| Key to ratings for klonopin: 5-Very Satisfied: this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal. 4-Satisfied: this medicine helped. 3-Somewhat Satisfied: this medicine helped somewhat. 2-Not Satisfied: this medicine did not work to my satisfaction. 1-Dissatisfied: I would not recommend taking this medicine. |
| Rating | Reason | Side Effects | Comments | Sex | Age | Time Taken | Date Added | |
| | F M | | | | ||||
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| 4 | Anxiety. Sleep Aid | Weak. Tired sensation. Mind Fuzz.. | It works. This drug did his job; Kill the anxiety. I recomend to use it just one time a day, or only if needed, if you are planing to take it 3 times a day, be sure is a low dose.. For me, I identify the time of the day with more anxiety and I found it is on the morning, so I use it in the morning and sometiomes at night for sleep.. This drug help me to quit the Xanax, and I found clonaxepam do the same, last longer, and when I forgot taking I even know that I was taking it.. so withdrawals experience in my case is not a problem, Xanax will cause unpleassent withdrawals.. Clonazepam maybe, buit for now its working... | M | 31 | 3 months | 11/18/2009 | 5 | Social Anxiety | Some sedation until I lowered the dose to 1mg/day, all in the morning. Sometimes wonder if it is hurting my memory (though it my be unrelated to the Klonopin -- and any tiny reminder brings all the memories flooding back in detail). Some increase in libido. Was going to see a dr re TMJ, but first started Klonopin and realized TMJ pain was 95% gone. Much less insomnia than pre-Klonopin, even though I take all in the a.m. "De-realization" I would often have -- especially around bright fluorescent lights -- unexpectedly (and pleasantly!) disappeared when I started Klonopin. Started large, sustained weight loss at same time as Klonopin, so it is conceivable that one or two of these unexpected beneficial "side effects" were from that instead of the Klonopin. | A godsend for severe social anxiety. I couldn't even talk to a clerk at the post office without my heart pounding and my voice trembling. It was so bad people were suspicious I was trying to pull something over on them! Social situations still make me a bit uncomfortable, but it is a world of difference vs. the debilitating social fear I lived in before. Presentations at work (performance anxiety) went from a situation of dread and avoidance to a minor and readily-handled discomfort. I used to take a little booster before "threatening" social events, but have rarely done so for the last seven years. I know everyone is different, but it is hard for me to relate to all the claims of tolerance developing, i.e., a need for escalating dose to maintain effect. I learned almost 9 years ago the 1 mg works much BETTER for me than 1.5-2, and also avoids sedation. Have never had the slightest need or desire to up the dose since then. And generic Klonopin (clonazepam) is DIRT CHEAP. I get a 100-day supply of TEVA generic (they specialize in clonazepam) at Costco for $12.00), and you do NOT need to be a member (I'm not). Tried other things first, including Xanax, which did little but make me feel doped-up (Xanax is a great sleeping pill, though, for the 1-2 nights a month I still have insomnia). | M | 56 | 10 years | 11/16/2009 | 4 | Stress-Induced Anxiety/Depression | Sleepiness, apathy, being too relaxed. | This medicine was more effective for me than Inderal was, and I experienced fewer side effects. I took it as needed, because taking it everyday just did too much to me. I did lose my ability to focus somewhat, but its relaxing benefits outweighed the side effects. | M | 18 | 4 months | 11/16/2009 | 4 | social anxiety- anxiety | Sleepy,drowsy some memory loss,almost like a buzz feeling(like you had a glass of wine) | I take only when I need it- If I feel anxious... So it works great- If I feel like im going to feel anxious during a meeting I take half just to mellow out. But I woundnt recomend for an everyday drug. Take it only when you really need -you wont be dependent that way | F | 34 | 10 days | 11/6/2009 | 3 | agoraphobia, panic attacks | intense withdrawals, insomnia, chemical dependency/ies | I have been taking Klonopin for going on 2.5 years now. Like any medication - it has it's pros and cons. At the time I started taking it, my anxiety was so bad that I couldn't walk into any public setting without feeling panicked or without a racing heart. I was prescribed 0.5 mg 3x/day, but under the doctor's discretion that this was something that would be effective short term and would not be used as a treatment to 'cure' my anxiety. So here I am 2.5 yrs later taking 0.5 2x/day. I would say my anxiety is definitely more manageable. I don't have that fear of impending doom looming over me that causes me to worry every second. However, on the flipside, I've come to the realization that I am completely and totally a slave to the drug. For example if I run out of my medication early and don't call my doc for a refill (as to avoid seeming like I'm drug seeking), I will get little to next to no (literally) sleep at all. Which can be mentally draining. So from a anxiety management standpoint I look at it as very effective, but from a mental/dependency standpoint I look at it as being highly addictive and having many bad side effects when you go without it after having used it for a long period of time. I have friends who have been addicted to heroin who are now clean and told me that you experience VERY similiar side effects getting off benzodiazipines (i.e.klonopin, ativan, xanax). So a part of me thinks in order to remove myself of them I will have to undergo inpatient rehab. | M | 28 | 2.5 years | 11/4/2009 | 4 | severe anxiety | drowsiness, headache | really calms me down and gets rid of my anxiety while im on it. better than xanax, in my opinion. but it is very addictive.. uh oh | F | 20 | 9 months | 11/3/2009 | 1 | muscle twitches, social anxiety | I didn’t experience any bad side effects when I started taking it, it was a miracle drug that completely fixed my problems and made me feel better than ever, but it was losing its efficacy very fast and dose had to be adjusted all the time. | I tapered in one month and I completely flipped out. Persistent anxiety 20x times stronger than before, strong agoraphobia, panic attacks, sensitivity to sounds – getting startled, uncontrollable negative thoughts, delusions, extreme paranoia, etc. For 6 months I didn’t notice any improvement and now, 4.5 years later I still have anxiety problems, memory problems, disphoria, and concentration problems. Maybe some people can tolerate it but it ruined my life big time. And if you quit please switch to valium and tapper for a long time or you will go completely nuts. | M | 31 | 9 months | 10/29/2009 | 5 | insomnia | none | I developed severe insomnia during treatment for Hepatitis C. Ambien stopped working, I was put then put on Dalmane which made me more depressed. I went to a sleep Psychiatrist who put me on Klonopin 1 mg at night. After about 2 weeks I started sleeping regularly. Once a good sleep pattern was established I weaned off very very slowly. I was very afraid I would have terrible withdrawal but I didn't. I just took it slowly (it took me about 6 months) and really didn't have a problem. My suggestion is that instead of cutting back "cold turkey" which can be scary, alternate a smaller dose with your regular dose for a few nights then stick with the smaller dose once you are comfortable. Worked for me, and I was terrified I'd never sleep normally again after what the HepC medication did to me. | F | 45 | 8 months | 10/28/2009 | 4 | sleep anxiety | memory loss PERHAPS. otherwise the best drug for me in terms of both anxiety and insomnia. going off it is hell though. very addicitive. have been on and off the medication for years. stopped taking it during two pregnancies. | F | 37 | 5 years | 10/20/2009 | 1 | sensory seizures | I couldn't retain new information while using it. With a new job, and software to learn