I'm out of my mind with panic, nausea, and I can't eat from anxiety. I've taken this drug off and on for about two weeks. I don't remember, is it doing nothing, or does it take longer than 45 minutes to start to help?
Can't calm down at all.
Clonazepam question: I'm out of my mind... - Anxiety and Depre...
Clonazepam question
Written by
Nothing_but_books
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
57 Replies
•
Sounds like you might need to call the doc that prescribed the clonazepam. Do you use any relaxation exercises like deep controlled breathing, meditation, etc. I get a fib which makes me feel like Im dying which ramps up my anxiety. I used slow controlled breathing which really helps alot.
Nothing_but_books• in reply to
Forgive my ignorance, what is a "fib"?
Breathing is supposed to be so great, for everyone except me I guess. I can't reduce the crazy enough to function. 5 minutes, 10 minutes, no go. No go. Even more demoralizing to try and fail.
• in reply toNothing_but_books
Sorry a fib is atrial fibrillation, a heart rate that gets really fast and irregular. Sorry this is happening to you. That has to be hard. Maybe there is something different the doctor can do with your dose or a different med
Nothing_but_books• in reply to
I'm not an internet child, but I think the kids write LOL! Yes indeed LOL, I had the heart crazies all along, just missing the acronym. A new name for my crazies.
Thank you.
• in reply toNothing_but_books
It means laugh out loud. I had to learn all these letters because my grandchildren do this. You can even look them up. Like huh look that up. I don’t really like it but that’s what they do.
Nothing_but_books• in reply to
Thanks, that one I do know. I must admit, it generally irritates the hell out of me what the kids are doing to our marvelous language. And how much they are losing; what you don't use goes away.
Calculators -- how far are we from a generation that cannot imagine a human doing a simple arithmetic calculation -- that's something esoteric computers do!
Don't get me going. Sigh.
From experience I’d say it takes about an hour to kick in and it’s not like a Xanax kick in where it’s BAM it’s like a slow leak under the bathroom door.
Nothing_but_books• in reply to
Hey Tolongtoenter,
Thanks. The clearest explanation yet. Appreciate it.
I'd enjoy hearing about the genesis of Tolongtoenter... Therein lies a story, no?
• in reply toNothing_but_books
And it’s still unfolding lol
You can’t take clonazepam off, and on it very additive I know. I am still on trying to ween off. That’s why you have those symptoms
Entela15• in reply to
Just to add to it when I saw a psychiatrist a few months ago he put me on quitaepine. He said clonazepam loses its effectiveness over time whereas the latter no.
• in reply toEntela15
Well that’s not true with me ,and other people. You can go on other sites where people talk about their meds, and they tried for years to go off it. They just can’t because it’s too hard, it’s additive. Psychiatrist know nothing about meds eXcept what they’re told told. Pharmacists go to school to learn all about these meds. Their the people you should ask, I did.Does that make sense to you.
Nothing_but_books• in reply to
Yup. Ignore psychiatrist about drug specifics. Talk to pharmacists. Sounds like good advice and I thank you.
Thanks!
Thank you.
I just looked up quitaepine and I don't think it is prescribed for straight depression. I'm aware that you develop a tolerance for all benzo and they stop working for you. Been there, done that.
Nothing_but_books• in reply to
Hi ghi123,
My prescription says "As needed", and boy am I gun shy. My need has to be through the roof for me to take one pill.
I know all about tolerance, and I will not take a benzo multiple times a day (God forbid). Learned my lesson years ago when I trusted a doctor who just kept giving me higher and higher dosages until there was no more, the drug didn't work at all, and I had four days of zero sleep, followed by a couple years of hell.
Just recently switched from lorazepam to clonazepam. Since then, I have read a couple messages about clonazepam being very addictive. Do you mean more so than other benzos? If you have any links talking about this, I would be interested to read.
Thanks!
I don't have any experience w other benzos besides a couple weeks on xanax but clonazepam damn near killed me.
I only took it as prescribed but unfortunately that did not matter. I was hooked and had no idea until i forgot to get a refill and had to go a weekend w out. I was a mess and actually caused an accident while driving. I didn't know then why, but i was already in withdrawal.
So, a few months later, i decided no more and wanted to taper off. This was after i had taken it regularly for almost ten years. I have a panic disorder and clonazepam seemed like the answer to my prayers but i was mistaken.
