I am new to this site too. Until tonight by researching on my own- I didn’t know you had to taper off using Clonazepam. My doctor never told me how serious this drug is or that one day I’d have to taper or detox from taking it. I feel like I have been violated because I had no idea or information and clearly these types of drugs are being overprescribed or given without explaining to patients just how SILENTLY addictive they are until you need to come off of them.
I was prescribed Xanax and Prozac for about three years following a physical assault for anxiety and depression. They were not effective or lost effectiveness so a year ago my doctor added chlonazepam. I used it for a year only as prescribed-.25 MG three times a day. Within the first three months, I felt so much better. I stopped taking the Xanax pretty quickly; then a month later I stopped taking Prozac cold turkey and was fine, feeling good; then another month later I stopped taking my adderall cold turkey that I had taken for years for ADD. I felt great and was down to only taking one medication. I felt like I was on the mend with Clonazepam- probably because I didn’t know how strong it really was. After six months I just felt so flat and lifeless. I continued with it another six months and knew I wasn’t anxious/depressed anymore but had become just on autopilot not enjoying anything and lacked any motivation or creativity which I never had an issue with before. I knew I wanted to stop taking all medications since they weren’t working and seemed to make me feel worse.
Since I had zero issues or withdrawal symptoms when I stopped taking my other medications, I decided to stop taking my Clonazepam cold turkey. When my prescription ran out I decided to just not refill it. No one had ever told me it had to be tapered or would have such severe side effects. So I just stopped. It’s been two and a half weeks of agony and I just learned tonight why! I have felt for the last two weeks that death would be better than getting through another day of symptoms and luckily at almost three weeks, I feel like I’m functioning at the 50% level. I still feel horrible but finally see light at the end of the tunnel. I hope this continues.
Please do not take this drug or allow a doctor to give someone you love this drug. I’ve never used an illegal drug in my life or abused prescriptions and know about not taking pain meds and those risks. I had NO IDEA whatsoever that my prescribed anxiety medicine I only took for a year would end this way with me feeling like a junkie. Please warn others!