Cottonwood Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 After 5 days of anxiety attacks, I finally crawled into the drs office and he prescribed me the lowest dose as needed but said I could take two a day. I'm going to use it as needed. I read the side effects and am doing a little research before taking it. My friend says its highly addictive and so do some sources onlne. Doc says as needed its not addictive. I know everyone is different but what has been your experience? UPDATE: So before bed last night I was quite anxious so I took the recommended .5 mg before bed. I felt mildly spacey it did NOTHING for the anxiety. I ended up taking 1/4 of a benadryl to get to sleep. I slept pretty good but woke up real anxious so I called the nurse. She said to take 1 mg and see how I did. It did knock the anxiety down quite a bit I was still pretty uncomfortable. I laid around till about noon and tried not to think about much to give my brain a rest since I think that's part of the problem. Around noon I got up and started trying to engage with the kids and started feeling really calm and havent needed any since. Closer to bedtime I might need something, but I'm going to try to get by with Benedryl to sleep and maybe, hopefully wake up calm. If not, the I'll take the 1 mg and see... The nurse seemed pretty puzzled that the 1 mg didn't really control the anxiety. Almost like she'd never heard such a thing. She said I could split it up any way I want but can't take more than 2 mg a day. In a week I have an appt with a therapist and maybe we'll switch things up. It just doesn't seem like enough help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 If you are easily addicted to stuff, it's addictive. Never took it myself, but have had various family members take it. One is now never prescribed it...was too addictive. Of course everyone is different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mellifera33 Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 I suspect that this is highly individual. I have taken benzodiazepines for short periods of time as needed and have never had any problem stopping them. Maybe it helps that I don't like the way they make me feel, so I have always used them sparingly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaeFlowers Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 Benzodiazapines are in the controlled substance class for a reason. If you are only taking them as needed, it should not be an issue. I have user klonopin myself years ago. I used the lozenges that dissolve under the tongue. They were a bit too strong for me and I just had to curl up and take a nap. However, I was calm. The first time to try one, don't plan on being anywhere so that you can gauge how they will affect you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaeFlowers Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 Please excuse the typos. I really shouldn't reply from my phone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 I'm familiar with it for its use for epilepsy. Unfortunately, it seems like a tolerance can be built up easily, then it needs to be decided how much is too much? It stops the seizures but at what dose? KWIM? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3 ladybugs Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 Yes it is addictive. However for severe anxiety that happens then is over, it might be worth it for you. Just be aware that it is addictive and only use it in dire situations. Also don't forget that alcohol is addictive too. Many turn to alcohol when they have anxiety and not all of them turn into lushes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaz Posted October 29, 2015 Share Posted October 29, 2015 I would disagree about only using it in dire situations. My brother-in-law uses it every night to sleep. A friend uses it occasionally for anxiety. Another friend uses it to help her with PMS nightmares. They all have been fine using it as prescribed for many years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cottonwood Posted October 29, 2015 Author Share Posted October 29, 2015 Thanks everyone. I'm going to stick to periods of uncontrolled anxiety during this rough patch I'm in. I'm going to take 1/2 of one tonight about 2 hrs before bed to see how I react to it. The script was actually written for 1 tablet twice daily, which puzzles me because the Dr told me one lasts for 36 hours. In any case, I'm never going to have to suffer for 5 days again...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanne Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 After 5 days of anxiety attacks, I finally crawled into the drs office and he prescribed me the lowest dose as needed but said I could take two a day. I'm going to use it as needed. I read the side effects and am doing a little research before taking it. My friend says its highly addictive and so do some sources onlne. Doc says as needed its not addictive. I know everyone is different but what has been your experience? Unfortunately, Doctors, including Psychiatrists but especially GP's do NOT have sufficient medical info on addiction. Klonopin IS a risky drug in that regard. But, regardless, addiction is about the individual's response to the substance (a physiological need for MORE) rather than the drug itself. That is why alcohol (or other substances) create different use patterns. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassenach Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 Thanks everyone. I'm going to stick to periods of uncontrolled anxiety during this rough patch I'm in. I'm going to take 1/2 of one tonight about 2 hrs before bed to see how I react to it. The script was actually written for 1 tablet twice daily, which puzzles me because the Dr told me one lasts for 36 hours. In any case, I'm never going to have to suffer for 5 days again...... For seizures, I find klonopin wears off faster than other drugs. 