Clonazepam for Insomnia User Reviews (Page 3)

• Sleep
• September 28, 2011

Klonopin (clonazepam) "I've had chronic, unmanageable insomnia for almost 7 years. It took my life from me. I never thought it would reach the point where my doctor—who I no longer see—gave me HUGE amounts of medicine and put me in a mental hospital for 3 days! I found a sleep specialist who confirmed I am NOT CRAZY, he tried me on a few medicines that didn't work—I was getting roughly 2-4 hours per night for YEARS—and finally, he tried this medicine. WOW. It's not perfect because my illness is an illness that I will struggle with for a long time, but I've been getting better. My life was a disaster for so long that I cried every single day. Now, I'm beginning to feel like myself again. I hope you all do too."

• krene
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 31, 2017

"I have been taking this medicine since 2001! So, over 15+ years. For two years, I took 2 mg, then 1 mg at bedtime and another 0.5 mg if I wake in the middle of the night, as without it, it can take me 4 hours to fall or fall back to sleep. I have severe insomnia and only take it at nighttime. Never during the day. I have never built up a tolerance to this. When I go without, even for 5 months once, zero withdrawals! Zero side effects. However, I go back to bad sleep, which I had before. Never been dependent, as you can tell I can go without... for months. I just have not found a medication that puts my mind at ease and 'gently' relaxes me so I can surrender to sleep. My doctor now is feeling pressure from the industry to reduce my dosage. Zero harm to me. :("

• pati-o
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 4, 2017

"I am 50. I have taken clonazepam 0.5 mg every night for 10 years. It gives me beautiful sleep. I have never needed more. I have been insomniac all my life with mild GAD. It kills the sex drive, and so I try just half a tab a couple nights a week. I don't sleep very well with half a tab. With all the hype about how bad it is long term, I have tried weaning back, but with poor sleep, I become depressed and irritable. My estrogen is high, my testosterone has been low ever since I started taking it. I've always wondered what connection it has with hormones. It is a wonder drug in so many ways for me. Maybe when I am finally done with menopause, I will consider weaning off."

• Cleo
• February 4, 2019

"I have suffered insomnia since my late teens. I asked my doctor if I could be prescribed this for my insomnia and was prescribed 0.5 mg. Finally, restful and solid sleep. Eight years later, my doctor increased it to 1 mg. Great, solid, and restful sleep all night and no hangover. In 2019, I am at 1 mg of clonazepam and still get relief for insomnia. Now a controlled substance, and my doctor highly recommends I cleanse myself of it. Supposed to take 1/2 dosage of clonazepam plus gabapentin. Experience sleepless nights and migraines. I gave the routine a chance, but I am back on my 1 mg clonazepam only."

• Sunsh...
• August 1, 2010

"This is the best medication I have ever been able to take on a daily basis that causes no side effects. I have been using this medication for nearly 8 years and don't know what I would do without it. I feel as if I'm me now. Without it, I go for days with no sleep and seem to feel nervous all the time. Thanks for this great medication."

• Ciara...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 4, 2017

"My insomnia started as a teenager. I started out with Lunesta. It had no effect. Next came the Ambien, which caused me to sleepwalk, essentially. *One of the most dangerous drugs on the market.* I started contemplating why I couldn't sleep every night, and it went along the lines of an anxious curiosity. Thinking to myself, I wonder what the molecular structure of that plaster looks like. So I asked to try something more anxiety-based and less sleep aid-based. I have been taking it periodically when required for the past 10 years, with breaks in between. 2 mg will knock me out hard, but 1-1.5 mg is a pretty good dose to just relax me. I've never been very dependent, no withdrawals, and I have never built up a tolerance to it."

• Danny
• June 21, 2017

"I have GAD, which causes insomnia. I have taken Klonopin 2 mg at night as a sleep aid for about 3 years. No problem developing tolerance, which I have had with other benzos such as Ambien & Lunesta. My doc says he has many patients using Klonopin as a sleep aid for many years with no problems. Daytime, I take Zoloft 150 mg and Neurontin 1600 mg to control the GAD. I think the long half-life Klonopin has helped daytime anxiety. After suffering from under-medicated GAD for 40 years, I now have a drug combo that has essentially cured my anxiety and insomnia. The only negative to Klonopin as a sleep aid is it takes 2 hrs+ to produce sleep. But then, a restful 8 hrs. So just remember to take it early. Say 9:00 if you want to go to sleep at 11:30."

