Anyone else on clonazepam?

[Char1985]

Major anxiety and panic about heart issue it’s like I can’t have one normal day at all, most days I feel some terrible event will happen to me and cause me to die, well was using diazepam for years on and off now been switched to clonazepam anyone else use this and what are ur opinions on it?

[Laurennnnnnn]

I take it as needed now! It works well if I take it soon enough into feeling anxious.

The only issue I’ve had is that when I was taking it daily my tolerance grew like crazy to the point where I was on a really high dose. I came off that dose because it was way too high and withdrawals SUCKED.

So I’d say just keep that in mind and I wouldn’t recommend taking it daily

[Char1985 in reply to Laurennnnnnn]

Yeah I agree that tolerance could be an issue as I had that with diazepam but I’m not sure the clonazepam is even doing anything I take one tablet twice a day as needed but last 4 days needed the constant dosage but then I may not use for another 2 months

[Hidden in reply to Laurennnnnnn]

Are you taking it for anxiety? If so, you might want to get new meds for anxiety such as Effexor and propranolol- worked for me. Good luck and I hope you find the right medication

[Char1985]

I find it very odd as I’m not sure it works or not as the action seems to take forever compared to diazepam

[mcginnmx]

Trust me it works! You will find your life in a new perspective. I used to have anxiety attacks to the point I want to throw up. I never felt so at peace with myself knowing it is my body not just me. Though if you take it you can never get off it.

[Char1985 in reply to mcginnmx]

Doctors will only let me use it as and when required so only prescribing 14 tablets to last the month

[Hidden in reply to Char1985]

There is better medication than Xanax. My doc won’t prescribe it. He says it can give memory problems

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I agree! Xanax was my first and it did zip for two years (off and on) along with Lexapro. I plateaued quickly. Then in 2014 and 2016, I was put on Klonopin along with Cymbalta, respectively, which was better (no side effects). I feel I might need to up the dosage or change meds altogether but I don't won't to go through any side effects.

[Laurennnnnnn]

If your problem is more panic attacks I’d go for something like Xanax. It helps fast

[Char1985 in reply to Laurennnnnnn]

Uk Gps won’t prescribe it at all and only for 2 weeks! And I’ve used in long term so they are so annoying with not giving what works

[Hidden]

Hi Char, I've been on clonazepam for a few years now. I only take 2 mg per day and it helps most of the time. Now there have been some days when I have had anxiety attacks out of the blue so I have to remember my grounding tools. Remember, everybody's body is different just as the illness itself. My anxiety disorder maybe different than yours and so forth. If I were you, I would talk to my health care professional and discuss your concerns and you may have try different medication until you find the right one for you. Just an FYI, I had been on different meds prior and they had different side effects. Find the one that has the side effect most tolerable ;). Good Luck and use your grounding tools and breathing exercises.

[Char1985 in reply to Hidden]

Thank u,I keep using my tools which do help but u know how it is! Doctors refuse to give me anything other then clonazepam and only 14 tablets at that have to last me a month I said it needs to be a regular dose

[Hidden in reply to Char1985]

It sounds like your Dr has you on an "as needed" basis in lieu of a daily dosage. If that is the case, your body will not get the full benefits of the drug and you probably won't see any side effects either to determine if it is the right med for you. Have you asked why he/she only gives you 14 tabs?

[sophie4]

So sorry it has taken me 3 days to reply to your question.I take clonazepam (generic for Klonopin) and think it's much more effective than diazepam.

The diaszepam did nothing for me

The clonazepam is superior, providing me with the relief I desperately need.

One word of caution; the brand name for clonazepam is far superior to the generic form. Of course various suppliers (drug stores or supermarkets that have a pharmacy) have different types of the generic form.

Hope this will be of help for you.

BTW, Ativan did nothing for me.

Best of luck!

Sophie4

[Hidden]

Alprazolam is better in my opinion.

[Char1985 in reply to Hidden]

It’s the superior drug as it’s rapid onset but most gps won’t give it at all especially my gps

[LiveandLetLive42]

I LOVE Clonazepam. I've been taking one or two a day for a long time now. I get some anxiety, but it is nowhere near how bad it used to be! Definitely stick with it!

[Char1985 in reply to LiveandLetLive42]

Think my anxiety would be much better with a low regular dose but my gps are the worst like they literally won’t allow it long term or on a regular basis

[LiveandLetLive42 in reply to Char1985]

That’s odd. It’s supposed to be long term. Maybe you can find another doctor. I wish you the best. It’s really a great anxiety reducer.