that was devastating. When I tried to ween off of it, I had the shakes, sweats, hyper sensitive reflexes. I hate drugs like this...STRONG WARNING. Does more harm than good. | I feel like perhaps it caused permanent damage. | F | 43 | 2 years | 10/19/2009 | 4 | GAD, Panic Attacks | mild drowsiness; shakes, tremors if taken too often | For the past three years I've recieved 20 (number of pills) .5 milligram pills every two to three months. This is a low dose, but I use Klonopin sporadically; one to three times a week depending on circumstance. I find this drug highly effective for nerves, panic attacks and general anxiety. But of course there's the addiction catch: take it too often (daily is way too much, in my opinion) and you'll likely suffer nasty hardcore withdrawal and the drug may lose some efficacy. In any case, Klonopin is excellent for social situations or stopping panic attacks. With responsible use and a responsible doctor, I'd recommend this over Buspar, SSRIs or SNRIs. | M | 29 | 3 years | 10/15/2009 | 1 | GAD | Dizziness, blurred vision, unable to concentrate, slept 14 hrs. a day, DIARRHEA, car accident, slack jaw, no orgasms, hearing loss...need I say more? Oh, by the way, I spent weeks in the hospital because I was in a benzodiazepine induced DELIRIUM !!! | Don't take this drug as it ADDICTIVE--big time!!! Withdrawal symptoms are HORRIFIC. You'll need a doctor to manage your withdrawal. | F | 47 | 10 years | 10/14/2009 | 1 | Anxiety | Little to none @ first. Drowsy. HIGHLY Addictive. Tried to quit after 1.5 yrs of 1.5mg a day. HORRIBLE rebound anxiety, nothing like I ever exp. b4 taking this drug, EXTREME sensitivity to light and sound to the point all you can do is sit w a blanket or pillow over your head. Heart palipitaitions. Muscle spasms. Extreme paraniod delusions and hallucinations. Tingling and eventual loss of feeling in hands and feet. Inability to function or even drive oneself to the hospital after trying to quit this drug. 1.5 yrs of use = 52 weeks to 2 yrs to ween yourself off. Better to never touch the stuff to begin with. Its hard to find the time to get off it b/c the slightest decline can set off the rebound anxiety that is so severe you wont be able to function. | I began taking Klonopin over a year ago, the drug works wonders for anxiety but this comes with a huge price. It is so addictive. The major problem with it is you dont realize your physically addicted till you try to go off of it. It can take years to properly wean off this med. Go cold turkey and you end up in the ER, I promise. Then you get no support from your pdocs in trying to get off of it. Most of the psy. symptoms are from the drug itself, not the other way around. | F | 32 | 1.5 years | 10/13/2009 | 5 | anxiety, rls, insomnia, panic | The side effects? No more anxiety, panic attacks, rls and insomnia. It works. Try to stay on regular dosage - usually when there are side effects, its a dosing issue. More is not always better. In my case, I have steadily stayed on 1 mg per day at night. No problems other than a little less energy and need to take a nap during the day. | You must determine when you start this med that you will continue to take it for life. Honestly. I look at it ths way - if you had diabetes you wouldn't just decide to quit your meds, would you? Its the same with this - you have to keep taking it or realize that your old symptoms will still be there. Living a good quality of life with no more anxiety or panic makes it worth the price of taking the pill each day. What we need to find out is why are so many of us having such anxiety and panic that we need to take meds! | F | 58 | 9 years | 10/12/2009 | 4 | Anxiety/ Insomnia | 1 mg do his work for several hours.. taking other sleeping pills I wake up 4 hours later with heart agitation, with Klonopin not.. I thik this is the best part (compared to xanax and ativan).. and also I find is less addictive, sometimes I skip a day or two and I almost feel that I don't need it... | If you or your doctor are considering a benzodiazepine, I suggest klonopin.. | M | 31 | 1 years | 10/1/2009 | 4 | insomnia | After taking the "better" sleep drugs (ambien and/or lunesta) for 4 months developed severe anxiousness both physically (felt like I was on much speed during the day) and mentally obsessed by sleep which would only come if I continued taking these drugs. Both psychiatrist and GP recommended klonopin which I refused for 2 months because of all the horror stories i've read. When at my witts end and had to drive my son across the country to college I agreed. It saved my life. I was able to stop taking the sleep drugs and those "anxiety" symptoms completely disappeared. Concentration came back as did all the normal things in my life that I had lost because of the constant anxt from the sleep drugs. Klonopin didn't work great for sleep but it did calm me down about the whole issue and after 4 weeks I feel my body is re-learning how to sleep. only take a total of 1 mg or less at night and now I can sleep for 3 hours at a time and then fall back asleep without takin | Drugs work differently on different people. If one person has a horror story it doesn't mean that you will. There are so many variables, like what you're taking it for in the first place, your life situation, what else you're taking, etc that you won't know until you try. I lived in hell 2 months longer than I needed to because I was so afraid to try this drug. Basically I'm saying that what's hell for one can be a saving grace for another. Just be careful, cautious and take it slow | F | 45 | 4 weeks | 9/26/2009 | 3 | anxiety/bi-polar | EXTREAM WITHDRAWLS!!!! after about 2-3 days of no meds=anxiety, nausea,shaky,irritated,angry. when on-drowsiness, some loss of inhibition (almost a drunk feeling) | If possible avoid this drug. For anxiety it is a crutch and once you stop taking this drug you have to start the healing all over again with the addition of addiction | F | 21 | 6 years | 9/19/2009 | 4 | sleep/anxiety | none if taken right | I suggest Klonopin over all the other anti-convulsants | F | 46 | 6 months | 9/16/2009 | 4 | Anxiety Derealization Depression BP | Over slept, ED, maybe slightly more depressed? | Took .5mg at night. Helped me sleep really well, might have helped with my anxiety, didn't really notice any while I was taking it. Slighly more depressed, but that may have already been there. I had no problems quitting it at anytime, never felt any withdrawl even after taking it for two months straight. | M | 32 | 2 months | 9/15/2009 | 4 | Panic attacks Agorophobia | No side effects except when I have missed more then 2 doses, then my muscles become very rigid. | F | 35 | 12 years | 8/31/2009 | 4 | GAD, SAD, anxiety | Minor memory loss, minor loss of libido, minor clumsiness | Generally, this drug has been very useful. My anxiety levels have decreased sunstantially. Side effects minor. Having been severely addicted to xanax years ago, starting clonazepam was scary. However, nothing to fear. Highest dose - 3.5 mgs daily. Now on 1 mg. Withdrawal has been very minor, but come off slowly. Useful drug if used responsibly. Not the demon many make it out to be. | M | 47 | 1.5 years | 8/28/2009 | 4 | insomnia, anxiety | I take the medication at night for insomnia. I only take .5mg. It helps a lot. However, I cannot take it every night because my body builds up a tolerance to it, so I usually skip a few nights and substitute with tylenol PM. Also, it will sometimes make me depressed, so I do not take it everyday. A cup of caffeine like tea or coffee usually gets rid of the depressed feeling. | Watch for depression, if taken everyday. The drug leaves your system slowly, as compared to other benzos like ativan and xanax. However, I find it a lot more gentle to my system. Xanax and ativan left me feeling jittery once they started to wear off. | F | 32 | 2 years | 8/26/2009 | 1 | depression and sleep difficulties | MAJOR HAIR LOSS!!!difficulty concentrating, memory loss, including loss of words in speech, writing. Could not remember names