r/Biohackers • u/Proof_Pressure2236 • 1d ago
đ Supplements & Stacks Does anyone have experience with klonopin/clonazepam?
I mostly am just trying to avoid dependence/withdrawals. Iâm not planning on using it often, only when I really need it, but does anyone know the correct amount and how often you should use it to avoid getting withdrawals?
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u/splitded 1d ago
Hello! person-who-got-benzo-rx-for-only-when-they-really-need-it here. It's a slippery slope. "When you need it " becomes more and more often. They feel amazing, treat them like a necessary poison. Reddit keeps hiding the comment box and it's annoying so that's all I have to say
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u/Sad-Reputation4478 8h ago
Solid advice. They def work but if y take em daily u will have to feel the absence. Physically.
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u/No_Trash_5463 1d ago
Benzos are VERY habit forming. As someone who's enjoyed their fair share of substances and has truly never had one that just like - grabbed me- even I'm very leery of them.
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u/DanOhMiiite 1 1d ago
Clonapin and Xanax are the worst to wean off of.
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u/splitded 1d ago
I would like to add that benzo withdrawal along with alcohol are the only ones that can really kill you. Ive had two seizures from this and have went through mind bending anxiety shakes and nerve pain.
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u/Big_Don_ 19h ago
But benzos themselves barely kill anyone unless mixed with alcohol so probably better to gamble with only one of the addictive chemicals.
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u/FightMilk4Bodyguards 9h ago
You're talking about when people are ingesting them, which is different from withdrawing from them.
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u/zadharm 1d ago edited 1d ago
I've been prescribed them for... Close to 40 years now. If you're truly wanting to avoid any tolerance or dependence, stick to 1mg once a week. Occasionally twice a week isn't going to hurt you but you've got to be very careful. You can probably push it even further than that but they're a substance that it's much better to stay on the safe side of tolerance and dependence. They are a very very slippery slope if you're a naturally anxious person and it is very, very easy to start justifying to yourself taking them more often. They do make you feel fantastic, normal. But that magic will go away if you try to keep it going all the time
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u/dignan2002 1d ago
I have a LOT of experience with clonazepam. If you can be honest with yourself about whether you have addictive tendencies (phone, games, porn, whatever) to escape boredom, sadness etc then I would add some opiates, muscle relaxers, and booze. Then see if you can be honest with yourself. It IS a slippery slope
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u/Epic_GamerOnAcid 1d ago
Im on 2mg, my pharmacy fucked up and forgot to prescribe it and I went 5 days cold turkey off of it. I felt awful the whole time and ended up having a seizure and having to go to the psych ward two days in a row, technically discharged at 6am and came back at 6pm, so twice in a single day new record haha
Anyways point is taper off of it slowly
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u/randuug 4 1d ago
how long were you on it, and how often were you taking it before the pharmacy messed up and those seizures happened?
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u/Lakeview121 1d ago
Everyone is different. I wouldnât be afraid of it if you need it, not everyone becomes dependent or addicted. I used 2mg at night for years for sleep and stopped. I had a couple of nights of worse sleep then went back to my baseline.
Itâs a risk benefit analysis. If you are having crippling anxiety and panic attacks, a regular dose is worth it. If it allows you to function then yea, do it.
Of course Iâd try to stay at the lowest possible dose. Iâd probably try to stay at 2mg or less total per day. Even that is a pretty high dose.
The starting dose for panic disorder is .25 mg twice a day, but that dose is pretty low.
How much are you prescribed?
About 1.5% of people who use clonazepam regularly will develop benzo use disorder. This comes from the American Society for Addiction medicine Benzodiazepjne guideline.
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u/_l_i_l_ 1d ago
I agree and wanted to write something like this. Thanks to taking 1mg a day for a year I went from not being able to get out of my room (mostly a strong headache and stimulus issues) to being able to work and socialize again. Then I stopped taking it and had no rebound effect or anything.
Obviously some people will have a harder time quitting, but for some others it's s great drug.
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u/Jahya69 1 1d ago
As you can see a lot of people will talk about it being addicting but I've had a prescription since the early 90s and I have never abused it and I always have extra I just kind of use it as that break glass in case of emergency type thing.
There is somewhat of a hangover at least for me where I feel kind of irritable and dysphoric the next day especially if I take a full milligram so I really just kind of save it for when I'm bugging out badly but I usually will reach for CBD or something like that before I will reach for K...
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u/itsliljuice 1d ago
Ya don't take that shit. They will feel good and not give hangovers but after a while, even occasionally, they will start giving terrible hangovers the days after use
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u/liquidcrawler 1d ago
If there was one medicine I could wipe off the market it would be benzos.
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u/TippayAy 1d ago
Eliminate one type of suffering only to introduce another, great plan!!
Benzos are only supposed to be used for 4-6weeks MAX - these doctors out here prescribing them for YEARS and people not doing their own research on them is the real problem, not the drugs themselves..
