Klonopin and Addiction: What Users Say

• Mr ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 26, 2025

For Panic Disorder "I’ve struggled with anxiety and depression for a long time and have taken SRI’s and benzodiazepines off and on for a while. Xanax and Klonopin saved my life. Not at the same time, of course. Started on Xanax and switched to Klonopin due to its longer-lasting effect. 1 mg 2x a day and I just feel normal… not high or euphoric. Just normal. Definitely a substance to use with caution as it can be abused and addictive."

• But...
• February 16, 2017

For Anxiety "As a mental health therapist with anxiety, I tried this to test it out having my doubts. This drug works very well for someone with ADHD, OCD, and anxiety. Keep an eye on the dependency factor, overuse will cause addiction and health issues."

• BD2...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 30, 2015

For Anxiety "I was prescribed this in 2013. I took it as needed for my terrible anxiety attacks and was able to completely stop after I got pregnant in 2014. I had my baby and got another script because I am experiencing some postpartum depression. I also take Celexa 20 mg. The Klonopin is 0.5 twice a day. I usually only take one and break it in half (0.25) and use it for my situational anxiety. These pills are very easy to get addicted to, and you can build a tolerance, so please take with precaution. That being said, I would recommend it for anyone with bad anxiety disorders. They kick in after about 15 minutes. I refer to them as my little miracle pills. God bless."

• Nui...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 21, 2017

For Anxiety "I've tried Xanax, Valium, and Klonopin with my generalized anxiety disorder. Klonopin is not super strong but gets the job done and lasts a whole lot longer than the others. Not as easily addictive since you don't feel the need to take more because of its long half-life. Please don't involve yourself with Xanax. It's terrible. Short-lasting and way too strong."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 19, 2017

For Panic Disorder "I also have been on and off Klonopin and Xanax. I love the way Xanax kicks in quick. And you can actually feel your trouble melt away and your anxiety. When it comes to what I now prefer, it is Klonopin, it lasts longer, it has a long half-life, and it is not as addictive as Xanax. I became very tolerant to Xanax, and it became a problem because I had to take more since it wears off so fast. Klonopin doesn't do that, so it really helps people that suffer with panic anxiety."

• Raf...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 26, 2015

For Anxiety "I was diagnosed with PTSD and GAD after 2 tours in combat. I began to suffer from anxiety in 2009, I was prescribed Zoloft and Klonopin .25 mg (as needed). Klonopin was an immediate relief for unexpected anxiety attacks. 15 minutes later, I was functional again. After 2 years, Zoloft destroyed my libido. So I took myself off and relied only on Klonopin. It began as needed, then 2 a week, once every day, and finally twice a day. The anxieties were reoccurring quite often, I quickly built a dependence to get me through the day. It turns out that I was getting anxiety due to my addiction to Klonopin. I decided to get off cold turkey (not recommended) and I went through 2 weeks of withdrawals. It's a quick relief but addictive. Be careful!"

• And...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 28, 2013

For Anxiety "Anxiety disorder runs in my family, and Klonopin has done us wonders. I suffered a severe car accident in 10/2012. Quit my job, quit fall term, and became paralyzed from anxiety. Initial dose was 0.5 mg 2X a day. I discovered, LESS IS MORE. Now I only take 0.5 mg 2X a day, and it helps me be me. Klonopin is addictive. 20 mg is the max dose for epilepsy. 4 mg/day max for anxiety. 1 mg/day in studies is shown to be most effective for anxiety. Take it as prescribed. DON'T TAKE MORE if you don't have epilepsy. BELIEVE ME! Benzodiazepines should be used with caution."

• way...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 13, 2020

For Epilepsy "If you are having trouble withdrawing from this drug, declare war with yourself and exercise like you have never exercised before. With an understanding of what the drug does to the brain, you have to fight for it back. Yes, it's hard-the hardest painful workout I ever did. I went against doctors' advice, and the doctor told me to keep doing it on the next visit. And make this part of your life till the day you are no longer on this earth. Keep fighting the war against addiction. I wouldn't wish benzo use on my worst enemy. Good luck."

