I have been in Clonazepam 0.5mg TID for 18 years

There is no doubt that for many benzos do cause balance issues. I had none before the quick stoppage of klonopin. Now I have it now and it's still an issue 10 years later. Coincidence? Dr's. Can't say. I am taking it because I need it. So it may never be better. Won't know because I have no intentions of stopping it. Point is taper slowly if you stop for many reasons.

I have a visit with a provider this coming Tuesday. I came out and asked straight out if Clonazepam was on her prescribed medication list. It is, but they don’t like prescribing it. I have hope she will listen to the trouble I’m having tapering and will put me back on what I was on for 14 years.

I do feel your pain! I was only on this benzo for 7 months and quit cold turkey. But after only being on it for 6 or so weeks I noticed subtle changes to my central nervous system, including tremors. Idiot sleep doc who gave it to me refused to believe it could be the klonopin. After another month or so I felt like I was literally sitting on a running outdoor air conditioning unit for good parts of the day. I didn't see where a taper even made sense for me even though thats the advised method. I couldn't see being on this stuff for many months of taper and just watching the tremors get worse. After stopping cold turkey it sucked in many ways, tremors continued for quite some time, but happy to say hardly noticeable at all at this point. Never had balance issues and I feel bad for those who do, as you say it affects everyone differently. Best to all here.

@arthur57,thank you for sharing your experience with this medication, you are fortunate that it was only seven months that you took it. Unfortunately I’ve been taking it for many years and it’s like a way of life for me at this point in time, it’s about the only drug that works for me and believe me I tried so many so called better drugs. I’m still convinced that they went after the benzodiazepines due to the opiate crisis, these poor souls are addicted to a very powerful medication and then they were forced into withdrawal because the government stepped in to take control, the doctors had to help them somehow and benzos helped to calm their anxiety, of course they became a problem too due to their addictive side. Nothing is individualized, they painted everyone with the same brush so everyone is forced to get off them, this will and has caused another crisis and it’s shameful what is happening to people who take it responsibly. As for the dark side of this drug I would have to say that most of the medication people are taking all carry a down side with side effects, we continue to use medication because they haven’t invented drugs that are totally risk free. Basically we’re all at risk one way or another and God help us that the government doesn’t decide to step in and make life so much worse for everyone who doesn’t deserve it.

Very well said! I understand totally.

I could not sleep until 3:30 am last night. Wish I could take it whenever I need to! I limit use to medical uses for the most part. Ugh.

I know how difficult it is to do that, I have and still do the same thing, it’s like you’re on a rollercoaster. I really don’t think it’s a drug you can take on and off but I’m sure that there are people who can, when I try to use it on and off I suffer on the off day…basically you’re going through withdrawal every time you do. I believe they’re an all or nothing drug, I started taking them this way in the beginning before the dependency really kicked in but sadly it didn’t last and eventually you need them more and more, in some cases people increase their dose and it takes more to feel relief. I compare this to alcohol usage, it starts out small but as your body becomes used to it, the need begins to increase, there are people who don’t have any problem with addiction and they are able to start and stop whenever they want, I envy them and people like me should never start but that’s easier said than done.

I so agree that I wish I didn’t NEED meds to keep me going. I have developed a tolerance but am content to stay on the prescribed dose, because it helps my symptoms.
My entire family has addictive traits…..very hereditary in our family.
I wish I could be like my husband and have only one drink and not want more.

I have taken one Clonazepam tablet. Cut it in quarters and save it for those mid night insomnia spells. Put it under your tongue .It works for me!

I never take more than 1/4 of the lowest dose pill. It takes me 9-12 months to go through 30. Interesting idea that withdrawal is possible with sporadic use but my use is so infrequent. It does have a very long half-life. I would rather stay up for hours and not take it despite my desire to sleep. I need to take it for muscle relaxation due to spinal issues and save it for extreme pain days.
I react to all other meds, like gabapentin, meloxicam, tramadol, trazadone , which leaves few options.