I am 61 and just started clonazapam for GAD. I cannot take SSRIs, can't tolerate side effects. I managed to not need a benzo for 21 years by taking Buspar, but it is not strong enough for my recent problems. I have to be on something lifelong now to keep from relapsing. I am hoping to find members who are my age and need to be on clonazapam for life, as I feel alone in my age group. I do not have panic attacks, just GAD. I hope to live into my 90s and wonder if I can take this at that age? Hope so, I am very healthy otherwise and my mom is 91 and grandma died at 97. I really like the clonazapam and how it makes me feel, if I could just stop worrying about it. I would like only positive feedback as I don't want to add to my anxiety. Thank you for listening.
How many years have you been on Klonopin? Who is the oldest person you know taking Klonopin?
Question posted by iamalady on 22 July 2013
Last updated on 6 June 2024
195 Answers Page 6
I have been taking 2mg of Klonopin for 25 years. I am now 69 years old. I would still be taking it but my doctor wants to ween me off. I had no problems while taking it for Restless Leg and Insomnia. It works beautifully, as long as you take it as prescribed. Do not try to up your dosage... keep with the same dosage and check with your doctor if you’re not happy with the results.
I am trying to ween myself off and doing it gradually to mitigate withdrawal symptoms. The symptoms of withdrawal mimic your symptoms for taking the drug only more so. I didn’t realize this drug causes dependency... I wasn’t told. I wouldn’t be too concerned If I were you. Stay on it if it helps you, indefinitely at your age. I am wondering why my doctor wants me to try to go off when it has been working so well for 25 years.
Seems like she’s concerned about dependency, but I am not asking for more or a stronger dose, so why not just stick with it?
Right now I am suffering leg twitching and jitteriness because I am reducing my dosage by 1/2mg every month or so after 25 years’ !
What the heck! I am nothing if not tenacious... I will be successful and go off of it... only to have to replace it with something else for my Restless legs!!
Don’t worry, any questions ask your doctor!
I am 70, and have been taking clonazepam for 25 years. I take for panic attacks and for sleep. My dosage has been one mg in the morning, one mg in the afternoon, and 3 mgs for sleep before bed. My Dr. said that it was safer to stay on it since the withdrawal is so bad. It the only thing that prevents my panic attacks. I also have anxiety. My Dr. says it is safe at my age. I do not worry about it. I hope this helps you.
My GP also agrees. I’m taking Mirtazapine for sleep which works well. Anxiety during the day is my issue. I was trying to take as small a dosage as possible during the daytime but was constantly suffering. He allayed my fears and told me that I was under-medicating. It took several months (6) to understand that I needed to do as he recommended. I take .25mg in the am and .25 either noon or evening ( some days both). That amounts to a max dose of .75mg. Some days I don’t need to take any. I don’t understand that and wish my anxiety would go away or lessen but, that doesn’t seem to be happening right now. I also use the “EFT” or Tapping Solution App. It is very helpful and has had positive results in studies as a mind body therapy for many problems, including anxiety.
My GP also agrees. I’m taking Mirtazapine for sleep which works well. Anxiety during the day is my issue. I was trying to take as small a dosage as possible during the daytime but was constantly suffering. He allayed my fears and told me that I was under-medicating. It took several months (6) to understand that I needed to do as he recommended. I take .25mg in the am and .25 either noon or evening ( some days both). That amounts to a max dose of .75mg. Some days I don’t need to take any. I don’t understand that and wish my anxiety would go away or lessen but, that doesn’t seem to be happening right now. I also use the “EFT” or Tapping Solution App. It is very helpful and has had positive results in studies as a mind body therapy for many problems, including anxiety.
My GP also agrees. I’m taking mirtazapine for sleep which works well. Anxiety during the day is my issue. I was trying to take as small a dosage as possible during the daytime but was constantly suffering. He allayed my fears and told me that I was under-medicating. It took several months (6) to understand that I needed to do as he recommended. I take 0.25mg in the am and 0.25mg either noon or evening ( some days both). That amounts to a max dose of .75mg. Some days I don’t need to take any. I don’t understand that and wish my anxiety would go away or lessen but, that doesn’t seem to be happening right now. I also use the “EFT” or Tapping Solution App. It is very helpful and has had positive results in studies as a mind body therapy for many problems, including anxiety.
