Klonopin and Dependency: What Users Say

• mam...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 30, 2015

For Anxiety "I have been on Klonopin for almost a year now, and it has been an absolute lifesaver! I had horrible panic attacks, was scared to drive, couldn't even go shopping without getting dizzy and anxious. Anxiety had taken over my life, the panic attacks were so scary I thought I was going to die. I'm very grateful to have this medicine. I've heard of problems with dependency, but I don't know what I'd do without it. I'm also on Zoloft, and I feel like I have my life back!"

• 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."

• CPe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 6, 2013

For Anxiety "Klonopin has been instrumental in getting my anxiety disorder under control. I take 0.25 milligrams three times a day. Taking 0.5mg at once is too much and causes me to be a space cadet. It doesn't work as well on my rare panic attacks, but I have found other ways to cope with breathing exercises and such. Without it, I was nearly non-functioning and about to slip into a deep depression. It has leveled my mood swings and just made life much more bearable (even joyful!). I would much rather have dependency on this medicine and be happy than feel that I am constantly in crisis (and occasionally suicidal)."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 3, 2016

For Anxiety "21 y/o female, work in the medical field, severe anxiety for about 5 years now, always been hesitant about taking meds for fear of medication dependency. In the past year, my anxiety has gotten to the point where I am isolated & developing depression. I finally broke down and was prescribed Klonopin 0.5mg daily as needed. It takes the edge off and gives me a genuine good feeling while allowing me to keep a clear head and keep my patients safe. I was marijuana dependent as a teen because it improved my moods the same way, so I see the potential for dependency here. I am seeing a therapist and intend on using this until I learn other ways to cope. It does help you to think positively so you can begin your recovery. Great short-term drug."

• Ras...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 29, 2016

For Anxiety "It takes time to come up, this is a problem when you have a panic attack. Suicidal thoughts and anxiety go away within an hour, but they do go away. It's like an emergency button, it has saved my life from suicide. Dependence builds within months."

• Ste...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 21, 2015

For Anxiety "Okay, here is the thing with Klonopin. It's a drug that works perfectly. There is literally no way to be anxious on a high enough dose, and benzos will be your saving grace if you are suffering from several panic attacks a day or even if you're catatonic. It's also got a pretty good record for being safe, as far as I know. Here's the bad part. Any drug that works too well, that allows you to feel too good on it, runs a high risk of dependency. Not only that, withdrawal from this drug is miserable and painful if not done correctly and under supervision. You'll be told this is 'not abusable as Xanax' because Xanax is common among recreational drug users. That's a fallacy. Klonopin is very easy to double up on and abuse. Do not mix with alcohol."

• 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!"

• Eri...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 16, 2017

For Anxiety "This drug should not be prescribed for more than two weeks (and this has been known since the eighties). Most doctors in the USA don't have a clue about what benzos do to the lives of the patients they are prescribing to, and especially how difficult it is for patients to withdraw from these drugs. I was completely dependent on clonazepam after 30 days and remained on it for about eight years before I realized I had to get off of clonazepam if I wanted a chance to become healthy again. It took me 7 horrifying months to taper off, and I became disabled during that time. I lost about 85% of my long- and short-term memory during that time. I am educated, but I did not research this drug before I took it. Please don't make that mistake."

• dav...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 25, 2016

For Anxiety "You don't need it. It helped at first. After about a year of regular use, it stopped helping and instead made me very angry. By then, I was taking around 5 mg/day and had a long taper ahead of me to ease the hellish physical dependency. You don't want the taper. You don't want to numb your feelings with this horrible tranquilizer. You are worth more, and you have more in you than you want to believe when you sign up for this cop-out nightmare."

• CBA...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 29, 2018

For Panic Disorder "Klonopin 1 mg taken 3x daily has made a major difference in my overall anxiety disorder plus panic attacks. I was not helped by a lower dose than this. I take it in combo with 800 mg gabapentin 3x daily plus Lamictal, Ambien for sleep, and a thyroid medication, and we finally seem to be getting my bipolar disorder under control. SSRIs and SNRIs made my anxiety and panic worse. Word of warning: do NOT quit Klonopin cold turkey or allow yourself to run out of the medication, or within one day you will feel you’ve fallen into a pit of darkness. This drug does create dependency and would require medical supervision to slowly taper off as needed. However, for me, taking it on a schedule 3x daily has changed my life immensely for the better."

• Fee...
• August 29, 2009

For Anxiety "I started off 0.5 mg 2x per day. I now take 1 mg of Klonopin 3x per day. I no longer have the unsteadiness on my feet, and my anxiety has decreased even more (this despite being unemployed, as well as being a burn patient with severe nerve pain). Only caveat is to take exactly as prescribed, otherwise, I will become dependent or have severe withdrawal if taken more than supposed to."

• JKN...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 15, 2022

For Panic Disorder "I have severe PTSD and have taken this for about 3 years. 1 to just a half a tab at night. I've tried EMDR, ketamine, and a large amount of antidepressants. The dependency I understand, but if you're responsible and it helps so I can rest, I don't see the problem. My primary just sends me off to mental health clinics, and I do this circle again, the same drug road with side effects to add and numerous doctor bills. To add, some of these medications are not covered by insurance. I'm not 100% perfect and understand my disorder, why add insult to injury? I found something that cuts through so I can sleep. The insurance company only allows me a limited amount at a time. I sleep, I'm rested, and I take care of my responsibilities effectively. Without sleep, life would be a nightmare and just create more havoc on my body."

• Pat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 30, 2013

"This med is usually prescribed for anxiety, but I'm taking it for post-surgical nerve pain. It is truly a miracle. I take a tiny dose of 0.25 mg, and it lasts for 14-18 hours! The only downside to it is that it can cause dependency, and you eventually get used to it and have to increase the dosage. For that reason alone, I don't take it every day, although I'd love to."