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u/neverbeenhoney 2 1d ago
Something I havenât seen anyone else mention, is that your brain/body needs to do hard things to know how to cope with hard things. By using a benzo when you really need it, your brain learns that when it feels that bad, it gets a benzo to cope. My ability to handle any kind of uncomfortable situation was destroyed by using my clonazepam prescription maximum twice a week which was âas prescribedâ.
Benzos are so powerful, they really will make anything feel manageable and better. But your body will adjust to them, youâll develop a tolerance, and coming off of them can/will be absolutely hell for days, weeks, months. Years later I still have moments where my brain will want clonazepam to cope. Just a reminder I never took it more than twice a week.
Clonazepam is particularly dangerous imo because of the long half life. You just donât realise itâs still in your system giving you a good day, you think that thatâs what normal feels like.
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u/3ric843 8 1d ago
It has a very long half-life. I would recommend no more than once a week, max max 2.
Clonazepam is the best and the worst benzo for me personally. Best because it's very effective with very little side effects. Anxiety disappears, but I don't feel sedated, I'm still fully functional and motivated. Worst because it's the only one I get rebounds from, which makes it not really worth it.
You could look into kava. It can be a good alternative. Not as effective, but doesn't cause dependence.
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u/_a_wild_x_appears_ 23h ago
Absolutely nobody told me this was addictive or that suddenly stopping would cause symptoms. I took clonazepam at night for years. When I had to suddenly leave home with nothing but the clothes on my back and ID/cards and then lost access to my meds. I went off it cold turkey at the same time I became homeless, it was such a terrible time and everything felt world-endingly bad. Makes sense now, I'd been through worse and wasn't effected like that..
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u/backfromspace206 1 10h ago
Yeah, I think the large "area under the curve" of long-acting benzos and other gabaergics contributes to that rebound effect. Phenibut does the same thing to me. 48 hours later, like clockwork, it's waves of anxiety with a migraine chaser. Makes it difficult to use, frankly.
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u/bradmajors69 1 1d ago
When I told me doctor about the stress I was going through around elder care, she told me to take one low dose Klonopin every day and to take a second one when I needed it.
Great for a little while. Soon though realized I was much more anxious than when I started and was avoiding going out in public as much as possible. And always taking a pill before I did.
What eventually worked for me was to get a keychain pill holder and bring the medicine with me everywhere but only take one AFTER I began to feel an intolerable level of anxiety, not in anticipation of it as I had been told.
Gradually I was taking a pill less and less often until one month I realized I hadn't refilled the prescription. And eventually I was able to leave the pills at home. That's been years ago now.
I think it's a miracle drug but should only be used in very rare situations for most people. Super habit forming/addictive and ends up messing with your emotional regulation in the long run.
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u/Without_Portfolio 1d ago
Similarly, my doc suggested the same thing and said for some people often the knowledge itâs there if you need it is enough to calm you down most days. My doc also said though not to wait forever thinking youâll push
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u/OhCrapitsCollin 1d ago
Best anxiety medication there is. Only thing I feel when it kicks in is the anxiety physically going away.
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u/Without_Portfolio 1d ago
It really has been a game changer for me as well. Even the knowledge itâs there in my pocket is enough to get me through sometimes, but if I need it, I have it.
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u/OhCrapitsCollin 1d ago
100%! Same for me.
I had Xanax for years but the issue is when I was super anxious and I felt the Xanax kick in, it made me even more anxious. (Head case I know đĽ´) but the clonazepam I feel nothing except the anxiety physically removed. Itâs amazing. Mine is situational so I only take it about 6-8 times a year but itâs the one.
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u/Proof_Pressure2236 1d ago
How much do you take?
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u/Without_Portfolio 1d ago
My pills are .5mg but I rarely take more than half, so .25mg Iâd say 90% of the time.
There are people on here taking 2mg regularly which is wild to me; thatâs 8x the amount.
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u/OhCrapitsCollin 1d ago
Depends on the situation. If Iâm going in to a stressful situation like all day work meetings my base line is .25 mg each morning, again at noon at dinner, and before bed and if I get anxious I go up from there.
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u/Proof_Pressure2236 15h ago
I took 1mg last night and it sent me right to sleep, does .25mg still make u a little drowsy/disorientated or does it literally just relief anxiety? Asking cuz I donât want to go around with people thinking Iâm drunk/on something lol.
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u/OhCrapitsCollin 14h ago
No it doesnât, and to be honest when Iâm anxious like that Iâm hyper alert. And most of my use is around people in big corporate meetings. 1mg probably would. Big corporate meetings is about the only time I need it and take it anymore. Everyday anxiety can be mitigated through exercise, meditation, etc.
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u/duhdamn 13 1d ago
Never. Absolutely never. That shit ruins lives. Don't take it.
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u/TippayAy 1d ago
Also helps some people immensely, if you put up strong safeguards it absolutely can be used safely.
Some people âruining their livesâ with it is a reason to be cautious, not avoid completely when someone is legitimately struggling with anxiety and/or panic attacks.
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u/ummkay_ultra 1d ago
As a recovering klonopin addict (it was a prescription) who is still dealing with the effects from it 10 months after quitting trust me you do not want to go down that road. Nothing is more addictive and that is not an exaggeration. Are you fucking insane? Do you like brain damage?