I’m now back to taking the clonazepam .125mg at a time. I usually need to take three doses and occasionally four. How would anyone know if they can get off this med if their anxiety is really debilitating?
I am 70 years old and am on Klonopin. I’ve been on it for at least 15 years and have never abused the dosage. I have pretty bad anxiety and have to take something. I had a psychiatrist who told me that I needed to get off of Klonopin or it was going to mess with my mind, ie dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease, etc. I stopped going to him and my primary care prescribes it for me. Some days, I don’t even have to take any, but the majority of the time I do. I have been prescribed 1 mg. tablets to take twice a day. I try to take only a half.
I have been on and off Klonopin for 3 yrs. now. I am 66 yrs. old. I take occasional breaks every few weeks. I never need more than .5mg. /day. Taken in 2 doses. Taking a break for a week or two, seems to make the med more effective. I have not spoken to my doctor about staying on Klonopin indefinitely. Have no idea what he will say. I HATE SSRI’s... they make me worse... no doubt. I need to get over my fear of this benzo... it’s hard when you see the negativity on a daily basis.
You’re ‘breaks’ may seem to help because you’re starting to experience withdrawal and resuming solves this. Just a guess. But I do have the feeling that the longer you’re on K, the less you notice the beneficial effect. You only notice how bad you feel if you try to stop it. I’ve been taking .5/day for seven or eight years and am probably on it for the duration. Recently my anxiety has spiked and my pdoc says I can up it to 1.0/day which I’m doing every so often (2x/wk).
Hi there... I am 63 and never took an aspirin until 3 years ago when I experienced a trauma. I then developed a horrible autoimmune disease. All of this lead to horrible anxiety, depression, ocd, etc. I have tried SSRIs and like you, they have not helped. The only thing that does help a little is .5 mg of klonopin. Therefore, my doctor has allowed me to remain on it for the rest of my life if necessary. Will it lose effectiveness... probably... but at the age of 63 I am ok with using it for as long as necessary. I am also in therapy for what that is worth. I have tried everything. My story is complex but I am a shell of who I used to be due to trauma and other factors... if klonopin allows some quality of life, then I am willing to take any risks involved. Life is short... wishing you the best of luck.
Ok I’m having the hardest time trying to find a generic that doesn’t make me sick. I take .5 for 4 years for just sleep and they stopped making my activas brand .. I’ve tried teva, roche solco and they are horrible . I would really love to just stopped this drug but I’m scared to do that right now with my anxiety so high. Do y’all think my body just needs to get used to the new pill? I’m so sick of feeling like crap...
I hate how it's always a different generic. I take .5 2x day. You could call around to which pharmacy have the one you like, but they may not answer you. I would love to get off of it, it seems impossible after 7 yrs.
So I stuck with name brand klonopin but it’s making me very drowsy during the day. I’ve been taking generic .5mg for sleep past 4 years. It’s been a week and I’m hoping this will eventually go away. Has anyone had fatigue that went away?? Thanks
I'm happy I've found this thread. The doom and gloom wears me out. I'm 23 and I have panic disorder. So far I've taken 75 mg of Zoloft for the past year and 3 months, and I feel as if its not enough most days, and I want to try Klonopin or Valium. I'm so tired of feeling anticipatory anxiety whenever I go somewhere out and about. By the grace of God I just finished my bachelors and have gotten to take my courses online, without barely leaving the house. I drink too much because of the anxiety and I'm going to apply for jobs soon, but I'm afraid ill freak out at work. I also believed the anxiety caused my depression. I just want a long term solution, and I would risk medical dependence on a benzodiazepine at this point which I've read on quora by a licensed psychiatrist that it is not necessarily a problem. I'd also like to ask you all if the tiredness goes away with Klonopin.
I took a quarter of one of my mom's Xanax and I felt so tired. I don't want to live the rest of my life like this. Any suggestions for a young adult like me?
Hey, Richard
Please don’t go on benzodiazepines. Try something else. Benzodiazepines should be taken short term (at least 6 weeks). However, Relying on benzodiazepines long term can be a risk.
*Therapeutic dose for Zoloft is “50-200mg” you still have more room to tweak the dose up. Maybe the 75mg is starting to become less effective.
