it, so the anxiety is starting to become a menace once again. Clonazepam is great for the short term, especially if you're trying to get off Xanax or Ativan, but in the long term, I would not suggest it."

• Yed...
• March 30, 2015

For Anxiety "I was on clonazepam about 3 to 4 years ago for about 6 to 12 months. Best moments in my life. I was very socially active, had many friends, went to school, graduated from school. I was able to sleep very well. The reason I had to get on the medications in the first place is because my anxiety was acting up. I couldn't sleep, I would behave very wildly at times. I took 3 mg a day: 1 mg in the morning and 2 mg at night. I became a Christian and I tapered off the meds. I believe meds should be taken short term, less than 6 months. I want to get back on klonopin, 2 mg at night, 3 if they say so, but just 2 is fine with me. I've been through much trauma. I'm currently on gabapentin and it's not helping as much as klonopin, gabapentin is similar to klonopin."

• Ony...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 13, 2022

For Insomnia "Was on Rivotril (so far as I can tell clonazepam) 2 mg daily for 3 years. At first, it was a godsend. I slept wonderfully every night. That is until the end of last year (2021). At about this time, my family and I started to notice I was struggling to recall words and form logical connections. I looked up the side effects, and mental lethargy was there. After my doctor told me to continue the drug, regardless of the side effect, I stopped taking it cold turkey (I wasn't warned. DO NOT DO THIS). After getting through the withdrawal, I had my brain back but also my insomnia. The worst is after all that I'm back on 1 mg daily (for a month) of the stuff for insomnia as my doctor won't prescribe me anything else, and I write this at 1 in the morning, unable to sleep and found this website. Honestly, the side effects of this drug are nightmare fuel aplenty, and while I wish none of them on anyone else, I'm done with it."

• Ren...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 4, 2020

For Anxiety "Have been on .5, .25, and now .17 once daily. Began med 20 months ago. Had almost tapered off after one year, all the way down to .125, had a traumatic accident, and panic attacks began. Back up to .5 for 4 months. This is the third time on this med. First was 9 years! Taper took 3 months the first time, no withdrawal. Second time was 6 years later for only 1 month, no problem getting off. This time has been harder. But going slow and taking control of my taper is doable. I’m down to .17 for 5 days now. Had one poor sleep on the 4th night, 5th night was better, and the days are okay. I take gabapentin 600 mg daily (two doses at 300 mg each, one in the am and one in the pm). It calms me and has made this much easier. The reason I started tapering with gabapentin is I was having breakthrough panic attacks, did not want to increase the dose. Instead of going up, I went down. Go slow!!!!! Stick with it. Ask about gabapentin to help. This med stopped panic, but I will never choose it again."

• Riv...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 24, 2021

For Anxiety "I used to sleep like a baby, after a week of light prescribed use (.5 and later .25 at night), I’ve slept terribly now that I stopped taking it. Waking up throughout the night repeatedly and waking up really early threw my sleep schedule off balance for no reason. I was prescribed because I was thrown in a psychiatric clinic, and it helped in there, but now I can’t sleep well at home. Doctors never told me about side effects or the potential for abuse, so I flushed it after the second day of taking .25 to “ween off.”"

• Tha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 21, 2021

For Panic Disorder "So I tried 7 different meds, my life was going in a downward spiral. Tried SSRIs, even an antipsychotic. It was the worst experience of my life. I couldn’t work, drive, play sports, or play with my kids. I couldn’t even go outside without feeling sick from the medications. Clonazepam literally saved my life. No side effects, it’s a miracle. I went from my head being in a fog, nauseous, severe anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, seizures, and tinnitus, from other SSRIs to somehow feeling normal and myself again. Thank you to whoever made this medication, I and my family owe you for the life you have given me back."