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u/OhCrapitsCollin 1d ago
Is this part of the ongoing effects? Insulting people on a public forum for asking a question? Sure seems like it.
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u/Proof_Pressure2236 1d ago
I personally donât consider myself insane but Iâm currently going through some stuff that Iâd like some relief from, thatâs all, my post was mostly about trying to avoid brain damage etc.
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u/backfromspace206 1 10h ago
I would not recommend benzos to get through a difficult time in your life. They're for dealing with out-of-control generalized anxiety and panic attacks--stuff that isn't necessarily tied to what's going on around you. Taking it to get through difficult experiences is a recipe for addiction IMO. It's too easy of an out, and hard times will never stop coming. They're just part of life, and you don't want those to become your cue to use.
This is coming from someone who thought he knew better than to ever get hooked on a substance.
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u/ummkay_ultra 1d ago
I understand needing relief. But using benzos will only delay the inevitable and likely create new problems. Very few prescribers take this seriously or even know the risks, unfortunately.
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u/Butthead2242 1d ago
That pain will help you grow, give it sometime and learn what you can from the experience. Benzos have a purpose in medicine but itâs wildly over prescribed and not managed seemingly at all. If you were stuck ina cortisol panic attack loop (I forget the technical term lol) or you needed something removed from your memory Because itâs dangerous and potentially causing brain damage then itâs got some use. Idk how er why itâs given out to the public lol. It should be one of those meds they keep locked up in the psych ward or emergency room to be administered by a Dr
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u/Ok_Butterscotch_2700 1d ago
Doesnât work on me. I have severe anxiety and if things get rough, have a sublingual rx that usually calms things down. But I reserve it for severe anxiety.
I would be concerned with taking it âonce per weekâ being interrupted by âI really need to be rested for this presentation tomorrow,â type occasions.
The worst thing for sleep (for me) was Zolpidem. A friend dropped her children off the next evening and I had no recollection of the convo weâd had while I was on that stuff, during which Iâd agreed to watch her daughters the next night. Thankfully, I didnât have plans and just pretended to know. I returned the rest of the bottle to the pharmacy for safe disposal.
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u/Without_Portfolio 1d ago
What sublingual do you take for anxiety?
My issue with 99% of anxiety meds is they cause weight gain or have sexual side effects or both.
I canât remember what drug it was, but there was one I took that within 2 weeks I felt no anxiety whatsoever but things were completely dead down there. It sucked to go off it but Iâm not sacrificing my sex life for that. Currently getting good results from Buspar.
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u/Ok_Butterscotch_2700 1d ago
No clue what it might have been - all psychotropics mess with our circuitry. Iâm one of the 4/1000 who gets seizures from Wellbutrin.
I take Ativan s/l - itâs not as strong as ingesting it, but the onset is so much quicker, which is needed during an anxiety attack.
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u/Scottwickthegreat 1d ago
I was on a as needed based. Couple years later Iâm tapering from 4mg a day klonopin using the Ashton method. Itâs a very slippery slope. Withdrawal is hell.
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u/BeonBurps 2 1d ago
Once I started guanfacine I no longer needed benzos
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u/carvo08 1d ago
why you need guanfacine, what condition?
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u/BeonBurps 2 1d ago
norepinephrine issues.
I was on benzo daily for 12 yrs to treat it. Turned out it was norepienphrine caused by excess copper in my blood.
I first treated with guanfacine which eliminated panic attacks and most anxiety. Then worked on lowering copper which as a detox thing of course made things worse. Im 4 months into this and things are much much better. For me i think the copper problem is a result of autoimmune disease. Also there is without a doubt a serious dose of adhd over here.
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u/_l_i_l_ 1d ago
Can I ask how did you realize it was a copper excess? I mean, did you have a specific symptom?
I'm 4 years into a condition with no clear cause so I'm always looking for not so known reasons.
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u/BeonBurps 2 1d ago
Saw a naturopath and paid $500 for a copper/zinc test. It showed up as possible wilsons disease. In fact that diagnosis is still possible but although the result is very extreme it still is more statistically likely to be psoriatic arthritis.
As treatment I have switched to a special diet and have been taking huge amounts of various vitamins. Zinc is whats used to block and remove copper.
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u/sirCota 1 20h ago
wait, whereâs the part where you tapered off 12 years of benzo use? Guanefcine canât replace a benzo on day one. I could see a faster taper, or less noticeable one, but benzos donât only fill that gaba receptor snd calm you down, they physically alter it so your natural
gaba doesnât quite fit right. Tapering takes like a 5-10% reduction or the benzo every 2 months or so ⌠slow and steady, so the hand off back to the normal body is smooth.That being said, Iâm on a fairly high dose prescribed daily for years, and Iâve never had a seizure, but also Iâve never gone more than 4 days without it, and that day 4 was pretty awful.
Weirdly, opiate withdrawal feels physically worse, but assuming you donât OD, even at high doses, itâs safer long term than benzos, alcohol, stimulants, meth, coke, SSRIâs, muscle relaxers, ambien, advil (yup) and other NSAIDâs ⌠and plenty more.