[Hidden in reply to Char1985]

You might try a different medication such as Effexor + propranolol. It works for me and my doctor wanted me off clonazepam

[Char1985 in reply to LiveandLetLive42]

That’s the thing I think it would be much better for me if I could take a regular dose but the gps only willing to give 14 tablets to last a month

[Char1985]

I feel for u, mine come anytime anywhere lasts days sometimes and meds don’t touch it at all it’s makes me so frustrated

[sophie4]

How are you??

[sophie4]

How are you???

[Char1985 in reply to sophie4]

Struggling I’m trying to not use the meds I have but it’s killing me slowly

[sophie4 in reply to Char1985]

I'm not sure I understand, Char. Why don't you want to use the meds you have? It's a sin and a shame that you were taken off diazepam COLD TURKEY!~~VERY non-therapeutic and only in my opinion, irresponsible of your doc. And to leave you with no meds for TWO MONTHS???!!!!!!!! Horrible. And now, to only give 14 clonazepam per month?

First of all, it's medically dangerous to be taken off of diazepam cold turkey. It's dangerous to take a person off of any benzo WITHOUT FIRST weaning them off during a weaning down period of a few months. The time schedule would depend on the dose and how many times a day it was prescribed.

My doc began to wean me off of Klonopin (of course the generic which is NOT even comparable to the name brand) from 2mg twice a day to 1mg twice a day.

HUGE PROBLEMS but I did it. But not without suffering. Just before taking my next doze, I had heart palpitations, nausea, feelings of dread with overwhelming anxiety. This happened on particularly difficult days. On not so horrible days, I did't have the same intensity of anxiety. I try to skip a day of clonazepam when I'm so depressed I just sleep..and sleep..and sleep.

Psychiatrists and psychologists who have given prescription privileges, are becoming more and more anti-benzos because they are all very addictive and because of the high rate of patients who abuse them.

I've been on one or another benzo since I was 18 years old. I'm 70 now. Klonopin

is helping me more than any of the others.

The only SSRI that works the best for me me is Prozac. I've tried others.

Only my thought, but GP's really shouldn't be prescribing psychiatric meds. A thorough comprehensive treatment plan should be carefully developed that includes some type of regular psychotherapy.

I'm so sorry you're needlessly suffering..Best of luck!

Sophie

[Char1985 in reply to sophie4]

I agree to most extent but trying to see any part of the mental health team here is beyond impossible and u can forget seeing a physiatrist unless u are in a mental health facility I swear to all above it useless. 14 clonazepam doesn’t last me a week when my anxiety is so high

[Char1985]

I feel it’s a little hit and miss I guess I’m use to diazepam where it’s rapid onset so with clonazepam I don’t get the same feeling

[Char1985]

I wondering if I should take a half dose as well need this panic to just do one

[Char1985]

I was on full dose of diazepam the doctor stopped this and wanted the mental health team involved so they are happy with either of meds but my gps are reluctant to prescribe any benzodiazepine even though my anxiety and panic is all day everyday it’s a joke. They stopped my diazepam cold turkey left me without any meds for 2 months not on clonazepam but will only give me 14 a month and onlyTo take as and when needed not a regular dose

[Hidden]

I have some but don’t need it now that I’m on new meds for anxiety

[Hidden]

I was on clonazepam but doctor switched me too Effexor and propranolol and this works just the same way. Good luck, we gotta have our meds right or feel needlessly awful. Also, you might ask about Buspirone

[Hidden]

Have you told your doctor yet?

[Hidden]

I was using it but now I’m taking a whole slew of medication for anxiety. I think going to a psychiatrist helped. She knew of lots of other ways to tackle anxiety. I haven’t taken diazepam

[Char1985]

Hi, no I was on diazepam full strength which they took me off completely at the beginning of December now I’m on clonazepam which funny enough I find later in the day causes a faster heart rate

[Char1985]

All the doctors at my surgery refused to prescribe any at all until they spoke with the mental health team who told them 2 months later I needed some sort of benzo so I’ve made a massive complaint to NHS England

[Char1985]

It’s awful when the panic kicks in I don’t know what’s real and what’s not anymore I’m so sick of being fobbed off with lame excuses

[Char1985]

Apologies for the long wait in reply had no phone. For me the panic attacks/anxiety and worry never stop I’ve tried all sorts of things at home and through the NHS but for me it just doesn’t work I must say I hate how I feel I dread getting up.

[Hollick in reply to Char1985]

I too dread getting up

[Char1985]

Frankly I’m not if they work for me really I think they must do something just in a longer time frame to diazepam