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Klonopin Use
I’ve been struggling with anxiety for over 7 years. In addition to taking Desvenlafaxine, i also have been taking klonopin, an average of 3-4 milligrams a week. Usually separated by a couple of days (but occasionally back to back). I’ve been cutting back the last couple of weeks and am struggling. Could i be addicted using this small of a dose? My psychiatrist (only used for med management) says no. He said I’d need to be taking much more and daily to be addicted. Any answers?
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On a dose of .5mg a day? Crazy. How long did it take to recover after quitting cold turkey?
Been on this drug for 30 years. All Benzos are addictive. All of us are different, & unlikely any 2 people have the same experience with side effects. I was taking 2 mgs a day for sleep & anxiety (15 yrs.) weened down to 1 a day with help of my family doc. It has to be done slowly to be successful. Never had need or desire to go back up. Knew I was physically addicted however. Intended to go to .5, then off, but life events happened & I needed the 1mg per day. I take half around noon & half before bed. Often I forget to take the noon dose, so just take the night dose. The next day I know that I missed a dose, as I can feel it. (The half life of the drug has gotten too low), but I don’t need to make up for the missed dose.) it is dangerous to go off any dose cold turkey. Google this & u will find it can cause a lot of unwanted effects including seizures. Be happy to discuss more of my experiences with K, but they may not be yours.
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1 ReactionThanks for the response. So, you took 2 mg for 15 years and didn’t need to increase dose to deal with tolerance?
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1 ReactionTook a total of 18 months before I noticed tremors almost non-existent. However, I was obviously very susceptible to this medication for some reason. It basically attacked my central nervous system which is definitely an outlier but it can happen. Most people on this drug are dependent, they just don't realize it. There bodies often become accustomed to the initial prescribed doses and then the doc needs to up etc. etc. Not for all, but many. Thats body dependency. These drugs were only originally meant for short term use, just like proton pump inhibitors, not for long term use, but thats what happens. A retired pharmacist I know said he's surprised it's even still available, said it was a drug used in 70's and 80's. I am a pretty healthy guy, only take a statin currently. when I had it filled a year or better ago, they asked me about needing my klonopin filled. I looked at her and said you don't know how that drug has messed with my CNS, and I will never take that again. She looked at me and all she said, was there are worse drugs! I just walked away, wtf!
Karen, I'm amazed at folks who take 2 mg. per day. That would have put me in a wheelchair, lol. which is not really funny I know.
Taking 2mg for 15 years, you never had a need to increase it due to tolerance?
(I mistakenly sent this question to bram 7747)
I was on 1mg 3x a day. Now I am on .5 2x a day. I am still on it. My doctor is talking it really slow. But now at .5 2x a day he is letting me stay here for now anyway. I never had a problem talking it. In fact I felt alot better on the 1mg 3xday. But will all the illegal druggies they really punish us for their mistakes 😤 good luck to you.
When I was taken off the clonazepam I was taking 1.0 x 3 a day. Mayo in Arizona but me on them in 1999. I was doing great on them. I had a reaction to the Larium I took to go to Africa. My central nervous system went crazy and I was seriously dizzy and I was having horrible panic attacks. They at least let me function. But after my doctor passed away then the new doctors were like you can't take a benzo that long and he took me off of them. After I ended up in the hospital and had to have surgery to repair my broken arm in 2 places and crushed my elbow the hospital but me back on clonazepam. So far since that I have had 4 different doctors who wanted to take me off. I take .5 2 times a day now and it helps but not as well as it did on the 1mg 3 x day.
Hello, I’ve been on 0.5 since 2004. I have severe tinnitus in both ears. Recently my new pcp wanted nothing to do with it and wanted me off. I explained I take two a day and it was 3 but two was working.
Doctors confuse anxiety with depression sometimes. He asked me to see his psychiatrist of choice and naturally I agreed. After a 90 minute visit she said you do completely understand all the risks and I think you use it because you need to. You are not at all a woman suffering depression and I will write my notes to your pcp. She said I could go back if needed. It was a lovely visit and she completely understood that I’m fully aware about falling and memory issues, among other issues it can cause.
I’m changing pcp doctor again because I simply am not comfortable and I know this will be addressed again.
Did you fall while on the med or when you stopped.
@mothermary1 I have tinnitus and hyperacusis that causes facial pain and numbness. I completely understand using Klonopin for this reason. I have cervical stenosis and muscle spasms that also benefit. I would love to take Klonopin every night but it affects my memory sometimes, and I don't want to become dependent. I am practicing acceptance of tinnitus, selling a condo where noise is an issue, and doing tai chi for neck. I take 0.125- 0.25 Klonopin once or twice a week at bedtime. It makes me feel safe that I can do that but I know for me, it has to be limited unfortunately. My neuro has tried many other meds and I have bad reaction to all of them so he is still willing to prescribe, and I have a 20 year history of using them sparingly. If I need more I will go to a psychiatrist as you did!