My advice? Get off the benzos! They are only intended for short term use (2-3 weeks). Unfortunately, most doctors are willing to prescribe them long term.

I am currently recovering from benzo use. Yes, withdrawal sucks, but if someone had told me that I would feel this much better without the drugs, I never would have believed them.

I know you're probably going to get responses from people who did just fine on benzos and never had any withdrawal issues. However, there are many many people out there who experience problems on these drugs. And the truth of the matter is that even once you come off the benzos, your "symptoms" can persist for months (or even years in years in some cases)

Just do a search for benzo support forums. You will be amazed at some of the stories you read. I belong to one of them, and credit their support in getting me through the tough times. Yes, I am still only sleeping 4-5 hours a night, and I have tinnitus that absolutely drives me up the wall, but at the same time I consider myself lucky that things aren't worse.

Good luck getting off the meds.

Thanks for responding. Hope you don't mind me asking, how long were you on Benzo?

I was on xanax for 5 months (.75 a day). I went off cold turkey--big mistake. Please taper off. Klonopin dosage is about the same as xanax. The shortness of breath stayed around more than a month off the benzo but it did go away. If you taper off then it might be easier and improve more quickly. I didn't have your other side effects but got really depressed going off cold turkey. Don't do it. Read the Ashton manual (free online) and taper slowly! Good luck!

Thanks gemstone. I check out ashton manual.

Guess What, my psychiatrist just email me saying that the benzo isn't causing my shortness of breathe and that the anxiety is causing it. and to take 1/2 dosage when I need it. Just when I would think he would respond differently he goes and up the dosage. Sigh!

I've been on and off benzos for the last three years. Most recently, I was on Klonopin (starting in late September). I hit tolerance at the beginning of December. Some people gradually build to tolerance, I hit it like a ton of bricks. One day my Klonopin was working fine (.5mg @ bedtime to sleep), the next day, nothing. I took upwards of 5 mg and it still did nothing. For the next three weeks I stayed on a maintenance dose because I feared going through withdrawals. It got to a point where I wasn't sleeping at all and I knew that withdrawals couldn't get any worse so I did a cold turkey (NOT recommended!). My sleep improved within a few days, although I did develop tinnitus. Ugh.

I am also on a benzo but a different one. I take Ativan daily, as needed and I find it is very helpful for severe panic although I am working with my doctor to wean off it. Klonopin did not work well for my anxiety. It seemed to help for a week and then it stopped working. I also found that I felt sick and depressed while on it. It wasn't the medication for me. I know it helps a lot of people but everyone is different so if it isn't working or you are experiencing unbearable side effects you can talk to your doctor about alternatives. Good luck!

The shortness of breath, light head, dizzy, lump in the throat is not caused by the Klonopin. It is an anxiety attack. Do what ever you have to to slow down your day, relax a bit. Concentrate on calming your mind and body-through play, exercise, having fun. You cannot have an anxious mind in a calm body. So find ways to promote calmness.

I've been taking them since October 2010 too, for anxiety. It makes me sleep all day and isn't very potent for the anxiety. I still feel anxious all the time. If you are experiencing all those symptoms you should tell your doctor. I doubt you should be feeling any of those effects. Are you taking more than what you are suppose to take?

Those symptoms are not a result of the klonopin It is an anxiety attack. It has nothing to do with the medication.

we are all different with meds! klonopin as presribed can be very effective! i really believe it depends on each person idividually!
my 2 cents
anthony

We'll currently I am taking a low dosage for sleep .5 mg. and if I really, really can't control it then I will take .25mg during the day to help calm me down as the psych said. There are times where I can't differentiate the difference if the symptoms are cause by the meds or if my anxiety still exist. But after reading some replies and seeing what I go through throughout the day, my anxiety still exist for now. Just got to find my relaxation point. Really appreciate everyones input. Thanks. and to answer Mobs question, Nah, so far I've been under 1mg. I don't know about it down the road.

yall i am sooooo against benzos its ot even funny, my husband was prescribed benzos and after a while he was addicted and now has been fighting abusing rx meds ever since then(2003) its so hard, i suffer from horrible anxiety but i dont take benzos, maybe thats why im crazy but i just WONT do it. i have seen xanax.klnopin and other benzos ruin many peoples lives. i wish yall luck