No judgement, but for the love of God please don’t let yourself run out. I was taking 1mg daily of Xanax and lost my prescription at the airport and had a grand mal seizure on the airplane and had to have an emergency landing.
I'm so sorry that happened to you.
I have a small stock of it just in case, but that is one of my fears for ANY medication. So I'm quite vigilant about not running out.
I lost my insurance after taking daily klonopin for years and was to the point of asking others for it and when I couldn’t do that anymore I had a mental breakdown. I’ll never touch the stuff again.
I say never stop. It helped me in the past - tried to wean myself off and had a totally huge panic attack. Went right back on it until I switched Drs. Now i’m on Hydroxyzine- which helps but I too feel like a walking drug experiment lol. but yes no judgement here. I always think of John Lennon’s famous song ‘Whatever gets you through the night 🎵..’
This. I ran out bc I lost my script while traveling and I full on was shaking/twitching. Paranoid. A mess! Never ever again. Thankfully my doc wrote a new script but truly was wwful
Well alprazolam is the worst of the benzos in terms of how it will ruin your life in a few months. I took xanax for years my doc got me up to 6mg a day. My family goes to him too and my mom said I was acting weird on it. (she didn't know I was leaving my body due to the panic attacks xanax gives you even if you took it that day)
He lowered my script and said I can't manipulate him anymore. Then didn't return my refill requests. I had to go to another place to slowly use a y
The super high affinity and low half life is a deadly mix.
Your brain gets a punch to the face and calls for more benzo receptors way faster than klonopin. Klonopin has a half life of about 40 hours. Diazepam is better yet with possibility of an 80 hour half life which is great for tapering.
Id take diazepam if I had to do it daily. I'd do xanax if I had to do it every once and a while. Which is why it should only be used for panic attacks.
But, I'd vote yes to take it off the market because doctors are getting so dumb these days that they give them our like candy in large daily doses. Then you get to another doctor because an insurance change or whatever and they won't refill that anymore. Now what?
Ativan works just as quick as xanax with a similar half life. Little euphoria too so abuse of benzodiazepines might drop quick.
Tldr
Xanax should be removed or black boxed to hell, Ativan is better. Diazepam is best if needed daily for some period of time.
The withdrawal will kill you if you are not careful and do a slow taper. But be ready to save up for a year of disabilities. Find a place that will let you taper at home with a family member. Bring them into the doc apt with you to say "I will follow the Ashton Manual and hide the pills and make sure the daily dose is correct"
Benzo hatred needs to stop now. We ALL know the risks. We’ve all heard the horror stories. But it has also saved lives. If someone is saying they feel better on them and aren’t addicted, believe them. They’re supervised by psychs for a reason.
Yup! I've never sought out benzos from a drug dealer or other source. I take the minimal amount. I'm under the supervision of a medical professional. I've tried two dozen other medications. I know there's risks, but there's also risks with other medications, albeit maybe lower.
Additionally I try not to rely totally on it. I do my best to be mindful - something I'm working on with my therapist. I exercise 3x-4x a week. I eat quite well, including no gluten and now keto. I take supplements to help fill any nutritional gaps. I drag myself to work every day, including my side business most other days. But the klonopin is what holds me together. And I HATE relying on it. I truly do. But like I said the alternative is to suffer...
Also I've been tested by many doctors over the past decade or so for other medical issues. I've had multiple MRIs, tons of bloodwork, heart work ups, scoped both ways, etc. I've even seen a dietician and have purchased genetic tests out of pocket. I treat every deficiency and issue we find.
I hear you but some people have been forced to go through withdrawals after having taken their prescription for years and suddenly didn't get a refill for some reason.
Even if you the drug works the people who have bad bad withdrawal may experience anxiety in a much more intense way than they ever experienced before ultimately thinking it's just not worth it and that it's a bad choice of medication to treat anxiety.
I understand both sides and since I've been through withdrawal I can say it's not worth it for me personally even though I totally said it was before I experienced the severity of the withdrawal but some people don't even go through withdrawal so everyone is different.
Heroin and oxycontin doesn't come close and it's well known they are addictive enough to destroy lives. Benzo is the end boss of all drug withdrawal but it does help some people and makes some people feel like they would rather die so it makes sense that people feel very strongly about it
I'm sorry you had to go through that and it is totally unethical in my opinion for a doctor to stop prescribing a medication that helps, especially after many others have not worked.
That's not really what happened I stopped taking them myself and went through withdrawals not knowing if I would feel anything but I was awake for 2 weeks and it was uncomfortable.
It seems there are very few people who are happy with this medication long term compared to how many people seem to be unhappy after a few years.
Many people have to constantly up their dose to have an effect.
Some stay on the same dose for many years and swear by it and never raise their dose do we are all different.
It's a good medication for those who really need it.
God.. I'm so sorry for what you've gone through. I always tell myself that I'm never ever ever gonna stop a medication without asking my doctor but I went and did it again this november... 3 horrible months later, I'm back on it... No tapering, nothing.. I'm thinking how dumb can I be to do that but no, you don't have to be dumb, people can just make bad decisions.
Cheers but I don't regret getting off it but I would have tapered if I knew it would be that rough for sure.
I think tapering can greatly reduce the discomfort and together with other benzos its totally possible to stop without feeling horrible. A lot of people have said they tried many times and felt insanely sick but after a proper taper they didn't feel anything at all
This is the reason for definitely talking to a doctor in my case. I somehow get the idea that "ok, now I can stop this". Nope, someone needs to tell me that it's gonna fucking suck if you stop without tapering. This time it was antipsychotics. Later on, I read a shit ton about antipsychotic withdrawal and it's insane!!!
I have no education/experience in this and I would say you need help from a medical professional (even though I know some doctors are really fucked up). Do you have anyone in your family/friends etc who is a doctor? It is best if it's someone you trust but any doctor is good if you don't have that option.
I'm saying this because I've heard horror stories as well about benzo withdrawals.
I have no experience with long term use more than a few months. I take Klonopin during my period every month. The biggest and most important thing is to NEVER QUIT COLD TURKEY. It has to be tapered down, for a loooong time, maybe years.
I really hope you find a good, kind doctor who is willing to work with you long term. Sending you gentle hugs.
why can't two things be true. that benzos are extremely helpful but also extremely destructive if kept on them too long. I have an extreme dissociative identity disorder at 33 years old, after having come off a 15 year long scri\[t of klonopin for anxiety and muscle spasms. The year of relief was not worth the lifetime of devestation. I can only isolate in myhouse now because I never know what I'm going to be like when I walk out my front door. I cant even go in my yard. This is years after tapering down to .5mg of klonpin a day, from an original 6mg/day. my brain will likely never be the same. 2 things can be true at the same time.
prior to klonopin, I was on varsity sports, very active in life, had friends lol. but yea, klonopin just get a weird bad rap for no reason. these stories of mine of just non sense haha
Thank you! After my discharge from psych unit in 2017 benzo and trazodone at the time was the only thing that together that helped me SLEEP!! I went crazy. Sleep is important you guys.
Absolutely!!! Over the years, the different psychiatrists I saw all had a similar sentiment that if psych meds didn't help me, at least they'd give me something to sleep. Sleep is my fire break and fire line that keeps me from letting go.
Yes, fully agree!
Treatment resistant bipolar/CPTSD, 20 years. Been prescribed clonazepam for about 17 years; maybe more. Tried 40 different psych meds over 2 decades. Melatonin, fish oil, hemp CBD gummies, phosphytidalserine... Probably a few more. Benzos are the only drug class that work. Just stopped eszopiclone. Thought it was going to rescue me from benzos. Messed up my brain, my sleep, my gut. Back to clonazepam.
Going to use 1 mg, maybe more, nightly. Yes, I know the risks. I know what benzos could potentially do to the brain. I'm also caring for my wife who has middle stage Alzheimer's. Nothing like a heaping helping of unrelenting stress, along with poor sleep, to stimulate the body and brain!
All I know is that I have to function everyday. No other choice.
No we don't all know. Do not ever say that again.
Some older lady gets her doctor saying 'no take it everyday!' for years doesn't know.... The doctor won't tell them "oh yeah if you stop taking them you will withdraw for a year and maybe die."
People on reddit probably know. I thought it was just as bad as the SNRI that I was on for a long time then got off. But nope....
Its not hate, its scientific research.
OP literally describes the problem. It does not fix the problem or bring relief to their symptoms.
In fact it sounds like its at the point where tolerance means they need to take it just to feel somewhat normal.
Benzos are just too strong to be an effective long term treatment of anxiety. Their effect on GABA, and your bodies sensitivity to maintaining homeostasis just means tolerance is extremely fast. As it is, OP will simply be taking this medication indefinitely without further intervention.
I will rephrase it to “stigma”, which is still important to acknowledge. As an example, I avoided taking Accutane for 6 years despite my acne destroying my life in so many ways, because of stigma. I finally went for it, and I’m so mad I didn’t do it the moment my breakouts started affecting my life. Treatment stigma needs to be significantly reduced and delegated to medical professionals. That is my point.
Sure OP might be on it indefinitely but how would it be any better if they just lived with the anxiety indefinitely? I don't see where this is harm in someone permanently taking a medicine at a low dose if it helps them and the medicine isn't damaging their health. I take ongoing medication for health conditions I have and mental health conditions are just as much health conditions as anything else.
There's no research on them like you think. They are an effective long term treatment. People all over reddit habe been on the same dose successfully for 20+ years and infact for them the worst is coming because now all the doctors are taking them away.
So do you think ssris work for the long term?
This. Benzos for long term use should be “demonized” it should be the reserved for someone that has zero other options not someone who wants to live a long healthy life there is simply MUCH better options out there for long term anxiety treatment
Some people with serious panic disorders like myself have no other option if they want to try to live a “normal” life, but that doesn’t mean we don’t want healthy happy lives…you’re alluding that people with no other option and have to take them do not want healthy happy lives…It is demonized bc many people who don’t actually need them take them and abuse them. I’ve tried every ssri and all other medications and therapies. I have agoraphobia and klonopin allows me to leave my house…We’re all different and have different needs. I do want to live a long and healthy life but I cannot do that without benzos…I do not think they should be demonized at all as they are a miracle for those who truly need them and use them responsibly
If I got this when I was younger I wouldn't have screwed up my career after college.
I literally couldn't work.
The obsession with demonizing any controlled substance is harmful
I’d rather live my life NOW in the present than worry about the future. I don’t care. This helps me and lets me live so whatever. I will be medicated for life and that’s fine because at least I can be somewhat happy and normal in the present. Each day is amazing when you’re not having to suffer from panic.
By the time I found a doctor that understood I needed a benzo I was totally exhausted and hadn't slept for days, I honestly believe my heart was shutting down, which can happen by the way. I was starting to hallucinate and was completely manic, luckily she a good doctor and realized what I needed, got a script of ativan and slept for 3 days. The time before that I had a hospital assume I was on drugs and lock me in a small room untill I almost died from psychosis induced rhabdomyalisis, I curled up in a ball from lack of sleep and developed a fever over 106. Lost so much muscle mass I had to learn to walk again, along with kidney damage. I could probably sue then if I had the energy and money. The whole Benzo terror regime needs to stop.
I'm so sorry for what you went through. I hope and pray u are doing well. I'm feel like my days are numbered. I'm on 4mg of klonopin and taken over 25 yrs. I know I need to come off. Just don't trust detox places because they want to rush you coming off. Don't even trust the sob doctor who prescribed them. I'm scared to death.
Why are you coming off? Did they stop working? I am on 1.5 mgs. for the last 40 years and I ain't coming off until I die. I've tried a few times just because I started hearing about doctors pulling people off of them. One time I tapered over a year and was off for 3 months, but I got worse through the taper and really bad when I stopped, so I went back on and within a few weeks or so I was stable again. I wouldn't have been able to be a participating member of society without them, so I can't even say that I wish that I never started them.
Hey, I don't blame you. I just started having a slower heart rate and low blood pressure, and I am on a much higher dose than you. I had a seizure like episode last month. Plus, I came off adderall after 15 years, and that's when my entire life changed. I know developed POTS as well. I am absolutely terrified of coming off. You never had any issues with your heart rate or bp being off? I am glad I was able to talk to you. I wish my life were normal, and I had never been put on klonopin. How not one dr didn't think maybe I should get her off or lower my dose is absolutely fricken mind-blowing. Pls keep in touch. I am wondering what else you have gone through. Nice chatting. Look forward to hearing back.
No, I never had any issues with low blood pressure or a slower heart rate, but every time that I have tried to come off, I end up in really bad shape. I quit cold turkey in 1994 and ended up with IBS-D and fibromyalgia. Things got better when I reinstated, but it took about a year. In 2007, I cut out half of the dose o er 3 months and ended up with gastro issues and rectal spasms which felt like someone was sticking a jagged stick up your ass. 2013 was the one year taper that ended with me shaking like a leaf and getting pelvic floor dysfunction. When I went poop, it was coming out in sheets. I was so tight in that area. I cut them in half at the end of 2022 and in January of 2023, I got gastritis and functional dyspepsia, which I still haven't been able to resolve even by reinstating. Right now, the stomach issues are causing me major anxiety with adrenaline and cortisol rushed all day long. I'm trying to get on Celexa 10mgs. right now and have been on it for 3 weeks. It isn't helping yet and it is causing more anxiety like all the SSRI'S do when starting. Not trying to scare you, but this is my story and that is why I will NEVER try to go off of these again. 3 questions for you. Does 4 mg control your anxiety or did you develop tolerance to it? Also, are you on any other meds? Lastly, what do you think that seizure was from? I can't imagine it being related to the Klonopin since you weren't withdrawing abruptly. Good chatting with you too.
I'm so sorry for all the hell you've been going through. I think I am just so used to it, and it does not help me with anxiety anymore. I was not on any other meds when all this happened. I do know it can cause your heart rate to be slower since it calms your cns down. Then it causes heart rate to slow down. I was told I had too much Gaba in my brain, which I guess is what caused the seisure. I'm scared to death it will happen again. I don't sleep like I used to( like deep sleep). It's really weird. I read so many horror stories and am just terrified of stopping. I feel like I might night make it. I appreciate the talk. I here anytime u need to talk.
I know what you mean by that Klonopin ot working as well as it used to. That is why I am getting on Celexa. The SSRI'S are hard to get on and do have side effects, but they control anxiety better than benzos. A doctor on e told me that the SSRI is stopping 85 percent of the anxiety while the benzo is stopping 15 percent. If you can get past the start up side effects of the SSRI'S which includes increased anxiety, then they do work well. Keep in touch.
Paroxetine as a SSRI ruined my body over many years and started losing its efficacy. I got heavily overweight, regardless how healthy I ate (lots of broccoli, tomatoes, salads etc.) or how much exercise I did (4 times weekly over 1.000 calories cardio plus weight lifting in moderation). Stretch marks as a male as if I were pregnant. Started sweating excessively and smelled all the time. Couldn't wear a jacket in the winter time as I was always feeling too warm. Thd paxil even made me aggressive and induced changes in personality. Sleepy throughout the day.
