Clonazepam and Panic Attacks: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Bar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 29, 2019

For Panic Disorder "I had trouble sleeping, resulting in hallucinations. I’m prescribed 1 mg clonazepam 2x a day, 1 mg for sleep and 1 mg in the daytime for panic attacks and bipolar disorder and social anxiety. For the first time, I was able to go with my mom to do grocery shopping, and it was busy. Usually, I would go into a panic attack being near a bunch of people. It does put me to sleep if I’m not moving around. Can’t drive a car on Klonopin, but my mom usually takes me places. I usually take 1 mg at least 8 o’clock because it's long-lasting."

• 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."

• Ell...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 14, 2021

For Panic Disorder "This medication saved my life. After suddenly suffering from extreme out-of-the-blue panic attacks, which led me into a constant state of anxiety-afraid of having another one, afraid I was dying from some terminal illness, afraid to drive, to go shopping, to go to work, to be left alone because I thought I was going to have another attack. My attacks started suddenly while driving one day. I thought I was having a stroke, and the medical workups I had done and the number of trips to the ER I was diagnosed with panic disorder/agoraphobia. I lost 20 lbs in one month. At first, I tried an SSRI, but that made me 1,000 times worse to the point I was manic and couldn’t sleep, felt like I was on speed, and things just got worse. I stopped the SSRI and refused to try another one. My doctor prescribed me 1 mg of clonazepam, which I’ve been taking for 3 years, and I live my life as normally as I did before the panic attacks, and I haven’t had another attack since. My life has been back to normal."

• Iri...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 23, 2017

For Panic Disorder "This medicine saved my life. I lost all my family between 18-21 years old, other than one brother. I'm about to be 34, and needless to say, it has saved me from waking up daily, soaked in sweat, panicking, and depression. Those doctors that won't prescribe it and my opioids to me, and now I am going through cold turkey, right? They don't realize how bad this impacts a person's life. I'm probably gonna lose my job because of opioid withdrawal for two weeks. Ten years use of oxycodone prn 4 a day, ten mg from a drunk driver hitting me. I'm lucky to have my foot. Fifteen pieces of hardware later, I'm still here. Clonazepam and all drugs need to be legalized. These new laws the government makes up. 'We The People' are supposed to be in control, this has really mucked up my life and others' lives."

• alb...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 23, 2025

For Anxiety "Gave been using 2 years now. Tapered off .5 mg in 10 months and experienced extreme anxiety and panic, so reinstated. Had to increase to 1 mg, then 2, and just recently 3.5 once in a while. Tried 5 times to taper off and it is excruciating, so as long as I can still obtain it, I will be using it. Encountered 2 docs who would not prescribe it when my regular doctor had no appointments left. They were jerks. Asked doc what happens when he retires and I can't get it. He said I can always get Valium, but that stuff doesn't work on my issues. I find after 2.5 years it doesn't work as well, but I have to take it or boy do I suffer from withdrawals. I'm 68 and am not looking forward to klon as I age. Hope I can still get it as I age."

• Wor...
• December 9, 2011

Clonazepam for Anxiety "My mom was put on 0.25 mg nightly Klonopin after having likely withdrawal and memory issues from Ambien. She experienced anxiety, panic attacks, and random episodes of fright/panic and memory loss. The doctors, of course, raised the dose to 0.5 mg given the anxiety, and the symptoms got worse - more anxiety, random attacks, and withdrawal symptoms in the morning. So they raised it to 0.75 mg, and she got even worse. I had to take control of the situation and spread the medicine out to 3x 0.25. This helped significantly, but nervousness continued. The doctor, not understanding her sensitivity, decided to reduce the frequency, not the dose, and this resulted in terrible withdrawal symptoms. Now using dissolved 0.125 mg rapid dissolve tablets to titrate off."

• Mic...
• May 26, 2018

For Panic Disorder "I have chronic anxiety and partial seizures, which eventually lead to full-on panic attacks, which happen more than twice a week. At first, I was prescribed SSRIs, which gave me panic attacks instead of stopping my symptoms. Ended up taking alprazolam after 3 years, a nightmare trying to quit. Clonazepam was then tried, and it was perfect. No heavy sedation, lasts longer, stopped the muscle twitches that come with my anxiety. A great overall medicine, better than lorazepam, because it's stronger, lasts longer, and is easy to taper off of if felt like you need to. I take Klonopin 2mg a day with Lexapro, 50mg a day, and Seroquel 200mg once at night. Perfect combination for me. Clonazepam stopped the physical symptoms that come with my panic disorder, which means everything to me. My psych cut me off, though, because I went to jail for 11 months! And it was the hardest 11 months of my life! Nothing can come close to stopping panic disorder and everything that comes with panic attacks."

• Ter...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 18, 2021

Clonazepam for Panic Disorder "I have severe panic/agoraphobia and PTSD. I was taking Xanax, which was great, but short-acting, not for anxiety. My Dr. put me on regular clonazepam, I had horrible panic attacks, but was better than nothing. I got dissolvable clonazepam, and it works way better. I need to invent 1/2 Xanax and 1/2 clonazepam, I'll call it... clonazaxan! Works faster, because panic sneaks up on you!"

