Klonopin FAQ
Question: I've been taking Klonopin for about 10 years starting out with 0.5 mg once a day and gradually ending up with the same dosage 3 times a day. I've tried other drugs like ssri but couldn't tolerate them. Should I be worried about my liver or other vital organs and are there any other drugs I can use?
Answer: The liver won't be harmed in any way with such a dosage. You should worry about dependency, however it's very anticipated and can be dealt with.
Question: I have had anxiety disorders, panic attacks, and PTSD. Recently I was prescribed with 1 mg of Klonopin to be taken 3 times a day. I wonder if this dosage is not too much for me.
Answer: This dosage is higher than usual, but the prescribed dosage relies on the severity of your symptoms as well as your body weight. You may want to start with a lower and less frequent dosage gradually increasing it to the prescribed one to see the effects.
Question: I have a history of anxiety since my childhood and have had panic attacks since the age of 20. I have tried out 5 different antidepressants as well as Tranzene, Xanax, and recently I was prescribed with Klonopin. Klonopin seems to be quite effective but I'm concerned about dependency. My doctor says that since I didn't have any luck with other drugs, he will likely prescribe me with 2 mg of Klonopin daily for the rest of my life in case it works. I know that I'll fall into dependency with the drug, but my doctor sees no problem with that because of my personality type. The question is should I start taking the drug and not worry about the addiction?
Answer: You should start the course and respect the dosage as prescribed to not experience any withdrawal effects. You can also decrease the dosage on occasion and use ssri antidepressants (Prozac and others). However in most cases people need only Klonopin.
Question: I have social anxiety and have learned that Klonopin is effective in such cases. Someone has also told me that Klonopin can induce hair loss, which I already have to deal with. Is this true? And does Klonopin trigger weight gain?
Answer: The both concerns are possible but quite rare within the majority of the patients.
Question: My daughter is 18 years old and she has recently found out she is pregnant for 7 weeks. She is taking Klonopin for anxiety. Are there any possible side-effects to the unborn child, during the birth and when the child grows up?
Answer: The lower the dose the lower is the risk of any harm to the unborn baby. This drug class is commonly used during pregnancy, however you should consult with her doctor about lowering the dose to make sure it's safe.