Klonopin for panic attacks and dysfuntional crying spells?

[msdelight]

Saw a doctor and he prescribed this to me, short term, 1mg at bedtime,  .25 mg in the morning and. 25 mg in the afternoon. Did some research and do not want to even try this! Yikes.  Please tell me your experience with this drug.

[Coperniki]

I'm not saying don't take it, I'm just offering my experience. I was on it 8 years illegally so when I couldn't get it is have withdrawals. Hot n cold sweats, total confusion, sensitive touch, hearing, blurry vision, and seizures. Now off 4 months I'm still not comfortable in my own skin, no concentration, failing memory, depression, 24/7 ringing in my ears. This was after 8 years and low to high doses, 1 - 20 mg at a time. Just some of my experience, good luck to you!

[Cricketk92]

You sure got great advice above!  I was put on Ativan about 2 years ago for anxiety...never abused it but after I quit the pain meds I decided it was time to come off of the effexor and the Ativan...  Let me tell you it has been hell!!!  I was only on 1 mg a day and that is a small dose but for me these 2 "safe" drugs have been a worse detox than the pain pills!!!  Emotional roller coaster, depersonalization, insomnia which nothing helps, dizziness, brain zaps....I could go on and on!!!   Good for you on deciding for the tea and talk therapy instead!!!  :)

[msdelight]

Yes that is what I thought. Thanks for confirming what I read about it. The last thing I need is something to knock me out and get me addicted. Gonna try the tea and talk therapy instead. Thanks for the info. Love, MsD

[Lilly1955]

The withdrawals from benzos are worse and last longer than any other drug. You become addicted easily as you don't realize the tolerance build up and confuse the uneasy feelings as just more of why you take the benzo, so you might raise the dose ,take more often or just think your a bit crazy. I am 9 months off of Valium and still have withdrawal symtoms. Doctors will not be able to help you stop the benzos as the horrible withdrawals are not recognized the in medical community. look up benzo buddies from the UK and read the thousands of stories of the nightmare people go through to stop this awful drug. The average timeline for withdrawal is from 6 months to 2 years. The memory loss may be permanent as well as other SYMTOMS. Please do some research before benzos destroy your life.

[gnarly_1]

Hi...well if your like me..after being on them several times to treat my bipolar   I would run the other way if a doctor suggested them  I was on them for several years and after quitting the methadone I wanted to get rid of all the addictive substance in my body....what a eye opener  OMG the detox was aufal  it was only second to the methadone...I dident sleep for months  had a mind bending ringing in my ears  I dont believe this is a good choice for a addict...now with that said  I have found a really good herbal tea that works a lot like the benzo's  it is non addictive and is simple the best thing I have ever found to relax and permote a good nights sleep  you can get it at walmart it is in with the other tea  it is called ''Traditional Medicinals'' Nighty Night  I take it when my bipolar flares up and cant seam to sleep  I seap 2 tey bags for 20min  then sip on it  in 1/2 hour your ready for a good nights sleep   I also found it helpful just to relax on a stressful day  pick some up and try this first....Gnarly

[meegWpaw]

ditto, what Annie said, especially in the 3rd and 5th paragraphs.  :)

[refills]

Hey MsD, I don't think there is much more I can say about a benzo. Benzo's do help and can relieve anxiety. I'm sorry though, I just can't recommend them. I also believe after some time they do have a reverse affect. They did in me. I did abuse them after taking them for a long period though. CBT is tough to master but is a better option. So going forward, buyer beware friend. It is after-all, a Benzo. Hope you feel better soon and my Best Wishes MsD......ike

[EvolverU]

Hi,

I agree with Meegs -- a benzo is a benzo. My experience w/ this drug & also Xanax & Valium is threefold: taking it on occasion to bolster the high of heroin or M'done, watching the effect it had on users when taken chronically & @ varying doses & using it for a couple of mos. to mitigate the horrible sleeplessness in early withdrawal.

What I noticed in particular in those taking it as an adjunct to an opiate (even when prescribed) was that it resulted in what I'd call a 'crudening' of their personalities & decision making abilities. I don't know how else to describe it & maybe when taken without opiates or exactly as prescribed, it's different. One of the main reasons I broke up w/ my ex was because of his outrageous behavior on this drug. I saw the same type of behaviors in those taking it on my clinic & on the street.

When I took it off & on to offset sleeplessness in w/d, I noticed that my tolerance rose quickly. When I stopped it as a result, it was basically a reset & it took over a month to start sleeping more than 1.5 hrs. per night & for the jitters to ease. Naturally, all this was mixed into the initial stages (first 4 mos.) of coming off 30yrs. of opiates.

The other thing that I've noticed is that sometimes it can have the reverse effect on those it's prescribed to after a while -- meaning, an increased level of anxiety or rebound effect.

I too, would never take this again. I believe benzos are a heavy-weight drug that have been generally over-prescribed for the past 40yrs or so. If I was forced to take one, I'd opt for the old 'Mother's Little Helper' -- 'plain old' Valium.

I hope that you're well & that you can find an alternative solution that won't mess with your chemistry the way K's do. You're a wise lady to be so circumspect! :)

[jugglin]

You have received great info above.  I have not been on Klonopin, but I do have a standing rx for Xanax .25 mg prn for anxiety.  I refil this rx maybe once a year and use it when I need help sleeping at night or am a severe panic attack.  I know that benzos can be addictive.  However, I have never had an issue cuz all it does is make me tired...the vicodin gave me a high which is what I was seeking.  I even half the .25 mg cuz the 1/2 is all I need to get past the anxiety, and then I sleep.  

This is a tricky situation.  You have been in such a dark place since mom died and I don't think it is a bad idea for you to have some relief while you are going through counseling and trying to get things sorted out.  It may be worth trying short term and as Ben stated, if you find yourself "enjoying" it or craving it, then flush away.

Sending you prayers and hugs honey!

[meegWpaw]

well, missy d, i think you prolly know more about it than i do but i'll tell you my experience:  it's a benzo.  I was first prescribed it then got it on the street.  I took .25 Klonopin wafers (subling.) and later the tablets.  I think it was prescribed to me for general anxiety and / or insomnia.  I was addicted to it, ultimately.  As far as I can remember the main difference between Klono and other 'short-acting' benzos like Valium and Ativan is that it is cumulative in your system and lasts longer throughout the day ... I am not sure about this so sorry if I am wrong.  But actually a benzo is a benzo is a benzo to me.  It had the same end result as any other benzo, good and bad.  It worked great to calm me down and tranquilize me but getting off it was a b*tch.  I would never take it again.  <3

[Ben727]

It is closely related to Valium and Xanax, it is potentially addictive, and people have a horrible time coming off it if they do become addicted or dependent.

That being said, my personal experience is that I have a bottle sitting in the medicine cabinet and thirty pills has lasted over two years. I only use them to manage my sleep when I travel. I never found them addictive or something I'd use recreationally.

What he prescribed you sounds like a pretty reasonable dosage. If you find it manages your anxiety, and you aren't developing any addictive tendencies, it might be worth trying on a very short-term basis to get some relief.

At the same time, I'd research non-pharmaceutical alternatives. Yoga, meditation, walking, and a variety of herbal remedies can work wonders. Cognitive Behavioral therapy is incredibly effective at eliminating panic attacks and some kinds of anxiety.

Hope this helps!