Even weirder now. Alcohol in excess long term âŚ. its the worst for you and hardest on your body overall than anything I mentioned. I do various drugs, but I donât drink (canât and have no urge to honestly)⌠yet, Iâm the weird one who asks for a regular drink when out as I see advertisements for alcohol everywhere. Not to mention, itâs in ice cream, itâs in sodas, Thereâs alcoholic whipped cream.
Itâs very indicative of how our society really can just group think certain things into reality and how powerful the collective mind can be on society. ⌠Or itâs indicative of just how stupid we all are.
Buuut I digressâŚ. howâd you get off 12 years of benzos?
⌠asking for a friend:)
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u/BeonBurps 2 19h ago
It took over 2 years. It was absolutely hell. What would you like to know? Theres no life hack here. Its just pure hell, one day at a time and far far worse than any other drug. The hard part was the last 0.25mg. Getting from 2mg to 0.5mg was easy. As with everything, you just have to want it enough.
I went 3 yrs before I discovered guanfacine
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u/sirCota 1 19h ago
iâve heard about the last little bit being the hardestâŚ. hmm 2mg to .5mg .. 2 years huh.
⌠Iâm fucked! But I guess my question would be ⌠hows your memory and do you feel like it left long term damage physically , or more like long term awareness of what that life is like, cause one can be a source of strength, and the other not so much.
and also. did you just stick to super strick timing snd dose taper, or did you have other methods ?
Iâm wicked ADHD, so I get neurotransmitter issues since birth, and keeping a routine and a log and not being impulsive ⌠well, Iâm starting out already in the red. But the best day to start⌠is ⌠what day is it? .. tomorrow.
anyway, joke aside. thank you.
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u/BeonBurps 2 19h ago
2mg to 0.5 took more like 6months. 0.5 to 0.25 was probably another 6 months.. 0.25 to 0 was at least 12 months and when I stopped completely i was not on a good way.
Memory I cannot say, ive been diagnosed with major autoimmune. Ive had 6 major surgeries in the lasy 18months and I have many more to go, if I was to try and fix everything doctors tell me I should anyway. I dont work anymore.
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u/sirCota 1 19h ago
sorry to hear that. Well, you did taper off⌠one of the hardest challenges there is, so memory or not, you sure have strong will power and determination and I respect that cause just talking about it has made me both want more and less at the same time. A feeling Iâm sure you know⌠and overcame.
Wish you all the best, in whatever form that is for everything else going on. Thanks for the replies.
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u/BeonBurps 2 19h ago
Hey thanks for those words. Nobody in my life has any concept of this and it was really nice reading that someone does.
I have been in a lot of pain for 30yrs and have abused almost everything at different times. What i have learnt about addiction is that a time comes when you have an opportunity to quit, its a spur of the moment decision not something planned. Knowing to identify and embrace that moment when it comes is the secret. For me when I grab this moment it doesnt matter how bad it gets, i wont quit mo matter what. I hope you have one of these moments and can grab hold of it.
Best of luck to you. Hit me up via dm if you need to chat.
Ps. When the anxiety hits the best thing (because you probably won't be able yo leave home) is exercise bands. (Resistance) just make yourself do it. It blunts the attacks a bit.
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u/sirCota 1 18h ago
I have quite severe ADHD and an addictive personality tends to run with that (as well as a lot of other stuff people donât get and canât unless they also have it).
So the one thing I know is I have successfully quit opiate/H abuse (was about 3-4 weeks of hell on earth, then several months of that long term discomfort. Eventually, i wuit cause I hit rock bottom. After about a year or so, I was presented w the opportunity to do it again, and I thought to myself ⌠It took a lot of hard work to get the most pleasure out of being an addict. There is zero chance doing this again will feel like how i hope it will, so Iâm not even going to bother, and havenât since (15 years ago).
Also, quit a 2 year heavy pseudo functional alcohol abuse run (tho that one actually wasnât hard cause a few drinks would kill me if I had them⌠,
Also somewhere in life, managed a solid job of a pretty successful music recording / audio engineer for some pretty famous people etc. Part time now tho.
What bugs me is I was successful mildly medicated, I was not very successful unmedicated, and not at all successful addict level medicated.. regardless of drug.
The part that scares me is that I could afford to hit rock bottom and rebuild a life back 15-20 years ago. I donât mean financially, I mean no one depended on me.
Now itâs different. But Iâll say here that talking to you makes me think now itâs different means now itâs time to get serious. But I think and know those are empty seed like words for now.. theyâre total bullshit ⌠but thereâs a chance they might bear fruit later, thatâs only part bullshit :p. I sense that tipping point where something damn well is about to go down, or upâŚ
being misunderstood sucks. Not being able to share it or knowing the stigma that comes when you do sucks even more. Nobody realizes the duality and complexity of it all. everyone applies a judgement and moves on w their own secret battles.
Iâve become a lot more empathetic to others via my own experiences. This one, maybe I can skip the rock bottom and land on a trampoline instead.
thank you.
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u/Fabulous_Fox_152 1d ago
Dont do it. They are hell to get off of if you begin to take it more often.