I tapered (probably too quickly) and after that last dose, my world seemed to fall apart. I could not function for almost 2 months. Literally spent that entire time in bed. Lost my business, would've lost everything if not for my husband. I couldn't carry a conversation, i had a seizure and ended up in detox that i was trying to avoid. There wasn't much they could do because i refused to take a different benzo. A year and a half later, im a lot better but still have horrible anxiety (worse than before i started taking it) depersonalization/realization issues, migraines, etc.
Clonazepam is a wicked drug and i recommend avoiding it if at all possible.
Terrifying story! Do you remember how high a dose you were up to the weekend you forgot to get your refill?
I just recently started Clonazepam, and I don't take more than a 0.5 mg. pill at a time. I try to take one pill a day at the most. I skip taking it at all every time I can.
Your story makes me worry if even that is too much.
I know I did okay on lorazepam for years, one prescription would last me until the pills expired. But now everything has gone to hell.
I take a small dose most days and it takes about an hour for full effect. It works for anxiety but I would stick with it regularly as it is addictive. I've tried others in the past and clonazepam is the most potent.
Sorry, I don't follow you.
"I would stick with it regularly as it is addictive."
Huh? Would you clarify?
I have noticed a big difference between the way lorazepam worked on me and this new drug. The lorazepam made me logy so I felt doped. The clonazepam (after the first couple of days falling asleep) does not make me feel drugged at all. It just, on a good day, when it works, takes my panic down a notch. Sometimes a big notch.
Klonopin (Clonazepam) is a benzodiapine that works as a suppressant to the central nervous system. I am not a doctor, but I have taken Klonopin for years, as needed, for anxiety (half milligram per day). You have not taken the drug long enough to experience withdrawl effects if you stop it. You also don't seem to be giving it a chance to work. Klonopin is a slow-acting benzo. It provides a 'steady state' for about 12 hours. Ativan (Lorazepam) is a fast acting benzo that kicks in with an effect right away and slowly tapers off in about 8 hours.
Talk to your doctor.
Your symptoms sound typical of an over-sensitized nervous system. Basically, your body is over-reacting to very normal phenomena. It gets locked in a fear-symptom-fear-symptom loop. It takes the body awhile to repair that de-regulation.
Hey Pugglesworth,
I accept all you offer at face value. I'm sure you have done your research, and also have your own experience.
But. I took Ativan (as needed) for years, and although it kicked in a wee bit sooner, for me it wore off in 3 hours or less.
The clonazepam seems to have completely worn off (far as I can tell) in about 4-1/2 hours. Maybe my extreme panic just burns right through these drugs sooner than predicted.
As far as what you said about withdrawal if you stop Clonazepam, isn't the risk greatly reduced if you take it as seldom as possible, and never bump up the dose?
One last thing. Would you please explain what you mean:
"You also don't seem to be giving it a chance to work."
I do not understand.
To me it's a 'risk-versus-rewards' weighing with benzo usage: is the risk of potential withdrawal worth the reward of a suppressed nervous system? For me it depends on how I'm doing with my various diagnosis (GAD, OCD and others). As far as potency is concerned, that depends on a number of factors: weight, metabolism, other medications and more.
Again, your doctor is the one to chat with about these things.
I have nerve pain (from adrenaline and cortisol), nausea and headaches (tight muscles) and a host of other symptoms from an over-reactive nervous system; however, these symptoms are temporary and go away when I allow my body to repair it's dis-regulation.
You're far from alone in your experience.
As far as giving meds enough time to work, that was an assumption on my part as I don't know your history. You have reached out for help here, so I would also recommend chatting with a therapist (if you haven't already).
Hey Pugglesworth,
I continue to be amazed at the depth and breadth of knowledge I encounter chatting with members of HealthUnlocked.
I loved reading:
"nerve pain (from adrenaline and cortisol), nausea and headaches (tight muscles) and a host of other symptoms from an over-reactive nervous system".
Wow. I am a novice here, and neither therapist nor any doctor I have worked with ever delinated so clearly the zig-zag connection our bodies make creating this chaos.
Also, I admit I'm obsessing about this, but assumption or not, I really would like it if you could explain what you originally meant by:
You also don't seem to be giving it a chance to work."
Maybe there is something I need to remedy?
So nice to hear from you again. I like / hate the "far from alone in this".
"Say it ain't so Joe." (Like not being alone; Hate hate hate you are suffering too. Is God taking a nap?)