• Red...
• May 18, 2021

For Anxiety "My clinical depression came back (3rd time) this past January…home with COVID lockdowns. I don’t know why…so cannot attribute it to fear or negative thoughts. My life halted due to depression and severe anxiety. Presently, I’m on mirtazapine at night for sleep and weight gain. During the day, I suffer from anxiety. My GP has me taking clonazepam. I use .25mg - .50mg/day. This is the first time I’ve had to use it daily. I’m 72 and have accepted that I may have to take this medication indefinitely. Without it, I get panicky. I hope I’ll be able to reduce it but, time will tell."

• Lyn...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 15, 2022

For Panic Disorder "Really helped for my anxiety, which would turn into anger because I was so frustrated of feeling that way. I feel more balanced. Socializing is easier. I don't have panic attacks in public or nightmares anymore. No zombie-like emotionless effect. Still feel like myself. No out-of-control tics and jerky movements like other meds gave me. It's not doing anything for the unrelenting torture called tinnitus, and my doctor refuses to raise my 0.5 dose. I kept hearing from friends and family how it stopped their tinnitus. Very disappointed. This is extremely hard to cope with, even with white noise meditation and therapy. But I think I would crack up completely without being on this. Overall, great drug for chronic anxiety and sleep issues."

• 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."

• Sep...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 30, 2021

For Benzodiazepine Withdrawal "Story time: I’m 25 now, tempering off self-medicated meds. When I was 21, I started to do meth like a total idiot and realized I was gonna ruin my life and quickly stopped to deal with the withdrawal of that disgusting drug. I started to take Xanax. But I quickly noticed that yes, it helped with the withdrawal and my body felt great, but 2 mg of Xanax every day started to change how I was as a person. I went to get help from a psychiatrist, and they gave me over-the-counter medication that causes heart problems with long-term use (did some research). While doing research, I came upon clonazepam. I started off by taking 0.5 mg in the morning and 0.5 mg at night, it worked magic. But sometimes I will still have the strongest panic attacks you could ever imagine. We are talking about full-blown, you think you're having a heart attack. It feels like a heart attack, not fun. Time to stop, I say, going from 1 mg to 0.5 mg, not recommended. So what I did was 0.25 in the morning, 0.5 in the afternoon, slowly stop 0.25 in a month's time and then 0.5."

• Jud...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 31, 2021

Clonazepam for Panic Disorder "I thought I was going to be on this medication for life. For some reason, I went off of it at a rehab clinic. I'm not so lucky since I don't take methadone. What am I supposed to do for the panic attacks? I was told to take a deep breath from my diaphragm. Get off this stuff if you just started it."

• Oli...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 18, 2016

For Panic Disorder "What can I say? Has anyone seen the movie 'Shutter Island'? Imagine a veteran instead of a U.S. Marshal (in this case me), diagnosed with PTSD and related 'panic attacks' along with epilepsy. The VA has yet another lab rat for pharmaceutical testing. And just like poor Leo's character, who is going to believe me when I say that the VA wants to see how much clonazepam it will take for me to kill myself (one way to shut me up about stuff that happened in my unit during the Cold War, huh?). To be honest, I refused to take even one dose because I value my life a lot more than the VA does."

• Anonymous
• December 31, 2019

For Anxiety "Wish there were negative numbers to rate clonazepam. HORRIBLE stuff. Have been having anxiety and panic attacks over real situations (not just imagined). Took it once and felt like all the life had drained out of the world, not to mention staggering across the room. Cut dosage for second pill in half and felt nothing. Next morning, I woke up and felt the worst depression and brain fog I have experienced in my whole life. PLUS extreme anxiety over feeling this way! It CREATES anxiety, plus depression, brain fog, and lack of coordination. I'd rather have a 'normal' panic attack and anxiety. This stuff is HORRIFIC. AVOID AT ALL COSTS. (To top it all off, people get addicted to it and can't come off it? What kind of bad joke is this stuff? Who paid off the FDA to approve it?!!)"

• Tir...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 16, 2019

Clonazepam for Panic Disorder "I've been on this for four years, and when I try to come off it, the panic attacks are absolutely insane. I'll probably never be able to go without it, but I'm okay with that since it helps."

• Tif...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 19, 2021

For Anxiety "10/10. This medication saves me from panic, tremors, and increases my mood. Major benefit for me."

• Anonymous
• April 18, 2012

Clonazepam for Anxiety "I took Klonopin for ten years. Worked great for a few years, but I developed a tolerance, and over time, I developed worse anxiety and panic while on a steady dose."

• Kel...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 24, 2021

For Anxiety "Clonazepam has been the only thing that works on my anxiety. I have tried everything over 20+ years. I feel normal with Clonazepam, no panic, no sweating, and just normal stress now."