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How long does it take for Clonazepam to kick in


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Clonazepam is one of the benzos that is slower to act/cross the blood-brain barrier (as opposed to diazepam or alprazolam). It takes probably about an hour or so for it to have an effect on me (YMMV of course).

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Glad you feel it working now.

I find it takes effect MUCH faster for the klonopin to set in when my stomach has food in it.  For me, when I was on the pill kind of klonopin, it took me 25 minutes and food in my stomach to feel an effect.  YMMV though.

 

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  • 3 weeks later...

For me, it usually takes about a half an hour for the clonazepam to start working. Which sucks if you're taking it for an acute attack of anxiety, or a panic attack...

melissaw72, I think next time I take a clonazepam I'll try it with food in my belly and see if that works any better!

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On 11/9/2016 at 7:14 PM, melissaw72 said:

I hope it works for you! 

I agree it sucks waiting a half hour (on average) or so for it to work.

It worked! I ate first then took some, and it hit me quicker. Within about 20 minutes instead of 30 - 40. I am wondering if anyone knows, though, how long it lasts?? I woke up today and felt calm and good, and it felt like I may still be on them, but I had taken it 11 hours earlier. Is that normal? I'm hoping it lasts all day but I don't know how long it should.

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13 minutes ago, 2Spirals said:

It worked! I ate first then took some, and it hit me quicker. Within about 20 minutes instead of 30 - 40. I am wondering if anyone knows, though, how long it lasts?? I woke up today and felt calm and good, and it felt like I may still be on them, but I had taken it 11 hours earlier. Is that normal? I'm hoping it lasts all day but I don't know how long it should.

I am glad it worked!  Not sure how long it will last ... I am on 0.5 klonopin in AM and 0.5 klonopin at night (on a schedule, not as a PRN), so there is always a steady amount of klonopin in me, lasts all day and night as long as I take it on schedule.  So I don't know what is normal or not (everyone is different in terms of how it works for them, so it is hard to say what 'normal' is).

If you don't mind me asking, what is the dose you are on, and whether you take on a schedule or as PRN?  IMO taking it on schedule vs PRN can make a difference.

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4 minutes ago, melissaw72 said:

I am glad it worked!  Not sure how long it will last ... I am on 0.5 klonopin in AM and 0.5 klonopin at night (on a schedule, not as a PRN), so there is always a steady amount of klonopin in me, lasts all day and night as long as I take it on schedule.  So I don't know what is normal or not (everyone is different in terms of how it works for them, so it is hard to say what 'normal' is).

If you don't mind me asking, what is the dose you are on, and whether you take on a schedule or as PRN?  IMO taking it on schedule vs PRN can make a difference.

I take it as PRN (don't tell my doctor, thinks it's everyday). I took 4 mg as prescribed.

 

I'm trying to find online that chart that shows the half-life, because maybe it's a long one and I'm still chilled out due to the med still working

 

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Just now, 2Spirals said:

I take it as PRN (don't tell my doctor, thinks it's everyday). I took 4 mg as prescribed.

 

I'm trying to find online that chart that shows the half-life, because maybe it's a long one and I'm still chilled out due to the med still working

 

I think your DR is right ... taking it every day in split doses, so it is in your blood stream constantly.  If you took it on a schedule like that, you wouldn't need to find a chart about half-lifes (IMO) and wouldn't need to wonder how long it takes to work.  Just some thoughts.

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Just now, melissaw72 said:

I think your DR is right ... taking it every day in split doses, so it is in your blood stream constantly.  If you took it on a schedule like that, you wouldn't need to find a chart about half-lifes (IMO) and wouldn't need to wonder how long it takes to work.  Just some thoughts.

Yeah, it's just that at a steady does 2mg of 2x daily it doesn't feel like it works. I have to do it PRN with gaps between doses, in order to feel anty anxiolitic properties at all. 

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8 minutes ago, 2Spirals said:

Yeah, it's just that at a steady does 2mg of 2x daily it doesn't feel like it works. I have to do it PRN with gaps between doses, in order to feel anty anxiolitic properties at all. 

IME, when you take it on a schedule, it seems like it is doing nothing, but it is  BTDT.  It isn't until you go off the schedule, that you realize it was working after all.

Klonopin keeps the steady state, while xanax is for the breakthrough anxiety (at least for me).  Looking at your sig, I know you aren't currently on xanax.  Maybe that is something you can talk to your DR about prescribing?

Edited by melissaw72
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It definitely works better for me when taken at regular doses throughout the day, especially at the moment when I have mixed hypomania. I am taking 1mg 3 time daily for now.  I was taking it PRN but I kept getting breakthrough symptoms. it helps to have a steady stream in my system

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54 minutes ago, melissaw72 said:

IME, when you take it on a schedule, it seems like it is doing nothing, but it is  BTDT.  It isn't until you go off the schedule, that you realize it was working after all.

Klonopin keeps the steady state, while xanax is for the breakthrough anxiety (at least for me).  Looking at your sig, I know you aren't currently on xanax.  Maybe that is something you can talk to your DR about prescribing?

My pdoc declined to give me xanax, stating it is easier to build a tolerance to, and thus take more than a prescribed dose of, due to it's short half-life and she doesn't often prescribe it for her patients.

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