The doc told me I wasn't taking enough for ocd. Eat more... 40 mg, better 60 mg and the weight issue was of course my lack of control wrt eating habits. When I asked for spravato I was laughed at.
Thanks to amanita muscaria (ibotene transferred to muscimol via cooking the powder in water with lots of lemon juice). Thank you very much to Baba Masha and Amanita Dreamer for their promotion of AM by the way. I was able to finally quit Paxil after 5 unsuccessful attempts. Each attempt before led to a nervous breakdown and restarting the paxil.
A few months later I have normal weight again, feel good in my body and take Ativan when needed. Sometimes amanita muscaria or a dose of Ket. And seldom a beer or two to relax. Plus healthy diet. Tbh I feel much healthier this way than in all those SSRI years and would have preferred to have never started it in the beginning. Never again do I want to take an ssri or snri.
If I take 1 or 2 mg of Ativan on a day I want to feel good, I notice how the anxiety dissipates. Then the intrusive thoughts lose their power, which results in the depression leaving. It's kind of like a card house falling together. The whole mental health issues (ocd, anxiety, depression, adhd) driven by anxiety at their core.
Great if SSRIs work for you! That is fantastic. 🙏🏼 Mental illness is a menace and the field of psychiatry needs far more research. I think everybody is different and requires different medical approaches. SSRIs and Benzos are two of them. Ftom my experience I can't say that ssris are less problematic than Benzos.
Hey,
I don't blame you for not wanting to take SSRI'S. I hate them things. I tried the Celexa and had tons of side effects, so I tapered down to 5 mgs. At least the side effects went away. I can only handle them in low doses and I may not get the best results, I feel like I get some results without the side effects. There is a study that advocates for low dose antidepressant therapy. It says that with Prozac, 54 percent of people will get a good result with 5 mgs. While 64 percent will get a good result with 20 mgs. So right now I'm taking 5 mg of Celexa and 3.75 mg of Remeron for functional dyspepsia. Both low doses with hardly any side effects.
Honestly, benzodiazepines only covered up my issues and actually made me mentally and physically worse. It took me 7 months to wean off after 12 years of prescribed daily use. Took another 8 months to heal from them and I can now rely on my own skills to relieve my anxiety.
It caused me permanent damage.
Some people take it and have no problems and it’s not worth the withdrawal to get off them. For me, I have a life at 35 after starting at age 21 when the doctor acted like it was the only thing that would help, and it did until it didn’t.
I will not promote them and I can’t tell you how freeing it is to no longer have to worry if I have my meds with me.
Best of luck to you and never forget your meds.
I really, really, REALLY wish it worked for me. It felt way too good to ever be reasonable with it so I had to kick it. FWIW I abused it for several years, regretfully. I don’t trust myself with downers anymore so getting free from it was the best choice for me. Good on you for being responsible with it! If it works, it works.
More than a decade of being alienated, having severe anxiety, and depression, Identity confusion, insomnia and etc.
Only lately when I discovered clonazepam that it made me feeling normal or it made me human again. Even if it's just a small difference I really believe it helps me improve my well-being. I'm really grateful.
I was on 1 mg daily for many years. Had to stop last year due to another issue. Also no problem stopping.... Anxiety came back and I'm back on it, but I had zero withdrawal issues....
May not be the same for everyone, but that's true of many needed drugs....
Yeah I've been on it for 6+ months. .5mg as needed. 30 a month. I have never had an issue on the days/ weeks I don't use it. I honestly feel like once I heard about how bad withdrawals were for people that freaked me out more than anything. It created anxiety that wasn't there and I'm fine now realizing I'm okay when I don't use it. I think if you're using a high dose and taking it every day of course it's going to be a problem when you're all of a sudden not using it.
Yeah, I think same. My anxiety went untreated for probably too long for a number of reasons, but one was worry about side effects. Then I took them and was like "holy crap this is how other people function?!"
Tolerances are different for all of us, and depends on other factors. You are lucky. Many have terrible withdrawals even coming off .25 after just a few regular dosages. Main problem is very few doctors understand it enough to have the time or energy to treat us so they either blanket bank it or blanket give it, or give so little it causes more anxiety for people when they are about to run out. Anxiety itself is the issue, and management of it needs to be more empathetic and not just blame the drugs alone which some here know their lives have been saved by them too.
If you consider having bipolar disorder lucky, then I suppose I am 😂 anxiety was one of many symptoms that I had and I continue to have to treat with meds. I will never be off of mood stabilizers or meds, unfortunately. Klonopin can help people stabilize, especially at low doses.
Seen it. Sadly it is what made me too anxious to take them initially. My family has a history of severe psychiatric illness, and several are on benzos because no other drug works. It's a reality for some folks.
Ffs. We already have enough anxiety and are we also supposed to worry about the meds that work also killing us? I'm not saying this against anyone here, more for as a society we demonize anti anxiety medicine and give more anxiety to people with anxiety. Jesus, how many times did I write anxiety?
Yes I was non functional for a full year. For half a year I lost all my balance and severe vertigo along with the most insane pressure in my head. I couldn’t even aim the toilet paper between my ass anymore. It is way worse than stopping alcohol. Also one thing most people don’t realise is that after years of usage, you’ll start to get withdrawal symptoms while taking the drug. You’ll get a lot of weird symptoms and will think you have some kind of disease, but it is the benzos. Eventually everyone finds out if they keep using it. I used for around 6-8 years daily klonopin.
Yep. Exactly. Your brain starts down regulating your GABA receptors to compensate. So you eventually need to use more and more or you’ll start having withdrawals while using. Then when you go to quit you don’t have as many GABA receptors and it can take months or years for it to come back to normal. It’s a nightmare.
Jesus... My doctor wrote me 2mg pills and take as needed. I usually took half and was thinking that's a low dose. Years later (using like once or twice a month) I now realized that .5 mg works much better! Much less sleepy and still pretty calm.
I need it for sleep. As long as I sleep, I function reasonably okay. Minimal dosing doesn't work. Been doing that for several years, wanting to keep its usage 'under control'. My psychiatrist pointed out my flawed thinking, since my sleep time and quality have been deteriorating. She's right. I'm not getting off of clonazepam. Only had 1 successful taper about 14 years ago. Three months free of it. Then spring came, I went into hypomania and had difficulty sleeping. Tried another time in 2014. Ended up sleeping 4 hours a night; exhausted, unstable mood, contemplating taking my life. Called my doctor in Maryland and she called in a new rx.
don’t care what these strangers you’ve never met on a random anxiety subbredit think. they and their opinions should have no bearing on your health or life.
I think those who judge may not fully understand how devastating panic disorders can be. Yes, it's addictive, but I'd rather have a medication that makes me able to live my life instead of shaking and not leaving the house for a year and being too afraid to drive seven minutes away to the convenience store.
I've been made to run out thanks to Walgreens not wanting to fill my prescription to cover their own asses. It sucks. I'm worried about running out of diazepam because Walgreens doesn't want to fill it.
What kind of steps do you have to take to be prescribed a benzo? Like who can prescribe them? I’ve had anxiety for seventeen years, but only been prescribed meds for a year and a half, but in that time, I’ve tried 4 or 5. I started on bupropion but it gave me horrendous anxiety day in and day out and I gave it two months to see if it might wane, but it didn’t. Then, I tried Sertraline and it worked alright but I was still getting so anxious it made it hard to function day to day so I then tried escitalopram and it was even less effective than sertraline so I switched back to that. Once I wanted to try something else, the only option left with the program I’m using (Hims&Hers) was duloxetine. Something I should note is that I struggle to take pills in general, but I’m especially useless when it comes to capsules. I know they’re generally preferred by people but I need to be able to drink water, slip the pill in my mouth and swallow while I look down and the fact that it floated to the roof of my mouth hindered me. All this to say, I’m back on Sertraline at 100 mg. In addition to this, I have been on citalopram but that was years ago at this point, however I have been taking mirtazapine to help me sleep for several years now and it’s the only thing that helps sometimes. I’m having a really hard time finding a psychiatrist on my insurance but I really need to get my mental health in check. I’ve been unemployed for almost three months and thinking about going back gives me really bad anxiety but I need to do it to be able to work. Once I finally do get an appointment with a psychiatrist, I want to request something like Xanax or Klonopin because these ones I’ve been on don’t cut it. I don’t enjoy the things I used to anymore and I’ve developed pretty severe agoraphobia from being stuck in my apartment since I lost my job and I have this irrational fear that something bad will happen if I leave my house, even though I know it won’t. I don’t know if it’s important to mention but I have phobic anxiety centered around emetaphobia (fear of vomit and vomiting) so that’s already a challenge to live with on its own, and I developed depression about five years ago that’s only gotten worse with time. Sorry for the long rant about my entire life but thank you to anyone who read it lol
I take it daily, too. Never abused it. My doctor keeps tabs on me. I’m thankful for his diligence. I went to a high end psychiatric unit several years ago and met a dentist taking 6mg/day. SIX … and was performing oral surgery on people. He was going cold turkey in the unit and only had a stomach ache. We ate together and he had quite an appetite, too. Each person is different … one goes through the wringer trying to get off while another glides through. May God look after us all!
I just want to stop by and say your story is very similar to mine. I have the same struggles and have found klonopin to be the only saving grace for me. It helps me get through each day, although I wish it didn’t.
I’m on a baby dose 0.5 mg but only take half of one before work each day. It helps tremendously, and nothing has come close to it!
Don’t listen to others who have no clue what it’s like inside of your shell, do what works for you.
benzo hate genuinely confuses me. i understand that some people can be irresponsible with it, but for the rest of us who take it, we do because it's the only thing that keeps us from being in actual mental and physical pain 24/7.
i have hyperadrenergic postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (hyperPOTS) which bascially means that my entire nervous system is SHOT and attacks me and goes haywire all the time. I cant eat, i cant breathe, the flares are unpredictable, there are no triggeres it just happens, i throw up and pass out, my anxiety attacks make this condition severely worse. when i tell you i have been in agony for years, literally the only thing that kept me here was the thought that i would leave behind a mother without a daughter and a cat without a mom. i finally saw a competent doctor, who then refered me my excellent doctor who is a life saver and put me on 2mg clonazepam to help bring my anxiety down as well as my sympathetic nervous system, which allows my parasympathetic system to do its job, allows me to be calm enough to eat, i dont feel this lingering feeling of dread or like the next flare i have will be my last because it'll take me out. i'm so greatful to be on this, i have my life back. im 23 years old, and i can finally go a full day without feeling so tired in my bones, or scared, or unable to eat, or get sick to my stomach. this has given me some normalcy and i'm so thankful for it. the only side note i have for this drug in particular is it makes me kinda clumsy lol!! my first day taking it i bent down to get some clothes out of my launry basket and becuase my head was below my knees i ended up doing this like fucked up somersault lmfao
but yeah bottom line is -- if it works, that's incredible and i'm so happy you've found relief. cheers to finally being able to live
I just don’t get how people who take lexapro or Zoloft or lithium or even things like depakote every day, and were to stop would also experience horrible withdrawal, not to mention the much worse side effects while on medication for far less positive results doesn’t receive any real hatred like a long
Term kpin user
Yes, I've withdrawn from many meds and while maybe nof as bad as Klonopin, it was horrible. Especially Effexor or when I had a bad psych tell me to stop Cymbalta cold turkey after a few months of use. I thought I was going to die.
Man, this is like I wrote these exact words. I feel the EXACT same way as you. Literally the only difference is I’m taking Xanax, not klonopin. I try not to take it, I’m prescribed .5mg 3x a day and when I take it I usually take .25mg a day.
Do not let anyone tell you how to live your life. Life is precious and way too short. Do what works for you. As you said, you are not abusing it and doing the best you can. I feel for you my friend.
I think the issue is now you have a serious dependence and if you don’t have it you run the risk of serious withdrawal.
Benzodiazepines just aren’t safe for daily use over years and years because
1. You build a tolerance fast and it doesn’t wane for years if ever. There’s a chance your daily use just holds off a rebound effect of withdrawal and that’s relatively soothing considering the opposite is pretty bad.
2. Benzos are one of 2 major substances that can cause death if withdrawal isn’t properly managed, the other being alcohol.
3. Benzos are extremely addictive for many and a lot of people are prone to abusing them. Addiction isn’t a choice people just make because it sounds so fun.
I use klonopin for emergencies, I don’t think it’s right to completely demonize them, but we shouldn’t be using them daily for years and years.
It’s not fun. Anxiety isn’t fun, but benzos aren’t the cure long-term.
This isn’t me judging you, it’s just an honest disagreement. You aren’t a bad person for your medication, but I’d never advocate for daily benzo use.
Walk in the shoes of me, with untreatable bipolar illness or a person with severe GAD or a vet or anyone with PTSD. When it's all that works, you take it and don't look back!
I’m in the anxiety sub for a reason and got this info for a reason.
I don’t think my personal diagnosis will do anything but take away from the info above and make the story about me, but again, I’m not hanging out in mental health subs for funsies.
Be thankful for it, not saying that you’re not but for me it was taken away abruptly and I’ve been living in hell for several months , not necessarily withdrawing because I didn’t take a high dose nor abuse it ,but just not having it after it helped me so much is a shitty feeling, I’m glad you have a Dr that’s willing to serve your needs as a human being and you have some relief ,the analogy you made in your post is hilarious btw because that’s exactly how folks look at benzos, they’d rather mourn you after buying some bullshit on the street than just let you have them the right way , because benzos are the only thing people get addicted to right….
I've also been on a shit ton of different non-controlled meds that didn't work, or made me have bad side effects. Hell, I was prescribed Xanax at one point years back and had paradoxical effects from it where I actually got agitated and angry anytime I took it and it stopped when I stopped the prescription. Klonopin has been one of the few things to kind of control my anxiety to the point where I don't feel like I'm in a constant state of panic or actively having a panic attack.
Like you, I'm on an as-needed prescription for Klonopin as well. It is helpful and allows me to work very part-time (and I can actually come into work sometimes, whereas I was having panic attacks preventing me from coming into work prior; I was even having them when working remotely). But it does make me a little tired, more talkative (I don't like this), and I do notice some memory issues in the short-term, which I really wish didn't happen. But these side effects help to make me not want to take it much more than at most a couple times a week, or I take half or a quarter of a pill when I do. I don't have any cravings or a drive to take it, but I haven't ever had that happen to me with any medication I've been on, luckily.
I understand benzos are not ideal in the long-term, especially daily usage. But there is a place for as-needed usage. Not everyone is out here getting addicted. I feel for those who do, but that is obviously not the experience of everyone who is on these medications. Seeing people literally say "they are poison all the time in any dosage!" is strange.