Tyrese
Hi Richard. I've been on Klonopin for 7 yrs. I take .5 at night and the morning. Never have abused it. My body is dependant on it. My doctor prescribes it to me with no issue. The feeling of being tired should go away . Xanax is different even though both are a benzo. I also take a antidepressant.
You must be careful if you are drinking with a benzo. Not a great idea to combine the 2. You also might need a change in your antidepressant or go up with your dose under your doctors care.
Hi Richard. I've been on Klonopin for 7 yrs. I take .5 at night and the morning. Never have abused it. My body is dependant on it. My doctor prescribes it to me with no issue. The feeling of being tired should go away . Xanax is different even though both are a benzo. I also take a antidepressant.
You must be careful if you are drinking with a benzo. Not a great idea to combine the 2. You also might need a change in your antidepressant or go up with your dose under your doctors care.
I am on a low dose of Celexa. The side effects are increased anxiety, so I take Valium to counter the anxiety. I go to a compassionate psychiatrist which is fortunate. Just remember that 0.5 mg of Klonopin is equal to 10 mg of Valium. They both are long acting. Xanax is more dangerous for addiction. My heart goes out to you. Panic attacks are terrible. But the new way of treating them is to use the SSRIs. Ugh!
If you decide to use clonazepam, a low dosage should not make you drowsy. I use .125mg (1 to 3x/day) which lowers anxiety gently. I wish I didn’t need it but I still do for relentless anxiety. I take Mirtazapine (22.5mg now) at night and hope eventually the need for clonazepam will lessen. I’m not one to abuse meds so my PCP knows I will use the least amount necessary.
Hey I have to change my generic soon.. wonder if any of y’all take the brand name? Is it good compared to teva etc? I’m stressing cause teva makes me feel terrible ...
Sorry to hear that. I take Teva, never had the name brand. I hate having to change now and then, wish we could just stay on one kind... hope you do okay...
I only take the brand name. Works so much better for me...
Witty58 Sorry for your loss. The fatigue, tired feeling goes away after awhile, side effect. My doctor also prescribed .5 mg twice a day but said I could break them in half if I wanted to try a lower dose, so I did. I take half of .5 morning and the other half late afternoon. Been on for 8 years in March 2021. If you feel it's too strong you could maybe try that after you ask your doctor. Hope it helps and you feel your life is better.
Thank you for responding
Hoping this helps my anxiety I was just prescribed .5 mg 2x day took 1 pill during day and felt weird & tired all day . Going to try taking tonight . I appreciate this post and reading all the responses. I suffer severe anxiety since my husband died 11 years ago . Tried every SSRI could not tolerate side effects. Now have TMJD I’m sure caused by my stress & anxiety I really need something to work to calm my body because my mental health is now causing physical problems . Thank you for listening
.5mg is the equivalent of 10mg of Valium. Maybe take the full dose at night, and just a half dose during the day. I was prescribed Valium and do struggle with the daytime drowsiness. But I am using it in connection to a low dose SSRI, which seems to do little for my anxiety. I have so many physical problems as well. There is truth to the brain/ gut connection.
Sorry about your parents, but maybe it was not Klonopins fault. We really do appreciate good comments on outcomes of using Klonopin. I would not have a life at all without Klonopin. So I choose to get as many good years as I can using Klonopin. My Aunt died at 90 and took some form of Benzo from her 40s on. She died of old age, and was mentally stable and did not have to go in a home.
I thought this group was all about the positive reasons we take Klonopin, not about telling others to get off of it because it's the worse drug around. I take mine due to pain and plan on staying on it. Many drugs can cause memory problems but you don't see any of them being bashed
Sysco, informed and able to make a decision is not bashing. For many there are positive reasons, be open to everyone's thoughts, ultimately, YOU get to decide. Stay informed, safe and well!
I think that was the original intent of the post. There are plenty of places where there is negativity surrounding this drug. And you are right, antihistamines and PPIs have also been liked to dementia. I do hope I can get off klonopin at some point but will not let it ever ruin my life again. I feel very stable on my current dose of .75 mg.
