[Noncomposmentis8]

I got it prescribed wed. after 8 and a half hours in the Emergency room after almost fainting from a panic attack I've been having panic attacks for over a week now.....It's 0.5Mg and I have to break it in half (.25)...again , It's for my Panic attacks...I used to take Alprazolam 0.25Mg , but I didnt react very well to it...I got tired for 2 hours then I got rebound increased anxiety...but anyway, What happens when you take klonopin? what do you feel like?, and how long does it last in your body? and what are the side effects? I'm afraid something bad will happen after I take it, like an allergic reaction or something else...I never took it yet...I have like a...bad bad phobia of taking pills/meds...Thanks!

it's very benign
you don't even know you're on it
it comes on very slowly and leaves slowly
it's relaxing and that's about it
typical dose is .5 mg 3x day

[okiedokie]

Hi gtrplayer,
Actually Klonopin, or any benzo cannot be described as "benign." Benzos are highly addictive. Klonopin out of all of them, is the best though due to it's longer half life.

I also have to disagree that there is a "typical" dosage. Docs prescribe it in a variety of dosages depending on the desired outcome.
Take care,
Okie

[SerenitysWave]

klonopin was too powerful for me... I was not able to get myself out of bed I felt so tired and sleepy... I dont recall the dosage I was taking, it was a cple yrs ago or so... but I do recall the extreme fatigue with it... But it is different for everyone, some get just the relief they need... I hope it works for you!

[Direction]

I have found this to be one of the best medicines for me - I take quite a bit more and have been on it for 2 1/2 years.

I do find that it is longer acting and doesn't have sharp starts and stops

[Parker10]

Klonopin saved my life - or at least gave me my life back. After 17 yrs ofl undiagnosed panic disorder, I started taking it in 1990......still take the same dose. Am I addicted - I dont know, I dont care. I have never taken 1 pill more than prescribed , never had the doseage upped in 17 years now, and will probably need it the rest of my life.

If you had no severe reaction to Alprazolam - you shouldnt with Klonopin - they are both Benzodiazepines. WHen I started taking it - I was on 1/2 of a .05. I slept all day for the first several days. Once I no longer slept all day, it was increased to .05 mg. Then after getting used to that, it was upped again. Once I reached my therapeutic doseage, I was good to go.

I know what you are going thru - panic attacks are horrible, and having a medication prescribed that could do as much good for you as it did for me - I would try it. It certainly isnt going to help with your panic if you dont at least try it. just be mindful that you may be VERY sleepy for the first few days.....enjoy the rest ! The Alprzolam has a 4 hour half life, which explains why you were tired for 2 hours, then as it wore off, your anxiety came back. Klonopin has a half life of up to 48 hours. You should not feel any difference during the day - no rebound anxiety.

Good luck !

[AlwaysFearful]

Took klonopin for almost 7 years. It took away my anxiety, most of it anyways, in order for me to function. I took zoloft at the same time, didn't have any side effects from zoloft 7 years ago and took it in conjunction with klonopin but stopped the zoloft in 2003 and just kept taking klonopin and my family doc would prescribe it to me with FIVE refills remaining. I don't remember what dose I started out with but got up to 3mg once a day up until this past Oct when I found out I was pregnant. a NEW family doc's office told me to STOP all my medication but I KNEW I needed to taper off the klonopin, but stopped it anyways, afraid of what I already did to the baby. SOO I had SEVER withdrawal symptoms and anxiety to the point that I HAVE BEEN IN THE HOUSE WITH CONSTANT FEAR AND ANXIETY AND AGORAPHOBIA FOR 7 MONTHS NOW. I am WORSE than ever before in my 8 years with panic disorder. I now have OCD (intrusive thoughts) and I severe depression. I have NO ONE to help me, I cannot drive or leave the house by myself. The WITHDRAWAL from klonopin was something I NEVER EXPECTED.
jaw pain
headaches
sensitive to light and sound (still having this)
no apetite at all, none (still a little anorexic)
shakiness, dizziness, tinnitis, numbness tingling in body
weird dreams, irritable, enraged, aggressive, and the worse part was KLONOPIN inhibits you from having NORMAL emotions. I went thru 7 months now of having MEMORIES COME BACK TO me that I had forgotton or thought were different or NO SO BAD as what really happened. I cry 23 HOURS A DAY feeling guilty and depressed from these memories and thoughts.
There were MORE withdrawal symptoms then I can remember to write here.

I DID go 6 weeks without ANY MEDS and I FELT GREAT and NORMAL and did not have any dizziness or tinnits that I have had for years. I was SOOO HAPPY to be drug FREE but that didn't last long. Had another panic attack whilst driving and the 'bad' intersection where I had one the day I quit taking the klonopin. So that was the END of that happy phase. I am now worse than ever and have PSTD, OCD, ANXIETY, PANIC DISORDER w/AGORAPHOBIA and I am AFRAID ALL THE TIME.

