HydroCat Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 (edited) As I've written in other threads, during a time of extreme anxiety my pdoc gave me .25 Clonazepam a day. Then I had many changes in medication, in a way that I feel different with regards to any of my symptoms every day. The mood tracking app log looks pretty much random. When I asked if .25 Clonazepam is not too low, he said that anything above that starts building up addiction to it. This word may have the meaning of “tolerance” instead, but I think he did specifically meant “addiction”. From your experience, is the difference between .25 to .5 that significant? I could ask him of course, but I wouldn't like to appear drug seeking or something. Great btw, anxiety about anxiety. Edited January 25, 2019 by HydroCat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceberg Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 All benzos Build tolerance but I'm not sure if I agree with his word choice of "addiction." Some people take 3mg a day and while they've built up more tolerance they are not all addicted. That said, every pdoc has their own comfort zone with doses.... But many people use .5 healthily Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gb84 Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 I have been on .5mg klonopin 2x a day for the better part of 12 years. A few times the dosage has been increased or reduced. I don't feel that I am addicted as I don't abuse it or ever run out early. I do know that since I have been on it so long I am physically and psychologically dependent. I can say that when my dosage was increased to 1mg 2x a day I did feel the need to use it more often. But I did not let it get out of control. I feel stable at .5m 2x a a day. Dependent, but not addicted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
looking for answers Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 not all doctors think u are drug seeking. It depends on the relationship you have with your doctor as well. mine is pretty cool, and open to ideas, and discussion. granted ive felt awkward bringing things up at times. BUt the idea to add a stim was kinda a co decision. THe dosing, and increasing dosages and changing stims have been me. A little awkward, but lead to good discussion, and good changes. I guess what im saying is, if you have a good relationship, and can justify what your saying. they shouldnt think you are drug seeking, good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notloki Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 I have taken 1-2 mg for years and have minimal tolerance, no dependence, and no addiction. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gb84 Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 48 minutes ago, notloki said: I have taken 1-2 mg for years and have minimal tolerance, no dependence, and no addiction. Just curious... How do you know if your dependent or not? What if you stop and have withdrawal. Doesn't that equal dependence? I guess some people are not susceptible to this and you may be one of them. I don't think I will get off of it that easy... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notloki Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 22 minutes ago, gb84 said: Just curious... How do you know if your dependent or not? What if you stop and have withdrawal. Doesn't that equal dependence? I guess some people are not susceptible to this and you may be one of them. I don't think I will get off of it that easy... It would take a few days but I would begin to experience withdrawal. I don't and I have had some situations where I am short a few days pills. Low dose may not include dependence. However there is no point in worrying over dependence, it is a natural physiological response. You get used to anything if you consume it every day. Like water and air. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmaryland Posted January 27, 2019 Share Posted January 27, 2019 On 1/25/2019 at 7:31 AM, notloki said: I have taken 1-2 mg for years and have minimal tolerance, no dependence, and no addiction. clonazepam has a long half-life, not as long as valium, but still long. This is probably why you didn't go through withdrawal when you were short or had no pills for a few days. Try 2-3 weeks without your klonopin and I bet you'll notice some withdrawal symptoms Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notloki Posted January 27, 2019 Share Posted January 27, 2019 2 hours ago, mmaryland said: clonazepam has a long half-life, not as long as valium, but still long. This is probably why you didn't go through withdrawal when you were short or had no pills for a few days. Try 2-3 weeks without your klonopin and I bet you'll notice some withdrawal symptoms Clonazepam has a widely varied half life, something like 19 to 90 hours. If you go with 19 it will take 4 days to clear plasma. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmaryland Posted January 27, 2019 Share Posted January 27, 2019 2 hours ago, notloki said: Clonazepam has a widely varied half life, something like 19 to 90 hours. If you go with 19 it will take 4 days to clear plasma. You have to take in to account the accumulation of clonazapam in their system, since they've been on 1mg-2mg for a couple years now. That's gonna extend the time for it to completely be out of your system, plus only some medical professionals claim that the half life of clonazepam is 16-60 hours but the FDA package insert exlicitly says it is 30-40 hours. Also... "4. KLONOPIN can cause abuse and dependence. • Do not stop taking KLONOPIN all of a sudden. Stopping KLONOPIN suddenly can cause seizures that do not stop, hearing or seeing things that are not there (hallucinations), shaking, and stomach and muscle cramps. KLONOPIN is a federally controlled substance (C-IV) because it can be abused or lead to dependence." source: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2013/017533s053,020813s009lbl.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notloki Posted January 28, 2019 Share Posted January 28, 2019 16 hours ago, mmaryland said: You have to take in to account the accumulation of clonazapam in their system, since they've been on 1mg-2mg for a couple years now. That's gonna extend the time for it to completely be out of your system, plus only some medical professionals claim that the half life of clonazepam is 16-60 hours but the FDA package insert exlicitly says it is 30-40 hours. Also... "4. KLONOPIN can cause abuse and dependence. • Do not stop taking KLONOPIN all of a sudden. Stopping KLONOPIN suddenly can cause seizures that do not stop, hearing or seeing things that are not there (hallucinations), shaking, and stomach and muscle cramps. KLONOPIN is a federally controlled substance (C-IV) because it can be abused or lead to dependence." source: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2013/017533s053,020813s009lbl.pdf Yes I have taken all that into account. You see, I am 55 years old. I have been taken Scheduled (II-IV) meds, esp. Scheduled II meds since I was 7. And I have been taking them every day. I have probably been taking them from before you were born. So I know a thing of 2 about the reactions my body has to these meds, the DEA, and FDA. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HydroCat Posted January 28, 2019 Author Share Posted January 28, 2019 As far as the authorities here are concerned, Ritalin is the most dangerous drug available. They keep it in the pharmacy safe, alongside Morphine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt07 Posted January 28, 2019 Share Posted January 28, 2019 47 minutes ago, HydroCat said: As far as the authorities here are concerned, Ritalin is the most dangerous drug available. They keep it in the pharmacy safe, alongside Morphine. Ritalin? I take Ritalin, and it is a mild stimulant. In my experience, it is much milder than amphetamine. And I really don't see how it is terribly addictive. You can take holidays from it and really not suffer any withdrawal except maybe some tiredness and lethargy. Of course, your original symptoms return because Ritalin is a treatment and not a cure. But you aren't craving Ritalin. Also, it is not nearly as dangerous in overdose as narcotics are. I just don't see how the authorities where you are view it as the most dangerous drug. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HydroCat Posted January 28, 2019 Author Share Posted January 28, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, jt07 said: Ritalin? I take Ritalin, and it is a mild stimulant. In my experience, it is much milder than amphetamine. And I really don't see how it is terribly addictive. You can take holidays from it and really not suffer any withdrawal except maybe some tiredness and lethargy. Of course, your original symptoms return because Ritalin is a treatment and not a cure. But you aren't craving Ritalin. Also, it is not nearly as dangerous in overdose as narcotics are. I just don't see how the authorities where you are view it as the most dangerous drug. I've been on Ritalin for some time. When I feel "balanced" with my other meds I don't really need it. But yes. Go figure... Edited January 28, 2019 by HydroCat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceberg Posted January 28, 2019 Share Posted January 28, 2019 13 hours ago, HydroCat said: As far as the authorities here are concerned, Ritalin is the most dangerous drug available. They keep it in the pharmacy safe, alongside Morphine. ... I think I strongly disagree with that catagorization Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notloki Posted January 29, 2019 Share Posted January 29, 2019 Considering all the problems with illicit methamphetamine I would say amphetamine and its derivatives like meth may be the authorities #1 concern. While we have been twisting our collective thumbs over the opioid problem (that may be the #1 concern) meth has flooded the market with stronger, purer meth that we have ever seen. There is a reason Ritalin is the first med they try with ADHD. It is because of it's assumed lower abuse potential. Studies have shown amphetamines are the best treatment for most with ADHD. So it is not about picking the best treatment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
l'appel du vide Posted January 29, 2019 Share Posted January 29, 2019 I take clonazepam 0.25mg twice a day. Have taken up to 3mg a day, but I've been on clonazepam daily regardless for 6 years now. I am physically dependent but I am not addicted; I never crave clonazepam or abuse it. It still works for me, I think you have nothing to worry about. It is a life saver for anxiety and panic. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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