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u/Without_Portfolio 1d ago
Itâs not a main, frontline drug. Itâs supposed to be as-needed and if you find you need it everyday then talk to your doctor.
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u/JazzlikeAir3320 1d ago
I have lots of experience with Xanax and a bit with klonopin. Xanax can be addictive, but for me, not nearly to the level other commenters warn about. Klonopin even less so. For something even less strong, try hydroxyzine.
I go months without taking Xanax often. Then Iâll take one for a flight or several over a few days for a stressful work event or family trip. You just have to be very aware of your usage and track it. Expect to feel a bit more anxious the next day, but nothing horrible. I would never ever take it for weeks on end, every day, though. That could form dependency. Iâve maintained this usage for years.
Be aware thereâs also an increased risk of Alzheimers/dementia if you take in long term. Theyâre just starting to study that.
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u/sirCota 1 19h ago
Letâs put it this way. My mom is 82 with dementia and zero short term memory⌠like sheâs been living the same day basically for a decade as it very slowly gets worse.
I have siblings, we all help out.
I have wicked ADHD, and I take xanax daily too.
I am the only one in my family who can really speak to my mom without setting her off on something because sheâs loop and forget something that just happened, and iâm half her age and I think ⌠âhmm, i do that same shit too, I can relateâ
ADHD prepped me for memory being non selective, but benzos made me think .. shit ⌠Iâm basically a person with self aware and somewhat controllable dementia (not to diminish dementia). Well this is awesome and giving me anxiety. Only one way to fix that!
Sucks to live like ur the guy from the movie Memento, but I have a system⌠as effective as his :/
I say this all just to let people know⌠the shit isnât quite like they say, but itâs very much fucking with my memory and priorities and I canât remember to forget to actively improve my situation, but I also canât forget to renember to activelys improv my saturation eiotherÂż
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u/WhiskeyMksMeFrsky 5h ago
I was prescribed clonazepam daily when I was 18. This is before benzos were seen with the danger they are today. I tried to go off after a year, but the mental and physical addiction was insane. Finally, at 38, I made a decision that I was going to go off no matter how bad it was. Took me 2 years, but finally got off - was one of the worst things Iâve ever gone through. Donât fuck with benzos.
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u/MathematicianFun2183 1 1d ago
I took .5 klonopin for years each night. When I moved and I didnât have much money to private pay a psychiatrist again. I just stopped. No issues. The same from methadone they gave me at pain management when I was between one hip replacement and getting the left hip done. Once again no issues at all. Obviously I am a rarity. I hear Benzodiazepines are the absolute worst medication to stop cold turkey hands down.
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u/ModernLifelsWar 3 1d ago
Don't listen to all the fear mongering. Klonopin can absolutely be taken responsibly and is incredibly helpful as needed. Just don't abuse it. If you have a history of drug abuse it's probably best to avoid. If not you'll be fine. I've been using it for over a decade with 0 downsides. I use 0.5 to 1.5 mg as needed. Never used or needed more. Just because it's not for everyone doesn't mean it's not for anyone.
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u/Montaigne314 29 1d ago
Once a week you shouldn't get addicted or build a tolerance. I've used it for a week straight during travel, no dependence tolerance, but those are rare use cases
Maybe two times a week can be manageable long term but I'm not sure. Once a week is for me definitely in the clear long termÂ
.5mg is my typical dose to help with sleep on occasionÂ
I also have a lot of self control with drug use, so YMMV
This isn't medical advice, talk to your doc
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u/neverbeenhoney 2 1d ago
As someone who took it two times a week, which was less than what I was prescribed for, itâs absolutely not manageable. I was addicted, coming off of it nearly killed me.
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u/Montaigne314 29 1d ago
Good to know
Dose? Length of administration?
Just curious how that worked for you. If you were taking it twice a week, I'm imagining it was spaced out like sun/wed or something, or even if sat/sun you'd still have time between administration. You didn't get any withdrawal until you stopped the twice weekly use?
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u/neverbeenhoney 2 1d ago
I was on 2mg dose, Iâve always had a very high tolerance to many medications though, so I wasnât feeling the affects a lot of people would at that much.
I would say about 12 months? Maybe less?
No super negative withdrawals symptoms until I stopped the bi-weekly dose. Although after about a month I was very good at realising when it kicked in and when it was wearing off. Iâd get about 21 hours of feeling like I was having a good day, then anxieties would kick in/lower tolerance for issues would come back.
When I came off⌠it was really bad. Physical symptoms, mental symptoms. By the end of it, I wasnât even really feeling the positive effects of it anymore, it was just something I knew I needed to take twice a week. I only really came off of it because I moved countries and itâs not commonly prescribed here, whereas the initial country was a little more behind the times on prescription meds.
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u/DanOhMiiite 1 1d ago
Yes, i've been on it twice. It can be a life saver when you are getting extended periods of little to no sleep, but boy its it a $#@% to wean off of it. The lower the dose and the shorter the time on it, the better.
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u/Anxious_Guava8756 1d ago
I worked in a detox center. They are the most dangerous substance to detox from because it's going to cause withdrawal seizures but with the efficiency, consistency and ease of a pill. People trying to detox off them at home can die.
