[bewise93]

I had taken benzos in the past and was even told by a pdoc who didnt like prescribing benzos that I was a patient who needed long term benzo treatment. Ive come off this stuff often and eventually come back on. But this time, after a month of being off of it, had panic and extreme paranoia, didnt eat, slept 3 or 4 hrs a night and felt tired and anxious all day. The doc put me back on regular scheduled valium and im kind of nervous. Is it true that some ppl need long term benzo treatment? Im just worried in 5 yrs ill move to a new city and the new pdoc will say, "benzos are addictive, im going to taper you off." Thats how it always happens.

[99fairies]

My pdoc said I'll probably have to be on klonopin for life. Sucked to hear, but it is what it is.

I'm on a very small dose of Klonopin (0.5 mg) and small dose of Ativan (1 mg, but I can take up to 3 mg per day, but rarely take 2). I've been on Klonopin for 8 years now and both my pdoc and a neurologist say it could be dangerous to get off. The Ativan was supposed to be a prn, but I've been taking 1 mg daily for at least 3 years now. Not so much for anxiety during that time, but akathisia from Geodon. But after one long year being weaned off Geodon, I no longer have akathisia, but my pdoc told me to keep taking the 1 mg until I've been stable for a while, then we'll try to wean me off Ativan, but not Klonopin. I think I'll be on my small dose of Klonopin forever unless a future pdoc tries to get me off. I'd be willing to try, but my pdoc and old neurologist scared me. Both said I could have a seizure if I went off Klonopin.

I hate Klonopin. When I was on doses like 3 mg per day years ago it did nothing for my then anxiety. All it did was make me very drowsy. My small dose doesn't, but it is like a worthless pill. One docs say is dangerous to go off?

I'm not sure why my pdoc thinks weaning off Ativan is OK. I'm happy to do it, but I do want to keep Ativan as a prn, because at least Ativan does have a history of helping my anxiety.

[bioChE]

I’m on 0.5mg Klonopin, 3x/day. I’ve been on this dosage for around 15-18 years, with a short break of about a year and a half. I think I’m stuck on it.