I was thinking the same thing ... positive stories helped me... my anxiety went up reading that comment... I don’t need that stress! You are right there are many meds that causes dementia... hell my daughter takes a chemo type infusion every 8 weeks and I have to not read the scary stories on that med
My son has IBD and is also on a drug that I can't focus on the potential side effects, including leukemia that no one survives. Unfortunately, we all have to make decisions to live the best life we can.
My daughter has Crohn’s at the age of 12... my son is type 1 diabetic that needs insulin 24/7 (his pancreas stopped working at age 11) I have to keep reminding myself that klonopin helps me so I can help my children
There are alternatives to explore that aren't as dangerous as the benzodiazepines.
And besides, benzos don't address the problem they merely mask the symptoms which is why so many people don't want to quit them. It's easier to just numb yourself.
Wildcatvet: I agree that there are other alternatives that are safer but once you are on these drugs it can be impossible and life-threatening to get off of them. I am not "numb"--how can you know what my experience is? I was started on a benzo at age 8. This thread was started for people who have chosen to stay on for now and, at least for me, was traumatized by my experience of trying to slowly come off my klonopin dose. I reduced from 1 mg to .33 mg over three years and could barely function. My son then became very, very ill and I made the choice to continue to stay on and I needed a dose of .75 mg to stabilize. It was the right decision FOR ME. Please consider that everyone is coming here from a different place and no one wants to be judged for their decisions. We know the risks. There are risks to everything. We all just need to live our lives the best we can.
Wildcatvet: I agree that there are other alternatives that are safer but once you are on these drugs it can be impossible and life-threatening to get off of them. I am not "numb"--how can you know what my experience is? I was started on a benzo at age 8. This thread was started for people who have chosen to stay on for now and, at least for me, was traumatized by my experience of trying to slowly come off my klonopin dose. I reduced from 1 mg to .33 mg over three years and could barely function. My son then became very, very ill and I made the choice to continue to stay on and I needed a dose of .75 mg to stabilize. It was the right decision FOR ME. Please consider that everyone is coming here from a different place and no one wants to be judged for their decisions. We know the risks. There are risks to everything. We all just need to live our lives the best we can.
My life experiences have taught me not to rationalize short term comfort when I know what negative impact my actions will have on my future life. I intend to everything possible to ensure that my memory and cognitive functions aren't at risk. I will live my life the best I can now AND in the future.
Wildcatvet; good luck with that.. sounds like you are living a wonderful life
Please do what you can to taper off of Klonopin. I am an only child and I just placed my second parent into a locked-down memory care facility at the age of 78. First my dad, he died there, and now my mom. Both of them: extreme confusion, agitation, paranoia, halluciniations and delusions, muscle wasting, falls, shakiness, etc. Both were competitive marathon runners in their 30s, 40s and 50s. Also health food nuts. Both took these drugs (Ativan/Dalmane/Klonopin) for decades. Both were unable to live independently and safely past age 75. This should not have happened. My mom's mom lived to 96 and did not develop dementia until she was close to age 95. This is a travesty, probably worse than the effects of smoking, junk food, etc. I hope someday the media will alert the public, maybe a few good lawyers will get involved, and these drugs will no longer be given out so quickly. Klonopin/Benzo's ruined my family and I will never be the same.
Hugs to you... I am 64..been taking Klon now for 6 months for anxiety. I am tapering as we speak. My first taper attempt lasted 6 weeks and my anxiety was so extreme i went back on the Klon. I hope to survive this second attempt. Sorry to hear about your parents. Folks need to know everything before they take this med... instead I had to learn on my own... the hard way.
I'm so sorry about the circumstances but thank you for posting this comment regarding the dangers of chronic benzodiazepine use. Too many people think that if they're careful not to become addicted that they don't have to be concerned with the consequences of long term use of this class of drugs. There is clinical and anecdotal evidence that it just isn't true.
I am sorry to hear this. To your point, these drugs should not be given out so quickly and doctors should warn people against long term use. However, once on these drugs it is so hard to get off. I lost three years of my life trying to get off my 1 mg of Klonopin. I managed to get and stay at .75 mg. I was suicidal and very sick. I was going extremely slowly and still crazy sick. So if your parents had tried to taper earlier, they may have gotten very sick at a younger age. Good luck to you.