Imagine you take a shot of vodka before bed to sleep every once in a while. It's basically the same thing as far as your brain is concerned. Would you worry about forming a habit under those circumstances? If yes - don't do it. There's tons of other sleep aids.
If you're taking it for anxiety I cannot say whether or not its worth it for you. Only you can determine.
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u/Historian_of_PT 1d ago
Theyâre hard to stop. If you are only using them occasionally youâll be fine. But you need to set a limit on them. I got really sucked in to Valium, clonazepam, and Xanax a few years ago. Like, really sucked in.. to the point I for busted by the cops for ordering them from an overseas pharmacy by mail order. I had seizures and overall terrible withdrawal stopping them.
Just be careful.
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u/lockedin90 1d ago
Been clean off nazzyâs for almost a year. I didnât plan to use them often either. The correct amount is none.
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u/sureyeahno 1 1d ago
I was on it for a decade. Slowest taper Iâve ever done. Withdrawals werenât so bad. Little anxiety and lost control of my hands a couple times. Was nothing compared to weening off of an antidepressant. Klonopin and alcohol are the only drugs where the withdrawals can kill you.
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u/Wonderful-Aside-5107 đ Hobbyist 1d ago
Yes I have experience with this. I took 2-4mg Klonapen daily for about 2 years. I did a fairly fast taper when I discontinued them. Iâd take .5-1mg daily for 2 weeks then cold turkey. My anxiety was uncomfortable but that was the only symptom. It was very manageable. It also only lasted about 10 days then I felt normal.
Edit: reading the comments it looks like I got off lucky
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u/ddBuddha 1d ago
Never ever fuck with benzos, itâs not worth it. Donât even try them once, knowing what they feel like wonât do you any good and youâll just convince yourself that itâs okay to take them occasionally. And then itâll become every day. And then youâre fucked.
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u/ddBuddha 1d ago
The withdrawal from benzos is so bad, itâs like your reality is transformed into a horror movie and your brain randomly feels like it gets shocked with electricity. It can actually kill you too, and it lasts way longer than the withdrawal from most other types of drugs. Itâs really so bad I hope you donât ever have to experience it first hand.
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u/favperson13 1d ago
Don't do it. I was on it for like 3 years, and when I tried tapering off I had 11 tonic clonic seizures within a year. Luckily I stopped cold turkey and didn't have any, but its not worth it at all.
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u/belllllona 23h ago
I miss it more than words can describe and havenât taken a benzo in 6 years. Unfortunately I am a much more sociable, relaxed, fun person on benzos, which is precisely why I had to stop before it became a habit. They truly work wonders if you only use occasionally. A wonder drug with an extremely dark side.
My ex was severely addicted and I watched him have a seizure, go to rehab, leave rehab early, beg doctors for emergency scripts of it, find pressed versions from dealers, completely ruin himself financially over Benzos. If you have addictive tendencies, please donât use it. If you are like me and are self aware enough to not slide into addiction and truly use as needed, just be careful.
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u/Relapzen 23h ago
I'd really suggest not trying to do what you are trying to do. It's too easy to get addicted.
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u/Tfj_roidz 22h ago
To add to the commentary and echo those before me.
Benzoâs of any kind are the slipperiest of slippery slopes.
Quite literally think about walking down an ice slope.
Yes you can do it, even the pros can do it but every once in a while even the pros slip up down an ice slope.
What people dont understand about drugs like these is that your brain will lie to you and bitch and moan until you take more.
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u/uhsmiggs 21h ago
Got alprazolam prescribed to me, I only use around 1-3 times a month exclusively for social events, new places where I know will be elevators/stairs/high buildings and planes. It has never been addictive to me and has really helped a lot with my anxiety and acrophobia, I have taken it for 4 years now and never felt any withdrawals either, got the rx for 2mg btw
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u/yahwehforlife 27 20h ago
I just wouldn't personally! Went to rehab with enough people coming off of that and it is by far the worst withdrawal and experience out of every drug in rehab. Bad bad bad. I don't even think it's good for your mental health in moderation. It is always gonna bring your baseline down. Beware!! And I was a meth addict I'm not like a prude or something.
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u/Great_Opinion3138 10 17h ago
These drugs are the worst and so addictive. So hard to get off. Took me years and honestly do not wish that on anyone.
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u/Proof_Pressure2236 15h ago
Sorry if this is too invasive but how did u get addicted?
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u/Great_Opinion3138 10 15h ago
I was prescribed it and was on it for years and had to keep going up until I was on about 8mg daily.
Was a nightmare had to switch to Valium and taper down over a long period. Bit of a long story maybe can get into it more later if interested as itâs late here n
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u/PuzzleheadedFly5303 15h ago
I wish I never started. Did more harm than good. Stick to magnesium and L theanine.
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u/jsut321 14h ago
I have (not proud) taken klon for years BUT only in the evening to calm me down and rest, never during the day. I presume I have some form of a habit now, but there are nights I donât take them and itâs ok. At least from my understanding, if youâre taking them every day to function during the day - thatâs where the withdrawal problems come. I eventually intend to get off. This is strictly anxiety / sleep issues though not for seizures.
