For example, they may prescribe it with other drugs for seizure disorders. For panic disorder, clonazepam may be used alone. Both drugs belong to the same group of medications called benzodiazepines. They have similar side effects, interactions, and warnings for use.
In the second week, have them reduced to 50 percent of their original dose or 1 mg. In the third week of tapering, have them drop to 25 percent of their original dose or 0.5 mg. In the fourth week, have them lessen their dose to 12.5 percent or .25 mg daily.
- Do not stop taking clonazepam without talking to a doctor.
- He seemed concerned about me takin 2mg a day for the last 2 days…
- When you first start taking clonazepam, you might have excessive sleepiness.
- I always tried to lower the dosage and never increase.
Clonazepam belongs to a group of drugs called benzodiazepines. These types of drugs work by increasing levels of a certain brain chemical called gamma-aminobutyric acid. There’s a risk of developing addiction with long-term use of clonazepam. Addiction increases your risk for misuse, overdose, and in some cases, death. To learn about addiction and misuse, see the “Boxed warnings” section directly above.
How often you’ll take doses will also vary. With clonazepam, dosages for seizure disorders are higher rewarding recovery than those for panic disorder. Your doctor will discuss the benefits and risks of this drug with you.
Ask a pharmacist
I am just not sure doing a dosing chart according to one oerson will work for every person. The forums are great, but many people make too big of a deal of weening off Klonopin. Is it without any side effects, no but I found it fairly easy to come off?
How and when to take clonazepam
Clonazepam and diazepam do have some differences, though. This includes their strengths, how long they last in your body, and their uses. Your doctor will routinely monitor how you’re doing with clonazepam. Instead, talk with your doctor if you’re experiencing side effects or have other concerns about the drug. If your doctor lowers your dosage or has you stop taking the drug, they may do this slowly to help prevent withdrawal symptoms. Before starting clonazepam, tell your doctor if you’ve ever experienced drug misuse or addiction to any substances.
You Can Experience Withdrawal Even If You Take Klonopin as Directed
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use clonazepam only for the indication prescribed. In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses how to safely taper and discontinue Klonopin (clonazepam). @elwooodsdad- Have you talked to your doctor about switching up medicines? Welbutrin took me from the edge to enjoying life, most of the time. This medication is great, it does the job for my anxiety, but I, just as many others have stated do not like the mental “fog” that comes along with it.
This is because while the drug has a medical use, it can cause misuse, addiction, and dependence. To learn more about misuse and addiction with clonazepam, see the “Can clonazepam tablets be misused? To find more information about use with opioids, see the “Do clonazepam tablets have any interactions? Taking clonazepam and opioids together increases your risk for serious side effects.
I take my Klonopin divided into three doses a day. So far it is working but with some increased anxiety and “brain zaps” both of which are hard to cope with but I am determined to get through this. If I could give any advice it would be to get your doctor involved and keep them involved for the duration of your taper. We talk about how I am feeling, do I need to slow the taper, or am I coping with the withdrawal symptoms fairly well.
I have been on this dose for 6 weeks and decided to start tapering down again, but very, very slowly. Don’t stop taking clonazepam on your own or make any changes to your dosage without checking with your doctor. Doing these things increases your risk for serious side effects from the drug. Instead, talk with your doctor about any concerns you have with clonazepam. Your doctor can adjust your dosage or suggest other medications if clonazepam isn’t working for you.
Do clonazepam 0.5mg cause you to have panic attacks if so why?
Now I’m super nervous which is elevating my heart rate as high as 120 at rest… Ive been doubling up on the Klonopin with little results… Now I feel like I’m immune to the Klonopin which kicks the panic up another notch… Appt.with doc this Thurs.to try and get my levels stable… I don’t want to be dependent on 2-3mgs of this stuff…
Tapering, which means gradually reducing your dose over time, is also the best way of preventing severe withdrawal symptoms. Klonopin is intended for short-term use. This is because, after several weeks, most people develop a physical dependence. So, when someone is dependent on a drug like Klonopin, they will experience withdrawal symptoms if they stop taking it or reduce their dose.
Anyone taking benzodiazepines for longer than three to four weeks, even people taking them exactly as directed, can experience withdrawal symptoms. Among people using benzodiazepines for more than six months, about ecstasy symptoms and warning signs 40% will experience moderate-to-severe withdrawal symptoms. The other 60% will still have symptoms, but they will be milder. Your dosage of clonazepam will differ depending on the condition you’re treating.
Do not drink alcohol while taking clonazepam. Alcohol can increase the effects of clonazepam and make you go into a very deep sleep. There’s a risk you will not be able to breathe properly and you may have difficulty waking up. For panic disorder and restless legs syndrome, clonazepam should take around 1 hour to start working. For seizures, fits and involuntary muscle spasms, it might take a few days to a week for clonazepam to work fully.