I wouldn't read too much into my 'giving it enough time to work' statement as it was an assumption on my part. After reading through your posts it seems you are quite familiar with medications, side effects, potency and so on.
I know when I change prescriptions I need to give the new medication time to work. SSRI's take about a month (for me) to kick in and another two months (for me) to reach their optimal level. That is a long time to test a drug while you are having symptoms; however, there are other ways of handling symptoms such as acupressure, exercise, diet, breath-work and so on.
I recommend getting Dr. Claire Weeks book 'Hope and Help for Your Nerves.'
It really should be required reading around here.
Hi! You seem to know your stuff so i have a question. I detoxed off of benzos and opiates last year.
My nervous system is a mess! Like half my face being numb and the other half being frozen. I have horrible nerve pain and my muscles never relax.
Do you have any advice?
I do not want to go back on either of those drugs. I don't want to suffer anymore either.
Thanks!
Hey Kelly,
Don't know if you were asking me, as I most definitely do not know my stuff. I happened across this, however, and it may be of use:
This is trite off the cuff sillyness, but do take care of the basics to give your body the best chance:
keep your digestion going so your body has the best chance of getting rid toxins:
fiber
yogurt
hydrate - lots of water, but don't overdo (flush out poisons)
regular small meals - try a protein bar (to avoid going crazy snacking on junk)
*** I like avoiding junk ingredients and Kind is a good brand
I know what you mean. Been there. Done that. My decision to never go on them again was changed when life buried me in endless panic. But I will never let a doctor take charge and keep bumping me up to higher and higher dosages again! They are not the ones who go through hell getting off!
One more (stupid) idea from me:
I find listening to the stupid, silly, bubblegum music of my youth is so upbeat and fun that I move around gently and it helps. One more link, this one much lighter:
youtube.com/watch?v=Fu3g-13...
If this doesn't appeal, you get the idea. Upbeat and cute.
Thank you! I've never admitted this to anyone but i do get quit a boost by listening to Tiffany and Cindy Lauper. 😉
You're welcome.
I 'fessed up to "Sugar, Sugar" (doesn't get more silly than that).
Your turn. Connect me up to one from: 1) Tiffany and 2) Cindy Lauper. I'm from the wrong generation to have a clue. Upbeat mood would be great!
I kinda have icon-a-phobia. What does the winky face mean?
(Are you a Potter fan? Remember Winky?)
This isn't either of them but my number one happy song.. enjoy
Here's my fav from Cindy Lauper.
And Tiffany
None of the links play! I don't know what happened, but it's fine, I found all on youtube.
What a perky, upbeat collection! Thank you. I have always loved The Lion Sleeps Tonight. Here's one for you, a much much older version of your Tiffany tune. See what you think:
Kelly,
Again, I'm not a doctor. Always work with your doctors regarding your medication.
I have gotten off of and back on benzos a number of times. I work with my doctor on changing any dosage or prescription as I've run into problems when I do it on my own. I experience what you've described and more. It takes time for my body to heal, so I do my best to give it the space it needs. I do breath work, exercise, yoga, acupressure and relaxing meditations. When I notice part of my body, say my abdominal muscles, is tense I consciously relax it.
The body takes time to heal, but it does it's utmost to do so.
As far as recommendations, get Dr. Claire Weeks book 'Hope and Help for Your Nerves.' She explains a lot of what I was (and am) going through.
Thank you so much! I will order her book today. I wanna to see this great "life is better with out drugs" thing that others in recovery speak of, I'm just not feeling it yet. Kinda lost myself in the process. I'll read her book. I appreciate it!
Hey there its a slow acting med. I felt the dame way but it lasts longer in your system. I also was concerned about taking it all the time but my Dr assured me that I need to take it for my anxiety. If I were taking it just because thats different. I hope this makes sense. I've been switched to a fast acting one now.
Scared to death of tolerance building up and drug no use at all. Psychological dependence N to the X. Welcome to Gehenna. Supplicants form a line to the right.
I will never again go down the road of it stopped working, we'll give you more. Oh, that stopped working, we'll give you more. Oh, that stopped working... well if we give you any more you will die, so you better go off it. And Rots of Ruck with that.
I know you didn't ask for my opinion, but i feel like i should tell you it anyways. Only because i want to help, so disregard if I'm stepping on your toes please.
