Clonazepam for Insomnia

I take Clonazepam for PTSD and anxiety.  However, I was told distinctly how much to take to make sure I would never get adicted to it like one can get adicted to Ativan and these type drugs.  For my weight I was allowed 0.50mg plus another half pill per day taken as "I" needed them best.  I cut the pills in half and take half at night to help me sleep better and one half during the day when I feel worse anxiety.  I only use third half if something really bad is happening in my life and I need it.  It has been several years and I rarely need more than the two half pills which amounts to one pill a day.  I have never gotten adicted to it since I only take it as per the advice and warning from the doctor who originally prescribed it to me. 

 The worse side effect I have from all my years on Arimidex is emotional.  Depression and anxiety so I usually have to take my second half pill in afternoon.  Personally I think Clonazepam is much safer to take than Ativan even tho they are in the same chemical family.  I was never told how adictive Ativan was and ended up in a hospital in order to get it out of my system.  These medications can be so very helpful but please be sure only to take the safest amount your doctor prescribes.  If you are taking it for insomnia, you must remember it is not supposed to be a sleeping pill.  What it does for me is to relax any anxiety I may be having and allows me to fall asleep naturally.  I do not like sleeping pills which interact with my brain and conks me out.  They also give me terrible side effects the next morning.  I hope the Clonazepam works well for you if you decide to use it.

Jacqui, definately talk to your doc about this. Sleep is so important. Ativan is very short acting and just does not do it for me and most of the gals I know. It works great in the shot form given in the ER for awhile but the pills don't really help me-except to take some edge off any anxiety-certainly not long acting enuf for sleep. I have been taking 3 mgs (one mg in the morning) and two mg at night-but i also take remeron at night along with the clonopin. It takes time for these drugs to build up to a theraputic level in your system. Bec i was a drug addict, my tolerance is very high. I suffer from life-long terrible PTSD and panic attacks and I have had this all of my life. Now i am having a bleeding ulcer and terrible bout of IBS so the klonopin has been upped for now to reduce the stress on me and calm the IBS down 9prescribed by my gastro guy along with other stomach meds). If you are waking up in the middle of the night, it generally means the drug has worn off and that is what wakes me up. I have never had the urge to abuse clonopin (clonazepam) and it has always worked well for me. But i have also been sober for 22 years and was not prescribed clonopin until I had about three years sober and could not function from the panic. I have been on the drug with no adverse effects-except if i do ever want to get off of it, i will have to detox in psych ward probably. But again, REALLY, talk to your doc. Unless you have a high tolerance or are drinking before bedtime and taking clonopin, you will wake up in the middle of the night. Alcohol and psych drugs do not mix!! Again, talk to your doc about the waking up! For me, the worst thing i can do is to try to be my own doctor!! These are powerful drugs and I have to have my usage supervised so my treatmet team knows what is going on with me and can help. So get an appt scheduled ASAP!! Sweet dreams, SV

JacquiAL, glad you added the piece of info that it takes 4 weeks for the Remeron to work.  As you probably know, you will have to stay on the med for 4 weeks to see if it will work for you--is that doable for you at this time?  If not, you may need to consider another sleep med.  As far as going off the Clonazepam, ABSOLUTELY taper off.  Do not stop abruptly as your physician said, it can cause seizures.  ABSOLUTELY have your doctor prescribe a taper schedule--if he does not do that find another physician.  Good luck