• Long...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 29, 2022

"I was prescribed Xanax and then moved to Klonopin after a spinal injury put me in chronic pain, disability, and anxiety (from the pain and disability). The Klonopin definitely helped with me coping with my new circumstances but more so, it helps me sleep. I've had chronic insomnia my whole adult life and nothing touched it. I could be up for several days at a time, out of nowhere, and with no clear underlying cause. It was so bad for my well-being. So every night I take .25mg for the last four years and I sleep soundly and can mentally function the next day. I've never abused it or needed to increase it. I do read terrible reviews about this drug. I had a very hard time coming off of Lyrica and I suppose coming off of Klonopin will be similar. And I'm sure it's possible to build a tolerance to it that makes it not work anymore. But it has worked for my insomnia, my muscle spasms from the spinal injury, my anxiety and I haven't had any issue with it."

• Fruit...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 11, 2023

"I had insomnia that was so severe I was getting almost zero sleep, seizures, chronic fatigue, not eating, etc. And I had severe anxiety and agoraphobia. But when I started on clonazepam, it helped immensely in my day-to-day life almost immediately. I was able to sleep perfectly every night. It causes some coordination issues, but for the benefit it offers, I don't mind."

• Markrey
• September 3, 2016

"I have insomnia for 2 months, and my doctor gave me Rivotril (clonazepam). This is a true blessing for me because I sleep better. For now, I take this when I need to, like for an occasion or for travel. It's a great help to me a lot. Also, I tried different sleeping aids, like melatonin and Sleepasils, but didn't work. Only clonazepam worked wonderfully! :)"

• Be...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 3, 2015

"I have to weigh in about this med. When you first start it, it is a wonder drug. At some point, you will either need more, or you will suffer from tolerance withdrawals. There are justifiable horror stories about this drug. Taking it for a week or two, no problem. More than 2 weeks, it's hard to get off it. I have been weaning off for about 4 months."

• Karen
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 14, 2019

"I take this drug due to REM disorder and periodic limb movement, which causes insomnia. I was awake 30+ times a night before this medication. Lack of sleep caused me to gain over 60 pounds. The sleep doctor, after a sleep study, did try other medications before this one, but this is the only one that has worked. I have to take 4 mg a night to be effective, which is a high dose. It has started to only last about four hours, however. Has anyone else noticed this?"

• Anonymous
• September 13, 2009

Klonopin (clonazepam) "After years of not sleeping because my mind never stopped. I tried over-the-counter sleep aids, and they always made me wake up feeling like I still needed sleep even taking half doses. Ambien gave me nightmares. My doctor gave this to me, and I now sleep well through the night, and I wake up rested. My body aches are going away as well."

• Amogus
• August 29, 2022

"I tried too many drugs for insomnia and by far this one is the most effective. Unfortunately I don't use it on a regular basis because tolerance may develop and I fear that I might experience withdrawal, other than that the drug is perfect with almost no side effects"

• Night...
• October 26, 2011

Klonopin (clonazepam) "I've been taking 0.5 mg of Klonopin for 1 1/2 years at bedtime. I've tried so many things to help me sleep. Most medicines never helped, some helped for a while then stopped working. Klonopin is the best medicine for helping me get to sleep, stay asleep, and not feel groggy or drugged in the morning. Being sleep-deprived wreaks havoc on the body, mind, and life in general."

• ok guy
• January 13, 2017

"I have to say I was prescribed 0.5 mg of Klonopin for sleep. I've tried other medications, Ambien, Lunesta, etc. with not too much success. The Klonopin worked wonders, but after about a month on the medication, I felt very weird. I started to have hallucinogenic dreams with bouts of gloom and doom during my waking hours. It got to a point that I got moderately depressed thinking such negative thoughts and decided to stop taking the medication. Wow, I never thought withdrawal would happen to me, but it certainly did. Sweating, nervous, agitated. It took about 5 weeks off of the Klonopin for the withdrawal symptoms to cease. Please be careful, folks. It's one of the most addictive medications out there."

