Klonopin and addiction?

Question

Is it possible to become addicted to Klonopin 0.5mg if you have been taking it every day for 6 months? I know that 0.5 mg is the lowest dose. The reason I ask is because I am about to run out of it soon and I don't want to go through any of the scary side withdrawal effects that I've heard about.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

By 6 months there is almost certainly a physical dependence. (This is not the same as addiction, which you probably don't have if you use as directed). You're right that 0.5mg per day is a small dose, but you're also right that the withdrawals you've heard about are scary.

If Klonopin (clonazepam) is suddenly withheld, some areas of the brain will have difficulty transmitting inhibitory signals for a few days. The resulting symptoms are usually some combination of restlessness, anxiety, insomnia; in general, anything you were taking the medication to prevent can show up again in the withdrawal period. The most physically dangerous aspect is that there is an increased risk of seizure.

The point is that it's important to taper the medication slowly. The textbook taper is to reduce by 0.25mg every 2 weeks. So if you take 0.5mg per day, you would take 0.25mg every day for 2 weeks, and then stop. [Confirm with a doctor; I am a student].

If you don't have enough left to do a safe taper, explain that to your doctor and ask for more. No responsible doctor would force a patient to do an unsafe benzodiazepine taper.

Source(s):

Cognitive Neuroscience student

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

Thank you very much, kind sir. :-)

Answer 2

It is very addictive. If you want to getoff of it, talk to your pdoc about slowly taking yourself off to avoid as many of the nasy side effects as possibe.

Source(s):

Taking klonopin

Answer 3

I was diagnosed with muscle jerking and Requip did not help so put on klonopin same dosage as yours and been on it daily up to 4 pills a day for well over a year and the dr. said thereis no cure for nightime muscle jerking and could be on meds the rest of my life. I am elderly so not that much time left!ha.

He did say that over time it would lose it's effectiveness and they would put me on something else. But drs. warn never ever withdraw instantly-go to cutting it in half for a few weeks and then maybe every other day-in other words, taper off gradually.

I find our local pharmisist is well versed on drugs-ask him or check back with your dr. who presecrbed it in the first place. I am glad you are consciencious about it. Good for you.