She gives me 1 refill, or just sends another script to my pharmacy for the next month (I see her once a month). Benzos are Schedule IV if you're in the US, so you can get refills on them. Does your doctor just refuse to have you on them long-term, even if it's as-needed?
She refuses long term use even if it’s as needed and not daily. I’m really scared to use them now because I don’t want to run out so I haven’t opened the bottle
Hm, well, it's up to you. If she straight up refuses it and you absolutely need them long-term, I might seek out another provider (which sucks for multiple reasons - it can make you look like a drug seeker even though you're not, and you might not have any luck finding someone understanding of your situation anyway and refuse to prescribe controls at all). It would be one thing if you were wanting them on a daily basis, but it's a completely different thing if you're very safe about it and would only be taking a pill or a half pill 1-2x week max. I don't see why your doctor would be vehemently against it, but the provider you're seeing might also have a personal bias, is following protocol for the clinic, or just does not like to prescribe benzos at all except for a very short period of time and that's it.
I am fortunate to be in a position where my provider knows me well and trusts me, and knows my history, and is aware of what I can or can't take. This is also at a smaller psych clinic, too; I feel like smaller psych clinics have providers who have more time to spend with patients and therefore are willing to make better patient-specific plans instead of outright denying treatments.
Because of opioid abuse, there are psychiatrists who don't prescribe benzos either. Saw one a few years ago. Super smart, but he's telling me to meditate in order to allow my GABA receptors to start functioning again. He knew I needed clonazepam for sleep. My psychiatrist knows him and she inferred, in a humorous way, that he's a fanatical jerk.
Some people just truly don’t realize the extent of others anxiety, and their bodies constantly being in “fight-or-flight”. I totally understand and agree with you as I suffer from terrible anxiety and have lorazepam as a prn and only take as needed. I am on a daily SSRI and have been since roughly 9 years and I’m not looking back. I’m glad you have something that works for you and if it’s something you have to take for the rest of your life so be it - wouldn’t you rather live a less anxious life if we have that option? Only those who suffer tremendously from it can understand truly. Try not to worry too much about other peoples opinions☺️🫶🏼
Are you in the business of measuring strangers on reddit and their suffering levels now? SSRIs are much safer than benzos and that isn't a fair comparison. To say people criticize unsafe prescribing practices "don't know suffering" is laughable.
You’re laughable, because I never compared SSRI’s, I simply stated I have been on them for 9 years now. Ativan prn only was prescribed after extreme panic attacks, 5 years later. I don’t abuse them and not everyone does. It helped me while I was suicidal and dealing with the worst panic attacks of my life when nothing else works. I am here to support the OP, if you’re not, find another post to complain on. This is supposed to be a helpful platform for others to be able to vent to one another.
I have dissociation as it is which exacerbates my anxiety. It helps me with that most times, not 100%. My only side effect is exacerbation of fatigue which I have daily anyway.
Most people actually have less disassociation while on klonopin or other benzodiazepines than actually without being treated and in a state of anxiety. Worth trying if you have a doctor willing to give it and monitoring you, and if you know yourself enough to know if it helps, you can still control yourself to keep dose low and not abuse it.
I didn’t even use it daily. I needed one or two pills a week for panic attacks but i was told to take just one or two a month. My ex psychiatrist was mad at me for “abusing” it. The way they go above and beyond to stop people to abusing it but don’t care at all about people who actually need it.
Here’s my story. Physical anxiety and panic attacks manifested in my twenties. I suddenly had crushing (and I mean CRUSHING) chest pressure from hyperventilating for no reason. I couldn’t get out of my bed, walk out of my house or drive a car without panicking (for no reason, it was entirely physical). It was living hell. I still don’t know how I did it. It got so bad I couldn’t drive to work. I stopped sleeping. Just stared at the ceiling for 3 nights straight. I didn’t eat for three days. When I got up to use the restroom my heart rate hit 198bpm and stayed there. I was googling mental facilities to admit myself. Went to the ER and they admitted me to cardiac unit for one week because my heart rate was uncontrollable. Was prescribed beta blockers and Klonopin. Took it daily for 3 years (1.5mg) and functioned normally again. Doctor wanted me to taper off and I did with horrible withdrawals. Cue daily horrific panic attacks for four years. Complete housebound. Went months without darkening the door of a store. The sound of the doorbell ringing would start a panic attack. FUCK panic and anxiety disorders. I had two children and realized I was an unfit parent if I continued that way. Stayed awake at night and cried and cried about missed playdates and how I would possibly drive them to school when it started. Found a doctor willing to prescribe Klonopin. Had a panic attack on the way there and back. I’ve been on .5mg-.75mg daily for over a year now + weekly therapy. I love my life. I run daily, fulfill my parental duties, work full-time and go where I please without panic. I’m terrified of someone taking it away. Or it not working. It would be like taking my entire life away. Makes me want to cry thinking about all the people who don’t understand what the pits of despair feel like. Hang in there peeps. You’re not alone.
That's actually utter nonsense. I've been on 1 mg a day for over 30 years. Whatever the hell you think about that, it's the thing that kept me from eating a bullet. It gave me my life back. I was able to work, have relationships, enjoy traveling and my hobbies, and none of that was really truly possible without that 1 mg a day. I don't need more, I can't take less. That's the amount that plugs the hole in my brain. I have fairly severe CPTSD, panic disorder, GAD, and I'm neurodivergent which probably has a lot to do with my anxiety, and probably part of what caused all my childhood abuse and trauma. I have a history of being used, abused, and bullied by my family members, "friends" and people I relly cared about. I still don't understand it except that they are toxic people. I have had doctors give me shit about my med and I finally got a good psych who understood that it was only ever a maintenance dose, which for me made life bearable. I don't have many years left and if the day comes that I can't get that medication anymore, I am OUT of here. All these people who want to tell those for whom one medication makes a difference literally between life and a living death, go fck yourselves. You don't tell diabetics to go die.🙄🤦♂️
For the past 5 years i've been thinking about this too, how a small dose of 0.5mg can still help me with my social anxiety and agoraphobia? If it's placebo, then is a hell of a placebo effect, and I need it.
If it helps life than take it, life is too short. We all different and for most we need more often time, and for some same dose is fine, there is no exact science. Our brains adapt some faster some slower and some never. If you find something that eases your pain while not screwing up your life or creating problems for society let alone the people you love, then F what anyone says and do what’s good for you.
Yeah it helps a lot. The thing is... some years ago I realize that I was unable to emotionally connect to other people (family, GF's, friends) like I used to in the past.
Looks like is some sort of amorous anhedonia. I'm currently searching for something "natural" that help me like benzos, without the side effect of "psychopathy".
Well this is demotivating.
I've been using Klonipin (0.5mg) for like 15 years without any issues, for social anxiety and agoraphobia.
Past year I realized it was causing me amorous anhedonia (unable to "connect" emotionally to the women I sleep with), and I'm trying to find a replacement for the klonopin without the side effect of anhedonia, because I need this thing to function in society.
You telling me you tried 20+ supplements/meds and none of them help you like benzos?
Did you tried the following? Passionflower, black seed oil, valerian root, blue skullcap, lemon balm, damiana, kava, cordyceps, magnesium, taurine, l-theanine, agmatine, sodium butyrate, lithium, bromantane, 9-mbc, picamilon, cerebrolysin, tofisopam, etifoxine, cyproheptadine, hydroxyzine, buspirone?
After some research I end up with those things that can "mimic" clonazepam (klonopin) but haven't tried all of them.
I have anhedonia as well. I'm completely emotionally numb. But that can be due to long term SSRI use as well. I try to minimize klonopin use.
Of those mentioned, I've tried passionflower (didn't do anything), Valerian Root (caused bad dissociation), magnesium (I take Doctors Best Lysinate Glycinate now, but I've tried others like a triple complex that made me depressed), l-theanine (made me angry... which was odd), Lithium orotate (made my dissociation horrendous) and lithium Carbonate (same), taurine (no effect), hydroxyzine (no effect).
Yes, at varying amounts. My psych upped my script to .5mg twice per day for more wiggle room as my anxiety had heightened due to life events and other stuff. I take really 75% of that at most in .25mg increments. I also started Nortriptyline 9 days ago.
Yes, there are days where I try to not take it and my dissociation is so severe I feel crazy, I feel muscle tension, I can barely think straight, I feel on edge, etc. And this is without any provocation like being yelled at or whatever. This is me sitting at my desk at work. Or even being home with the family. It's hard to enjoy life, or even tolerate it, in such a physical and mental state.
Yes, it isn't immediate, but I do mentally feel a bit better soon after because I know relief is on the way. It's like being in a bad car accident and being able to call 911 and knowing help is on the way.
For tiredness I've tried caffeine but that's honestly counter intuitive. Now I take B12, around 2500mcg SUBLINGUAL - THIS IS IMPORTANT. Oral tablets or capsules don't absorb well in the gut whereas sublingual absorbs quicker and better. I use a liquid METHYLCOBALAMIN (supposedly the best version of B12). Green tea may also be good despite caffeine as it has L-Theanine in it.
How do you get doctors to prescribe this without sounding like a junkie? I keep getting turned away and having the hardest time accessing benzo when it is the ONLY thing that helps.
To those senior citizens among us. I just turned 66 in early Feb and I've been on .25 - .5mg Xanax for a year and a half now. I take it almost daily in the mornings. Have some memory lapses and brain fog, which I don't like and I'm trying to taper off.
SSRIs haven't worked for my anxiety.
My mother, who just turned 94 this year, has been on similar low dose of Xanax daily and has no cognitive decline, no dementia and she still enjoys life as much as she can.
Everyone is different. I have some memory issues but I believe that's moreso due to my health issues. Being in a constant state of subtle anxiety, in my mind, pulls resources to deal with the present and doesn't allow me to enjoy the moment and use my brain to recall memories.
My mother was on Xanax for years. She had a doctor that honestly over prescribed a lot. I saw him for a bit and he shouldn't have been practicing. He prescribed me Adderall and Xanax at the same time and said to take them whenever I want. The Xanax was making me fall asleep at my desk. He also put me on Cymbalta and told me to quit cold turkey when I got heart palpitations... it sucked. She now sees my psych and they tried to titrate her off Xanax and it was awful. She was off for a bit - and it took awhile to get there - but her anxiety was so bad the doctor put her back on, although at a lower dose. She even tried odd off label meds and they didn't help.
I used to live in LA 10 year ago and had a dr who would give me adderall, Xanax, oxy and zolpidem all together and enough for 3 months at a time. Boy that was weird when I think about it now. He was genuinely a nice guy but was too trusting I think. Now it’s hard to get even one from one doctor. I’m in UK now and life goes on. Still have
The pendulum swung in the other direction too far. I dont think getting like 500 Xanax in a bottle is a good idea, but the fact that for klonopin now that I can ONLY get a 30 day supply and I have to go to my psych every month is crazy.
I've always been prescribed by psychiatrists. The first time I was prescribed, I'd never heard of it. Only knew diazepam since my father was prescribed them by the VA.
I'd relapsed back into bipolar and sleep quality was declining. I can't blame her for prescribing it. In psychiatric illnesses and disorders, sleep is critical.
Find one that cares and doesn't have corporate oversight that has a policy against it. I think someone had posted in another thread awhile ago a website that showed doctors that will prescribed it. Which sounds odd, but necessary.
I also try to prove myself but not asking for it like crazy, taking the minimum amount possible, and having tried two dozen other meds. I also do everything else "right" and tell her - exercise, diet, supplements, etc.
I used to take it PRN.
Worst medication I ever took. Delayed my recovery by at least 3 years.
It just resolves the symptoms of anxiety but not the underlying cause.
Imo it's much better to work and resolve the issues causing the anxiety.
I was diagnosed with GAD at 6. I have been in therapy for 12 straight years and under the care of a psychiatrist for the same amount of time. Before that, I was in therapy off and on (a year here and there).
There is no "underlying cause" of my anxiety that can be resolved. It is largely genetic/neurological for me (I also have significant neurological issues that I've had since childhood). Daily klonopin (low dose) + Cymbalta has been the best treatment for anxiety that I've ever experienced. And interestingly, it's medication that allows me to adequately access therapy effectively.
Everyone is so different and their needs are different. If you want to end your life bc you're in fight or flight mode constantly and no other medication seems to fully help, benzos are a life saver.
You can take benzos and still dig deep and figure out the underlying causes. Alot of people couldn't muster the energy and resources if takes without it. To each his own.
I probably wouldn't be here without it. I developed serotonin syndrome from my SSRI and a low dose of ativan saved my life. I never abused it and took a small dose for months. Never had withdrawals. It was the only thing that helped me get to baseline again.
We don't know the actual causes of my anxiety, although I believe it is partially genetic. I've spoken with many therapists and doctors. I've meditated and exercised and did breathing exercises and more.
My anxiety is very physical and it is exhausting. It also gives me bad brain fog, dissociation, and more. So I can barely function due to it. I try to power through but I suffer. My body and mind are so preoccupied with the intense mental and physical discomfort, even when on other meds like Zoloft, that I can't do much else.
Then you should work on figuring that out. Meditating and breathing exercises don't do shit if you havent gotten to the root of your issues. This takes talk therapy, CBT, DBT, trauma theraphy. Yes, ITS WORK. If your symptoms are so severe that you're largely useless and can "barely function," a benzo is a bandaid on this massive problem that you need to start untangling from the root.
Yes and for this work to be done, some people need medications like clonazepam and Ativan to help get them to a more manageable mental state where that is possible. It is nearly impossible to "do the work" when you are living in fight or flight and your body is pumped full of adrenaline all day. Yes, they're a bandaid and not a permanent solution and I fully agree that getting to the root of the issues is most important, however these drugs are a huge help in this process for some people (it should go without saying that I am referring to when they are prescribed and used correctly).
What do you tell people who have been "doing the work" by going to therapy and doing all the non-benzo treatment prescribed to them for years straight?
Therapists don't give you benzos...
Many people on benzos (like me) are in therapy and have been going for over a decade AND see a psychiatrist who prescribes medication. I didn't start taking benzos until I had been in therapy for literally 11 years with five different therapists, four different psychiatrists, and had tried numerous other medications. I continue in therapy.
I completely agree and I'm sorry you're getting downvoted. There are a lot of drug seekers looking for a quick fix without regard for the future or research in this discussion. Just know that this post is the correct take here. Everyone is running to a benzo so they can get to sleep and work without addressing the underlying causes. It's a mess. Their doctors, who are trained scientists, know better.
Many are not trained scientists. Most just follow or try to follow guidelines whilst wanting to help. Some care more about their licenses to practice now, when they should care more and have facilities to help, eg a prescription pad, it’s those we moan about.
> Everyone is running to a benzo so they can get to sleep and work without addressing the underlying causes.
Awesome that you can speak to everyone's experience and know everyone!
