Anxiety Support Group

I don't know WHEN you become addicted.
"They" say in about a month.
On the dosage you're on, I'd say a LOT less!
That is an AWFUL high dosage.
I was on it for 7 years, 1mg two times a day.
I canNOT believe you have been given the OK to do 4mgs up to 3 times a day(?)
I didn't even realize I was addicted til I went off of it cold turkey but UNlike my 13 anti-depressants, I did NO research on this BENZO. (What was I thinking??)
Hope someone else has an opinion on this one for you.
Not getting down on YOU.
Getting down of your DOC!!!

Up to 4 mg a day or 4 mg's three times a day. That would be 16 mg and that's almost the limit for this medication so I'm going to assume it's up to 4 mg. It doesn't take long to become addicted to this medication. I've been on it for 14 years and am starting a taper and it is NOT fun. If you've been on it for any period of time you will have some physical dependence. If you go 24 hours and start feeling anxious, shaky, sick, spacey, etc etc then you are dependent. If you come off cold turkey then you can have seizures and even die. It's a serious drug to be on. If it's occasional use (not daily but once or twice a week) then I doubt you'd become addicted but if it's daily then you're probably already dependent.
I'm can't believe your doc would prescribe that kind of dosage!

I have .5mg klonopins and I take as needed. One seems to take the edge off just enough. Your dosage is really, really high and I'm glad you're only taking as much as you need when you need it. I just started taking medication about a month ago after 2.5 years of trying to address my panic/anxiety with therapy and other non-med techniques and I decided I didn't care if I became addicted to Klonopin or Zoloft as long as I felt better. I will deal with the withdrawl and coming off them later. I don't know if that's a healthy outlook or not, but if the Klonopin is helping, I'd keep taking it.

To be honest, I dont think he meant to give me 4 mg dosage. I think the Pharmacist messed up and gave me 4's instead of 2's I was only on 1mg before and he gave me a new scrip that I think to be only for 2 mg. That's why I cut them in half. The problem is I also take a variety of other stuff. I feel I'm a giant pill swallower!!! This is the only med that I think is addictive tho that he has me one. I am trying to only take my 5mg Celexa and 25 mg serequal daily and not use anything else if possible. I am just scared of it all, but in the mean time, I have to take some meds in order to survive at the moment. I have noticed it does make me more depressed.... yuk..

~G~

I've heard bad things about Klonopin and have only taken it once at night (as rxed). I had a rare and unpleasant side effect, so I haven't tried it again.

But what I understand about Xanax, which is in the same class of drugs, people become addicted because they physically build up a tolerance to it: 1 mg is not enough so they take 2 mgs, etc.

I agree that 4 mgs 3x daily seems like it must be a mistake. I would think your doctor would start at a low dosage and increase as necessary. Please call to confirm the appropriate dosage.

Right, first check with your dr that you are taking the right dose. Do not mess about with meds you don't know what the effect could be. Also find out how long he's thinking of putting you on these and explain your concerns. He may be able to change them for beta blockers or something else.

And remember that whatever your situation it can change perhaps not how you think you want it to but everything does change in time. Good luck to you, now go ring your dr.

All I can say after taking it for 10 years..I was taking .5 4 -5x a day..Of course it helped by taking the edge off but it also kept me sedated and slow. I have been off all my meds for 4 months now thinking I should go natural because of all the abuse I ingested with medication and thinking my theraphy alone and self help books and prayer would be enough. I didn't like being a walking zombie..with no smile or true feelings. With the meds you feel numb. But I can tell you it has been too much of reality...the feelings just came back 100 fold , the anxiety is so welled up I can't talk on the phone or go outside for ong periods of time. So do I think they are addictive...yes but I think they are necessary. Just try to relate your concern to your doctor..getting off them was hell..sweats, shakes even vertigo and pain in the back of my head.It was so bad I swore never to go back..but anxiety I have is so much more deaper than any physical pain. So use it causciously and good luck....

Abouttobegin~Klonopin only comes in 1/2 mgs, 1mgs and 2 mgs.
What exACTly did your pharmacist fill your prescription WITH??
I wouldn't even TAKE them until you talk with your Dr. as it does NOT come any higher than 2 mgs.
If he gave you something that has 4 mgs, it's NOT Klonopin.(?)

well Thank God!!!! I thought I was really messing up... it is only 2 mg, I just looked at the bottle... I must have misread something on it . I have really been screwing up on stuff and I think part of it is this medication. Thank goodness my boss is nice or else I would have really been in big trouble for all my mistakes this past week.

But that does make me feel better that they are not 4 mg as I thought.... UGH!! Zombie on the floor.....~G~

so 2mg up to 3 times a day??? that would be 6mg in total thats still a mega high dose of this drug. . . .