of close friends or deceased pet. Twitching eyelid for three weeks. | Going through major financial difficulties(as most people are now). First time on antidepressant of any kind-Zoloft for 3 months. Klonopin added for insomnia. Took 1mg for 36 days at bedtime. Within 7-10 days LARGE amounts of hair in brush every morning and clogged up the shower drain. I have/had very thick hair and lost 30-40% of it by the time I made the connection on the 36th day and stopped taking both drugs immediately. I read this forum and only found about 5 other people who mention this side effect back over years. I was fortunate not to suffer many withdrawal symptoms, but I am concerned about the hair loss being permanent. Is there anyone out there who has this experience and knows that answer?? | F | 56 | 36 days | 8/20/2009 | 5 | Panic attacks, severe anxiety | brain zaps, severe dry eyes, zero libido. but the disappearance of severe anxiety has so far outweighed those side effects. | Have been on Klonopin .5 mg/3xday for 7 years. Switched to it after took Xanax for 5 years & began to get narcoleptic. Doctor told me Klonopin would not be as addictive as Xanax. Am now very scared as new doctor has told me of withdrawal problems. The brain zaps started about 2 years ago & have become very painful. My eyes are now so dry that I have to take Restasis for relief & also got my tear ducts plugged. I'm not sure what to do, as I never want to experience the anxiety & panic that I lived with for the first 26 years of my life. Xanax & Klonipin made me able to function in everyday situations without breaking out into sweats, palpitations, and crying jags. But it would be nice to have some libido again. Is celibacy worth it in order not to feel anxious all the time? Worried about the withdrawal issue, as when I've gone off some SSRIs, I've had severe heroin-like withdrawal episodes that have lasted months. | F | 39 | 7 years | 8/17/2009 | 4 | sleep | none | a great drug for sleep, doesn't cause any side effects for me. I take as needed usually a few times a month | F | 29 | 7 years | 7/31/2009 | 5 | anxiety, depression | Nothing really | Klonopin is the best - 0.5 mg did away with my social anxiety. I take 0.5 mg once or twice a week and I am not addicted. Klonopin also helps with the tremors I get from taking Wellbutrin XL. I don't feel "stoned" from Klonopin, just calm. | F | 34 | 7 months | 7/26/2009 | 3 | anxiety | paranoia, startle response increased, sensitive to sounds, increased anxiety, crawling out of my skin, more agitated and angry | this is a horrible drug to start taking....I was only on it for two weeks and experienced acute withdrawal when I stopped taking it...while I was taking it, I was more anxious, paranoid, hypersensitive to sounds and any movement...suicidal. It took one year for all the withdrawal symptoms to go away. HORRIBLE DRUG | M | 37 | 2 weeks | 7/21/2009 | 1 | trouble sleeping | While withdrawing: increased anxiety, trouble sleeping, difficulty eating & absolutely miserable. | It was prescribed for anxiety, unbeknownst to the Psychiatrist (and myself!) my underlying issue was alcoholism. I self-medicated (quite unsuccessfully) with alcohol and klonopin. Withdrawl from Klonopin was much worse than withdrawl from alcohol. In my opinion if you are an alcoholic, using klonopin will earn you the title of "Alcoholic & Addict." I have been sober for 2 years. | F | 43 | 1 years | 7/10/2009 | 5 | anxiety/panic, social anxiety | few side effects. Some tiredness/fatigue and feeling lethargic for the first few weeks I was taking it. | I have taken Klonopin off and on for many years. I never had major problems coming off of it in the past. It really is a great drug. It almost eliminates or at least brings significant relief from my crippling social anxiety and allows me to be myself and feel a little more confident. While taking it, I never feel shaky or panicky. I take 0.5mg 2x a day, which is a low dose. Yes, any drug of the benzodiazepine class can be physically/psychologically addictive, but the key to avoiding dependence issues is to stay at lower dosages and increase it only when absolutely needed. These medicines can be taken long term, but tolerance tends to build after a few months. Email me if anyone wants to talk about Klonopin or all the other crazy psychotropic meds. | M | 22 | 2 months | 7/8/2009 | 1 | Bipolar Disorder/Anxiety Disorder | waking up at 4am w/diffoculty returning to sleep, depression, crying jaggs the next mornings, absolutely no energy, started hating life. | I started taking klonopin to get off ativan. Was taking ativan up to three times a day and i wanted something that i could take just once a day for my anxiety. I also needed something to help me sleep and the MD said this would help with both. Huge Mistake for ME! I was having vivid nightmares, waking up at 4am, wide awake-tossing turning-diffoculty returning to sleep. Very low energy the next day and increased depression-crying spells and not wanting to exist. Horrible experience! Was so hoping this would be the answer to a once a day anxiety pill for me.....back to ativan and using husbands restoril till I can see the MD again. | F | 38 | 19 days | 7/5/2009 | 5 | anxiety / panic attacks | No initial side effects other than it worked to help me get to sleep and keeps the racing thoughts at bay. | After taking this med (or other benzos) for 20+ years I know I am addicted. I have taken the same dose every night and never upped it. I don't take it during the day. If I can't sleep after taking it, it makes me irritable and tired. It did save my sanity at the time I started it, but I know that if I ever try to go off it, I may likely go insane or worse, so it is hard knowing that I'm addicted. I also believe it has gradually caused other health problems but would not know for sure unless I went off it. What I hate the most is that someday I may go through hell trying to withdraw and it scares the hell outta me. My advice is to try every other non addictive anti-anxiety med you can before you end up on benzos. They save your life in one way - but destroy it in another. | F | 53 | 20 years | 7/2/2009 | 1 | divorce/anxiety | personality changes, behavior changes, depression, lethargy, lack of motivation, incontinence, stomach issues, gait, muscle tension, memory problems, hair growth, yellowing of skin, dry skin. | I would NEVER take this drug again! I felt good while on it, but when I went off 10 years later, I realzied that I was a walking zombie - unmotivated, sleeping all the time, depressed, etc. I accomplished nothing in those 10 years. It changed my personality and behavior beyond recognition, but I had no clue that it was the klonopin causing the changes. Withdrawal from this drug will take you 1-1.5 years of pure hell. This drug is EXTREMELY addicting. While withdrawaling, many people lose their employment, marriage, house, etc. IT IS PURE HELL! | F | 37 | 10 years | 6/30/2009 | 5 | anxiety | minor drowsiness when I first started Klonopin | Currently taking 1mg three times per day | M | 48 | 2 years | 6/28/2009 | 2 | anxiety | terrible terrible headaches... I only took this pill for a few days but the pain that it caused (my head) made me feel like it wasnt worth taking even a few more days for my body to get used to the drug. Also, i fell right to sleep by accident which can be very dangerous. | i like valium better. | F | 19 | 4 days | 6/19/2009 | 5 | Severe Panic Disorder and OCD | drowsiness, slight depression, foggy | I have a severe panic disorder, a disorder that runs like wild fire throughout my family and have basically spent my life being consistently suicidal. I desperately tried to avoid the benzos and have been on every anti-anxiety drug out there, along with holistic therapy, exercise and counseling. I've never been a drinker and have cut all stimulants out of my life. I know this medication is addictive, I know I will develop a tolerance to it, and I know I will end up taking more or switching to a higher benzo; but it is better than the alternative. My panic