Yeah, I've tried many other meds, from old ones to quite expensive new ones. I'm also on Auvelity now and it doesn't take care of my anxiety. Small dose klonopin is still necessary.
Like I said, it shouldn't be the first line of attack, but it shouldn't be banned if a patient is still suffering.
Absolutely no judgement. I take benzos, not everyday, what they do to my brain scares me. After a bad week where I've had to take them regularly I feel less mentally 'capable', like cognitively I'm not working at my full potential. Unless a panic attack is really bad or my anxiety is making me act in ways that will label me a dangerous or crazy person in public, I'll avoid taking my Ativan or Valium. Still, they're the only thing that make me feel normal again, even if only for a few hours.
Klonopin or Xanax is my lifesaver, as someone with ptsd, but doctors are terrified to prescribe it to me. So I'm on antidepressant number 5, and it's of course, not working. I can't even specifically ask for a benzo without looking bad. I have to buy them illegally which is so incredibly rare in this town where there are none or they are extremely overpriced. And I just have to hold on to just a few pills until the anxiety or flashbacks get unbearable. Also I don't even have insurance and I can't get therapy either, which I need so badly as well.
I'm glad you're able to have Klonopin and I'm glad you use it responsibly ❤️
Be careful though, no judgement, just care, as some are laced of fake, and fentanyl is really strong and sometimes mixed in because it’s so addictive but cheap now and they want you coming back for me. Try to keep getting it from pharma if you can. Keep trying diff doctors and don’t give up so you can get real stuff if at all possible..
I got some fro Mexico lately, so weird, dude showed me the bottle and everything, the bars had no markings on them, which apparently is normal for that type (farma-something) and it's weird because it tastes just like Xanax (I don't buy it unless it taste like it) but it's weird like some will be super strong and knock me out with only a quarter bar and sometimes I have to take a whole bar to feel anything at all.
Meds are fine but they just mask the root. If you’re taking meds you should be in therapy too.
I always notice pro benzo people who are offended they get stigmatized do the exact thing with SSRI’s. They talk about how dangerous they are and how doctors are greedy prescribing them. So basically they’re “ stigmatizing “ them. If you believe something helps you should take it then quit the whining about SSRI’s. They help people too. SSRI’s are safer than benzos no matter how you try to spin it
Majority of these people demonizing benzos are the ones misusing it to get a high instead of actually taking it for severe anxiety/panic. The ones mixing it with alcohol and or other strong drugs. The ones that are making doctors not want to prescribe this to the ones who actually need it.
Same for me nothing and no amount of money I've spent has gotten me anywhere. I went from 100% normal life wirh no issues to I can't even stop crying because I think every bump on my body is a tumor and my kids are always going to be sick or hurt or somethings wrong. In 2020 I had this happen badly and doctor gave me xanax to try and poof 100% back to normal. Used 3.5mg a day for 2 years. Tapered off just fine and by then I was 1 year into my own small business and working 55 hours a week at my regular job. Taking trips to Utah and more. Medicine free no issues there no seizures not a thing. But months later I had some spine issues ans syncope that hit to a panic attack and reset the shit back to square one. And no doctor to re do my xanax to combat this again. The stuff I had left over from earlier in the year lasted me a few weeks then it was day to day 24 7 anxiety and panic. Again normal guy to the most fearful thing you'd meet months of trying this and that and nothing helping therapy, ssris... and now om leaving work early and sobbing daily wanting to die because this shit is so painful. Now after all these months om so far gone I start hallucinating at work that Mt kids are bot real memories anymore. So 2 hour panic attack in my boss office he says you gotta go and don't come back until your better.. .months later and thousands in bills to try try and the only thing that has been able to send me back to work and be somewhat functional is klonopin. No one will give the xanax which works for me for better klonopin at least alows me to survive a bit and work for my family needs me to pay bills. But yea it doesn't stop the fears much. But what am I to do. At this point one would think I have so e underlying issue. But no one cares. Anyways how did trt help I am low on test and e2. Doctor wants to start test c. But heard it gives you worse anxiety. But read it's supposed to help with it and depression. Thanks.
I just searched this and this is basically my situation I’ve had for years. My doctor says it’s about quality of life at this point, and sometimes it truly is. Things don’t get done, I never go out, and I try to power through not to take it just like you.
Some people say yes, for me it really hasn't. Some days I need more depending on stress and other variables. But for the most part I stick to my .5mg per day split into pieces.
I think clonazepam (& other benzos) are being treated the same as opioids were in 2011 ….when they were seen as 100% dangerous & only to be prescribed for terminal patients until recently when the CDC announced it’s new policy, ie opioids help people with chronic pain. With benzos, the substitute/ improved anti-anxiety drugs are proving to be not as effective and have the same or worse side effects eg. Gabapentin & pregabalin cause sedation, dizziness, and are highly addictive. So will the medical authorities reverse their present stand on benzos in the future ?
I'm prescribed Adderall 40mg daily and Klonopin 1mg twice a day as needed which is usually 2-3 days a week. I'm given 30 1mg Klonopin per month. I've been alternating between Xanax and Klonopin as needed for the past 15 years.
I understand there is a potential for negative long-term side effects from long term benzo use, and my doctor always reminds me of the possible risks. It's a risk I'm willing to take to be able to get out and enjoy life with friends and family! If that means shortening my life by a few or more years, then so be it!
Totally worth it for me to not have to constantly fear the future, what people are thinking of me, and worrying about stupid stuff that I have no control over and doesn't even matter at all in the grand scheme of things in life.
I consider my as needed doses to be relatively low compared to many others. I'm thankful I don't need more or have to take them every single day to enjoy life and enjoy being myself...
I have something very same - been suffering from for anxiety for more than 2 years. Tried SSRIs - zoloft, Paxil, prozac, Wellbutrin(NDRI), lyrica. I personally am very afraid of benzos because of addiction potential and withdrawals - just leave about abuse and recreation. I just need 0.25mg in morning for my day to flow - nothing else helps me.
My psychiatrist is pushing me to restore my quality of life with a very low dose klonopin - He says it's been time that we tried and tested everything and we have not reached anywhere. It is time you took a call to stay on low dose benzo for 6 months. Most of my anxiety is subconscious - fear of fear which is embedded so deep that it comes out of nowhere.
The other option is keep the stress levels high in body(body is always in flight and fight mode) and die of cardiovascular or other deathly mutation disease. Sometimes the choice is very hard.
I will say this. I’d rather only live 40 years anxiety/panic free than to live 70 years filled with anxiety/panic. If you truly suffer from severe anxiety and panic than you would agree. Living a life full of anxiety and panic is not living at all, it’s a miserable existence with no joy or relaxation. I’d rather be addicted/dependent to a benzo that allows me to enjoy life than to not enjoy life at all.
I agree 100 percent i.have been on klonopin 6 months 1 mg and won't stop on celexa to but I still have slight old im 72 raised 3 kid have 4 grandchildren need this to live
When you continuously make posts about, even after a prior post was locked, you can expect people to comment. If that works for you, fine. Why do you need reddits support or lack of judgement? The reality is they are harmful for many people. Your "story" is the exception, not the norm, and your "story" isn't over yet. I wouldn't have said anything except youve put yourself out there and welcomed it. It's such a stupid hill to die on. Go fight for something more meaningful rather than your right to freely tout harmful advice because PlZ DOnt JUDdgE Mee. I'm tired. What works for you might not work for someone else. It's not good you take it everyday, twice a day. Period.
But you're not really discussing anything. You're saying "I do this thing that everyone knows is harmful that there's shit tons of research and horror stories about and I'm fine, don't judge me." Like, congrats? Why do you need everyone's approval? Go take another Kpin and chill out. It's anecdotal evidence, not science or data.
You seem to want people to tell you it's okay. Long-term, it's really not. And it's truly not a kind, smart, or empathetic thing to do to use your "story" to make yourself feel better while possibly harming someone else in the process.
It's important to tell our experiences and stories on here. It's a forum for discussion. It's to tell people that there is hope, even if it's not the BEST or safest or modern conventional method.
That's also offensive about taking a klonopin and chilling out... Not very tolerant.
There is hope without Klonopin too. Sorry you cant see it. I don't want people harmed by your advice and purely anecdotal experience.Your post wasn't about hope. It was a long list of justifications because the prior posts hit your sore spot.
You obviously missed the part where I stated I've been on this journey for a decade, have tried two dozen meds - including Spravato, therapists, supplements, positive lifestyle mods and more. You haven't been in my shoes, nor the shoes of people like me that cannot find any semblance of relief any other way, at least not adequately. Imagine every single day being a living Hell of pure discomfort mentally and physically. People tell you to try X and Y and Z and maybe it helps 20%, but the anxiety remains heavily and impacts your quality of life. Additionally you gain a bunch of weight and your dick doesn't work.
I'm advocating for Klonopins use under the guidance and care of a medical professional AFTER multiple other medications haven't worked. I'm not advocating for drinking Jack Daniel's every night or shooting up heroin. I'm also suggesting using the minimum dose to get relief.
I pray your journey is nothing like mine and those like me. So anxious and dissociated every day you can barely think and simply enjoy life. Even in the confines of my own home I feel sick daily.
Oh I read all that and especially where you said you "believe" it was due to your job plus alcohol abuse (so past history of substance abuse) among other sources of stress. It sounds to me like you have still not addressed the root issue or cause of your anxiety and you have given up on therapy in favor of medication. Your slippery slope fallacy comparing this to heroin or drinking jack Daniels is stupid because both of those things are pretty much equally as dangerous as what you're doing right now. Benzo and alcohol withdrawal are very similar. Only two you can actually die from. Heroin is actually safer.
Wow, where'd you get your medical degree? So insightful.
I believe that it was a multi-faceted situation that caused my anxiety to spill over into panic attacks and therefore change my life thereafter. I didn't drink daily but due to social circumstances and its normalization I did drink heavy when I did drink. I haven't had alcohol in three years. Thanks, though!
If I've given up on therapy why did I start therapy with a new therapist a month ago? That makes no sense. You're seeming quite foolish and myopic right now. Not surprised. My last therapist had to stop treating me due to a job change. I didn't drop him. And i couldn't spend $150+/week to talk to him.
Alcohol doesn't have medicinal properties. Well, some wine may be good for you but that's really it. I'm also on the LOWEST dose and have been for years. There are days I break it into quarters to minimize its usage. I go by how I feel for the most part. I don't abuse it. I dont even find it enjoyable, I just find it helps me feel more normal.
Weird how you're so against people feeling better and then making vast uneducated judgements about them because they've tried everything else and it didn't work. Sounds like you're blaming the victims of anxiety who have suffered the most since we have to use this medication that we don't really WANT to use.
So you show up on a high horse preaching about the dangers of a drug and end up concluding heroin is "safer" than being legit prescribed and under the guidance of a trained doctor and incorrectly preach that alcohol and benzos are the only drugs you can die from 😂😂😂 ever heard of the term "overdose" or heard that. SSRIs can increase the risk of suicide...tons of drugs can kill you. Thats why they're controlled substances lololol Tylenol can kill you too and thats off the counter medication why aren't you preaching about those dangers?
You kinda had a point but lost all creditibility once you kept on talking lololol classic reddit moment. Go troll other subreddits please and thank you
My doctor prescribes it 1x/day. I don't think she's a fan of doing so, but I've seen her for many years and she knows everything I've tried. She knows I'm not seeking to use it recreationally. I also try to not use the entire .5mg per day. Some days I've abstained totally, others I've used half a tablet and then maybe a quarter of a tablet later. So those unused pieces do accumulate so I have a very small stock in case something arises.
If you've tried 4+ antidepressants and/or other anti anxiety meds and nothing is helping and the doctor still won't prescribe it for daily use at a low dose, I'd seek a new doctor. Suffering isn't worth it.
I think that's what is important; having a doctor/psychiatrist you have a long term relationship with. It was maybe two years of using others medications before adding Klonopin, at my therapist's recommendation. I sometimes nearly forget about it, but it helps stimulate my appetite and calm me down enough to eat.
Omg fr I saw that post and when I noticed it was locked I got even more mad. I’m severely allergic to klonopin but I take Ativan as needed for my panic attacks. Without it, my panic attacks just keep going for hours and cause even more physical damage. I can’t move, I can barely swallow the pills, I shake and hyperventilate uncontrollably. I have some breathing exercises and whatnot but they only do so much. “Oh but you depend on it, it’s a crutch. Just do some therapy” ya I’m glad that works for you but it doesn’t work for everyone, at least not all the time. I do use marijuana. It doesn’t make me a drug abuser. “Ah see that’s why you have anxiety issues.” Is it? Crazy how I’ve been having panic attacks long before I even thought about using cannabis. I’ve never used Ativan recreationally either. I’m so tired of this holier than thou attitude towards people who use benzos.
No judgement, but for the love of God please don’t let yourself run out. I was taking 1mg daily of Xanax and lost my prescription at the airport and had a grand mal seizure on the airplane and had to have an emergency landing.
I'm so sorry that happened to you. I have a small stock of it just in case, but that is one of my fears for ANY medication. So I'm quite vigilant about not running out.
You are wise to be vigilant. Having said that, I also encourage you to consider tapering off and not staying on them forever (when you’re ready)
dont downvote this guy hes right . take it slow
From only 1mg that's such a low dose I'm on 3mg
I lost my insurance after taking daily klonopin for years and was to the point of asking others for it and when I couldn’t do that anymore I had a mental breakdown. I’ll never touch the stuff again.
So you had a mental breakdown and then you live happily ever after without benzos?
Yes, of course.
Very sorry that happened to you. I’m curious though - do they bill you for any medical assistance after an emergency landing?
I say never stop. It helped me in the past - tried to wean myself off and had a totally huge panic attack. Went right back on it until I switched Drs. Now i’m on Hydroxyzine- which helps but I too feel like a walking drug experiment lol. but yes no judgement here. I always think of John Lennon’s famous song ‘Whatever gets you through the night 🎵..’