I HATE that psychiatrist WHO I ONLY SAY ONCE for giving me klonopin and NOT telling me how long to take it for, or the possible side effects (not withdrawal). AND the old family doc for LETTING ME KEEP ON these meds for this long. and I ESPECIALLY HATE MYSELF for having to have this wrong with me and now I am soo far beyond helping myself its disgusting.
This past friday I went to a new psychiatrist and she told me to try ZOLOFT again. I tried it on sunday night and it made me have weird dreams and feel burning sensations. I only took a half of a half of a 25 mg tablet, to start off slow as I am sensitive to everything. Well I should have tried it again but I didn't and now I have been taking klonoping again to help, but I WAS SOO HOPING zoloft would help as it is used to treat OCD/PANIC/PSTD and depression. I hate that ALL OF us have to live like this. IT SUCKS and I am tired of living this way. I know therapy will help so that is my next step (probably forever) but I LOVE KLONOPIN because it DID work but I HATE KLONOPIN because it has LONG USE ADVERSE SIDE EFFECTS and is addictive and that NO doctor will help people.

Phewww what a story

[ab1018]

I've taken Klonopin for about 4 years. I take .5 mg. twice per day. I would say it is very "behind the scenes" for lack of a better term. I don't feel clumsy and out of it like I did on Valium (yes, someone actually prescribed that), Doxepin, or Ativan. It is relaxing, but you don't even realize it's there.

I hope it works out for you.

I take klonopin at night to help reduce anxiety so I can sleep (used to take Xanax but ODed on it when I went through an intense emotional crisis & ended up in the ER). I tried taking the klonopin once during the day when I was very anxious, but it just made me so tired. I don't want to sleep through my days. I just ride through the anxiety during the day. I never abused the Xanax though I was on it for 17 years. I just had a bad depressive episode (bipolar 1) & acted rashly & took a bunch of them. Doing better now. Trying to regain the stability I had before.--Suzy

[jenniferever]

I did the exact same thing with Xanax. Then I got on Klonopin, however, that didn't help much with my anxiety. It took a while, but I am back on Xanax now. I guess it all depends on your donctor

[chichi]

hello "alwaysfearful" I take Zoloft, with this med it takes at least 6 weeks to work the full effect and now I am so glad I took it because at the beginning I was terrified to take anything that would alter my mind. Like most of these meds it needs time to get into your system....in the mean time I would take Ativan as needed. Good luck

[Ubekidn]

I have been on klonapin for a few years. This last six to twelve months it isn't doing a bit of good. Dr. won't give me anything else. So I take them and hope maybe this time it will work. Never does anymore but I keep hoping.

[Direction]

Off topic of thread...Ubekidn...have you discussed why your doc wont change meds if they are no longer working?

[wickedwings]

i've been on klonapin since last september. i was in a weird state of adrenaline overdrive because the e.r. experience with my migraine and being a medical mystery for so long messed me up. felt like i had one foot in this life and the other foot in the afterlife. and reality was unbelievably, painfully harsh, which also sent me into this state. klonapin really helped me with that in a huge way. brought me back to earth. oh, i was so messed up because i was terrified for too long. didn't know whether if i was going to live or not, and be ok in the future. fortunately, not long afterward, i finally had a diagnosis on my medical mystery. i'm going to be ok. it's still strange now, because i've been battling chronic major depression since a year and a half ago. but, it was a very good medication for me. i hope it works well for you.

[recluse1]

i have taken klonopin in the past and have recently started on it again. the last time i seemed to get alot of relief but my dose was alot higher then. now this lower dose doesn't seem to help me much at all. need to go back to doc and see if he can adjust the dose. people and doses vary and so will your reaction to the drug. doc says its great for anxiety because it doesn't really peak like xanax or valium and stays in your system longer. but it is addictive over long term use. but if it helps you threw the hell of constant anxiety and panic attacks, to me it would be worth it. all you can really do is try it as needed for about a week and see how you react to it. hope it helps!

recluse1

[Noncomposmentis8]

Thank you for the results so far guys!

[muse]

I think one thing you must always keep in mind is that every medication affects everyone differently. Yes, there are a range of general effects and side-effects, but what happens to one person may not happen to you. Take it as your doc. prescribes, and report any weirdness of ANY kind to him/her. ASAP!! That way any side-effects can be dealt with.

Good luck, and I truly hope it helps you! I'm taking it on an as-needed basis myself, for muscle issues. I hope nothing bad happens... to either of us.
luck&love,
~muse