• Eva...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 12, 2023

For Panic Disorder "I have taken varying doses of clonazepam for almost 30 years. Some of those years I took none at all. As a highly anxious person in general, I was scared to even try it for fear of addiction, withdrawal, etc. But after a particularly bad panic attack where I felt I was going to lose my mind, I asked my psychiatrist for Klonopin, because several people in my family have used it with great success. It is the very best benzo I have tried for anxiety and panic; it has a long half-life, which means (for me) that when I finally clear it, I am so far removed from the anxiety or panic-inducing thoughts that I don't simply just fall back into the abyss. I have a deep and abiding respect for this drug, as it has arrested several near falls into runaway anxiety that always leads me to my most feared outcome: a major depressive episode. You can take it sublingually for quicker effect; it has a sweet, benign taste."

• Sar...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 26, 2019

For Panic Disorder "Not a viable long-term medication. It works okay in the beginning. No, it doesn’t take away anxiety, but it can reduce some symptoms. It was never meant to be used long-term unless the benefits outweigh the risks. However, you have a responsibility to do some research and decide whether it is right for you. Ask questions, talk in forums, call a substance abuse hotline, and ask them to explain the risks. Don’t have complete faith in everything a doctor tells you, they are usually good and mean well, but you are ultimately responsible for yourself. Getting addicted to anything is bad news. You cannot just stop when you want to, nor should you."

• ArI...
• May 11, 2011

For Anxiety "Klonopin has improved my quality of life exponentially. I feel as though it opened up this new world around me-one that was always there, but I was just too nervous to experience it. It's also the only medication that helps me fall asleep fast without feeling groggy the next morning. That being said, it is a benzodiazepine, so taking it every day isn't a good idea, and the potential for addiction and tolerance is there. In combination with talk therapy, this medication can help you live a life free of fear and worry."

• Mou...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 4, 2018

For Panic Disorder "Klonopin is very effective with my anxiety disorder. However, stay away from it. You will be addicted before you know it and will seek more and more. If you don't have it, you feel like you are in hell. Withdrawal symptoms are horrible, and you lose control of everything. You will get rebound anxiety, which is worse than your original anxiety. This is so bad that you cannot function without it. Therefore, you have to continue using it to avoid the withdrawal symptoms because they are so awful. Please, if your doctor prescribed this drug, refuse it and take a non-benzo drug. You will rue the day you ever started using it. I am out of medicine now and am in just terrible shape that I cannot sleep. Yes, it is very effective at treating your disorder, but it has got to be the worst drug to come off of. I was in rehab, and even the heroin abusers didn't have as bad withdrawal as I did. Yes, run away from this drug. It will help you but eventually destroy you."

• sar...
• January 22, 2012

For Anxiety "Klonopin has totally eliminated my irrational anxiety attacks. It has been prescribed for me for my myoclonus, a condition in which my body jerks uncontrollably the more relaxed I get. So I take it every night. It is addictive, but I need it to sleep, and with it has been this remarkable change with my anxiety. It's worth it."

• Zyn...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 23, 2018

For Panic Disorder "I take 0.5 mg of Klonopin as needed for anxiety. I try not to take it all the time because I know it can be addictive. For me, it does lessen my anxiety, but it’s very minimal. Although it has worked better for me than Ativan, Hydroxyzine, Zoloft, etc. I think if it’s paired with something else, then I would find it more beneficial."

• Cra...
• March 18, 2017

For Anxiety "Worst drug I have ever taken for anxiety. I took it as prescribed, and it actually caused me to have episodes of crying and anxiety. Well, that's wonderful-a drug that made me worse. Stay away from this, it could ruin your life if you get addicted."

• roo...
• May 1, 2009

For Anxiety "Given the length of time (10 years) I've been on the medication, my doctors don't want to take me off it because of the addictive issues. It still works extremely well if I take it in time (when I feel that an anxiety attack is getting ready to start). After the onset of the attack, the medication no longer works. Even though I developed additional anxiety issues, my doctors don't want to use it for that because it will only be feeding my addiction and not the condition."

• Pee...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 2, 2021

For Panic Disorder "This drug does nothing for my panic/anxiety at the dose I was prescribed (0.5 mg 3 times a day). Plus, my doctor wants me off of it because it is so addictive. Had to go off of it cold turkey once, and it was horrible."

• Mas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 12, 2019

For Panic Disorder "Works really well to help stop panic attacks. Highly addictive, so use as prescribed."