Please get a second opinion about taking benzos for life. I have a panic disorder and got addicted to these drugs. It was brutal going off of them and that showed me what they do to you. They are so bad for our brains and nervous system. They hijack it and things don't work right without them, at least not for a while. I am in therapy now and trying to deal with anxiety in other ways as well as the last few lingering symptoms from benzo withdrawal.
From what i have learned, benzos really shouldn't be taken for more than 2 weeks at a time. They are that addictive. It sucks but it's the facts. Please look into it. My best friends dr told her the same thing, she got a second opinion and is now doing EMDR and tapering off benzos. That dr told her the same thing i told you above, they are not supposed to be used long term. I took them almost my entire adult life, i saw the same dr that whole time and she told me the same thing your dr told you. Then i moved and changed drs. He was shocked that i had been on them so long and told me the same thing, that i needed to get off. It wasn't easy but i survived. Haven't had a benzo in a year and a half. You can do it too, just gotta want to. Please read up on long term use.
Thank you but I dont take them everyday. More like once in a blue moon. I was just explaining what my Dr said to me. No worries and take care.
That's great! xx
Ok I've been taking this med for several years. I take 1mg 3x daily. But has a long half life it stays in your system....however...
You cannot take it on and off , those are withdrawal symptoms you're having. You can't miss a dose. You must take it on a continual basis. You can't take it as needed. It must be taken same times each day. The withdrawal and anxiety is giving you nausea not the med. Talk to your doc
Hugsxx
Nothing_but_books• in reply to
Hey Gretel -- I love your name! -- bet I'm the first to ask where's Hansel, huh?
I just called a pharmacist to clear this up, and what you're saying is wrong. Clonazepam is meant to be taken only as needed, and as seldom as possible, to avoid developing tolerance. Pharmacist said it absolutely does not trigger withdrawal symptoms taken this way.
The hell I am living in is what's giving me nausea.
• in reply toNothing_but_books
So it's panic.
That's interesting that I was told opposite. I've been on it many years and it makes me more functional as my nurse & I see it. I won't live life panicked all the time and that's what gives me nausea and makes my stomach sick and heart race.
Are you in the states? I guess the pros look at it all different. Thanks for checking. Hugs x
PS.. Hansel married Jill from Jack n Jill.
Nothing_but_books• in reply to
Huh?
• in reply toNothing_but_books
You asked where Hansel was?
Nothing_but_books• in reply to
Ya. I can be a smart ass sometimes. Forgive. But if there's a story, I'm all ears...
I’ve been on Clonazepam for 6 years and it never takes that long to work for me. You may need a higher dose. Call your doctor and tell them. You don’t need to suffer like you are. Good luck!
If there was a drug out there to make it all better, show me where to sign on the dotted line. Multiple doctors (put myself in the hospital not too long ago) and therapists know what's going on. Where I am seems to be where I stay until I come out the other side. If so.
I'm glad a benzo has worked that long for you. My experience tells me that the worse off you are, the more often you take a sedative, the sooner you develop tolerance and it doesn't work.
I have been told that too but I’ve also been on Ambien for 9 years and it still works every night for me so I guess everybody’s different in the way drugs work on them. I’ve been on these for so long because other drugs have not worked for me.
Hi Sugar,
I thought Ambien was only prescribed for insomnia. That's what the doctors gave it to me for, 'bout 15 years ago (10 mg.) and it did not help me sleep one bit. Are you taking it for something else?
Oh, most important for me -- does it tend to bother your stomach? So many things I can't tolerate!
Your screen name makes me wonder if you like Sugar Sugar (The Archies),
or hate it? I get both sides. Sometimes silly pop tunes make me smile.
youtube.com/watch?v=Fu3g-13...
Thank you for the song! I like it. I do take ambien for sleep. It doesn’t bother my stomach. I’m asleep in about 7 minutes after I take it. Usually wake up in the same spot I fell asleep in.
Glad you enjoyed it. Sillyness has its place.
Hey,
I'm glad it has worked for you so long. But my experience tells me that the worse off you are, the more often you take a sedative, the sooner it stops working because you have developed a tolerance. Bingo, Bango, Bongo! (Hi MrMonk!)
I have spoken to more than one doc about what's going on, as well as a couple therapists. Seems where I am is where I stay until I come out the other side. If so.
