Klonopin Use

One last thought. I’m the original poster. Currently, I’m in a bad place. Nothing is working for the anxiety; except klonopin. It’s unbearable right now. . Seems I’ll have to continue to take klonopin, and probably more for awhile?? Makes me nervous.

@rclouv I believe I can become dependent even taking 0.125 a couple of nights a week.

My family has used tapers very very slowly over months to reduce a dose. I also would consult with a psychiatrist or rehab specialist on whether some other medication can be substitute as you go down.

We use time to taper as well as dose, meaning separating the doses with more time. But it really requires expert help from a professional who deals with withdrawal.

If you don't find you have to increase the dose, perhaps you can continue as you are or make a slight reduction over a period of time.

I tapered Xanax after using daily for 25 years. 3 mgs. per day. I was 67 when I started tapering. I HAD to taper because the Xanax stopped working (tolerance) and threw me into withdrawal. I had no choice. The key to my success was a very, very long taper. Tapering was not fun but nothing I could not handle. Thankfully I had a very patient doctor and family. I did have my days let me tell you! When I finally took my last dose and decided this is it, I had zero symptoms. Sleep has always been off but I use melatonin for that. I’m making a long story short but this was my journey. Do I embrace my journey? No I do not. I wish I had never ever put a benzo in my mouth. Anxiety or no anxiety, I would have figured it out without this addictive medication. And yes I was addicted and you’re addicted. No one takes a mind altering substance for years and years without being addicted. Good luck and God bless.

Tolerance is very real, it happened to me. No one in this day and age is going to find a doctor that will continue to up their dose. It’s not going to happen.

Good advice.

It took 27 years to become dependent?

Klonopin is different than most Benzos. It has to build up in your system before it even works. It's not like Valium or Xanax. It's won't help a bad attack immediately at all. That's why it is not abused like Xanax or Valium. It is not a drug you can take to get high or whatever. But not taking it every day will disrupt it's ability to work correctly. I always take mine on schedule. Good luck to you.

Thanks for the input. Makes Sense. when i take it sporadically, it doesn’t seem to do a lot for the anxiety, but does make me sleepy.

What’s your schedule? And how long have you been taking it?

Thanks.

Hi! I have been taking it for over 25 years. I first got put on it at Mayo in Arizona. Then I took 1mg 3xday. Now I take. 5mg 2xaday. I felt alot better on the 1mg 3xday. But since my doctor retired all the new ones want to lower it. When the 1st doctor took me off of it I was at my granddaughters house in Kansas. Somehow I managed to unhook my feeding tube and I went downstairs to take my medication. I left it in my bathroom because I didn't want my great grandson to be able to get into it. But I have no memory of what happened after I took my medication. I woke up and I was hooked back up to my feeding tube and pump. So I thought maybe I had a bad dream. My granddaughter came in my room to wake me up since we were going to a festival. She says grandma what did you do. I'm like what?? She said you have a black eye. I thought she was teasing me! Until my great grandson started crying saying grandma hurt. So I tried to sit up and had a horrible pain in my arm. Something happened to me and I got back to bed and hooked my feeding tube to my pump. I ended up with bruises around my neck, a black eye, a big knot on my head and I crushed my elbow and broke 2 bones in my arm. So that's why I say to never stop it suddenly. I still have no idea what happened. I guess since klonopin has to build up into your system to work that when he took me off a week later I had the accident. But I always take mine when I first wake up and then one midday. Some people get sleepy so they take 1 when they get up and 1 at bedtime. I never get sleepy on it so I don't have to worry about that. But I felt so much better on 1mg 3xday. This dose is not helping me like my original dose was. But doctors here in Florida don't like benzos. It's really sad that they don't care about my quality of life. I'm glad you aren't forced to go lower and put through hell. I hope this helps. I don't understand why if it's working well that they change it 😕

My experience is that Klonopin certainly works if taken episodically or even for one night a month. It has a long half life and hangs around so levels would go up if taken sequentially. Presumably levels would go up and stabilize ("steady state").

But a single dose of 0.125 helps me sleep and also helps with muscle relaxation, sensitivity reactions involving cortisol (feels like anxiety) and some neuro issues (spinal, and facial neuralgias).

I do not think anyone should feel they need to have it consistently in their system, in order to work. That is how dependency happens. No doctor has told me to use it that way. However, I do not have an anxiety disorder per se. There may be some rebound if it is taken a few times and the stopped, if anxiety is ongoing. A pharmacist would know.

@bonez3861 I am so sorry this happened to you. There ought to be lawsuits against "doctors" who do this sort of thing. It is outrageous.