Do the best you can, my mom tried to taper but it was too late for her after over 30 years. In the 1980s, the doctor prescribed that stuff to my parents for sleep and anxiety issues. I don't think the long-term effects were known then. We know them now. We know how this works out for people and it's not good! I want to scream out from the rooftops. I'm keeping my eyes out for someone in the media, medical or law community that would like to speak with me about my family's experience. I am not looking to sue or make money, but I don't want my parents' sad demise to be in vain :(
I'm real sorry about your mom and dad. But to blame Klonopin isn't fair to any of us that use this scripted med. Many meds have side effects. We take that risk
You posted the same exact thing last year. When did your mom enter a long term care facility? This year or last year?I think it’s clear what your angle is here.
Bottom line is that there isn’t any concrete evidence that these medications cause dementia. Any studies that exist are merely observational. If you understand the disease then you’d know there isn’t any one thing that causes dementia, it’s many things. Maybe check out Dale Bredesen’s book about Alzheimer’s disease? Most of the book is about the APOE4 gene, diet and toxicity from mold. Medications are barely mentioned and he’s been studying the disease for nearly 40 years. My mom is 72, has never even heard of benzodiazepines and has dementia. There are millions of people just like her. Quit trying to fear monger and let people make their own decisions about medication that is prescribed to them.
If you want to get off this medication, do it slowly! Don’t let someone who clearly has an agenda scare you into stopping this medication abruptly quickly tapering off of it.
Mom went into assisted living last December. She declared she wanted out and the doctors said she was capable of making her own decisions, so she moved back to her home in May 2020. She has been hospitalized at least 2x per month for falls and/or hallucinations, etc. I'm not "fearmongering", I've watched first hand the horrible effects of the drug. The director of mom's current memory care facility told me her dad has been on Valium for 40 years and is showing signs of memory loss as well, he is younger than my mom, and they are trying to get him off of it as well. When my dad was in memory care at a different facility, the nurse there told me a large portion of the residents were on Benzos. 11 years ago, before I knew the long-term effects of Benzos, I was put on Ativan for sleep issues. After about 2 years, my doctor told me he could no longer prescribe it in good conscience, and that if I stayed on it long-term I would be sorry. He encouraged me to taper off, and I did. Check out "Benzo Information Coalition" on Facebook
You most certainly ARE fear mongering by simply offering anecdotes that really don't mean anything. Millions of people have memory issues when they get older and almost all of them have never heard of benzodiazepines. To attribute all of their issues to one medication is grossly irresponsible and I'll call it out whenever I see it. There are MANY things that contribute to a disease that is as complex as dementia. Scientists that have been studying the disease for decades still don't entirely understand what causes it. There's absolutely ZERO proof that this medication causes the build up of amyloid plaques. If people want off this medication then please do so carefully under the supervision of a doctor. Don't let random people on the internet like this person scare you into doing so.
I'm not hear to fear monger or argue. My experience is that 2 people in my family both got dementia symptoms and significant muscle wasting and balance issues by age 75 after taking Benzos for 30-40 years. They are people I've known my whole life, I managed their elder care, and witnessed a lot. We all take risks, if Benzos make life tolerable now, then that's what works for you.
Fear-mongering? If you are so sure you're on the right path why take another's comments personally? And why shouldn't those comments be posted?
Remember, paranoia and animosity are symptoms.
I am in my late 60's and have been taking Klonopin for a number of years for anxiety. It has worked very well, but just like you, I wonder what is the long-term effect of using it. It can become addictive, so you need to be careful not keep increasing it. I only take .5 mg at night and it does help with sleep. I understand what your concerns are for I feel the same way. Keep talking with your doctor and ask many questions. Good luck to you.
I’m 60 and head injured as teenager. After 22 years worked my way to up 2mg of Klonopin. Severe GAD. Now on 3mg. After therapist said forget about Alzheimer’s info not confirmed. Did not believe her as I had read other findings. She knew I had begun a taper. I was aware it would be difficult but she did not warn me of any symptoms never mind how horrific it could get being a long time user. Stupid me for not doing more research. Made it to 1.5mg. Happy to age with that amount. Then I entered hell. Rebound anxiety had be rolled in a ball sobbing hoping to die. It took 3mg to bring me back to life. Im prediabetic and my sugars spiked and idiopathic neuropathy in both of my feet. The added crazy anxiety exacerbated that problem too. Propranolol and increased Klonopin helped bring my blood sugar back under control. I’m a minority as I experienced protracted withdrawal symptoms. They can last for years. So upset about having to take 3mg.
