[tommy58]

Anxiety attacks and crying spells led me to trying Klonopin on top of my bipolar meds. Dose .05 once a day. I got too drowsie to work, so I am taking at night. Complaint is, I feel drugged, drowsie, and worry about addictiveness. Can you give me your comments and experience?

Hey, I'm on Klonopin 0.5 as well. How often do you take it?
I have been on some form of tranquilizer for the last 8 years... I guess I am tolerant because of that and I can take Klonopin in the middle of the day and function fine. However, I do know what you mean about feeling drugged in the morning after taking it at night.... this sometimes does happen to me if I take it late at night-- or like if I really can't sleep and take it at like 3 AM and then have to get up at 6:30 for work. I would say to break it in half and take .25. I usually do this so that I don't have to ask for a prescription so soon-- lasts twice as long. The .25 works fine for me. Don't take it too late at night. As far as addiction, just try to limit it to when you really need it. Try to work on some other coping skills for your anxiety aside from meds. Another idea could be talking to your doctor about Xanax which works just like Klonopin, but it doesn't stay in your system as long-- so you have less chance of getting a "hangover" from it in the morning. Feel free to PM me anytime. Take care.

[LuLu80]

I take Klonopin 0.5 daily for anxiety. I take it at approx 8pm and begin feeling its effects about 30min later. It definitely makes me feel sedated and somewhat confused, but it's the best thing I've found so far. Usually by the time I get up at 6:30 am I feel okay. Good luck!

[sassypants]

I was on Klonopin .05 and a half mg to be taken at bedtime
for restless leg syndrome. It really helped me to sleep all
night long, until recently. I asked my dr. if he could increase
the amount because it was not helping me anymore on the
current amount. He said no, would try something else.

I never realized until about 2 years ago that this medicine
was a benzo-something for panic attacks and anxiety.
I was on this medication for 3 yrs. My doctor told me to wean myself off of it, not to stop it abruptly. So, please
be careful when driving. Good luck

[Peacemaker]

hi tommy,

i take 2mg of klonopin 4x/day. a very, very long time ago, i took 1mg for insomnia and periodic limb movement and it worked for a month. Now, I have been on it for years and the pdoc just increased me to 2mg, 4 times a day. I have no drowsiness, drugged feelings, nothing. Sometimes, it really doesn't even help my anxiety.... i think.

you are smart to take it at night. could be that the side effects will diminish after a few weeks. consider reserching the web or asking your doc.

are you seeing a pdoc? if not, i really recommend that you find a good one because once your body becomes acclimated to .5mg/day, you primary care giver may not feel comfortable increasing the dose. i have found that pdocs understand the psych meds much, much more and tend to find what you need faster. they are also more aggressive in treating psych conditions.

take care,
Peacemaker (Sherri)

[wickedwings]

i used to take klonapin - 0.5 mg. it did make me drowsy, but it only lasted for a week. the side effects will go away after a week or so. it really helps with anxiety.

This stuff is like having a beer or a glass of wine in pill form.
I take some every day.
I feel neither drowsy or addicted to it, just calm.

I take 1 mg at night. Don't take it during the day even though I have a lot of anxiety due to not wanting to feel sleepy during the day. Used to take xanax (17 yrs.) but did an overdose on that when I was depressed & it didn't help me sleep through the night (bipolar 1 in manic stage) so I was changed to klonopin & Trazodone to try to help me sleep.

Have to take stimulants in the morning to get me going (Provigil & Concerta). Been on them about 6 yrs. & couldn't function without them. Also lots of other meds for the bipolar.--Suzy

[mjz2005]

I've had good results with Klonopin alone. Not sure if maybe your bipolar meds + klonopin might be reason for hangover feeling.

On really bad days, I've gone as high as 3 mg (spread out though the day) klonopin, but it has not caused me to feel hangover. Spacey and very mellow yes, but not like hangover.

I also feel good when I can do a day without taking any Klonopin because I worry about addictive.

[okiedokie]

Hi Tommy,
There is a high risk of addiction to benzos. If you are having trouble with .5 of the clonazepam, break it in half and take .25 and see if that makes a difference for you.

If you have any other questions about benzos, please feel free to PM me. Benzos definitely have their benefits, but one must carefully weigh them against the risks.
Take care,
Okie

[vulnerome]

Heh, I was prescribed this on top of Mirtazapine and Risperidone to take as needed. Decided to test it at a good time (didn't want to risk getting a funny reaction on top of a bad patch). It was like drinking a quarter of vodka, kinda fun but kinda scary too.
Suspect I won't take them often - just too scared of addiction - but having them available seems to be helping in itself.

Best of luck with your meds. I hope they help you.