Klonopin Use

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.

I agree. Thank you!

No. I was in tolerance withdrawal for years. I knew something was wrong, I just couldn’t get my psychiatrist to acknowledge it. Only when I became agoraphobic did he acknowledge what was going on and then promptly abandoned me.

No. I was in all likelihood dependent after my first dose. I was severely addicted and couldn’t live without my Xanax.

I have taken the same dose for 35 years and never had to increase my dosage. I guess I am one of the lucky ones.
It is just part of meds to keep my depression and anxiety in check.
Taking it to get high would never cross my mind.
I did all sorts of activities like skiing and hiking with my 42 year old son when I was younger. Even some fourteeners but these days I just walk outside or use an elyptical machine at my gym.
At 73 I don’t have any balance or memory issues.
Good luck to all.

I never increased my dose in 25 years. Never took it to get “high”, only to manage my anxiety.

Nice to know I am not the only one out there.
I think physicians should not have a one size fits all mentality when it comes to their patients. If someone is abusing Klonopin that is one thing but taking the same dosage for 35 years should not cause them to not fill a prescription.
I think the Opioid epidemic has caused physicians to overreact and some people who truly need opioids for a short period of time should not suffer because others use them to get high.
Just my opinion.
Thanks for the post.

Many people do need to increase the dose. This is not to get high. It is to have any effect on whatever they were taking it for. (Klonopin is used for many neurological issues and as a muscle relaxant as well as for anxiety).

If anyone has trouble getting off a med, or reducing a med, they are physically dependent.

Dependence is a scary situation in a climate where physicians are so reluctant to prescribe.

I use 30 of the 0.5mg pills in 9-12 months and at that level, my neuro continues to prescribe. I use it very sparingly because if I needed more, I don't think I could get it- and I would have to deal with withdrawal.