disorder has become so severe that I coudn't function in life and and couldn't handle feeling suicidal anymore. I would rather be a benzo junkie than dead, plain and simple. I would suggest that people with this type of disorder leave the benzos as a last resort; TRY EVERYTHING ELSE POSSIBLE. However, if it comes down to going over the deep end or being a junkie, bring on the Klonopin. | M | 29 | 5 years | 6/18/2009 | 1 | Social Anxiety | Absolutely heinous discontinuation effects after a relatively brief usage. I would have anxiety attacks of a type I never experienced before and for no reason other than withdrawal of Klonopin. Many other unusual symptoms with some being paradoxical. This after the doctor told me that Klonopin is not addictive. | Whether you call it addiction or dependence, withdrawal or discontinuation effects, Klonopin causes some extremely difficult problems when you stop taking it. Do not believe any doctor who tells you it is "not addictive." If you must use this drug please proceed with extreme caution and awareness. | M | 52 | 30 days | 6/17/2009 | 4 | General anxiety disorder | none ...but i know I'm dependent on it. | I was prescribed Elavil and given 10 xanax back in 1999 for basically what I call a functioning nervous breakdown. I took on a bunch of stress at work and moved my family across town and moved my mother in and moved my sister out. Too much for one person. Went to the doc and told him I couldn't sleep, so he gave me Elavil. It worked within 2 weeks and I felt a lot better. I then switched doctors and quit taking it after 3 months. Started taking xanax and after 7 years realized I was waking up in the middle of the night when it would wear off. My daughter (she works in the mental health field) advised me of Klonopin so I switched and it is great for what I need. | M | 50 | 3 years | 6/15/2009 | 5 | GAD/panic disorder | no side effects until I went off of it | Klonopin helped me greatly with my constant anxiety and frequent panic attacks. I began with 1.5mg/day and ended with 4mg/day 2 years later because I had built up a tolerance. I used to take Ativan which I found to be extremely addictive and was switched to klonopin which, for some reason, was not addictive for me. The bad news is one day, about 2 weeks ago it seemed to just stop working out of the blue. I had raging anxiety and I overdosed on klonopin by taking around 60-80mg. Nothing happened and I had no relief. THANK GOD I did not die, go into a coma or end up in the hospital. My psychiatrist was shocked that I had not fallen unconscious. I abruptly stopped taking the klonopin and was put on Librium. For the next week I had horrific withdrawal symptoms. Severe depression, suicidal thoughts, horrible anxiety and panicky feelings and general physical discomfort as if my skin was crawling. It has now been 11 days since I stopped taking klonopin and I am finally beginning to feel better. It is possible I had a bad withdrawal because I had overdosed. It's possible other people may come off of this medication just fine. | F | 31 | 2 years | 5/29/2009 | 4 | insomnia anxiety | Dependency, some anxiety toward end of day | For sleep it works like a dream I've had insomnia all my life and this has worked better than ambien (wake up screaming) or lunesta or trazadone. I am building a tolerance and that concerns me however this is what I need in my life right now and actally look forward to going to bed. | F | 45 | 9 days | 5/29/2009 | 5 | GAD, Panic Attacks, Insomnia | None | 15 years of battling these disorders and now I've had 1 month of being "cured". I'm absolutely amazed. .5 mil 3x a day. Not a moment of anxiety or even a hint of a panic attack since the first day, even in the most stressful situations that would have sent me reeling before. Of course I worry about the side effects of withdrawal, but I'm gonna enjoy my freedom while I have it! | F | 33 | 30 days | 5/28/2009 | 1 | anxiety initially for OCD, then GAD | no side effects except some slight drowsiness which helped me sleep and didn't impair my daily functioning | klonopin worked like magic when I first started taking it, now that I've decided to come off of it b/c I've built up a tolerance over 6 years I'm experiencing TERRIBLE w/d symptoms. I itch randomly all over, especially right now my scalp itches constantly. I have total INSOMNIA which stinks to say the least. I feel better mood wise on the decreased dose from 1mg to .5mg that I started to taper with but had to increase back to .75mg after 3 days b/c I couldn't sleep. I have shivers that over take my body at times and spontaneous shivers that run down my legs. I was on the 1mg dose for a steady 4 months down from 4 mg. I'm trying to ride out the .75mg w/d effects now but how long will I not sleep? I would never had taken this drug had I known this was going to happen. How did anyone get off of this after such a long time as this. I didn't think 1mg was that big of a deal. I was wrong! I thought lithium discontinuation was bad--it was, but wow this is aweful. | F | 36 | 6 years | 5/20/2009 | 3 | GAD, Panic Disorder | I experienced no side effects while taking .5 mg, 3x per day, but eventually became used to that does and increased to 1mg, 4x per day. At this level, I began to suffer from depression, suicidal thoughts, etc, and was told by psych I needed to change meds. DETOX WAS HELL. It was 3 weeks of shaking, sweating, nausea, terror and nostop panic attacks. Klonopin is OK for occasional use, but I would not recommend taking it regularly. | Sadly, I haven't found any others meds that work as well as Klonopin did in the beginning. After 3 years on the drug, I was so used to it, as happens with benzos, the .5mg just didn't work anymore. Now, I'm back to having near-constant anxiety, just taking Xanax as needed. | F | 34 | 3 years | 5/10/2009 | 1 | Panic disorder. | While taking Klonopin I experienced severe withdrawal symptoms as well. I was only on 1.5 mg of Klonopin daily. It feels good when you first take it but after you come down or off of it you feel absolutely horrible. | Do not take this drug! It's a back stabber! | M | 18 | 4 months | 4/19/2009 | 5 | Anxiety, Panic attacks | I have been on this medicine for many years. I have no side effect problems and I can't say that about many drugs! | it helps me in so many ways. I can actually go places now and enjoy life. I used to take Xanax but got addicted to it so I finally got off of it. If I miss does of Klonopin, I don't even notice it. | F | 47 | 10 years | 4/16/2009 | 3 | anxiety | tiredness, confusion, depression, tinnitus | I only took klonopin for 8 weeks until Lexapro kicked in, it helped somewhat with the anxiety, but it also made me forgetful, sleepy and depressed (I've never been depressed before). I was also very worried about the withdrawals so I weaned myself off with my doctor's supervision. It was nowhere near as bad as all the horror stories I read about, at least for me. I had 2 days of nausea and diarrhea, but that was about it. I must have been lucky, but I was only on 0.5mg for 8 weeks. You have to decide for yourselves if it helping your condition or making you feel worse. I'm glad i'm off it now, I feel more like my old self. | F | 45 | 8 weeks | 4/14/2009 | 4 | Anxiety | Drowsiness, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Muscle Twitching, Coughing, Slight Difficulty Breathing | I fought taking this, even after 2 drs wanted me to take it, b/c I was scared of the addictive potential. For 3 mths, I've taken .25 mg at night and if I have a bad episode of anxiety during the day, I take another .125 mg (rarely). It has helped me a lot to deal with this anxiety that came out of nowhere (chest pain, tightness in throat, fear of being alone) & it has made my sleep deeper, which helps me so much the next day. I was so scared to take it, but so far, I am glad I gave it a chance, b/c it has helped me get back to my real life. My psychiatrist says it is very unlikely to get "addicted" at my levels, but who knows? It does make me cough sometimes after I take it