NBP, stop, chill out. If you have been prescribed the stuff I suppose you should take it as prescribed. But, I have finally after many years of so called 'depression', and having a break, having taken redundancy finally got a diagnosis of EUPD, basically it means you find it difficult to handle your emotions, especially when a 'loved' one shits on your head, which I know has happened to you. If you can try to get some talking therapies, I've had a lot and am on Escitalopram now. The best thing is to try to calm your emotional life down, if that means throwing yourself into your work, or undertaking valuable voluntary work, you may actually find out that there are people out there worse off than you, who will find any input from you as a blessing from God. Try to stop circular thinking about how bad you, how you are a failure, that is too easy a trap to get into, although I know things are more difficult at the moment, enjoy the coming sunshine, take every little success as the triumph it is, getting up, getting dressed, eating sensibly, or not, what the hell, you only live once. Although my childhood was no picnic I find I am trying to get back in touch with that time by watching old tv series I used to like, not that old, but not all this new junk that shows everybody, especially in the US living the perfect life, no concerns about money, housing, their weight etc, it is unrealistic and leads to people having unrealistic expectations, we can't all be Richard Branson, Paris Hilton or even Oprah Winfrey...
Thank you.
Got it:
Stop. Chill out.
Get a life.
Calm the (hell) down.
Throw yourself into something to keep busy.
Try to stop circular thinking about how bad you are.
Take little success as triumphs (getting up, getting dressed, eating...)
Wow. Hang a shingle. Now the hard part. How?
I gotta know. I know it's none of my business, but... 14 and a 1/2? What?!
If you have to cut yourself off from all the rotten people in your life who put you down. I didn't talk to my mum for 5 years in my 30s, and my daughter hasn't spoken to me in 18 years +, because I wasn't the mother she wanted. Sorry I am who I am, and I am not going to dance to her tune just because she can't admit she was partially at fault too. Other people like me, I sometimes find this fact quite amazing because I don't like myself much, I am lazy, do the absolute minimum to get by when it comes to myself, but I have my cats, my messy hoard of treasures, treasures to me anyway, and I have made friends who like me, and continue to like me, without me pretending to be something I'm not. I do self-medicate as my GP said, on glass a day, wine or cider, sometimes I even skip it, once in a blue moon mind. I also use Youtube for sleep meditations and wake up meditations, I find it difficult to do the first, and hate doing the other, I think sometimes I'd really rather not wake up, just pass away in my sleep, but I'm not lucky enough for that, my nan died ages 97?? Reach out to people who calm you down an that you trust not to talk about you behind your back, I know it is difficult, but there are some nice people out there, people who have been in your shoes, or similar and know where you are coming from.
Good luck Dee
Hey Dee,
I'm happy you wrote back. By the way, your 14 and a half screen name originally confused the hell out of me. What the heck? A 14 year old can write like this???
Glad you cleared it up.
As for the rest, I hear you. Maybe someday, if I heal enough to get out there (seems to take a freakin' miracle, and they are few and far between), I will be able.
Meanwhile, you keep on going. Pushing yourself to keep doing the meditations even when they are difficult, or even hateful?! Wow. Keep on keeping on.
Bye for now.
I’m so sorry. Clonazepam works for me in 5 mins. And helps tons with my panic. Feel better.
Hello Dolphin 80! I have never seen a happier avatar! Thank you for sharing a smile.
I do wish people wouldn't say "I'm sorry". I get it, it is gut wrenching to read about someone suffering, and it's a way to connect.
But for me, I'm glad this drug works so fast and well for you.
Wish my body didn't burn right through whatever sedative they give me unless I take enough to sleep. And even that lasts only two hours or so.
Not what you're looking for?
You may also like...
Tapering off clonazepam
I have been on clonazepam for past one and half years.My doctor prescribed it for sos but i have...
Clonazepam
Hi. I’m new here. Just a little history. At the age of 30 I started taking Lexapro for depression....
Clonazepam addiction
Every time I don’t take Clonazepam before bed I wake up feeling suicidal I enjoy the relief the...
Clonazepam taper
Hi everyone,
After a particularly hard time I was put on daily clonazepam. Started at 2 mg a day...
Clonazepam
My doctor just prescribed me a clonazepam. 25mg today beside remeron that I been taking for almost...
Related Posts
Clonazepam for Anxiety
Question 
Clonazepam and Zopiclone reducing 
Does Clonazepam stop working ? 
Feeling Anxiety After Titrating off ClonazepamModeration team
ADAATeamRachelPartner
ADAATeamLisePartner
