Klonopin Question

I have a few questions about Klonopin if anyone can help out. I have been taking Klonopin on and off for about six months. I haven't really figured out the magic formula to get the most benefit out of it. I notice that it helps my anxiety sometimes, but sometimes it doesn't.

My pdoc has told me to take anywhere from .5 to 1mg up to twice a day. I probably actually take .5 mg twice a week at most. Which might be why I'm not getting a lot of relief with my anxiety most days. I'm afraid of getting dependent on it.

The worst anxiety I've been experiencing recently is going anywhere by car, especially when another person is driving. I'm going on a trip that will be about three hours long in a couple of weeks and I want to give myself the best chance of not being in a panic for the whole ride. My husband is driving. He doesn't deserve to have me holding on for dear life and hyperventilating the whole time. He's not that bad of a driver. Hahaha.

I'm going to take it about an hour before we leave. Is that long enough for it to begin working? Also, would it be more effective for me to take it regularly for a few days to let it build up in my system before we go? Will that make a difference? Or should I maybe ask my pdoc for something for more acute anxiety?

I tried Googling and couldn't find much, and I know I can ask my pdoc, but I was just looking for opinions from people who also take it.

Well I take Klonopin but mostly for sleep! I don't know if this is the best advice but if driving (someone else's driving) gives you so much anxiety, why not crank the AC and curl up with a blanket and sleep through the ride? I always do that on long car trips when I'm not the one driving.

Again not knowing if it gets you sleepy or not. I know Klonopin just knocks me out! I am .5 mg every night and I can't sleep without it. I know I have become a bit dependent on it but it was a hell lot better than Ambien or all those tablets of Trazedone.

Good luck and have a safe trip!

I have the same car phobia, especially if someone else is driving. I take Ativan and it doesn't help much. I have no experience with Klonopin so can't offer advise there. Good luck, have a safe trip and I hope you get the answers you seek.

I used to be on Klonopin and I asked my pdoc if I could switch to Xanax, because it works so much better for me. Usually benzos work within 30 minutes for me, and I often chew them up so it will get in my blood stream faster.

If you are having frequent anxiety, here's another thing you could ask your pdoc: can he/she give you something that will prevent your anxiety all of the time, such as an antipsychotic like Latuda or Abilify? Both of those have helped me enormously with preventing anxiety. I was on Latuda for 3+ years and it helped a lot, but now I've switched to Abilify, and it is helping a lot, too. Just an idea.

Good luck!

Is your Klonopin PRN (take as needed) or does your pdoc want you to take it daily? If he wants you to take it daily to manage your anxiety it's best to follow his instructions. If it's PRN and you are having anxiety but white knuckling it to keep your use to twice a week, you're not going to effectively manage your anxiety.

Since you've been on it for several months, it sounds like your pdoc will likely continue to prescribe it to treat your anxiety ongoing. You're taking very little but you may be dependent on it. Discuss your concerns with your pdoc. It is expected that you will become dependent on a benzo with regular, long term use. It's normal. If you are abusing it by taking more than you should that is
addiction and that is when it is a problem.

I have four anxiety disorders and I've been prescribed benzos by my pdoc for ten years. I take one mg of Klonopin every six hours, not PRN. He said I need benzos to manage my anxiety due to severity and having four types (GAD, Social, OCD, Panic Disorder). Obviously I'm dependent on them, but they are very effective for me and necessary to adequately treat my nxiety disorders. I take them as prescribed, I've never run out early, etc. I don't crave them or feel high and we've not needed to increase my dosage for six years.

I've taken Xanax which is much shorter acting so I asked to switch to Klonopin as it stays in your system much longer. Xanax is better for Panic attacks whereas Klonopin is more of a smooth, ongoing benzo for GAD and Social.

It should start working within 20-30 minutes from when you take it. I imagine it would be more effective to take it regularly for a few days before your trip. Ask your pdoc but I think having it in your system prior to leaving would be helpful. But ask your pdoc. I'm prescribed to take mine regularly every day for that reason.

Also, if you take it a few days prior to your trip you will be less anxious about your departure. If you are anxious about the drive, you'll likely be thinking about it before you leave, as well. Personally I'd stick with Klonopin and not switch to a different benzo for your trip. You'd likely be prescribed Xanax for acute anxiety and it may be too intense and sedating. I don't think it's a good time to switch meds. Just my opinion. I think the Klonopin will be fine if you don't force yourself to twice a week. You may need anxiety coverage daily during your trip. He's authorized daily use so don't suffer unnecessarily.

Have a great trip! xoxo, Rainy

There have been times when my anxiety was really bad that she recommended I take it regularly, but "temporarily" meaning she didn't want me taking it regularly as a long-term solution.

I don't tend to have an addictive personality, but I have noticed that the .5 doesn't help like it used to, and the 1mg works much better. I feel like I'm building up a tolerance and I'm worried it will get to the point it doesn't work anymore. I'm going to talk to my pdoc about that.

I thought about asking her for Xanax just for the trip, because it seems to be for more acute situations. It makes me very sleepy, so I thought I could just sleep the trip away. I have a very difficult time sleeping in cars, mostly because I can't relax.

I hadn't thought about this. I'm not even leaving for three weeks and I'm already worrying and obsessing about it. It might be better to take it regularly so I don't compound my anxiety. I have a feeling that's what my pdoc will say anyway. She tends to tell me to take it regularly when I'm having PTSD symptoms or something that's making me extremely anxious.

I also get just free-floating anxiety that doesn't have a specific reason and that is when I just use it PRN. But I struggle to manage my acute anxiety. I think this will help, though.

Thank you for your thorough response! It is very helpful to me. I know people often say, talk to your pdoc, and of course I should and will, but it's helpful to hear from people who share similar experiences and how they use some meds and how it helps them. It gives me hope that it can work for me.

Klonopin can take a little while to kick in compared to benzos like Ativan or Xanax (I've been on all three). Sometimes Klonopin just mildly reduces my anxiety, but by making me just feel kind of zonked and "blank." It can be really effective at times, but more so for me with generalized anxiety.

For severe anxiety, on occasion, Xanax seems to be my go-to, since I find it really effective when it comes to "bringing you back down" when experiencing panic or severe symptoms. It works fast, unlike Klonopin. However, I definitely find benefits to Klonopin staying in the system longer....since I often have to pop more Xanax to continue feeling the relief during the day, which my pdoc has strongly advised me against. Maybe your pdoc will prescribe something shorter-acting in duration, like Xanax or Ativan PRN to help with the acute onset of anxiety. Good luck

Amy Today, you don't have to have an "addictive personality" to become physically addicted to Klonopin or another medication. Someone might not want to keep taking Klonopin, but their body becomes addicted to it (physical addiction).

If I were you, I'd take 1mg. an hour before the drive.