Am I addicted to Klonopin?

I was prescribed Klonopin about three years ago for anxiety. I take plenty of other drugs as you can see below. I was prescribed 1.5 mg per day to be taken prn. Some days I take 1.5, some 1.0 and some days .5. About ten days a month I don't take any.
I woke up this morning, felt very anxious and took 1.0. It really helped.
I have never taken more than three per day which is what was prescribed. But I've read it here about addiction to benzos. Should I try to wean off, ask my doctor, or just leave it alone?

If you're able to go days without taking it, and vary your dose from .5 to 1.5 you're probably not physically addicted. I'm on it, and if I miss a day or even part of a dose, I'm physically ill - that's addiction.

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I think there is a difference between addiction and physical dependence. In my definition an addict will take more than prescribed and take not as needed. Physical dependence means withdrawal effects when going without.

If you take it as you describe I would not worry.

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If you can go days without taking it and not suffer adverse physical effects, then you're not dependent on it.

Of course, physical dependence isn't even necessarily the horror some people make it out to be, and in fact happens with lots of substances (Google Effexor withdrawals--that's an anti-depressant, but getting off of it is wicked). Withdrawal happens with all sorts of psych meds and is really just part of being on medication. You're only an addict if you're abusing your medication, meaning taking more than prescribed or intentionally using it to get high.

I wouldn't say you are addicted. I think your body's reaction shows that it is helping your anxiety. As was said, the danger occurs when people start upping doses on their own and taking more and more.

Lilypup,
I think you've read my posts about my personal recovery from klonopin. I took benzos off and on for 20+ years. I've been off now 19 months, and am still suffering with worse anxiety than I had prior to starting benzos. Basically I've been through hell on earth!

Many here are saying that if you can go without it a few days that you are not addicted. Most people can become physically addicted if they take a benzo more than a week or two. You said you experienced anxiety without it, I think that speaks for itself. We do become 'accustomed' to that little helper.

At this point, from my perspective you are extremely lucky that you can go without it a few days. I would take this opportunity to go off completely, then you will find after a couple of weeks you will feel 100% better. I know this also from experience.

I would scream run, run, run away from the stuff. I do not want to touch a nerve here, I know that this is a sensitive subject to those who feel like they 'need' it. I would just really like to save someone from going through what I have. I never thought I could get off of it. I am healing and I will get better, it is still going to take time for me. You are lucky to have not been on it too long.

I wish the best for you!

ps. One side note, doctors that prescribe it have no empathy and seemingly no understanding for those with protracted w/d symptoms. There is no medication or help for the prolonged withdrawal syndrome either. Just heads up for you.

I have been on Xanax for over 4 years .. Up to 3mg a day.. Am I addicted ? No because I dont abuse the med and take it as prescribed.. If myself or my Doctor wanted me to quit I would just need to taper off them. No big deal to me

I was on 10mg a day about 20 years ago and stopped by choice by tapering off them took about 4 weeks.

For me there was no horrible stories of dreaded withdrawls or long term problems .. Its was just a typical tapering off of a medication.

Maybe its because I do not have an addictive personality.

If you have concerns speak to your Pdoc and decide what is best for you..

Personally I think AP's can be just as much of a problem for some as benzios can be.

Just my opinion of course

The thread includes a variety of opinions and experiences. It may be difficult to weigh them. I'm adding my own, trying not to be too influenced by what comes before.

I have taken clonazepam regularly for a long time. I was at 1mg three times a day and then cut back to twice a day. My doctor and I have discussed reducing the amount and perhaps not using it at all, but we are not doing that because of an issue with the medication per se, but with the fact that I have fatigue and low energy due to depression so there is a thought that removing sedating medication would help.

On the other hand, I have anxiety (my primary dx is PTSD). I've tried many of the other benzodiazapines. Clonazepam is by far the best. It has special properties, like a very long half life, which means it stays in your body even when you stop taking it. For me, a fast acting, short duration drug that just produced a "high" or calming effect would be more prone to what I would call abuse and would also be something I would not consider to be healthy or helpful unless I had panic attacks and needed a very quick acting, short term agent.

For longer term, moderate effects I find Klonopin to be the most reliable medication I've ever taken. I've taken it for more than a decade, have never felt a need to increase the dose, have skipped doses without issue, and have cut my need for it back.

I myself do not worry about the question of "addiction." I personally believe that medications that are designed to relieve suffering shouldn't be stigmatized or vilified. I've had more than 4 knee surgeries. If someone questioned my need for pain killers or called me an addict because I needed them during recovery, I would have thought them mean-spirited ignorant fools.

People are so hyper sensitive and almost freaked out with fear about drugs like benzodiazapines or pain killers but I think it has way more to do with the potential for abuse. We still live in a Puritanical society, regardless of the so-called cultural revolutions that make us so bloody enlightened.

Thanks so much for everyone's help. Lots of food for thought.

yes, its addicting.

but you can get off it.

I did.

If you have to. Start cutting your doses in half or even thirds. As long as there is some GABA action slowly reducing down. You may feel a little uncomfortable but should not have depersonalization, minimal paranoia and d no seizures. Which is the hatchet. You should be doing this with an experienced pdoc and make sure you have enough for a slow 2 week reduction, imo. Even by thirds. You can get to an extremely low reduction by using the water method. Also ask your pdoc about maybe throwing in 100-300 milligrams for the time being. Calcium blockers can be great anxiolytics without the huge threat of benzodiazepines.
You need to talk to your doc or hopefully pdoc. When dealing with dangerous heavy hitters!
They are no joke!
If done correctly, maybe a little discomfort. No extreme depersonalization stuff etc but definitley worth it, in most cases. Extreme social anxiety illness, ie. severe agoraphobia is a different matter
Should be smooth!