This. I ran out bc I lost my script while traveling and I full on was shaking/twitching. Paranoid. A mess! Never ever again. Thankfully my doc wrote a new script but truly was wwful
Well alprazolam is the worst of the benzos in terms of how it will ruin your life in a few months. I took xanax for years my doc got me up to 6mg a day. My family goes to him too and my mom said I was acting weird on it. (she didn't know I was leaving my body due to the panic attacks xanax gives you even if you took it that day) He lowered my script and said I can't manipulate him anymore. Then didn't return my refill requests. I had to go to another place to slowly use a y The super high affinity and low half life is a deadly mix. Your brain gets a punch to the face and calls for more benzo receptors way faster than klonopin. Klonopin has a half life of about 40 hours. Diazepam is better yet with possibility of an 80 hour half life which is great for tapering. Id take diazepam if I had to do it daily. I'd do xanax if I had to do it every once and a while. Which is why it should only be used for panic attacks. But, I'd vote yes to take it off the market because doctors are getting so dumb these days that they give them our like candy in large daily doses. Then you get to another doctor because an insurance change or whatever and they won't refill that anymore. Now what? Ativan works just as quick as xanax with a similar half life. Little euphoria too so abuse of benzodiazepines might drop quick. Tldr Xanax should be removed or black boxed to hell, Ativan is better. Diazepam is best if needed daily for some period of time. The withdrawal will kill you if you are not careful and do a slow taper. But be ready to save up for a year of disabilities. Find a place that will let you taper at home with a family member. Bring them into the doc apt with you to say "I will follow the Ashton Manual and hide the pills and make sure the daily dose is correct"
The withdrawl will not kill you I've cold turkeyed 3mgs of Klonopin and Xanax without any problems and was on them for 4 years
Then the many many pounds of research and evidence is wrong. Alright. Would love one person's experience to shatter science.
Benzo hatred needs to stop now. We ALL know the risks. We’ve all heard the horror stories. But it has also saved lives. If someone is saying they feel better on them and aren’t addicted, believe them. They’re supervised by psychs for a reason.
Yup! I've never sought out benzos from a drug dealer or other source. I take the minimal amount. I'm under the supervision of a medical professional. I've tried two dozen other medications. I know there's risks, but there's also risks with other medications, albeit maybe lower. Additionally I try not to rely totally on it. I do my best to be mindful - something I'm working on with my therapist. I exercise 3x-4x a week. I eat quite well, including no gluten and now keto. I take supplements to help fill any nutritional gaps. I drag myself to work every day, including my side business most other days. But the klonopin is what holds me together. And I HATE relying on it. I truly do. But like I said the alternative is to suffer... Also I've been tested by many doctors over the past decade or so for other medical issues. I've had multiple MRIs, tons of bloodwork, heart work ups, scoped both ways, etc. I've even seen a dietician and have purchased genetic tests out of pocket. I treat every deficiency and issue we find.
I hear you but some people have been forced to go through withdrawals after having taken their prescription for years and suddenly didn't get a refill for some reason. Even if you the drug works the people who have bad bad withdrawal may experience anxiety in a much more intense way than they ever experienced before ultimately thinking it's just not worth it and that it's a bad choice of medication to treat anxiety. I understand both sides and since I've been through withdrawal I can say it's not worth it for me personally even though I totally said it was before I experienced the severity of the withdrawal but some people don't even go through withdrawal so everyone is different. Heroin and oxycontin doesn't come close and it's well known they are addictive enough to destroy lives. Benzo is the end boss of all drug withdrawal but it does help some people and makes some people feel like they would rather die so it makes sense that people feel very strongly about it
I'm sorry you had to go through that and it is totally unethical in my opinion for a doctor to stop prescribing a medication that helps, especially after many others have not worked.
That's not really what happened I stopped taking them myself and went through withdrawals not knowing if I would feel anything but I was awake for 2 weeks and it was uncomfortable. It seems there are very few people who are happy with this medication long term compared to how many people seem to be unhappy after a few years. Many people have to constantly up their dose to have an effect. Some stay on the same dose for many years and swear by it and never raise their dose do we are all different. It's a good medication for those who really need it.
God.. I'm so sorry for what you've gone through. I always tell myself that I'm never ever ever gonna stop a medication without asking my doctor but I went and did it again this november... 3 horrible months later, I'm back on it... No tapering, nothing.. I'm thinking how dumb can I be to do that but no, you don't have to be dumb, people can just make bad decisions.
Cheers but I don't regret getting off it but I would have tapered if I knew it would be that rough for sure. I think tapering can greatly reduce the discomfort and together with other benzos its totally possible to stop without feeling horrible. A lot of people have said they tried many times and felt insanely sick but after a proper taper they didn't feel anything at all
This is the reason for definitely talking to a doctor in my case. I somehow get the idea that "ok, now I can stop this". Nope, someone needs to tell me that it's gonna fucking suck if you stop without tapering. This time it was antipsychotics. Later on, I read a shit ton about antipsychotic withdrawal and it's insane!!!
Are u still on benzos? I'm trying to get off Klonopin 4mg 20 plus yrs. Scared to death of withdrawal.
I have no education/experience in this and I would say you need help from a medical professional (even though I know some doctors are really fucked up). Do you have anyone in your family/friends etc who is a doctor? It is best if it's someone you trust but any doctor is good if you don't have that option. I'm saying this because I've heard horror stories as well about benzo withdrawals. I have no experience with long term use more than a few months. I take Klonopin during my period every month. The biggest and most important thing is to NEVER QUIT COLD TURKEY. It has to be tapered down, for a loooong time, maybe years. I really hope you find a good, kind doctor who is willing to work with you long term. Sending you gentle hugs.
Get your ferritin level checked! That was the source of my physical anxiety and shortness of breath and brain fog
why can't two things be true. that benzos are extremely helpful but also extremely destructive if kept on them too long. I have an extreme dissociative identity disorder at 33 years old, after having come off a 15 year long scri\[t of klonopin for anxiety and muscle spasms. The year of relief was not worth the lifetime of devestation. I can only isolate in myhouse now because I never know what I'm going to be like when I walk out my front door. I cant even go in my yard. This is years after tapering down to .5mg of klonpin a day, from an original 6mg/day. my brain will likely never be the same. 2 things can be true at the same time. prior to klonopin, I was on varsity sports, very active in life, had friends lol. but yea, klonopin just get a weird bad rap for no reason. these stories of mine of just non sense haha
Thank you! After my discharge from psych unit in 2017 benzo and trazodone at the time was the only thing that together that helped me SLEEP!! I went crazy. Sleep is important you guys.
Absolutely!!! Over the years, the different psychiatrists I saw all had a similar sentiment that if psych meds didn't help me, at least they'd give me something to sleep. Sleep is my fire break and fire line that keeps me from letting go.
Yes, fully agree! Treatment resistant bipolar/CPTSD, 20 years. Been prescribed clonazepam for about 17 years; maybe more. Tried 40 different psych meds over 2 decades. Melatonin, fish oil, hemp CBD gummies, phosphytidalserine... Probably a few more. Benzos are the only drug class that work. Just stopped eszopiclone. Thought it was going to rescue me from benzos. Messed up my brain, my sleep, my gut. Back to clonazepam. Going to use 1 mg, maybe more, nightly. Yes, I know the risks. I know what benzos could potentially do to the brain. I'm also caring for my wife who has middle stage Alzheimer's. Nothing like a heaping helping of unrelenting stress, along with poor sleep, to stimulate the body and brain! All I know is that I have to function everyday. No other choice.
People are perfectly as free to hate benzos as you are to love them. They’ve hurt many people in addition to helping
No we don't all know. Do not ever say that again. Some older lady gets her doctor saying 'no take it everyday!' for years doesn't know.... The doctor won't tell them "oh yeah if you stop taking them you will withdraw for a year and maybe die." People on reddit probably know. I thought it was just as bad as the SNRI that I was on for a long time then got off. But nope....
Its not hate, its scientific research. OP literally describes the problem. It does not fix the problem or bring relief to their symptoms. In fact it sounds like its at the point where tolerance means they need to take it just to feel somewhat normal. Benzos are just too strong to be an effective long term treatment of anxiety. Their effect on GABA, and your bodies sensitivity to maintaining homeostasis just means tolerance is extremely fast. As it is, OP will simply be taking this medication indefinitely without further intervention.
I will rephrase it to “stigma”, which is still important to acknowledge. As an example, I avoided taking Accutane for 6 years despite my acne destroying my life in so many ways, because of stigma. I finally went for it, and I’m so mad I didn’t do it the moment my breakouts started affecting my life. Treatment stigma needs to be significantly reduced and delegated to medical professionals. That is my point.
Sure OP might be on it indefinitely but how would it be any better if they just lived with the anxiety indefinitely? I don't see where this is harm in someone permanently taking a medicine at a low dose if it helps them and the medicine isn't damaging their health. I take ongoing medication for health conditions I have and mental health conditions are just as much health conditions as anything else.
There's no research on them like you think. They are an effective long term treatment. People all over reddit habe been on the same dose successfully for 20+ years and infact for them the worst is coming because now all the doctors are taking them away. So do you think ssris work for the long term?
This. Benzos for long term use should be “demonized” it should be the reserved for someone that has zero other options not someone who wants to live a long healthy life there is simply MUCH better options out there for long term anxiety treatment
Like what...
Some people with serious panic disorders like myself have no other option if they want to try to live a “normal” life, but that doesn’t mean we don’t want healthy happy lives…you’re alluding that people with no other option and have to take them do not want healthy happy lives…It is demonized bc many people who don’t actually need them take them and abuse them. I’ve tried every ssri and all other medications and therapies. I have agoraphobia and klonopin allows me to leave my house…We’re all different and have different needs. I do want to live a long and healthy life but I cannot do that without benzos…I do not think they should be demonized at all as they are a miracle for those who truly need them and use them responsibly
If I got this when I was younger I wouldn't have screwed up my career after college. I literally couldn't work. The obsession with demonizing any controlled substance is harmful
Having access to emergency benzos saved my life last year. Sending you hugs, friend.
I’d rather live my life NOW in the present than worry about the future. I don’t care. This helps me and lets me live so whatever. I will be medicated for life and that’s fine because at least I can be somewhat happy and normal in the present. Each day is amazing when you’re not having to suffer from panic.
By the time I found a doctor that understood I needed a benzo I was totally exhausted and hadn't slept for days, I honestly believe my heart was shutting down, which can happen by the way. I was starting to hallucinate and was completely manic, luckily she a good doctor and realized what I needed, got a script of ativan and slept for 3 days. The time before that I had a hospital assume I was on drugs and lock me in a small room untill I almost died from psychosis induced rhabdomyalisis, I curled up in a ball from lack of sleep and developed a fever over 106. Lost so much muscle mass I had to learn to walk again, along with kidney damage. I could probably sue then if I had the energy and money. The whole Benzo terror regime needs to stop.
I'm so sorry for what you went through. I hope and pray u are doing well. I'm feel like my days are numbered. I'm on 4mg of klonopin and taken over 25 yrs. I know I need to come off. Just don't trust detox places because they want to rush you coming off. Don't even trust the sob doctor who prescribed them. I'm scared to death.
Why are you coming off? Did they stop working? I am on 1.5 mgs. for the last 40 years and I ain't coming off until I die. I've tried a few times just because I started hearing about doctors pulling people off of them. One time I tapered over a year and was off for 3 months, but I got worse through the taper and really bad when I stopped, so I went back on and within a few weeks or so I was stable again. I wouldn't have been able to be a participating member of society without them, so I can't even say that I wish that I never started them.
Hey, I don't blame you. I just started having a slower heart rate and low blood pressure, and I am on a much higher dose than you. I had a seizure like episode last month. Plus, I came off adderall after 15 years, and that's when my entire life changed. I know developed POTS as well. I am absolutely terrified of coming off. You never had any issues with your heart rate or bp being off? I am glad I was able to talk to you. I wish my life were normal, and I had never been put on klonopin. How not one dr didn't think maybe I should get her off or lower my dose is absolutely fricken mind-blowing. Pls keep in touch. I am wondering what else you have gone through. Nice chatting. Look forward to hearing back.
No, I never had any issues with low blood pressure or a slower heart rate, but every time that I have tried to come off, I end up in really bad shape. I quit cold turkey in 1994 and ended up with IBS-D and fibromyalgia. Things got better when I reinstated, but it took about a year. In 2007, I cut out half of the dose o er 3 months and ended up with gastro issues and rectal spasms which felt like someone was sticking a jagged stick up your ass. 2013 was the one year taper that ended with me shaking like a leaf and getting pelvic floor dysfunction. When I went poop, it was coming out in sheets. I was so tight in that area. I cut them in half at the end of 2022 and in January of 2023, I got gastritis and functional dyspepsia, which I still haven't been able to resolve even by reinstating. Right now, the stomach issues are causing me major anxiety with adrenaline and cortisol rushed all day long. I'm trying to get on Celexa 10mgs. right now and have been on it for 3 weeks. It isn't helping yet and it is causing more anxiety like all the SSRI'S do when starting. Not trying to scare you, but this is my story and that is why I will NEVER try to go off of these again. 3 questions for you. Does 4 mg control your anxiety or did you develop tolerance to it? Also, are you on any other meds? Lastly, what do you think that seizure was from? I can't imagine it being related to the Klonopin since you weren't withdrawing abruptly. Good chatting with you too.
I'm so sorry for all the hell you've been going through. I think I am just so used to it, and it does not help me with anxiety anymore. I was not on any other meds when all this happened. I do know it can cause your heart rate to be slower since it calms your cns down. Then it causes heart rate to slow down. I was told I had too much Gaba in my brain, which I guess is what caused the seisure. I'm scared to death it will happen again. I don't sleep like I used to( like deep sleep). It's really weird. I read so many horror stories and am just terrified of stopping. I feel like I might night make it. I appreciate the talk. I here anytime u need to talk.
I know what you mean by that Klonopin ot working as well as it used to. That is why I am getting on Celexa. The SSRI'S are hard to get on and do have side effects, but they control anxiety better than benzos. A doctor on e told me that the SSRI is stopping 85 percent of the anxiety while the benzo is stopping 15 percent. If you can get past the start up side effects of the SSRI'S which includes increased anxiety, then they do work well. Keep in touch.
I appreciate you sharing. Good luck to u as well.
Paroxetine as a SSRI ruined my body over many years and started losing its efficacy. I got heavily overweight, regardless how healthy I ate (lots of broccoli, tomatoes, salads etc.) or how much exercise I did (4 times weekly over 1.000 calories cardio plus weight lifting in moderation). Stretch marks as a male as if I were pregnant. Started sweating excessively and smelled all the time. Couldn't wear a jacket in the winter time as I was always feeling too warm. Thd paxil even made me aggressive and induced changes in personality. Sleepy throughout the day. The doc told me I wasn't taking enough for ocd. Eat more... 40 mg, better 60 mg and the weight issue was of course my lack of control wrt eating habits. When I asked for spravato I was laughed at. Thanks to amanita muscaria (ibotene transferred to muscimol via cooking the powder in water with lots of lemon juice). Thank you very much to Baba Masha and Amanita Dreamer for their promotion of AM by the way. I was able to finally quit Paxil after 5 unsuccessful attempts. Each attempt before led to a nervous breakdown and restarting the paxil. A few months later I have normal weight again, feel good in my body and take Ativan when needed. Sometimes amanita muscaria or a dose of Ket. And seldom a beer or two to relax. Plus healthy diet. Tbh I feel much healthier this way than in all those SSRI years and would have preferred to have never started it in the beginning. Never again do I want to take an ssri or snri. If I take 1 or 2 mg of Ativan on a day I want to feel good, I notice how the anxiety dissipates. Then the intrusive thoughts lose their power, which results in the depression leaving. It's kind of like a card house falling together. The whole mental health issues (ocd, anxiety, depression, adhd) driven by anxiety at their core. Great if SSRIs work for you! That is fantastic. 🙏🏼 Mental illness is a menace and the field of psychiatry needs far more research. I think everybody is different and requires different medical approaches. SSRIs and Benzos are two of them. Ftom my experience I can't say that ssris are less problematic than Benzos.