and it takes 40-50 min to kick in. I am starting to get more muscle twitches now, which does scare me... | F | 30 | 3 months | 4/11/2009 | 3 | insomnia, anxiety, ocd | PSYCHOLOGICAL / PHYSICAL DEPENDENCE | important: PLEASE NOTE, CONTRARY TO MANY POSTS ON THIS SITE, KLONOPIN, AS WELL AS THE OTHER BENZOS, DO NOT CAUSE PERMANENT BRAIN DAMAGE. THE BELOW POSTS CLAIMING OTHERWISE HAVE NO MEDICAL PROOF. it should be used for short term therapy, and in our society unfortunately it is not. for a complete understanding of how they work and how to SAFELY AND SLOWLY taper off (I have successfully tapered off 1/2 my dose to date) please see BENZOS.UK | M | 57 | 5 years | 4/10/2009 | 5 | Anxiety and panic attacks | I never experienced many side effects. Just some sleepiness and drowsiness. Since i'm presently taking four different presrription medications that makes it hard to remember how i felt exactly. | Clonazepam helps me deal with my OCD sysptoms and i don't experience any serious panic attacks. | M | 34 | 3/28/2009 | 1 | sleep disorder related to cfs | They made me a little drowsy and helped me sleep. I experienced no ill effects until I stopped taking it. | When my doctor decided to retire without helping me find a replacement physician I decided I'd rather be off the klonopin anyway. I've read people saying they can go days without experiencing withdrawal symptoms, this is true. You will not feel like you are about to die with the cold, clenching fist of death upon your chest until 4, 5 or even 6 days after you stop. People are not kidding when they say the withdrawals are hell. I experienced palpitations, such intense anxiety and panic attacks I literally thought I was dying. I had intense vertigo, dysphoria, depersonalization, shaking, tremors, the feeling that I was moving and shaking when I wasn't... The best part is, I have been off Klonopin for almost 5 years now and I still suffer from many of the symptoms I had upon withdrawal. Anxiety, depersonalization, dysphoria, on top of which, I have restless leg syndrome which also started after I stopped klonopin. Oh, did I mention the insomnia? I truly wish my doctor could have helped me wean off klonopin and I do wish he'd warned me that some withdrawal symptoms are permanent. The literature on this drug and withdrawal effects are mind-boggling. Many, many people commit suicide rather than suffer the most intense withdrawal symptoms. If you're getting off this drug and going through withdrawals, I'd just like to say, You can do it! And don't be afraid to ask your doctor for help! And if your doctor doesn't help you, go to a different doctor! Physicians are there to make like b | F | 27 | 4 years | 3/25/2009 | 5 | panic attacks | I never had any side effects. | It definately stopped the panic attacks. | F | 15 years | 3/24/2009 | 3 | Panic Attacks | sleeping too much, headaches, not able to think. | I have been taking this medication for about 4 years now and I regret ever going to the doctor for help. I know that God is the answer. The reaction to the medication has gotten worse since I started taking it. It got rid of my anxiety, but my friends and family are in love with the medication. Can't say it's really helped me as much as it's helped them. I don't feel like I am myself. I took it for irritaion. I don't work but once a year. My life has not improved and I don't think I will be taking this med for my whole life. If I don't take it I won't sleep. I've prayed about it. | F | 25 | 7 years | 3/9/2009 | 5 | Severe Panic Attacks and GAD | When I began taking this drug about a year ago, I was pretty tired. I was sluggish, had minor motor impairment. For about a month it felt like I always had one beer in my system. However, these effects fully dissipated after 1 month. | THIS DRUG HAS SAVED MY LIFE. Prior to taking Klonopin, I had severe panic attacks on a daily basis (3 sometimes 4) and I was becoming an agoraphobic. I could not bear the thought of having to live every day like that. I got help immediately. Diagnosed with general anxiety disorder and panic disorder. I was first put on Zoloft (I had a severe negative reaction), and was taken off. I was put on Xanax for a month, but it was only a temporary fix. My doctor was awful. I switched psychiatrists...my new doctor is fantastic...he put me on 1.5mg of Klonopin (generic now) per day (.5mg two to three times per day). At first, I took a larger dose (full three pills per day)...but now I am down to just 1.0mg per day. It created a virtuous cycle because it took away my panic attacks and general anxiety disorder. Still occasionally feel on edge, but now its nothing that I can't talk myself out of within 5 to 10 minutes. I lets me be in full control of my anxiety issues. I cannot thank my doctor enou | M | 27 | 1 years | 3/5/2009 | 5 | social anxiety, panic disorder | drowsiness and short term memory loss | Has helped greatly. Side effects were a problem when I was taking daily, but I've learned to take it around once a week when I actually need it which stops any worry of withdrawing symptoms and a almost zombie like feeling with the memory effects when taking more often. Can take some experimentation to learn a helpful routine with this drug, but once you do it works great. | M | 28 | 6 months | 3/1/2009 | 3 | muscle spasms, severe charley-horse | sleepiness, awake dream state | did help with muscle spasms, slept better (chronic neck/back pain sufferer) | F | 54 | 30 days | 3/1/2009 | 5 | Anxiety/panic disorder | Forgetfulness, sometimes dry mouth, feelings of overconfidence, muscle twitching | I've been taking Klonopin since 1999. I had been experiencing panic attacks and general anxiety that was giving me a nervous stomach/nausea. Took it more to relieve the physical symptoms of anxiety that were causing me to miss work/school. First started taking it twice a day, then once a day, then continued that way only because it was in my system and I was afraid of withdrawal. (Tried that once and it was ugly!) I was gradually able to withdraw from daily usage by just putting off taking it, longer and longer...until I was taking a small dose of it maybe 2 times a month. I will probably take Klonopin the rest of my life, as needed, because it really helps with my anxiety. Now that I take it as needed, I notice that it always puts me in a good mood - then a few days later, my recollections of that day (and sometimes my bold actions!) will be somewhat hazy. (Sometimes even in a "drunk-dialing/did that really happen?" kind of way.) This isn't necessarily a negative thing beca | F | 30 | 10 years | 2/27/2009 | 5 | ANXIETY | Nothing but positive things to see. This really calmed me down and helped me sleep. | F | 7 days | 2/24/2009 | 5 | Stress, Panic, Anxiety | Relaxes me, Helps me have a fulling night sleep. | I was taking Xanax for a while there, but I couldn't stand how tired and agitated it made me feel, so I switched to Klonopin, I love it, because there is no lasting effect with this medication. It has also helped my breathing, which I thought was asthma, but it was due to stress. | F | 25 | 1 years | 2/21/2009 | 4 | Anxiety and Insomnia | At discontinuance after 9 months, I experienced additional anxiety and insomnia. I went directly off this medicine (.5mg per day) (i.e. cold turkey), which was probably not the best way to do it. While taking the medicine, which varied from .25 mg to .5 mg per day, at bedtime, I didn't really have any side effects. | I believe as a result of taking Levaquinn for 6-7 weeks for a prostate infection, I experienced additional neurological side effects from the Levaquinn, which resulted in urination difficulties, insomnia and anxiety. Clonazepam provided considerable relief and helped me get back on track. After approx 2 months, I reduced the dosage to .25 mg per day without any problem. Later went back to .5mg per day and then back to .25mg per day, before completely discontinuing this medicine. I have been off it for about 1 year, although still dealing with some of the original issues. | M | 44 | 9 months | 2/19/2009 | 