• zionf...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 1, 2015

"Yes indeed, Clonazepam is a 'wonder drug' for sleep (and anxiety); but beware... if I can just save one person from this drug... yes!!! I ended up on this drug for 18 years, and it took me four months of a slow taper to wean myself. During and after withdrawal, I had horrible side effects: nausea, insomnia, panic, loss of memory, etc. I have been totally off the drug for 8 weeks, and my side effects are slowly going away, but I still have a horrible metallic taste and smell. I'd try anything other than a benzo. It is not worth the side effects. Look at the drug warnings; they state the drug is meant for short-term use. Good luck."

• Foghorn...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 26, 2023

"It really has helped me to sleep. I sleep a good, sound sleep every night. Sometimes, I will sleep up to 9-10 hours, with the exception of a few minutes to get up for urination - usually only one time at night."

• Coca
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 8, 2018

"I was on 1 mg for a night for about 10 years. I started to cut the dose as I wanted to quit. The side effects are horrible. Shaky, not grounded, my head is all fuzzy. I have been trying to quit for 9 months now. I'm getting there. This pill is very addicting and horrible to quit. Stevie Nicks once said that this pill was tougher to quit than cocaine."

• MDR...
• November 19, 2019

"I've been taking this drug, clonazepam, for years, usually only once a week when I have to transition my schedule from days off to work week (I have to get up for work at 04:15 a.m.). I take 1 mg, it takes a little while to start working, maybe about 1.5 hours. I like that I have ZERO side effects the next day and it keeps my anxiety at bay. If you wake up in the middle of the night, it's easy to fall back asleep. My MD recommended taking a small dose of Xanax with this just to fall asleep (I will sometimes do this). The Klonopin will keep you asleep."

• Blue...
• January 12, 2017

"Klonopin completely destroyed my life. I was physically dependent after just 30 days. It took me 1.5 years to taper off the drug and I was disabled by the withdrawals. At 15 months off I still have symptoms. Google benzo withdrawal before you EVER take a benzo daily. My biggest regret in life is seeing a psychiatrist and taking Klonopin."

• SAD
• April 5, 2021

"Was prescribed this by my new doctor who refused to let me continue with the medication I have been taking for 2 years and actually works well for me. Took this at 7:30 PM and am still wide awake at 4:00 AM. Tried to sleep, but wide awake. Time to go back to the old doctor."

• clona...
• February 19, 2010

"I have been using clonazepam for insomnia for four years now, 1-2mg before bedtime. I have tried other medications (Xanax, Ambien), and they work very well, but the side effects are much more pronounced than Klonopin. It has become my preferred sleep aid, largely due to its long half-life and lack of extreme side effects. It helps with daytime anxiety, which I am also prone to, and that's a very big help. Oddly enough, unlike most any drug available, Klonopin is chewable because it has a very mild, almost sweet taste- so you can chew it up and absorb it under your tongue for faster relief. As a prescription drug, I give Klonopin an A+, because it does exactly what it's supposed to do, and it does nothing else."

• Kaysar
• November 8, 2011

"I started using clonazepam years ago, recommended by my partner's psychiatrist at the time to help me with insomnia. I was using 0.5 mg only on occasion, and it was a miracle. I would fall asleep within an hour of taking them and have a great night's sleep. Loved it. Years later, the dosage is now 4.25 mg (as my resistance built up and the lower dosage no longer helped). I do take them about three times a week to sleep, especially Sunday night before the work week begins. However, I am now worried that my dosage is too high and I will have trouble getting off of them."

• Skylark
• April 20, 2021

"Been on klonopin/5 years 1 mg night and not really feeling it. Mostly was for insomnia. It’s hard to tapper off. My doc said don’t, sorry just take won’t hurt you????I want to get off but my mind tells me stay on it. I take before bed. Having bad thoughts rebound insomnia. I need talk someone that knows how to taper"