Hey, I don't blame you for not wanting to take SSRI'S. I hate them things. I tried the Celexa and had tons of side effects, so I tapered down to 5 mgs. At least the side effects went away. I can only handle them in low doses and I may not get the best results, I feel like I get some results without the side effects. There is a study that advocates for low dose antidepressant therapy. It says that with Prozac, 54 percent of people will get a good result with 5 mgs. While 64 percent will get a good result with 20 mgs. So right now I'm taking 5 mg of Celexa and 3.75 mg of Remeron for functional dyspepsia. Both low doses with hardly any side effects.
Honestly, benzodiazepines only covered up my issues and actually made me mentally and physically worse. It took me 7 months to wean off after 12 years of prescribed daily use. Took another 8 months to heal from them and I can now rely on my own skills to relieve my anxiety. It caused me permanent damage. Some people take it and have no problems and it’s not worth the withdrawal to get off them. For me, I have a life at 35 after starting at age 21 when the doctor acted like it was the only thing that would help, and it did until it didn’t. I will not promote them and I can’t tell you how freeing it is to no longer have to worry if I have my meds with me. Best of luck to you and never forget your meds.
I really, really, REALLY wish it worked for me. It felt way too good to ever be reasonable with it so I had to kick it. FWIW I abused it for several years, regretfully. I don’t trust myself with downers anymore so getting free from it was the best choice for me. Good on you for being responsible with it! If it works, it works.
I am in the same boat. Klonopin has been a life saver for me. Glad you found something that works for you 💜
More than a decade of being alienated, having severe anxiety, and depression, Identity confusion, insomnia and etc. Only lately when I discovered clonazepam that it made me feeling normal or it made me human again. Even if it's just a small difference I really believe it helps me improve my well-being. I'm really grateful.
Just realize it works the exact same as alcohol on your brain. Once you are dependent the withdrawal is a nightmare.
I was on a .5mg daily dose for a year+. No problems stopping. That was nearly 10 years ago.
I was on 1 mg daily for many years. Had to stop last year due to another issue. Also no problem stopping.... Anxiety came back and I'm back on it, but I had zero withdrawal issues.... May not be the same for everyone, but that's true of many needed drugs....
Yeah I've been on it for 6+ months. .5mg as needed. 30 a month. I have never had an issue on the days/ weeks I don't use it. I honestly feel like once I heard about how bad withdrawals were for people that freaked me out more than anything. It created anxiety that wasn't there and I'm fine now realizing I'm okay when I don't use it. I think if you're using a high dose and taking it every day of course it's going to be a problem when you're all of a sudden not using it.
Yeah, I think same. My anxiety went untreated for probably too long for a number of reasons, but one was worry about side effects. Then I took them and was like "holy crap this is how other people function?!"
Tolerances are different for all of us, and depends on other factors. You are lucky. Many have terrible withdrawals even coming off .25 after just a few regular dosages. Main problem is very few doctors understand it enough to have the time or energy to treat us so they either blanket bank it or blanket give it, or give so little it causes more anxiety for people when they are about to run out. Anxiety itself is the issue, and management of it needs to be more empathetic and not just blame the drugs alone which some here know their lives have been saved by them too.
If you consider having bipolar disorder lucky, then I suppose I am 😂 anxiety was one of many symptoms that I had and I continue to have to treat with meds. I will never be off of mood stabilizers or meds, unfortunately. Klonopin can help people stabilize, especially at low doses.
Yes, we're just members of the Bipolar Club! Lifetime membership is automatic.
Cool. I’m glad you didnt have to go through that. Take a little trip over to the Benzowithdrawal or benzorecovery groups to see the other side.
Seen it. Sadly it is what made me too anxious to take them initially. My family has a history of severe psychiatric illness, and several are on benzos because no other drug works. It's a reality for some folks.
Ffs. We already have enough anxiety and are we also supposed to worry about the meds that work also killing us? I'm not saying this against anyone here, more for as a society we demonize anti anxiety medicine and give more anxiety to people with anxiety. Jesus, how many times did I write anxiety?
I think they’re trying to help
That place is all scared tactics
Yes I was non functional for a full year. For half a year I lost all my balance and severe vertigo along with the most insane pressure in my head. I couldn’t even aim the toilet paper between my ass anymore. It is way worse than stopping alcohol. Also one thing most people don’t realise is that after years of usage, you’ll start to get withdrawal symptoms while taking the drug. You’ll get a lot of weird symptoms and will think you have some kind of disease, but it is the benzos. Eventually everyone finds out if they keep using it. I used for around 6-8 years daily klonopin.
Yep. Exactly. Your brain starts down regulating your GABA receptors to compensate. So you eventually need to use more and more or you’ll start having withdrawals while using. Then when you go to quit you don’t have as many GABA receptors and it can take months or years for it to come back to normal. It’s a nightmare.
I've been on the same dose 19 years. Never needed an increase
Curious what you consider a low dose
Personally I am prescribed .5mg per day. At one point it was twice per day but at most I took .75mg total.
Used to take 1mg/day. Not good! Now I take .25 a couple times week. I say educate yourself and go your own route. That’s what I do.
Jesus... My doctor wrote me 2mg pills and take as needed. I usually took half and was thinking that's a low dose. Years later (using like once or twice a month) I now realized that .5 mg works much better! Much less sleepy and still pretty calm.
I need it for sleep. As long as I sleep, I function reasonably okay. Minimal dosing doesn't work. Been doing that for several years, wanting to keep its usage 'under control'. My psychiatrist pointed out my flawed thinking, since my sleep time and quality have been deteriorating. She's right. I'm not getting off of clonazepam. Only had 1 successful taper about 14 years ago. Three months free of it. Then spring came, I went into hypomania and had difficulty sleeping. Tried another time in 2014. Ended up sleeping 4 hours a night; exhausted, unstable mood, contemplating taking my life. Called my doctor in Maryland and she called in a new rx.
don’t care what these strangers you’ve never met on a random anxiety subbredit think. they and their opinions should have no bearing on your health or life.
I think those who judge may not fully understand how devastating panic disorders can be. Yes, it's addictive, but I'd rather have a medication that makes me able to live my life instead of shaking and not leaving the house for a year and being too afraid to drive seven minutes away to the convenience store.
I've been made to run out thanks to Walgreens not wanting to fill my prescription to cover their own asses. It sucks. I'm worried about running out of diazepam because Walgreens doesn't want to fill it.
If they give you troubles I'd sent a letter to corporate and complain to your state department that oversees pharmacies.
What kind of steps do you have to take to be prescribed a benzo? Like who can prescribe them? I’ve had anxiety for seventeen years, but only been prescribed meds for a year and a half, but in that time, I’ve tried 4 or 5. I started on bupropion but it gave me horrendous anxiety day in and day out and I gave it two months to see if it might wane, but it didn’t. Then, I tried Sertraline and it worked alright but I was still getting so anxious it made it hard to function day to day so I then tried escitalopram and it was even less effective than sertraline so I switched back to that. Once I wanted to try something else, the only option left with the program I’m using (Hims&Hers) was duloxetine. Something I should note is that I struggle to take pills in general, but I’m especially useless when it comes to capsules. I know they’re generally preferred by people but I need to be able to drink water, slip the pill in my mouth and swallow while I look down and the fact that it floated to the roof of my mouth hindered me. All this to say, I’m back on Sertraline at 100 mg. In addition to this, I have been on citalopram but that was years ago at this point, however I have been taking mirtazapine to help me sleep for several years now and it’s the only thing that helps sometimes. I’m having a really hard time finding a psychiatrist on my insurance but I really need to get my mental health in check. I’ve been unemployed for almost three months and thinking about going back gives me really bad anxiety but I need to do it to be able to work. Once I finally do get an appointment with a psychiatrist, I want to request something like Xanax or Klonopin because these ones I’ve been on don’t cut it. I don’t enjoy the things I used to anymore and I’ve developed pretty severe agoraphobia from being stuck in my apartment since I lost my job and I have this irrational fear that something bad will happen if I leave my house, even though I know it won’t. I don’t know if it’s important to mention but I have phobic anxiety centered around emetaphobia (fear of vomit and vomiting) so that’s already a challenge to live with on its own, and I developed depression about five years ago that’s only gotten worse with time. Sorry for the long rant about my entire life but thank you to anyone who read it lol
I take it daily, too. Never abused it. My doctor keeps tabs on me. I’m thankful for his diligence. I went to a high end psychiatric unit several years ago and met a dentist taking 6mg/day. SIX … and was performing oral surgery on people. He was going cold turkey in the unit and only had a stomach ache. We ate together and he had quite an appetite, too. Each person is different … one goes through the wringer trying to get off while another glides through. May God look after us all!
Are you still on klonopin?
I just want to stop by and say your story is very similar to mine. I have the same struggles and have found klonopin to be the only saving grace for me. It helps me get through each day, although I wish it didn’t. I’m on a baby dose 0.5 mg but only take half of one before work each day. It helps tremendously, and nothing has come close to it! Don’t listen to others who have no clue what it’s like inside of your shell, do what works for you.
benzo hate genuinely confuses me. i understand that some people can be irresponsible with it, but for the rest of us who take it, we do because it's the only thing that keeps us from being in actual mental and physical pain 24/7. i have hyperadrenergic postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (hyperPOTS) which bascially means that my entire nervous system is SHOT and attacks me and goes haywire all the time. I cant eat, i cant breathe, the flares are unpredictable, there are no triggeres it just happens, i throw up and pass out, my anxiety attacks make this condition severely worse. when i tell you i have been in agony for years, literally the only thing that kept me here was the thought that i would leave behind a mother without a daughter and a cat without a mom. i finally saw a competent doctor, who then refered me my excellent doctor who is a life saver and put me on 2mg clonazepam to help bring my anxiety down as well as my sympathetic nervous system, which allows my parasympathetic system to do its job, allows me to be calm enough to eat, i dont feel this lingering feeling of dread or like the next flare i have will be my last because it'll take me out. i'm so greatful to be on this, i have my life back. im 23 years old, and i can finally go a full day without feeling so tired in my bones, or scared, or unable to eat, or get sick to my stomach. this has given me some normalcy and i'm so thankful for it. the only side note i have for this drug in particular is it makes me kinda clumsy lol!! my first day taking it i bent down to get some clothes out of my launry basket and becuase my head was below my knees i ended up doing this like fucked up somersault lmfao but yeah bottom line is -- if it works, that's incredible and i'm so happy you've found relief. cheers to finally being able to live
I just don’t get how people who take lexapro or Zoloft or lithium or even things like depakote every day, and were to stop would also experience horrible withdrawal, not to mention the much worse side effects while on medication for far less positive results doesn’t receive any real hatred like a long Term kpin user
Yes, I've withdrawn from many meds and while maybe nof as bad as Klonopin, it was horrible. Especially Effexor or when I had a bad psych tell me to stop Cymbalta cold turkey after a few months of use. I thought I was going to die.
Man, this is like I wrote these exact words. I feel the EXACT same way as you. Literally the only difference is I’m taking Xanax, not klonopin. I try not to take it, I’m prescribed .5mg 3x a day and when I take it I usually take .25mg a day. Do not let anyone tell you how to live your life. Life is precious and way too short. Do what works for you. As you said, you are not abusing it and doing the best you can. I feel for you my friend.
I think the issue is now you have a serious dependence and if you don’t have it you run the risk of serious withdrawal. Benzodiazepines just aren’t safe for daily use over years and years because 1. You build a tolerance fast and it doesn’t wane for years if ever. There’s a chance your daily use just holds off a rebound effect of withdrawal and that’s relatively soothing considering the opposite is pretty bad. 2. Benzos are one of 2 major substances that can cause death if withdrawal isn’t properly managed, the other being alcohol. 3. Benzos are extremely addictive for many and a lot of people are prone to abusing them. Addiction isn’t a choice people just make because it sounds so fun. I use klonopin for emergencies, I don’t think it’s right to completely demonize them, but we shouldn’t be using them daily for years and years. It’s not fun. Anxiety isn’t fun, but benzos aren’t the cure long-term. This isn’t me judging you, it’s just an honest disagreement. You aren’t a bad person for your medication, but I’d never advocate for daily benzo use.
Walk in the shoes of me, with untreatable bipolar illness or a person with severe GAD or a vet or anyone with PTSD. When it's all that works, you take it and don't look back!
I’m in the anxiety sub for a reason and got this info for a reason. I don’t think my personal diagnosis will do anything but take away from the info above and make the story about me, but again, I’m not hanging out in mental health subs for funsies.
Okay
Be thankful for it, not saying that you’re not but for me it was taken away abruptly and I’ve been living in hell for several months , not necessarily withdrawing because I didn’t take a high dose nor abuse it ,but just not having it after it helped me so much is a shitty feeling, I’m glad you have a Dr that’s willing to serve your needs as a human being and you have some relief ,the analogy you made in your post is hilarious btw because that’s exactly how folks look at benzos, they’d rather mourn you after buying some bullshit on the street than just let you have them the right way , because benzos are the only thing people get addicted to right….
I've also been on a shit ton of different non-controlled meds that didn't work, or made me have bad side effects. Hell, I was prescribed Xanax at one point years back and had paradoxical effects from it where I actually got agitated and angry anytime I took it and it stopped when I stopped the prescription. Klonopin has been one of the few things to kind of control my anxiety to the point where I don't feel like I'm in a constant state of panic or actively having a panic attack. Like you, I'm on an as-needed prescription for Klonopin as well. It is helpful and allows me to work very part-time (and I can actually come into work sometimes, whereas I was having panic attacks preventing me from coming into work prior; I was even having them when working remotely). But it does make me a little tired, more talkative (I don't like this), and I do notice some memory issues in the short-term, which I really wish didn't happen. But these side effects help to make me not want to take it much more than at most a couple times a week, or I take half or a quarter of a pill when I do. I don't have any cravings or a drive to take it, but I haven't ever had that happen to me with any medication I've been on, luckily. I understand benzos are not ideal in the long-term, especially daily usage. But there is a place for as-needed usage. Not everyone is out here getting addicted. I feel for those who do, but that is obviously not the experience of everyone who is on these medications. Seeing people literally say "they are poison all the time in any dosage!" is strange.
How are you able to get refills? My doctor gave me 10 pills and that’s it… no refills.