Wish I had just sat and said ok to the therapist but I had no trust. New prescriber wants me to taper back down to 2mg. Strikes terror in my heart and soul. I cannot feel that way ever again. My medical conditions cannot handle the high anxiety. Yet I cannot enter old age on 3mg as I will develop dementia. My beloved partner has said why didn’t you simply leave your meds alone? He’s right. In the meantime I have to live this life and still work and function. I beat myself up for myself for my horrid decision and live life in terror.
Sounds like a nightmare.
There is no clinical proof that K causes Alzheimer's or dementia. I am 80, have been on a lower dose of K for 15 years and still am reasonably sharp mentally. If you really want to taper, it is a much more gradual process than you are apparently describing. You don't cut by .5 mg and hope for the best. That has horrific consequences, as you've discovered. Do some research on tapering. It might take you months to go from 3 mg to 2.5mg. That means a couple of years to get completely off it without going totally crazy. Or down to a lower, acceptable dosage. I choose to stay on my dosage and deal with any consequences, if there are any. The price for me of getting off is too high.
This is my second comment on the ScaredO1 post. Since posting, I've read an NIH extensive study analysis. Apparently there is a relationship between benzo use and dementia. No percentages are cited, i.e. what percentage of benzo users can expect to develop dementia. Or if its inevitable, or if size of dosage makes a difference. And it doesn't take into account the number of non-benzo users will develop dementia anyway. It makes getting off benzos a tough call and one not necessarily guaranteed to halt the onset of dementia. In other words, the damage may already be done. So what's one to do? I'm afraid we're all on our own. The medical community doesn't seem to care much what happens to us. Much as 'herd immunity' Covid advocates don't seem to care how many elderly die from Covid. Life is tough. We do the best we can. We're all on our own with some small amount of help from message boards like this one.
Hi robfur. That certainly was a discouraging reply. For 2 decades I never exceeded 1.5mg. 2mg for less than 2 years and then back to 1.5 for 7 months, I hope not to stay on 3mg for the rest of my days. That would be troublesome. As that would be a high dose cumulative effect in an aging brain. To say I might already be halfway there does nothing for someone who already has obvious anxiety issues. I’m frightened enough. Best thing I did was call and make an appointment with a Neurologist at a world class hospital today. It will be her call based on my medical and mental health records. Since I’m 60 maybe there’s hope to taper without putting a tremendous amount of stress on my already compromised body that cannot withstand chronic stress on my peripheral nerves in my feet or insulin resistance. Or maybe you’re right and I’ll be drooling within 10 years.
Count your blessings you’re on a low dose and didn’t need a little helper until your later years. As for Covid you’re fortunate you are retired. Some of us still have to work, taper and deal with our medical conditions. Believe me I wish I had never started a taper. It’s done much more harm than good. Depressing. Good mental health practitioners are hard to find especially with inadequate insurance. Stay safe.
Hi robfur. That certainly was a discouraging reply. For 2 decades I never exceeded 1.5mg. 2mg for less than 2 years and then back to 1.5 for 7 months, I hope not to stay on 3mg for the rest of my days. That would be troublesome. As that would be a high dose cumulative effect in an aging brain. To say I might already be halfway there does nothing for someone who already has obvious anxiety issues. I’m frightened enough. Best thing I did was call and make an appointment with a Neurologist at a world class hospital today. It will be her call based on my medical and mental health records. Since I’m 60 maybe there’s hope to taper without putting a tremendous amount of stress on my already compromised body that cannot withstand chronic stress on my peripheral nerves in my feet or insulin resistance. Or maybe you’re right and I’ll be drooling within 10 years.
Count your blessings you’re on a low dose and didn’t need a little helper until your later years. As for Covid you’re fortunate you are retired. Some of us still have to work, taper and deal with our medical conditions. Believe me I wish I had never started a taper. It’s done much more harm than good. Depressing. Good mental health practitioners are hard to find especially with inadequate insurance. Stay safe.
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