1 | anxiety insomnia | Seems to make me depressed and cry a lot more than usual. I get on other people's nerves with my over emotionality. I'm addicted to it. | It makes me angry that I am addicted to this, and the doctor acts like I shouldn't be, when it is a well known fact that it is addictive. I switched from Xanax to Ativan to this. I don't know what to do. I feel worse. I would rather have anxiety. Although insomnia is hell. | F | 59 | 10 months | 2/19/2009 | 5 | Panic Attacks and Anxiety | A very slight and temporary forgetfullness, like I acted a little slower than usual to answer questions and remembering things took a couple of minutes. | Took this med for about 1 year for anxiety along with Serzone for Depression. Doze of Klonopin was 3 pills a day. Was off of it for some time. Still take 1/2 pill ocasionally here and there for a couple of days and it seems to work. I thank my psychiatrist for this treatment. It is stronger than Xanax so if you haven't tried any of the two try the mildest first, however for acute and recurrent panic attacks it works the best when taken between 6 months to a year, otherwise don't bother. You got to start on a small dose, 1/2 pill and increase it over a week, otherwise it won't work if taken too high of a dose at first it can aggravate your panic attacks and anxiety and so you think it won't work on you. Not meant to be taken for over a year I would say. It's not so addictive that you can't take it off. Unfortunately for people that are anxious by nature is a chronic disorder comes and goes with Stress! Yes you can keep it under control when you go off the med by identifying y | F | 39 | 1 years | 2/17/2009 | 1 | epilepsy | Severe memory loss, numbness, personality change, severe depression, cognitive decline, increased seizures (!), anxiety, migraines, stomach aches, chest pains | Klonopin and all benzos cause permanent brain damage, plain and simple. Even in "low" doses. More than 2 weeks is considered long-term use. I am devastated that my doctor didn't warn me. I took this drug to protect my brain from seizures. Now I am completely disabled instead. Once I realized the drug was hurting me, I stopped taking it and found out my body was "dependant"--which was not obvious since I had never even liked how the drug made me feel and never took more than the doctor told me take. So I began reducing my dose slowly but even still my body went into the most agonizing withdrawal. Vomited everything I ate and lost 20 lbs in 2 months. Irregular heartbeats. Horrible muscle cramps. Painful electric shock feelings in my feet and hands all the time. Now I can hardly walk from the pain. (Before using this drug I was very athletic.) This withdrawal has been going on for 2 YEARS now! I am in hell. Please do not use these dangerous drugs! | F | 36 | 3 years | 2/15/2009 | 5 | Social Anxiety | Dizziness, sleepiness, I call it flying | I have not been on it very long but it definitely calms the constant chest pains and rushing heart. Only on .5 morning and night. My panic attacks are less severe and I can almost deal with things i couldn't before, for example going into a store alone. Hopefully i start to get used to it. The effects are pretty intense. But it is such a relief especially to the chest pains. | F | 19 | 1 weeks | 2/11/2009 | 3 | focal dystonia, writer's cramp | A little more fatigued than usual | Does anyone else out there take Klonopin for writer's cramp? | F | 41 | 1 weeks | 2/11/2009 | 3 | sleep anxiety | palpitations, nausea, facial tension | Does anyone only take klonopin .75 at night and not during the day? I am wondering if the problems i am having is due to withdrawal during the afternoon and evening. would appreciate any help you can give. I am unable to function many afternoons. | M | 47 | 5 months | 2/4/2009 | 1 | social anxiety | Memory loss, loss of co-ordination, confusion, dizziness, feeling "slow", nausea | This drug absolutely destroyed my life! Do not take it. Getting off of it is hell on earth and don't expect a doctor to be sympathetic or even believe you. The memory loss, cognitive effects, and extreme withdrawal or more than a lot of people can bear. I've just gone through the worst 2 years of my life by far. Stay FAR FAR AWAY FROM THIS DRUG. I pray this drug will eventually be banned. | M | 32 | 12 years | 2/4/2009 | 3 | Severe panic attacks | I have been experiencing very clouded thoughts, and I am a bit...I suppose, "off centered", as in, my balance isn't what it was before. Mild headaches as well. | I was prescribed klonopin AS NEEDED every 8 hours, no more than twice a day. The first time I took it, I got high. Very high for a very short period of time. I took it again today on the verge of a panic attack... It didn't help. I took it again later on, it didn't help. it did stop the full blown attack, but the anxiety was still very real. I'm worried about the withdrawal, as it appears to be a very disturbing experience. | F | 15 | 2 days | 2/3/2009 | 4 | Insomnia/GAD | The only thing that I noticed, is that I have to get a fair amoutn of sleep (10 hours at least), otherwise I'm really tired when I wake up in the morning. Also, in the first few weeks I was tired, tired, tired. | This is the 5th (Trazodone, Remeron, Seroquel & Ambien as well) med I was put on for my insomnia (and in turn it helps the anxiety too), and it's the ONLY one that has worked. The only thing I don't particularly like, is the fact that I have to increase my doseage quite often. Right now I'm at 1mg, but I'll be at 1.5 or 2 the next time I go to my psych, 'cause 1mg isn't working the same as it used to. But otherwise, this helps really well with my insomnia (which I've had for ages and never thought would be remedied). | F | 20 | 6 months | 1/31/2009 | 3 | Anxiety/not sleeping at night | No major side effects initially, But I have been on 1 tab at bedtime for 3 years now. If I go 2 nights without the pill, I start having terrible sweats and restlessness. | Am on Klonopin with 30mgs of Lexapro. Weight gain has been 40 lbs over the 3 year span. My food has been watched and intake 2000 calories day and less. Weight gain IS a discouraged side effect from these drugs. Labido is much lower since starting these drugs. | F | 44 | 3 years | 1/31/2009 | 5 | panic attacks/bipolarmania | absolutely none. i love this drug. i think some of my clumsiness is associated with taking this drug, but its not so bad it interferes with my life. my knees are just a little bruised. | i've been on klonopin for 2 years (a couple doctors took me off it saying i was "too young" to take it, but my anxiety only worsened without it even when properly tapered off it.) initially i started at .5mg at night and now i take 1mg 3x a day (morning, afternoon, bedtime) and 1mg 2x a day if needed, based on my anxiety levels. this drug literally saved my life. i can do things like go to school, socialize and even sleep. i don't even get full blown panic attacks anymore. | F | 19 | 2 years | 1/30/2009 | 4 | anxiety | none | F | 42 | 6 months | 1/28/2009 | 4 | Acute myoclonus/possible Parkinsons | Helps reduce the frequency of tremors, helps with sleep. As the manufacturer suggests DO NOT stop the medication, it should be slowly reduced. I made the mistake of running out and had the worst week of my life. Awake for 4 days, tremors worse than ever, severe irritability, not to mention non-stop headache and even 125 mg benedryl wouldn't get me to sleep. | Doesn't completely get rid of my symptoms but it certainly helps, but as with any benzo it is physically addictive and you have to be monitored carefully. I've taken other seizure medications and this one is the best so far. I take 1mg 3 times daily along with 500 mg Keppra twice daily. | M | 30 | 2 years | 1/27/2009 | 4 | Anxiety, panic | Loss of appetite, fuzzy mind | Klonopin helped me conquer my panic/anxiety issues. When I would get really nervous/stressed, it would help me calm down and act rationally. The problem is that it's addictive even at small doses - I do not recommend taking for more than a couple