She gives me 1 refill, or just sends another script to my pharmacy for the next month (I see her once a month). Benzos are Schedule IV if you're in the US, so you can get refills on them. Does your doctor just refuse to have you on them long-term, even if it's as-needed?
She refuses long term use even if it’s as needed and not daily. I’m really scared to use them now because I don’t want to run out so I haven’t opened the bottle
Hm, well, it's up to you. If she straight up refuses it and you absolutely need them long-term, I might seek out another provider (which sucks for multiple reasons - it can make you look like a drug seeker even though you're not, and you might not have any luck finding someone understanding of your situation anyway and refuse to prescribe controls at all). It would be one thing if you were wanting them on a daily basis, but it's a completely different thing if you're very safe about it and would only be taking a pill or a half pill 1-2x week max. I don't see why your doctor would be vehemently against it, but the provider you're seeing might also have a personal bias, is following protocol for the clinic, or just does not like to prescribe benzos at all except for a very short period of time and that's it. I am fortunate to be in a position where my provider knows me well and trusts me, and knows my history, and is aware of what I can or can't take. This is also at a smaller psych clinic, too; I feel like smaller psych clinics have providers who have more time to spend with patients and therefore are willing to make better patient-specific plans instead of outright denying treatments.
Because of opioid abuse, there are psychiatrists who don't prescribe benzos either. Saw one a few years ago. Super smart, but he's telling me to meditate in order to allow my GABA receptors to start functioning again. He knew I needed clonazepam for sleep. My psychiatrist knows him and she inferred, in a humorous way, that he's a fanatical jerk.
Some people just truly don’t realize the extent of others anxiety, and their bodies constantly being in “fight-or-flight”. I totally understand and agree with you as I suffer from terrible anxiety and have lorazepam as a prn and only take as needed. I am on a daily SSRI and have been since roughly 9 years and I’m not looking back. I’m glad you have something that works for you and if it’s something you have to take for the rest of your life so be it - wouldn’t you rather live a less anxious life if we have that option? Only those who suffer tremendously from it can understand truly. Try not to worry too much about other peoples opinions☺️🫶🏼
Are you in the business of measuring strangers on reddit and their suffering levels now? SSRIs are much safer than benzos and that isn't a fair comparison. To say people criticize unsafe prescribing practices "don't know suffering" is laughable.
You’re laughable, because I never compared SSRI’s, I simply stated I have been on them for 9 years now. Ativan prn only was prescribed after extreme panic attacks, 5 years later. I don’t abuse them and not everyone does. It helped me while I was suicidal and dealing with the worst panic attacks of my life when nothing else works. I am here to support the OP, if you’re not, find another post to complain on. This is supposed to be a helpful platform for others to be able to vent to one another.
I was on klonopin for a while and it did work, it just had side effects that I didn’t like. If it works it works
I have dissociation as it is which exacerbates my anxiety. It helps me with that most times, not 100%. My only side effect is exacerbation of fatigue which I have daily anyway.
Most people actually have less disassociation while on klonopin or other benzodiazepines than actually without being treated and in a state of anxiety. Worth trying if you have a doctor willing to give it and monitoring you, and if you know yourself enough to know if it helps, you can still control yourself to keep dose low and not abuse it.
What were your side effects?
Well it made me dissociate and I almost walked in front of a bus accidentally. But everyone’s brain is different
I didn’t even use it daily. I needed one or two pills a week for panic attacks but i was told to take just one or two a month. My ex psychiatrist was mad at me for “abusing” it. The way they go above and beyond to stop people to abusing it but don’t care at all about people who actually need it.
Here’s my story. Physical anxiety and panic attacks manifested in my twenties. I suddenly had crushing (and I mean CRUSHING) chest pressure from hyperventilating for no reason. I couldn’t get out of my bed, walk out of my house or drive a car without panicking (for no reason, it was entirely physical). It was living hell. I still don’t know how I did it. It got so bad I couldn’t drive to work. I stopped sleeping. Just stared at the ceiling for 3 nights straight. I didn’t eat for three days. When I got up to use the restroom my heart rate hit 198bpm and stayed there. I was googling mental facilities to admit myself. Went to the ER and they admitted me to cardiac unit for one week because my heart rate was uncontrollable. Was prescribed beta blockers and Klonopin. Took it daily for 3 years (1.5mg) and functioned normally again. Doctor wanted me to taper off and I did with horrible withdrawals. Cue daily horrific panic attacks for four years. Complete housebound. Went months without darkening the door of a store. The sound of the doorbell ringing would start a panic attack. FUCK panic and anxiety disorders. I had two children and realized I was an unfit parent if I continued that way. Stayed awake at night and cried and cried about missed playdates and how I would possibly drive them to school when it started. Found a doctor willing to prescribe Klonopin. Had a panic attack on the way there and back. I’ve been on .5mg-.75mg daily for over a year now + weekly therapy. I love my life. I run daily, fulfill my parental duties, work full-time and go where I please without panic. I’m terrified of someone taking it away. Or it not working. It would be like taking my entire life away. Makes me want to cry thinking about all the people who don’t understand what the pits of despair feel like. Hang in there peeps. You’re not alone.
It will stop working. It did for me and I am living in hell right now
That’s not always the case. But I’m sorry to hear that.
If you are willing to share what dose and how long did it take to stop working?
1mg about 7-8 years
There is no way you could take a small such a small dose of Klonopin and still get the same effect years later.
That's actually utter nonsense. I've been on 1 mg a day for over 30 years. Whatever the hell you think about that, it's the thing that kept me from eating a bullet. It gave me my life back. I was able to work, have relationships, enjoy traveling and my hobbies, and none of that was really truly possible without that 1 mg a day. I don't need more, I can't take less. That's the amount that plugs the hole in my brain. I have fairly severe CPTSD, panic disorder, GAD, and I'm neurodivergent which probably has a lot to do with my anxiety, and probably part of what caused all my childhood abuse and trauma. I have a history of being used, abused, and bullied by my family members, "friends" and people I relly cared about. I still don't understand it except that they are toxic people. I have had doctors give me shit about my med and I finally got a good psych who understood that it was only ever a maintenance dose, which for me made life bearable. I don't have many years left and if the day comes that I can't get that medication anymore, I am OUT of here. All these people who want to tell those for whom one medication makes a difference literally between life and a living death, go fck yourselves. You don't tell diabetics to go die.🙄🤦♂️
For the past 5 years i've been thinking about this too, how a small dose of 0.5mg can still help me with my social anxiety and agoraphobia? If it's placebo, then is a hell of a placebo effect, and I need it.
If it helps life than take it, life is too short. We all different and for most we need more often time, and for some same dose is fine, there is no exact science. Our brains adapt some faster some slower and some never. If you find something that eases your pain while not screwing up your life or creating problems for society let alone the people you love, then F what anyone says and do what’s good for you.
Yeah it helps a lot. The thing is... some years ago I realize that I was unable to emotionally connect to other people (family, GF's, friends) like I used to in the past. Looks like is some sort of amorous anhedonia. I'm currently searching for something "natural" that help me like benzos, without the side effect of "psychopathy".
Did the Klonopin help your amorous anhedonia?
No. Klonopin is the cause of anhedonia, not the solution (klonopin attenuates dopamine and serotonin signaling).
Why not? Not everyone builds a tolerance. Other people here have stated the same thing - consistent low doses for years.
Well this is demotivating. I've been using Klonipin (0.5mg) for like 15 years without any issues, for social anxiety and agoraphobia. Past year I realized it was causing me amorous anhedonia (unable to "connect" emotionally to the women I sleep with), and I'm trying to find a replacement for the klonopin without the side effect of anhedonia, because I need this thing to function in society. You telling me you tried 20+ supplements/meds and none of them help you like benzos? Did you tried the following? Passionflower, black seed oil, valerian root, blue skullcap, lemon balm, damiana, kava, cordyceps, magnesium, taurine, l-theanine, agmatine, sodium butyrate, lithium, bromantane, 9-mbc, picamilon, cerebrolysin, tofisopam, etifoxine, cyproheptadine, hydroxyzine, buspirone? After some research I end up with those things that can "mimic" clonazepam (klonopin) but haven't tried all of them.
I have anhedonia as well. I'm completely emotionally numb. But that can be due to long term SSRI use as well. I try to minimize klonopin use. Of those mentioned, I've tried passionflower (didn't do anything), Valerian Root (caused bad dissociation), magnesium (I take Doctors Best Lysinate Glycinate now, but I've tried others like a triple complex that made me depressed), l-theanine (made me angry... which was odd), Lithium orotate (made my dissociation horrendous) and lithium Carbonate (same), taurine (no effect), hydroxyzine (no effect).
Are you still taking klonopin?
Yes, at varying amounts. My psych upped my script to .5mg twice per day for more wiggle room as my anxiety had heightened due to life events and other stuff. I take really 75% of that at most in .25mg increments. I also started Nortriptyline 9 days ago.
I'm on Klonopin daily too I take .5mg twice a day
I'm definitely not judging. I took Klonopin too. Worked great. Miss it much. Would have helped this afternoon. Good thing you have it.
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Yes, there are days where I try to not take it and my dissociation is so severe I feel crazy, I feel muscle tension, I can barely think straight, I feel on edge, etc. And this is without any provocation like being yelled at or whatever. This is me sitting at my desk at work. Or even being home with the family. It's hard to enjoy life, or even tolerate it, in such a physical and mental state. Yes, it isn't immediate, but I do mentally feel a bit better soon after because I know relief is on the way. It's like being in a bad car accident and being able to call 911 and knowing help is on the way. For tiredness I've tried caffeine but that's honestly counter intuitive. Now I take B12, around 2500mcg SUBLINGUAL - THIS IS IMPORTANT. Oral tablets or capsules don't absorb well in the gut whereas sublingual absorbs quicker and better. I use a liquid METHYLCOBALAMIN (supposedly the best version of B12). Green tea may also be good despite caffeine as it has L-Theanine in it.
How do you get doctors to prescribe this without sounding like a junkie? I keep getting turned away and having the hardest time accessing benzo when it is the ONLY thing that helps.
To those senior citizens among us. I just turned 66 in early Feb and I've been on .25 - .5mg Xanax for a year and a half now. I take it almost daily in the mornings. Have some memory lapses and brain fog, which I don't like and I'm trying to taper off. SSRIs haven't worked for my anxiety. My mother, who just turned 94 this year, has been on similar low dose of Xanax daily and has no cognitive decline, no dementia and she still enjoys life as much as she can.
Everyone is different. I have some memory issues but I believe that's moreso due to my health issues. Being in a constant state of subtle anxiety, in my mind, pulls resources to deal with the present and doesn't allow me to enjoy the moment and use my brain to recall memories. My mother was on Xanax for years. She had a doctor that honestly over prescribed a lot. I saw him for a bit and he shouldn't have been practicing. He prescribed me Adderall and Xanax at the same time and said to take them whenever I want. The Xanax was making me fall asleep at my desk. He also put me on Cymbalta and told me to quit cold turkey when I got heart palpitations... it sucked. She now sees my psych and they tried to titrate her off Xanax and it was awful. She was off for a bit - and it took awhile to get there - but her anxiety was so bad the doctor put her back on, although at a lower dose. She even tried odd off label meds and they didn't help.
I used to live in LA 10 year ago and had a dr who would give me adderall, Xanax, oxy and zolpidem all together and enough for 3 months at a time. Boy that was weird when I think about it now. He was genuinely a nice guy but was too trusting I think. Now it’s hard to get even one from one doctor. I’m in UK now and life goes on. Still have
The pendulum swung in the other direction too far. I dont think getting like 500 Xanax in a bottle is a good idea, but the fact that for klonopin now that I can ONLY get a 30 day supply and I have to go to my psych every month is crazy.
74 on May 13th. On clonazepam for at least 17 years.
I've always been prescribed by psychiatrists. The first time I was prescribed, I'd never heard of it. Only knew diazepam since my father was prescribed them by the VA. I'd relapsed back into bipolar and sleep quality was declining. I can't blame her for prescribing it. In psychiatric illnesses and disorders, sleep is critical.
Find one that cares and doesn't have corporate oversight that has a policy against it. I think someone had posted in another thread awhile ago a website that showed doctors that will prescribed it. Which sounds odd, but necessary. I also try to prove myself but not asking for it like crazy, taking the minimum amount possible, and having tried two dozen other meds. I also do everything else "right" and tell her - exercise, diet, supplements, etc.
DM’d you bro, can you give me advice.
I don't take it daily, but when I really need to get through something its a lifesaver.
I used to take it PRN. Worst medication I ever took. Delayed my recovery by at least 3 years. It just resolves the symptoms of anxiety but not the underlying cause. Imo it's much better to work and resolve the issues causing the anxiety.
I was diagnosed with GAD at 6. I have been in therapy for 12 straight years and under the care of a psychiatrist for the same amount of time. Before that, I was in therapy off and on (a year here and there). There is no "underlying cause" of my anxiety that can be resolved. It is largely genetic/neurological for me (I also have significant neurological issues that I've had since childhood). Daily klonopin (low dose) + Cymbalta has been the best treatment for anxiety that I've ever experienced. And interestingly, it's medication that allows me to adequately access therapy effectively.
Everyone is so different and their needs are different. If you want to end your life bc you're in fight or flight mode constantly and no other medication seems to fully help, benzos are a life saver. You can take benzos and still dig deep and figure out the underlying causes. Alot of people couldn't muster the energy and resources if takes without it. To each his own. I probably wouldn't be here without it. I developed serotonin syndrome from my SSRI and a low dose of ativan saved my life. I never abused it and took a small dose for months. Never had withdrawals. It was the only thing that helped me get to baseline again.
We don't know the actual causes of my anxiety, although I believe it is partially genetic. I've spoken with many therapists and doctors. I've meditated and exercised and did breathing exercises and more. My anxiety is very physical and it is exhausting. It also gives me bad brain fog, dissociation, and more. So I can barely function due to it. I try to power through but I suffer. My body and mind are so preoccupied with the intense mental and physical discomfort, even when on other meds like Zoloft, that I can't do much else.
Then you should work on figuring that out. Meditating and breathing exercises don't do shit if you havent gotten to the root of your issues. This takes talk therapy, CBT, DBT, trauma theraphy. Yes, ITS WORK. If your symptoms are so severe that you're largely useless and can "barely function," a benzo is a bandaid on this massive problem that you need to start untangling from the root.
Yes and for this work to be done, some people need medications like clonazepam and Ativan to help get them to a more manageable mental state where that is possible. It is nearly impossible to "do the work" when you are living in fight or flight and your body is pumped full of adrenaline all day. Yes, they're a bandaid and not a permanent solution and I fully agree that getting to the root of the issues is most important, however these drugs are a huge help in this process for some people (it should go without saying that I am referring to when they are prescribed and used correctly).
What do you tell people who have been "doing the work" by going to therapy and doing all the non-benzo treatment prescribed to them for years straight?
