Posted by bretbe on March 31, 2003, at 0:25:13
In reply to Any risks with Klonopin (Clonazepam)??, posted by Tepiaca on March 31, 2003, at 0:06:33
Yes, risks with clonazepam. Careful! Long-term benzo use means you may be taking them for life due to well documented dependance. Not same as addiction or tolerance (don't continually need more) but with dependance your brain has difficulty without the drugs in you causing aggravation of original symptoms, e.g., high anxiety, dysphoria, insomnia, etc. that can last months. I've taken for 6 years and trying to get off by tapering over 2 years going down .125 mg at a time (currently down to .5 per day). It is very difficult and painful. This is not just misinformation from doctors as there is legitimate reason to be hesitant in using more than a few weeks if you are at all interested in some day going off of them. I would try other things first and see Benzo's as last line. They ARE very effective if you really need them when nothing else works but you won't be getting off of them very easily if at all.
Depending on what you are using it for, I personally would caution against them having used them myself...I wish I never had. Yes, they helped me sleep and calm anxiety but I would use other things for sleep and anxiety if I you can find something that works for you.
poster:bretbe
thread:214621
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030329/msgs/214623.html