Clonazepam

[cinapon]

I have been taking Clonazepam daily (1mg before bedtime) for prevention of panic attacks.  I have been taking it since January.  I now feel better than I have felt for YEARS.  I am able to get 6-7 hours of sleep every night, and have not had a panic attack since taking the medication.  I started at 1 mg and don't feel the need to increase it.  However, my PCP wants me to wean off of this medication.  He is worried about dependence issues and tolerance.  He wants to put me on an SSRI instead.  The last one I tried made my life terrible (Lexapro).  I was forced to wean off of that medication because it severely interfered with my sleep.  

I realize everyone is different, but I have read from other posters on this forum about great success with this drug.  What experiences have others had long term with Clonazepam?

[cj29]

Like other benzos, one can develop a tolerance to clonazepam, but it actually has a much longer half life than other benzos like xanax and ativan, so doctors prescribe it more long term.  I actually used it for about eight months, but weaned off of it after I got put on an SSRI.  I was initially kind of hesitant to do it because I had a bad experience with a different one before I started Zoloft, which ended up working for me.  Sometimes it is a little trial and error to find the right one for you.  As always, keep talking with your doctor about this...it sounds like he/she is trying to do the right thing...keep us posted!

[Paxiled]

If what you're taking is working, I'd be hesitant to change.  It's true, though, that klonopin is going to be very hard on you when you quit if you take it for a long time, but so are ssris for many, many people, and they have far more side effects.  It's up to you, but it's rare that a medication works as well as you described, and in my mind they're all trouble to quit.  Are you in therapy too?  Because if you haven't resolved your issues, and I'm not saying therapy will actually accomplish that, then you're going to have to stay on something and they're all hell.  Maybe try to reduce the dose to .5 mg and see if that helps as much instead of switching from something that works to something that might not.  

[cinapon]

No, I'm not in therapy, but I am going to try to wean myself off of this drug over the next several weeks.  I'll post again with results.  Thanks for your response.

[cinapon]

I'm happy to hear that Zoloft is working for you.  I'm going to try to wean off of Clonazepam.  You're right---I think my doctor is trying to do what's best for me in the long run.