IS Clonazepam( 2mg/pm ) A HIGH DOSETO START WITH??????

Hi folks...am new to forum... all will be well..
getting to the point... i have been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis(primarily due to my stress & anxiety) since december 2009 & at present am in the Beginning of my second remission...today during my check-up my doctor has prescribed me with a tablet called LONAZEP-2MG/only on nights o reduce my anxiety.... i read all your views about the drug causing habituation, dependence and hella of lota probs during withrawal.... so..
MY question is >>>>>
1.WHETHER if 2mg of Lonazep(Clonazepam) is a high dose to start with?????
2.Since am taking 2mg doses each night will it be more tough to withdraw from it(than 1mg)??????
note: yesterday(8-10-2010) is the first time i had this tablet...
SO IF YOU SUGGEST ME WHETHER IF I SHOULD CONTINUE WITH 2MG(which am concerned about if it is a high dose??) or WOULD 1MG Clonazepam BE SUFFICE...????
Eagerly waiting for your replies- as i don't want to get practiced to 2mg Clonazepam from the very beginning....

[greenlydia]

Welcome to the forum!
Please understand that none of us on this forum are doctors or pharmacists and therefore do not have the qualifications to second guess your doctor. If you have real concerns about the dosage, you need to discuss this with him/her before you begin treatment.
Many drugs have side effects, and can require care and diligence to stop, so don't let that prevent you from taking a medication that can improve your life now. By working closely with your doctor, all of those issues will be handled and dealt with when and if they arise.  
What we can offer you in regards to the dosage is our opinions and that is all.........and you will find as many opinions as there are people on this forum.
You might very well do just fine on 1mg, but I cannot tell you to take that amount. You must discuss that with your doctor. I tend to be more conservative with these types of meds and think starting low is better and easier than starting high and having to w/d. The only thing I would question your doctor about is taking the medication only at night. Clonazepam is dosed 2-3X per day.
The Nurses Drug Guide for 2011 lists this dosing guideline for clonazepam in the control of panic disorders:
Adult: PO (by mouth) 1-2 mg/d in divided doses (max: 4mg/d)
Your post only appeared here one hour ago, but you state that you began taking the 2mg on 8-10-10. I apologize if I seem confused, but have you have been taking the 2mgs every day since that date? That would make it almost 2 months at that dose and if you decided you wanted to try just 1mg, you would need to taper down to that level. Any withdrawal plan needs to be closely supervised by your doctor.
I have probably just added to your confusion, but the bottom line is that these questions need to be directed to your doctor.
I wish you the best and if you ever want to talk about your anxiety issues, we are always here.
Peace
Greenlydia

[dga_25]

hi greenlydia..good day.. happy to hear from you:)..... i did read a lota other posts & replies by you about clonazepam earlier....  and really sorry for confusing you...maybe i should have put it this way... 8th-October 2010 (yesterday is the first day i had clonazepam-2mg)..
Here in India we refer date in format of DD/MM/YYYY , Unlike the universal one.:)
& getting to the point, I was given 2mg dose of clonazepam mainly as i was having sleepless nights... and after i had my first 2mg dose yesterday i was literally knocked over and had a good 8 hour sleep and still a little(very little) dizzy at this moment when am typing......(its 9am here right now)..
My concern is whether if 2mg of CLONAZEPAM is a bearable dose??? also that am not taking it in divided doses and only at nights in one go???
kindly share your views...

[29sillygirl]

Hi there,

Greenlydia has given you very good information (we are all so glad to have her back on the forum!).

I want to add my experience to the thread.  I have taken clonazapam alone or with an antidepressant for about 20 yrs.  I was switched from xanax when my HMO dropped my doctor who had me taking that drug.

Now, my script has generally read just as yours.  Two mg at night.  Frankly, I am like Greenlydia, prefer to take as little as I can to maintain a quality of life, i.e. socialize without passing out.  I have agoraphobia, along with other physical problems not uncommon for a 75 yr old woman.

My doctor and I have talked about divided doses ..and he really leaves it up to me.  He suspects I take half what is recommended but that is ok too. We have a long relationship and he trusts I will take what I need when I need it to get out and enjoy life.

What I hope is this.  You will take the medicine; stay in touch with your doctor, and sleep well.  

Your fears about weaning from 2 mg are understandable...but as GL has said, you simply need to stay in touch with your doctor about all of this.  To begin worrying about discontinuing a medicine that could be a huge help to you, is to think way too far ahead.

It is habit forming and many of us shudder to think about that aspect of drug.  I don't.  Maybe because I have been through so much and tried so many medicines that didn't work and caused lots of misery for me.  So take it easy.  

Best luck.

[cnote]

I just started taking Klonopin 1mg when needed a few days ago, it says to take it 2-3 times daily. Theres no way in heck I can do that. That stuff does mask the anxiety symptoms to a point, but just makes me feel SO tired and SO off balance... even the next day.

I'm only taking it for a little while for sleep til my anti-depressant hits its full peak in a few weeks. So in my opinion, 2mg starting has got to make you sleep REALLY well. haha. But in my non-medical advice, if you feel like you don't need a full 2mg, you can cut it in half I'm sure and just take a 1mg. But check with your Dr. always of course.

Good luck to you! You'll be good!!! =)