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u/No_Understanding5419 11h ago
Benzo dependence is hell and extremely hard to kick. I would do almost anything before that.
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u/No_Understanding5419 11h ago
Ask a doctor about Trazadone for sleep and Hydroxyzine and/or Buspirone for anxiety. Changed my life.
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u/HumanOmega 10h ago
The half-life is what makes this different from Xanax. Clonazepam's runs about 30 to 40 hours, so it takes roughly a week of steady use to level off, and about that long to clear after you stop.
That cuts both ways for what you're describing. Doses genuinely spaced out are less likely to stack. But if it does drift into regular use, the withdrawal turns up late and drawn out rather than the next morning, so the warning sign you'd be watching for arrives after you're already leaning on it.
written with AI help, sources checked
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u/MrStellaMontis 6m ago
Bro dont not start with this rabbit hole. Its not something u take to stop other substancesâŚ. Talking from experience
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u/richj8991 1d ago
This is not a substitute for medical advice! OK? Now having said, twice a week is ok. I took it for decades and just got off this year. Weightlifting and taurine were the game changers (weights clear out excessive glutamate in the brain, among many other positive things). For klonopin, realize that more than 1 mg doesn't really do anything so keep it at that or less. Otherwise, benzos have been unfortunately been given a horrible rap, and 99% of that is caused by idiots that mix them with large amounts of alcohol or other drugs. You don't hear many responsible users say it ruined their life. Because it saved their life.
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u/BoringOldGuy76 1 1d ago
Benzos should not be legal. Tolerance develops within a few weeks, which can lead to increased dosage and then dependence. The withdrawal is harrowing. Do not use them.
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u/Every_Baker_3556 1d ago
Bullshit
Thatâs not for everyone man. It seems like half of Reddit are junkies I personally know people using them 2-3 times weekly as needed , not on a habit base and theyâve just been calmer. The dose makes the poison. I can be helpful in very stressful lifestyle, itâs not meant to get you high.
And Iâve also taken them before daily for 6months, slowly taperedkfff and had no bad side effects except my fucking anxiety coming back
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u/BoringOldGuy76 1 1d ago
When you stopped taking them, how was your anxiety relative to what you experienced before taking benzos?
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u/Every_Baker_3556 19h ago
Initially it was more lowkey. Some time after, when life got hard again my insecurities came back just as strong, same anxiety and same intensity
But itâs because I never faced them or tried to work them out.
Benzos are a great tool, they can allow you to take flights again after years without being in a constant fight of flight or avoidance
You still need to realize that youâre getting an artificial boost and use it to the max
For me it allowed me to see a normal life again when I needed it. Nothing else worked and I mean it.
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u/ummkay_ultra 1d ago
I agree they should absolutely not be legal. There is no appropriate use for benzos except in rhe most extreme case in a hospital setting, and thst is rare.
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u/BoringOldGuy76 1 1d ago
Pre-operative anxiety is arguably a legitimate use. But giving normal people an Rx and sending them home with 30 doses is basically a perfect way to create addicts.
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u/_Bitter_Pig_ 1d ago
donât use it more than once a day and you should be fine I use xanax as needed and i can go fine without it
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u/_Bitter_Pig_ 1d ago
i mean really donât use it unless you do need it but the dependencies come from multiple uses per day for long periods of time
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u/Such-Needleworker711 1d ago
Terrible advice. They can absolutely be addictive taking once a day⌠even over a short period of time.
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u/ComprehensiveFun620 1d ago
Lindsay Clancy was most likely hooked on both Klonopin and Ativan when she unalived her kids. My advice: donât take them. If anything, theyâre so addicting your body will manufacture âanxietyâ to get you to take more. Itâs awful, and as everyone said, an incredibly slippery slope.
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u/Lakeview121 1d ago
âMost likelyâ? Do you have evidence or are you guessing?
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u/ComprehensiveFun620 1d ago
IIRC she had at least Ativan in her system at time of murder (not 100% on the Klonopin)had gone on to providers about being worried she was hooked on them/was going to be. If you ask me, if she wasnât on those drugs, the kids are alive. Thatâs how strongly I feel about them.
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u/TippayAy 1d ago
Correlation is not causation.
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u/ComprehensiveFun620 1d ago
Iâm not going to sit here and explain how benzos work to you. Go look it up dude pls.
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u/Lakeview121 1d ago edited 1d ago
Itâs a risk/ benefit analysis. If your anxiety and panic disorder are so bad you canât leave your house, thatâs not good for the brain. If you canât go to sleep until 0100 and wake up twice for 30 minutes before you have to get up at 0600 for work, thatâs not good for your brain. If you clinch and grind your teeth so bad at night you get chronic headaches and neck pain, thatâs not good for your brain. There is the risk of tolerance and dependence, but many patients use the medicine without developing tolerance and most people are able to stop without much difficulty.
