Clonazepam Klonopin Review

Overall 4.10 of 5 view all 20 reviews

Jo
Plymouth, MA

Born to be Organic!

an ocean dweller, beach lover, have too much to do to be anxious, have panic disorder

Pros

rarely have a panic attack

Cons

can be habit forming

JUN

2007

Clonazepam Klonopin —

To the Point

My first anxiety attack was when I was ten years old. I finally got help for panic disorder 15 years ago.

A Closer View

I have what has been diagnosed as organic (caused by the brain) panic disorder or an organic nature. What that means is that it isn't something that can be cured with talk therapy. One indication of this is the following story:

We live on the ocean. One night there was a lightening storm. The lightening went straight down to the water. We shut off all the lights to watch. I rarely get panic attacks but on this night I did. As my doctor said "Your eyes said it looked beautiful but your brain said it was scary."

I was put on various drugs and am now on a cocktail of two. Klonopin is one I've been on for a long time.

Klonopin (clonazepam) is in a class of drugs called benzodiazepines. Klonopin (clonazepam) affects chemicals in your brain that may become unbalanced and cause seizures or symptoms of panic disorder.

Klonopin (clonazepam) is used to treat seizures and panic disorder.

http://www.drugs.com/klonopin.html

From what I read and hear Klonopin is not now the drug of first choice because it is habit forming. Doctors now try other drugs first but since I've been on it for so long there's no way I would go off of it. I'm on a fairly low dose (2 mg a day) and in all these years just once had my dose increased.

Do I every get anxious? Yes I do. But other than the lightening storm I have not had a full fledged panic attack since I've been stable on this medication. I know people suffer with anxiety. This drug may not be right for you or them but I waited so long to get help - I know there is no reason to suffer and struggle with anxiety.

Jo's Viewpoint

I like it!

Last edited on Jun 29, 2007

Clonazepam Klonopin is recommended by Jo

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Comments about Jo’s Review

In response to PD53310761's comment from May 5, 2009 at 10:06PM:

I do understand the addiction. I have been on the same dose; however for the past half a dozen years or so and on it for 45 years with no personality changed. Thanks for your concern. Jo

2 mg. is not a low dose. Klonopin is also not recommended for long-term use. Doctors who are familiar with it do not prescribe it for long-term use. It is indicated for only short-term therapy because it is extremely addicting, even for those without a history of substance abuse problems - and withdrawals can cause adverse events. Some people require years to taper off Klonopin, and require intense in-patient medical detox programs to successfully overcome the physical dependency. It just isn't worth it. There are other medications that truly help - without the dangerous, personality-altering and life-threatening effects.

It is EXTREMELY addictive - in that it does not take long to build a physical tolerance and require a higher dose for the same relief. This medication can change your personality, plunge you into severe, debilitating depression, cause memory impairment and cause serious problems. Weigh the cons against any minimal pros it may offer. Other meds offer comparable relief without the potential for serious problems Klonopin often causes. Does not take long to need more and more - and if you run out or are stopped for any reason, withdrawals are frightening and dangerous. Read all you can about this medication... and carefully consider whether you want to introduce this new level of sheer hell into your life.

In response to CrystaBush's comment from Jan 25, 2008 at 1:59PM:

My daughter has RLS. I'm not sure what she's on. I'll have to ask her. Jo

I take Klonopin for my Fibromyalgia. It relaxes your central nervous system, therefore helping my body not to twitch (think Restless Leg Syndrome of the whole body). It works well. I don't feel that it's addictive or do I crave it but of course, not everyone is the same with meds.