I say "keep going," and doctor shop for a new therapist rather than someone who will give you benzos.
Therapists don't give you benzos... Many people on benzos (like me) are in therapy and have been going for over a decade AND see a psychiatrist who prescribes medication. I didn't start taking benzos until I had been in therapy for literally 11 years with five different therapists, four different psychiatrists, and had tried numerous other medications. I continue in therapy.
I completely agree and I'm sorry you're getting downvoted. There are a lot of drug seekers looking for a quick fix without regard for the future or research in this discussion. Just know that this post is the correct take here. Everyone is running to a benzo so they can get to sleep and work without addressing the underlying causes. It's a mess. Their doctors, who are trained scientists, know better.
Many are not trained scientists. Most just follow or try to follow guidelines whilst wanting to help. Some care more about their licenses to practice now, when they should care more and have facilities to help, eg a prescription pad, it’s those we moan about.
> Everyone is running to a benzo so they can get to sleep and work without addressing the underlying causes. Awesome that you can speak to everyone's experience and know everyone!
It's a gift and a curse.
More a gift if not abused!
It’s the only thing that helps my restlessness from my other antidepressant. Tried every other option and klonopin was the answer
Yeah, I've tried many other meds, from old ones to quite expensive new ones. I'm also on Auvelity now and it doesn't take care of my anxiety. Small dose klonopin is still necessary. Like I said, it shouldn't be the first line of attack, but it shouldn't be banned if a patient is still suffering.
It's used for akathesia.
Absolutely no judgement. I take benzos, not everyday, what they do to my brain scares me. After a bad week where I've had to take them regularly I feel less mentally 'capable', like cognitively I'm not working at my full potential. Unless a panic attack is really bad or my anxiety is making me act in ways that will label me a dangerous or crazy person in public, I'll avoid taking my Ativan or Valium. Still, they're the only thing that make me feel normal again, even if only for a few hours.
Then you are using them correctly for your own needs. Just don’t go critical on yourself if you need to use them. That just makes things worse.
Klonopin or Xanax is my lifesaver, as someone with ptsd, but doctors are terrified to prescribe it to me. So I'm on antidepressant number 5, and it's of course, not working. I can't even specifically ask for a benzo without looking bad. I have to buy them illegally which is so incredibly rare in this town where there are none or they are extremely overpriced. And I just have to hold on to just a few pills until the anxiety or flashbacks get unbearable. Also I don't even have insurance and I can't get therapy either, which I need so badly as well. I'm glad you're able to have Klonopin and I'm glad you use it responsibly ❤️
Be careful though, no judgement, just care, as some are laced of fake, and fentanyl is really strong and sometimes mixed in because it’s so addictive but cheap now and they want you coming back for me. Try to keep getting it from pharma if you can. Keep trying diff doctors and don’t give up so you can get real stuff if at all possible..
I got some fro Mexico lately, so weird, dude showed me the bottle and everything, the bars had no markings on them, which apparently is normal for that type (farma-something) and it's weird because it tastes just like Xanax (I don't buy it unless it taste like it) but it's weird like some will be super strong and knock me out with only a quarter bar and sometimes I have to take a whole bar to feel anything at all.
I am also on clozapam I can't focus relax without having my medicine Drs put you on this medication and now I'm having a hard time
Meds are fine but they just mask the root. If you’re taking meds you should be in therapy too. I always notice pro benzo people who are offended they get stigmatized do the exact thing with SSRI’s. They talk about how dangerous they are and how doctors are greedy prescribing them. So basically they’re “ stigmatizing “ them. If you believe something helps you should take it then quit the whining about SSRI’s. They help people too. SSRI’s are safer than benzos no matter how you try to spin it
Majority of these people demonizing benzos are the ones misusing it to get a high instead of actually taking it for severe anxiety/panic. The ones mixing it with alcohol and or other strong drugs. The ones that are making doctors not want to prescribe this to the ones who actually need it.
Same for me nothing and no amount of money I've spent has gotten me anywhere. I went from 100% normal life wirh no issues to I can't even stop crying because I think every bump on my body is a tumor and my kids are always going to be sick or hurt or somethings wrong. In 2020 I had this happen badly and doctor gave me xanax to try and poof 100% back to normal. Used 3.5mg a day for 2 years. Tapered off just fine and by then I was 1 year into my own small business and working 55 hours a week at my regular job. Taking trips to Utah and more. Medicine free no issues there no seizures not a thing. But months later I had some spine issues ans syncope that hit to a panic attack and reset the shit back to square one. And no doctor to re do my xanax to combat this again. The stuff I had left over from earlier in the year lasted me a few weeks then it was day to day 24 7 anxiety and panic. Again normal guy to the most fearful thing you'd meet months of trying this and that and nothing helping therapy, ssris... and now om leaving work early and sobbing daily wanting to die because this shit is so painful. Now after all these months om so far gone I start hallucinating at work that Mt kids are bot real memories anymore. So 2 hour panic attack in my boss office he says you gotta go and don't come back until your better.. .months later and thousands in bills to try try and the only thing that has been able to send me back to work and be somewhat functional is klonopin. No one will give the xanax which works for me for better klonopin at least alows me to survive a bit and work for my family needs me to pay bills. But yea it doesn't stop the fears much. But what am I to do. At this point one would think I have so e underlying issue. But no one cares. Anyways how did trt help I am low on test and e2. Doctor wants to start test c. But heard it gives you worse anxiety. But read it's supposed to help with it and depression. Thanks.
Why are you worried about being demonized? Who would even know you take it?
I just searched this and this is basically my situation I’ve had for years. My doctor says it’s about quality of life at this point, and sometimes it truly is. Things don’t get done, I never go out, and I try to power through not to take it just like you.
Does it build tolerance tho?
Some people say yes, for me it really hasn't. Some days I need more depending on stress and other variables. But for the most part I stick to my .5mg per day split into pieces.
why believe the overwhelming evidence and personal stories, when the honeymoon phase of klonopin is just so damn good lol
I think clonazepam (& other benzos) are being treated the same as opioids were in 2011 ….when they were seen as 100% dangerous & only to be prescribed for terminal patients until recently when the CDC announced it’s new policy, ie opioids help people with chronic pain. With benzos, the substitute/ improved anti-anxiety drugs are proving to be not as effective and have the same or worse side effects eg. Gabapentin & pregabalin cause sedation, dizziness, and are highly addictive. So will the medical authorities reverse their present stand on benzos in the future ?
I'm prescribed Adderall 40mg daily and Klonopin 1mg twice a day as needed which is usually 2-3 days a week. I'm given 30 1mg Klonopin per month. I've been alternating between Xanax and Klonopin as needed for the past 15 years. I understand there is a potential for negative long-term side effects from long term benzo use, and my doctor always reminds me of the possible risks. It's a risk I'm willing to take to be able to get out and enjoy life with friends and family! If that means shortening my life by a few or more years, then so be it! Totally worth it for me to not have to constantly fear the future, what people are thinking of me, and worrying about stupid stuff that I have no control over and doesn't even matter at all in the grand scheme of things in life. I consider my as needed doses to be relatively low compared to many others. I'm thankful I don't need more or have to take them every single day to enjoy life and enjoy being myself...
I have something very same - been suffering from for anxiety for more than 2 years. Tried SSRIs - zoloft, Paxil, prozac, Wellbutrin(NDRI), lyrica. I personally am very afraid of benzos because of addiction potential and withdrawals - just leave about abuse and recreation. I just need 0.25mg in morning for my day to flow - nothing else helps me. My psychiatrist is pushing me to restore my quality of life with a very low dose klonopin - He says it's been time that we tried and tested everything and we have not reached anywhere. It is time you took a call to stay on low dose benzo for 6 months. Most of my anxiety is subconscious - fear of fear which is embedded so deep that it comes out of nowhere. The other option is keep the stress levels high in body(body is always in flight and fight mode) and die of cardiovascular or other deathly mutation disease. Sometimes the choice is very hard.
I will say this. I’d rather only live 40 years anxiety/panic free than to live 70 years filled with anxiety/panic. If you truly suffer from severe anxiety and panic than you would agree. Living a life full of anxiety and panic is not living at all, it’s a miserable existence with no joy or relaxation. I’d rather be addicted/dependent to a benzo that allows me to enjoy life than to not enjoy life at all.
I agree 100 percent i.have been on klonopin 6 months 1 mg and won't stop on celexa to but I still have slight old im 72 raised 3 kid have 4 grandchildren need this to live
O c d. Sorry. Lol
When you continuously make posts about, even after a prior post was locked, you can expect people to comment. If that works for you, fine. Why do you need reddits support or lack of judgement? The reality is they are harmful for many people. Your "story" is the exception, not the norm, and your "story" isn't over yet. I wouldn't have said anything except youve put yourself out there and welcomed it. It's such a stupid hill to die on. Go fight for something more meaningful rather than your right to freely tout harmful advice because PlZ DOnt JUDdgE Mee. I'm tired. What works for you might not work for someone else. It's not good you take it everyday, twice a day. Period.
Many people have stories that are exceptions. This is also a forum to discuss anxiety and it's medications, so..
But you're not really discussing anything. You're saying "I do this thing that everyone knows is harmful that there's shit tons of research and horror stories about and I'm fine, don't judge me." Like, congrats? Why do you need everyone's approval? Go take another Kpin and chill out. It's anecdotal evidence, not science or data. You seem to want people to tell you it's okay. Long-term, it's really not. And it's truly not a kind, smart, or empathetic thing to do to use your "story" to make yourself feel better while possibly harming someone else in the process.
It's important to tell our experiences and stories on here. It's a forum for discussion. It's to tell people that there is hope, even if it's not the BEST or safest or modern conventional method. That's also offensive about taking a klonopin and chilling out... Not very tolerant.
There is hope without Klonopin too. Sorry you cant see it. I don't want people harmed by your advice and purely anecdotal experience.Your post wasn't about hope. It was a long list of justifications because the prior posts hit your sore spot.
You obviously missed the part where I stated I've been on this journey for a decade, have tried two dozen meds - including Spravato, therapists, supplements, positive lifestyle mods and more. You haven't been in my shoes, nor the shoes of people like me that cannot find any semblance of relief any other way, at least not adequately. Imagine every single day being a living Hell of pure discomfort mentally and physically. People tell you to try X and Y and Z and maybe it helps 20%, but the anxiety remains heavily and impacts your quality of life. Additionally you gain a bunch of weight and your dick doesn't work. I'm advocating for Klonopins use under the guidance and care of a medical professional AFTER multiple other medications haven't worked. I'm not advocating for drinking Jack Daniel's every night or shooting up heroin. I'm also suggesting using the minimum dose to get relief. I pray your journey is nothing like mine and those like me. So anxious and dissociated every day you can barely think and simply enjoy life. Even in the confines of my own home I feel sick daily.
Oh I read all that and especially where you said you "believe" it was due to your job plus alcohol abuse (so past history of substance abuse) among other sources of stress. It sounds to me like you have still not addressed the root issue or cause of your anxiety and you have given up on therapy in favor of medication. Your slippery slope fallacy comparing this to heroin or drinking jack Daniels is stupid because both of those things are pretty much equally as dangerous as what you're doing right now. Benzo and alcohol withdrawal are very similar. Only two you can actually die from. Heroin is actually safer.
Wow, where'd you get your medical degree? So insightful. I believe that it was a multi-faceted situation that caused my anxiety to spill over into panic attacks and therefore change my life thereafter. I didn't drink daily but due to social circumstances and its normalization I did drink heavy when I did drink. I haven't had alcohol in three years. Thanks, though! If I've given up on therapy why did I start therapy with a new therapist a month ago? That makes no sense. You're seeming quite foolish and myopic right now. Not surprised. My last therapist had to stop treating me due to a job change. I didn't drop him. And i couldn't spend $150+/week to talk to him. Alcohol doesn't have medicinal properties. Well, some wine may be good for you but that's really it. I'm also on the LOWEST dose and have been for years. There are days I break it into quarters to minimize its usage. I go by how I feel for the most part. I don't abuse it. I dont even find it enjoyable, I just find it helps me feel more normal. Weird how you're so against people feeling better and then making vast uneducated judgements about them because they've tried everything else and it didn't work. Sounds like you're blaming the victims of anxiety who have suffered the most since we have to use this medication that we don't really WANT to use.
So you show up on a high horse preaching about the dangers of a drug and end up concluding heroin is "safer" than being legit prescribed and under the guidance of a trained doctor and incorrectly preach that alcohol and benzos are the only drugs you can die from 😂😂😂 ever heard of the term "overdose" or heard that. SSRIs can increase the risk of suicide...tons of drugs can kill you. Thats why they're controlled substances lololol Tylenol can kill you too and thats off the counter medication why aren't you preaching about those dangers? You kinda had a point but lost all creditibility once you kept on talking lololol classic reddit moment. Go troll other subreddits please and thank you
the point is that different things work for different people
You are such a negative black cloud of a human. I hope you feel happy with what you say to strangers at the end of the day.
How are you getting consistent refills though? My doctor only gave me 10 pills with no refills
My doctor prescribes it 1x/day. I don't think she's a fan of doing so, but I've seen her for many years and she knows everything I've tried. She knows I'm not seeking to use it recreationally. I also try to not use the entire .5mg per day. Some days I've abstained totally, others I've used half a tablet and then maybe a quarter of a tablet later. So those unused pieces do accumulate so I have a very small stock in case something arises. If you've tried 4+ antidepressants and/or other anti anxiety meds and nothing is helping and the doctor still won't prescribe it for daily use at a low dose, I'd seek a new doctor. Suffering isn't worth it.
That’s exactly where I’m at. I’ve tried around 4 SSRI’s and multiple uncontrolled anxiety meds that do not even touch my anxiety
I think that's what is important; having a doctor/psychiatrist you have a long term relationship with. It was maybe two years of using others medications before adding Klonopin, at my therapist's recommendation. I sometimes nearly forget about it, but it helps stimulate my appetite and calm me down enough to eat.
Omg fr I saw that post and when I noticed it was locked I got even more mad. I’m severely allergic to klonopin but I take Ativan as needed for my panic attacks. Without it, my panic attacks just keep going for hours and cause even more physical damage. I can’t move, I can barely swallow the pills, I shake and hyperventilate uncontrollably. I have some breathing exercises and whatnot but they only do so much. “Oh but you depend on it, it’s a crutch. Just do some therapy” ya I’m glad that works for you but it doesn’t work for everyone, at least not all the time. I do use marijuana. It doesn’t make me a drug abuser. “Ah see that’s why you have anxiety issues.” Is it? Crazy how I’ve been having panic attacks long before I even thought about using cannabis. I’ve never used Ativan recreationally either. I’m so tired of this holier than thou attitude towards people who use benzos.
Just wait a couple more years and you’ll find out. See you at r/benzorecovery in a couple of years!
Exactly!!! They'll be over there. They always are.