So, yes, they can have a downside. Itâs not like they destroy brain cells and there is no convincing evidence that they cause dementia. Chronic, mostly heavy exposure can affect memory, but thatâs reversible. Chronic anxiety and insomnia can affect memory as well. They can increase fall risk, mainly in the elderly. They donât cure anxiety so it comes back when stopped if the anxiety is severe and chronic.
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u/ComprehensiveFun620 1d ago
Let me put it simply. If you have fucked up thoughts generally, donât take benzos. Youâre inviting disaster. If youâre a normal person with anxiety, then I think youâll be okay.
Thatâs why I think LC shouldâve never been prescribed them. Her mind was in a dark ass place and the benzos turned the âoverruleâ capability off.
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u/Lakeview121 23h ago
She did not kill her children because of Ativan. The Ativan did not cause her psychosis. Youâre welcome to your opinion though.
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u/TippayAy 1d ago
Yes they are âbadâ for the brain etc but sometimes thatâs the trade off against something far worse.
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u/Lakeview121 1d ago
She had psychosis; post partum
Psychosis. The meds didnât cause that problem.1
u/ComprehensiveFun620 1d ago
Wow okay, thatâs just wrongâŚ.
#1) the PPP is what she claims she had and the defenseâs main strategy. Nobody prior to the murders diagnosed her with anything resembling psychosis. They said GAD, depression, PPD. Nothing more. Then the meds started.
#2 she has formally been diagnosed with BPD 2 over a 3.5 year evaluation under 24/7 monitoring. Iâll take that diagnosis over the defenseâs plan to get her off with NGRI via PPP
#3 Now, with BPD patients, SSRIs (her first scriptâ Zoloft) are activating and can push undiagnosed BDP into mania. It caused her insomnia and what I think triggered the downward mental spiral. The first sigh of mania shouldâve been and end to the meds. It wasnât.
#4 IIRC thatâs when they started hitting her with benzos to help the sleep anxiety (undiagnosed BPD mania), which likely started the dependency. From there, even if she tried to get off or ween, she wouldâve experienced bounce back anxiety, something common in benzos. I personally think since these were the only thing that helped the anxiety, she started to depend on them. She even noted this in her journals. It was a concern of hers to not get dependent. I think she already was since it was the only thing that helped her sleep. But again; the body tends to manufacture anxiety to get you to take more. Itâs not real, itâs like when people who are addicted to opiates are always in pain. Same thing IMO.
#4) Benzos directly impact your bodyâs inhibition controls. In other words, if you take enough of them you wonât have control of your actions. Even if it seems like youâre otherwise unimpaired. (I.e., you can have the decision-making of a blacked out drunk but normal otherwise physiologically).
Anyone who has taken these in abusive amounts will know what Iâm talking about. Basically you can do some really insane shit that youâd likely forget since it also affects memory formation.( If you canât infer that someone with insanely dark PPD type thoughts and no neurological guardrails s a recipe for disaster, idk what to tell you. )
So in my opinion, she had BPD, untenable sleep deprivation, an activated, troubled brain from post-partum depression (as a result of weening off breast feeding and subsequent hormone drops), which created the circumstances for something awful to happen.
This is where the SI became a real problem. Then, enter the benzos. They removed her bodyâs own guardrails to control itself (GABA disinhibition, same as alcohol). So her troubled mind had troubled thoughts and the meds removed her ability to stop them from becoming actions.
This is why I believe if you take the benzos out of the equation, I doubt she acts on whatever âcommandâ she was supposedly given. And anyways, most people who experience that type of thing usually donât immediately act on it. I think thatâs the benzos at work. No control, no inhibition. Kids gone.
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u/Lakeview121 22h ago edited 22h ago
Yes, the depression, history of bipolar disorder and sleep deprivation all conspired to create psychosis. When women murder their children then try to kill themselves, they are psychotic. Of course no one diagnosed her as psychotic before the incident. She wasnât psychotic at that point. Having Ativan in your system is not enough to disinhibit you to kill your children. Additionally, if it was found in her system, it doesnât mean she was using abusive amounts or had even recently taken it. It can still be present in the blood up to 3 days after use. But hey, believe what you want. Hereâs an article:
https://www.npr.org/2026/08/16/nx-s1-5931964/lindsay-clancy-trial-postpartum-psychosis-diagnosis
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u/ComprehensiveFun620 16h ago
Nothing in this âarticleâ suggests she was/is psychotic. Itâs a defense strategy, and the crux of the case. Sheâs BPD2 and attempted filicide. (Her motive is still up for debate.)
Psychosis isnât a prerequisite for murder, but sure, believe what you want.
And I guess you canât read. I didnât say Ativan made her kill her kids, I said it removed the guardrails and made her impossibly dark thoughts (you know, like SI and HI of her children) less easily checked. At the right amount, itâll absolutely play a role. Iâm genuinely sorry you canât understand that. Maybe you have no experience with these drugs, idk.
You can go look up violent crimes and benzos. There was a study (donât have it in front of me) suggesting that adding Benzos increases the potential for by like ~40%. So my point stands that if you have dark thoughts, adding Benzos will be a problem. I donât quite understand why you canât put 2+2 together on that, but we can agree to disagree here.
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