of months. | F | 28 | 6 months | 1/26/2009 | 5 | anxiety | drowsiness after the first two doses. None today. | so far it is doing what is supposed to do. I do not feel anxious. I do worry about addiction. I also feel a little itchy, but do not know if it is a result of the med. | F | 37 | 3 days | 1/25/2009 | 5 | My whole body went numb | I don't have any side effects. i am very thin. no weight gain. if i stop it, my whole entire body goes numb. i don't understand why klonopin is the only thing that keeps the numbness from coming back. | i have no problems taking klonopin. I have no side effects. i just know that if i stop it, my whole body will go numb. It's wierd. i dont' know how my neurologist knew it would work. | F | 54 | 2 years | 1/24/2009 | 2 | Tardive dystonias | Flushing the pills down the toilet. | Medical Marijuana is a much better antispasmodic. | M | 51 | 1 months | 1/24/2009 | 1 | anxiety and depression | Short term this drug does what it is supposed to do; reduce anxiety which also helps with depression. Long term the effects of this drug are devastating. The brain quickly builds up a tollerance for this medication which will soon negate the benefits. This results in the MD increasing the dosage. Thus the cycle begins. Withdrawal from this drug is slow and painful. No long term studies have been done so no one knows what if any permanent damage happens to the brain. I urge anyone thinking about taking this drug to AVOID IT AT ALL COSTS. This includes all Benzos. | Having been on this drug for 15 years here are some of the long term "benefits" you can expect: - depersonalization of ones self - complete loss of ability to empathize with anyone - the wonderful feeling of sleep walking through life - complete loss of all emotions - memory loss (no one knows if the loss is temporary or permanent) - an increased ability to feel listless, dull and lethargic - loss of ability to connect emotionally with your spose/significant other These are but a few of the long term benefits you can expect. Think very long and hard before you take this drug. | M | 43 | 15 years | 1/24/2009 | 5 | anxiety | Feel goofy but its a good goofy | The best drug Ive ever taken, but be carefull. I have found my self not being able to get anymore now, because my doctor thinks Im getting addicted, which I am. | M | 25 | 5 years | 1/22/2009 | 4 | anxiety, panic attacks | I gained 15 pounds in two months of taking klonopin. I am taking a low dose twice daily. After hearing the "you must be eating more" excuse, I read many others that have the same issue including Stevie Nicks. | It works great for long term anxiety treatment but the weight gain is crazy. I am looking for natural alternatives and lifestyle changes to replace klonopin. If you don't mind the possible weight gain, this is great for anxiety treatment. | F | 34 | 4 months | 1/20/2009 | 4 | anxiety, sleeplessness | sometimes tired in the morning | It's been wonderful. | F | 54 | 10 years | 1/18/2009 | 1 | sleep/anxiety | None at first then tolerance and by far the worst withdrawal of any benzo - DON'T TAKE THIS DRUG | M | 45 | 3 years | 1/14/2009 | 2 | generalized anxiety, ocd, depressio | none | I didn't really experience anything it was like I was taking a sugar pill. | M | 22 | 3 months | 1/10/2009 | 5 | GAD- general anxiety disorder | No side effects | I was perscribed Klonopin about three years ago for my horrific anxiety that was occuring. I tried taking everything under the moon- paxil, lexapro, celexa, divalproax and a few more. Nothing worked, infact the side effects and withdraws were so horrific from these meds that it created more of anxiety and depression that I wasn't able to live by. I stayed on Klonopin ( as needed only when I am having a panic attack.)It has worked wonderful, no withdraw if I don't take it for a week or so and I am well rested after taking it at night. Klonopin is addictive only when abused by the person taking it. But, it has made an amazing turn around in my life. | F | 24 | 3 years | 12/23/2008 | 5 | social anxiety / insomnia | Increased fatique, tolerance over time and possible dependence. | I have difficulty sleeping, not because I'm not tired, but because my mind is racing and anxious about the day or the future or some other event. Klonopin helps clear my mind of the anxiety so I can fall asleep. When I don't sleep, I become severely insane, so it's a necessary evil, I feel. | M | 21 | 1 years | 12/23/2008 | 1 | 20 yrs | none til tolerance set in . needed more and more. then u can't take any more. protacted withdrawal. | DON'T TAKE THIS DRUG. GETTING OFF OF IT IS WORSE THAN HELL I THINK. THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS. EVEN TAKING IT 'AS NEEDED' CAUSES WORSE PROBLEMS THAN IF U TAKE IT ON A REGULAR BASIS. TRY THE ASHTON METHOD FOR WITHDRAWAL/DISCONTINUATION. DOCS NO NOTHING. TERRIBLE DRUG. SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY FDA. ALL BENZOS ARE THE SAME . SOME ARE JUST LONGER ACTING. | F | 53 | 12/22/2008 | 5 | anxiety attacks | None at all. | 3 yrs. ago I began getting frequent anxiety attacks for no known reason. I was first put on Lexapro, then Wellbutrin (which didn't help), then Paxil. Between Lexapro and Paxil, though they worked for anxiety, I also gained 20 lbs over the 3 years (my eating habits didn't change). If I wasn't depressed before, I sure am now with this weight gain from the antidepressants. So, having enough of that, I switched to another doctor, who prescribed Klonopin, 1/2 mg. on an AS NEEDED basis only. I first began taking 1/2 mg. twice a day as a preventative, but, thankfully, my husband reminded me that I should only take it IF I need it. So now that's what I do and it works great -- stops anxiety attacks fast without side effects -- but make sure you don't take it regularly as a "preventative." | F | 50 | 3 months | 12/19/2008 | 1 | Anxiety | At first, it worked with no side effects. After I developed a dependency - I could get no sleep due to periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD). I had no appetite. I would get tremors. And, of course my anxiety was worse. | I cannot recommend this drug for anxiety problems. Once you develop a dependency you can expect hell on earth. My life was in pure chaos for 4 months until I got off of it. It is not worth the risk. My doctors would not believe that the PLMD was from this drug since it would be a paradoxical reaction (Klonopin was originally developed as an anticonvulsant). Once I was off the drug, the PLMD disappeared. | F | 37 | 11 months | 12/18/2008 | 1 | anxiety, panic attacks | Short-term: shaky body, weakness, felt like I was going to fall over. Long-term: mental fog, had trouble concentrating, anxiety got worse over time, got sick more often. Withdrawal was the worst experience of my life. | Do not start taking this drug! It may help improve your symptoms at first, but it will stop working over time and, in my case, it can make your anxiety worse. Plus it does not take long to become dependent. It took me 2 years to taper off the drug completely. During withdrawal, I experienced extreme mood swings, panic attacks, strong anxiety, tinnitus, insomnia, and visual hallucinations that kept me awake at night. And it could have been worse if I didn't taper off at such a slow pace. I've been off the drug for over a year now and can't remember the last time I felt this good, especially mentally. | F | 23 | 12 years | 12/16/2008 | 4 | anxiety, panic attacks | short terms amnesia, headaches,mood swings, restlessness | I am also taking 50mg of Zoloft and am on antipsychotic meds (Risperdal 4mg). I started out with .25mg Klonopin twice a day and was just recently added an extra .25 in the morning. I was becoming anxious for no specific reason and I know you can defvelop a tolerance to the medication. | M | 16 | 6 months | 12/6/2008 | 4 | anxiety/borderline panic attacks | drowsiness,headache,mental fog,mild dizziness | I was prescribed this medicine to help me with an immedite anxiety problem, to be taken as needed, until the antidepressant (effexor), that I was also prescribed, started to work. That is also used for anxiety/depression. This is a common procedure and the Klonopin should be removed from your daily intake after 4-6 weeks if it is prescribed in this way. The doctors warn of the possible addiction and if one heeds their advice you should be okay. Might I suggest to think "short term" use while pursuing a less addictive and more long term medicine, such as the proper anti-depressant, for anxiety. (consult your doctor) | M | 52 | 7 days | 12/5/2008 | 2 | anxiety | The withdrawel was the worst, I'm sorry I can't describe it, but it was bad. Not like, quitting heroin bad, but... bad. | I honestly felt no effect. I was still as anxious as always. However, I was able to eat in a group a little better. That was nice. | F | 14 | 5 days | 12/5/2008 | 2 | seizures, anxiety | amnesia, drowsiness, slurred speech, dizziness, | If you are dependent on or addicted to other pills or substances, this is not for you. I abused opiates for a while and went through rehab. I was clean for 3 years. The doctor prescribed this for me and I was hooked. i started abusing klonopin, which led me back to opiates. If you are in my position, be honest with your doctor. Tell him/her about any previous substance abuse problems. | M | 28 | 2 months | 12/4/2008 | 1 | anxiety,insomnia | At first I was thrilled!!! with the wonderfull effects. Little did I knew that this drug could stop working at any time(tolerance) but physical dependence would stay and produce hell on earth!!! This is the hardest thing to beat in your life! I do not know if I live through it. My life has no quality anymore. Please,please,never ,never take it!!! | The better it works when you start it ,the worse for you!! You will get physically addicted and once the drug stops working(it may hapen any time!)you will live hell on earth. Never ending pain,insomnia,tremor,shaking,skin burning,psychiatric symptoms,obsessive thoughts,suicidal rushes,muscle weakness and tension unbelievable,inability to stand,sit or lie down,akhatisia,,seizures,horrible anxiety especially when knowing that these symptoms might be permanent or very long term. | 43 | 2.5 years | 12/4/2008 | 5 | Central Sleep Apnea / Anxiety | Drowsiness | Love it. Take 1 mg at night for Central Sleep apnea, and currently have no signs of Apnea. Recently prescribed .5 mg during day for general anxiety issues. I take it only on work days and do not find it addictive at all. I often forget to take it during the day! | M | 31 | 4 years | 11/30/2008 | 3 | GAD, Panic attacks | No side effects until withdrawal | When I first started Klonopin, I was 25 and my Doc but me on 4mg/day (1mgX4) Morn,Noon,Dinner,Bedtime. I had been taking serax prior which is short acting diazapam. For the first six years I would have told you it was the best thing since sliced bread. It was long acting,Controlled anxiety, and had no side effects. After 6 years my tolerance required more to acheive the same therapeautic affect. Withdrawal is hell. Feeling detached,disoriented,feel like your dying, memory problems and if not treated for the root cause of the anxiety, no progress. I don't drink, nor have I ever done illicit drugs. Yet I became addicted to Klonopin. To me it is no secret that presciption drug abuse is on the rise and the sad thing is Physicians must know the long term affects, act surprised when someone becomes addicted. After 4 months you become physically addicted. While, at first I was very grateful for the therapeutic releif and increase in my productivity in all aspects of life, after 25 years th | M | 50 | 20 years | 11/30/2008 | 5 | anxiety, GAD | none that I can remember | The best anti-anxiety medicine around. Drug stays active for 6 hours. My drug of choice for an "as needed" basis for anxiety. Helps me sleep when I need it to. | M | 31 | 2 years | 11/21/2008 | 4 | Extreme panic attacks/insomnia | Feeling groggy and spaced out all day, mild amnesia about past events, dry mouth when combined with SSRIs like Prozac. | If you are ever offered Klonopin or any other benzo, say NO! While it is extremely effective against anxiety, it is also extremely addictive. I've been on some form of benzos, starting with Valium, since 1981. I currently take 1 mg of Klonopin daily. The last time I was hospitalized for Bipolar II, it was not at my doctor's hospital, and they took me off it cold turkey! They did not tell my doctor, and I went through an awful withdrawal, losing nearly 15 pounds in one week. At least I was able to stop taking Restoril for insomnia and substitute Lunesta, but that wasn't easy. Going off Klonopin has never worked for me. By about two weeks, I've gone full-blown manic, not sleeping at all, freaking out, hearing voices, feeling like I'm leaving my body. I'm useless to everybody. It is a total nightmare. I will try again once my daughter goes to college (in eight years). | F | 53 | 18 years | 11/17/2008 | 1 | peripheral neuropathy at night | Have taken only one dose of .5mg at night. Doc advised to take for 3 nights to see if drug suited me. Slept okay with no hangover, but neuropathy slightly worse during day. Now in evening the pain in my feet is unbearable inspite of usual meds. having read side effects I don't think I will take again. | I have noticed very sensitive sense of smell. Every room in house smells different/ food smells not good. Dosed off during day and thought I wakened with racing heart. Feel almost elated, but tired at same time. Notice most people take for anxiety type problems - I am not anxious, so why these strange sensations? | F | 60 | 1 days | 11/15/2008 | 4 | sleep; anxiety | too high a dose is VERY dangerous | I keep my dose as low as possible, use it only at night, daily for a few months 1mg before bed. I sleep well, have vivid dreams and wake up refreshed. I have bipolar II. Sometimes I take .5 at night. I used to take 2mg as needed, broken up into 1 mg doses at a time and during the day. I am a full time student and this made me feel high and had a very bad effect on my test taking performance. I started to feel addictive and out of control. I used it to numb the hell out of myself after finding I became HIV+, that was okay for a little bit of time, and I'm glad I realized that and got off it then. I tapered MYSELF off it with awful withdrawal. AWFUL. Now, I'm on it again for nighttime anxiety and bad sleep. I keep my dose low, take it only at night, and I make it a point to get plenty of exercise to keep it moving through my system. It has a LONG half-life (12-60 hours, avg 35hours). Think about that when you pop this pill. The worse you can do is pop this drug whenever you | M | 31 | 4 months | 11/14/2008 | 4 | spasmodic torticollis | I have Spasmodic Torticollis and have been taking klonopin for almost 20 years with BoTox injections. This drug has been wonderful all this time. It has helped my neck, reduced anxiety and has helped me sleep. I have recently been trying to wean myself from it though. Long story short: major panic attack this a.m. going to work - had to come back home and call in sick. Don't know what to do now. Tried to wean off too quickly w/o doctor help, I think. | F | 50 | 19 years | 11/12/2008 | 4 | insomnia, some anxiety | besides addiction, none | HERE IS HOW TO SUCCESFULLY TAPER OFF THIS DRUG. (WILL ONLY WORK IF YOU ARE COMMITTED TO IT). DECREASE THE TOTAL AMOUNT YOU TAKE BY 5 -10 PERCENT EVERY 1-2 WEEKS. IT WORKS. I TRIED FASTER TAPERS BUT ALWAYS HAD SEVERE ANXIETY, INSOMNIA. THIS FORMULA DERIVED FROM THE BENZOS. ORG, SITE WHICH YOU MUST READ IF YOU ARE JUST STARTING TO TAKE IT. YOU DONT, BY THE WAY , NEED TO TAKE IT EVERY DAY TO BECOME ADDICTED. | M | 56 | 4 years | 11/12/2008 |
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ratings: 5-Very Satisfied: this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal. 4-Satisfied: this medicine helped. 3-Somewhat Satisfied: this medicine helped somewhat. 2-Not Satisfied: this medicine did not work to my satisfaction. 1-Dissatisfied: I would not recommend taking this medicine. |