• Ski...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 2, 2021

For Benzodiazepine Withdrawal "I have been on clonazepam (started at 1 mg and went up to 1.5 mg) and started in November of 2019 after the passing of my grandmother, and things just got hectic. I had already been clean from opiates for 3 years, and dabbled in benzos when I used heroin. I started having panic attacks and eventually went to the E.R. because of them, and that's where it started. The Klonopin worked, I no longer have panic attacks, but I also don't feel 100% myself, and I still do sometimes abuse my medication - but I still try to take it the right way. Maybe I am torturing myself, but I don't know, I don't really see myself coming off them, and I wouldn't shame anyone for not. Just like I don't shame anyone for drug use. I abused my meds this month, only .125 till refill day. Feeling tired, anxious, numb on skin, and not sleeping well, cold sweats, that's 3-4 mg for 2 weeks to .125 for a week. 2 more to go till refill. Don't be dumb like me."

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

Clonazepam "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."

• Lac...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 20, 2021

For Panic Disorder "I began having debilitating panic attacks when I was 28. Doc tried everything. Then, clonazepam. It was the only thing to work. I am now 62! Just got weaned off of it. I cannot sleep at all! Maybe an hour here or there. I say you shouldn't be on it more than 2 weeks... it's been 34 years! YEARS! Doc told me it shuts down parts of the brain. I've been sleeping for 34 years. 12 hours a day! Seriously, all the docs I've had through the years and nothing was done about this? It's a very dangerous medication. Do NOT just stop taking. You must wean yourself off of it. Now, how am I supposed to sleep?"

• 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."

• sli...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 22, 2016

For Insomnia "I have bad insomnia and ADHD. My first time taking it was tonight, and I was hoping to fall asleep early (I was already very exhausted) to wake up for my 6 am shift in a few hours, however, I was filled with energy within an hour after taking it and have been up since. I'm very upset! Work today will be horrible, and I'm not looking forward to it at all!"

• Nan...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 7, 2024

"I was put on Clonazepam for Burning Mouth Syndrome and had the added bonus of getting a good night's sleep! I was told after that it's addictive, could cause dementia, and is harder to withdraw from than cocaine! I came off it slowly, only to get rampant insomnia back and the peripheral neuropathy in my feet and the tinnitus in my ears came back with a vengeance. I'm staying on it, and I don't abuse it, so it's the best thing for me."

• psy...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 19, 2021

For Anxiety "In response to some of the experiences below where people have hailed clonazepam as a miracle drug, then have been taken off the medication only to find they are unable to sleep and/or control anxiety without the medication. Significant changes to GABA neurotransmission can occur with prolonged use of benzodiazepines like clonazepam. The medical concerns with prolonged use are dependence, cognitive problems, and sleep problems. When under the influence of benzodiazepines, patients perceive that they sleep better, but the reality is that they do not get into deep, restorative stages of sleep (stages 3 and 4). Benzodiazepines have amnestic properties as well as anxiolytic properties, meaning patients often forget that their sleep was disturbed or restless when in reality their sleep was restless and disturbed. From a psychiatric standpoint, using benzodiazepines as a coping mechanism for anxiety can reinforce incorrect beliefs and feelings that lead to inordinate amounts of anxiety."

• psy...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 19, 2021

For Anxiety "In response to some of the experiences below where people have hailed clonazepam as a miracle drug, then have been taken off the medication only to find they are unable to sleep and/or control anxiety without the medication. Significant changes to GABA neurotransmission can occur with prolonged use of benzodiazepines like clonazepam. The medical concerns with prolonged use are dependence, cognitive problems, and sleep problems. When under the influence of benzodiazepines, patients perceive that they sleep better, but the reality is that they do not get into deep, restorative stages of sleep (stages 3 and 4). Benzodiazepines have amnestic properties as well as anxiolytic properties, meaning patients often forget that their sleep was disturbed or restless when in reality their sleep was restless and disturbed. From a psychiatric standpoint, using benzodiazepines as a coping mechanism for anxiety can reinforce incorrect beliefs and feelings that lead to inordinate amounts of anxiety."

• Joe...
• August 19, 2019

For Insomnia "This medication, clonazepam, has stopped me from drinking. I don't even crave alcohol any longer. I have also been getting lots and lots of sleep."

• Che...
• August 31, 2015

Clonazepam 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

Clonazepam 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."

• Mor...
• September 7, 2016

For Insomnia "Not working for me so far. Taking .5 as per doc & still can't sleep."