36 hours sounds wrong, but maybe it's way different for anxiety use. It's the only drug dis has ever had to take 3x a day, because it wears off so quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HSmomof2 Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 I take it as needed, and usually a "month's" supply, 30, lasts me about six months. I rarely take a whole onee, even though mine is the lowest. I've taken it the same way.....as needed (1/2 or even 1/4 of a tablet) for panic attacks during PMS. So a total of about 5/month. I've been doing this for almost 10 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luuknam Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 the Dr told me one lasts for 36 hours. :lol: It may take 36 hours before it's mostly gone out of your system (since it has a long half-life compared to most other benzos), but it certainly does not 'last' for 36 hours (unless you're very weird). I was having a rough time the last few days, so I took one yesterday morning, another one yesterday afternoon (because the morning one obviously didn't last for 36 hours), and was contemplating whether I needed another one yesterday close to bedtime (because the afternoon one obviously didn't last 36 hours either), but ended up settling on just trazodone (a tricyclic antidepressant that works as a sleeping pill). The klonopin and trazodone are 'as needed', I also have my daily citalopram (an SSRI, for depression issues - some people say SSRIs help with anxiety, but I have never noticed any benefit from them wrt anxiety), and a low dose of buspar (anti-anxiety, can't take a higher dose due to side effects). I make sure to not take klonopin daily for long stretches of time to avoid the potential of addiction (plus, the side effects of long term usage are not pretty to look at - but if you need it you need it). That said, when I was first prescribed klonopin, the plan was for me to take it twice a day for two weeks or so (iirc), which I did, and doing that helped knock my anxiety levels down to a more normal base line (it worked kind of like a reset). After that, I went for a long time with quite infrequent use of klonopin. Recently my anxiety has been ramping up again though. My current diagnoses are depression and generalized anxiety disorder, and the depression is pretty well under control, but the anxiety has always been a bigger issue (I think the depression is partially caused by excessive anxiety). Anyway, as a side note, if you take a benzodiazepine daily a while, you cannot just quit cold-turkey. Apparently some doctors are dumb enough to not mention that, but my wife was on a benzo prescribed by a doctor before I met her, and she decided one day that she didn't need it anymore, and last had a seizure (at a water park at that - obviously, she did not drown, but she was hospitalized). So, anyway... sudden discontinuation can cause seizures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cottonwood Posted October 31, 2015 Author Share Posted October 31, 2015 update in original post Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 Could.it be that the 1mg did calm the anxiety but took a lot longer to kick in...hours instead of minutes? I found that with my dd and Ativan. It doesn't kick in super fast for her but it does work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cottonwood Posted October 31, 2015 Author Share Posted October 31, 2015 I have thought of that. I wonder if I didn't give Xanax enough time either. A couple times I took it before bed and woke up anxious, only to start feeling calm around 10 am. Of course I got up and immediately thought it didn't work if I woke up anxious since its only supposed to have a 4 or 6 hr life, or so I've heard. I guess I'll keep trying the klonopin sparingly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeaConquest Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 I use Ativan for anxiety. It's like the Goldilocks of Benzos for me -- lasts longer than Xanax, but is more powerful for me vs. Klonopin. You might give it a try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaeFlowers Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 I agree with SeaConquest. Ativan is the best for me, too. Have you considered asking about the type that dissolves under the tongue? It works quickly. Last, did your dr know you are mixing Klonopin with Benadryl? That seems like a dangerous combination. ETA: You dont have to answer that last question. It's not my business. I was just concerned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HSmomof2 Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 I find that klonopin takes awhile to start helping my anxiety, especially if I'm having a panic attack (1-2 hrs to kick in). Xanax worked quicker for me but not as well or as long as klonopin does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cottonwood Posted October 31, 2015 Author Share Posted October 31, 2015 I agree with SeaConquest. Ativan is the best for me, too. Have you considered asking about the type that dissolves under the tongue? It works quickly. Last, did your dr know you are mixing Klonopin with Benadryl? That seems like a dangerous combination. ETA: You dont have to answer that last question. It's not my business. I was just concerned. Lol I appreciate your concern! Yes he said it works on completely different area of the brain and said he has many patients with anxiety and allergies that use both meds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 Luuknam...very good advice about not simply/suddenly discontinuing benzos. We've found that in our situation that simply a change in manufacturers causes increased seizures until the body adjusts. It is so frustrating. I hope everyone in this thread is doing well. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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