Addiction to Klonopin?

[bev49]

I have a question about klonopin. I have had an opiate dependence/addiction for many years. I'm in the process of tapering from suboxone. It never dawned on me to worry about benzos. I was given klonopin for panic attacks about 3 or 4 years ago. I get a script for up to 3 mgs. a day but never take more than 1 mg. a day, usual use a pill cutter and take 1/2 a mg. at night, sometimes a whole mg. and sometimes add a 1/2 during the day so I've never gone beyond 1-1/2, usually less. It never dawned on me that I could be addicted til reading these horror stories about benzo w/ds. I never even knew they were addictive. Can anyone tell me if I could be addicted and suffer withdrawals from an average 1 mg. a day. It seems likke a low dose compared to what I've read. Thanks.

[Paxiled]

Yes, it's addictive, and yes, you can suffer withdrawals from it.  In fact, they can be more dangerous than withdrawing from opiates, though they can go easily depending on the person.  The danger is seizures, since benzos are also anti-seizure medications.  So if you're planning on quitting klonopin, too, you need to taper off it slowly under the care of a psychiatrist.  On the other hand, if you need it, just stay one it.  It's used for long-term anxiety problems because it has fewer tolerance problems than other benzos.