I take 1 mg Clonazepam, but difficulty of withdrawal is not dose dependent. I think it is, however, time dependent, the longer you take them the more time they have to do damage in the brain/CNS, such as causing gaba receptors to become fewer in number. So while there may be plenty of gaba supplied by the benzo, it has forced the brain to seek homeostasis by becoming far less receptive to it. I've taken it for almost 20 years. By the time a doctor got around to telling me about risks for neurological harm and dependence, tolerance, withdrawal I was several YEARS into being prescribed this "safe and effective" drug (big fat lie), so already physically dependent. I've been told by some it was my responsibility to do my homework and that, even though there was no informed consent and no Dr Google, I should have done the research to make myself aware of the danger. I was under the impression I could trust my doctor when she said this was
the safest and most effective thing to help me sleep after insomnia became chronic pursuant to my father's death. And yes, I've done an extremely slow taper, an agonizing two years that ultimately I had to abandon because I felt I was in danger of losing my will to live, such was the agony of withdrawal. But I'm in tolerance, no amount of the drug gives relief, so it feels like "withdrawal lite" - all the same symptoms, just a little milder. My doctor has said the drug has changed the architecture in my brain to the extent I'll have to take it for life. At first I accepted that, but I am so miserable so many days of the week, I just can't imagine living like this for the remainder of my life. So I'm trying to do everything I can to prepare my nervous system for another taper. Not sure I can survive it, but I feel I have no choice, I am like a trapped animal. I want everyone who takes a benzo or is considering it to read this and be warned. This could be you. It is no way to live. I understand the relief benzos give from anxiety and insomnia, but ultimately the drug makes both of those conditions far worse. It's hard to convince someone experiencing the miracle of relief when they start on benzos that they are headed for trouble. I think it's my mission. Thank you