Aly asked
Why does clonazepam make me feel so sick? Is it side effects or is the dosage too small? I am presently taking .5mg a day. What is a safe dosage to take without turning me into a zombie drug addict?
Answer
Clonazepam, generic for the brand name Klonopin, is classified as a benzodiazepine type drug and is typically indicated for panic disorders and anxiety. The benzodiazepine class is a broad one containing over 10 different drugs including Valium (diazepam) and Ativan (lorazepam). All of the medications have the same mechanism of action but vary in their potency, onset of action and duration of action.
In terms of the side effect you mentioned of feeling sick, that is a very common side effect within the class. It usually is a dose related effect meaning that higher doses tend to cause more side effects. Typically you want to start at the lowest possible dose and increase until you find effectiveness for what you are treating. In your case, you may want to consult with you doctor and decrease your dose until it's better tolerated. From there, slowly increasing (or titrating) your dose can help you avoid the nausea side effect you are experiencing. With many drugs, and clonazepam is no exception, your body takes a while to get used to the drug and too high of a starting dose can cause problems.
In terms of dosage, it's tough to classify doses of benzodiazepines as exceptionally high. People have a wide range of tolerances. One person may get great effects at 0.5mg per day while others may need something as high as 10mg! The maximum daily dose of the drug in scientific literature is typically set at 20mg/day, which obviously is very high. The starting dose for anxiety problems is typically around 0.25mg once to twice per day.
The real concern with benzodiazepines is the development of physiological dependence meaning that your body reacts negatively when you are not on a dose of your medication. It occurs as a natural consequence of regular use of benzodiazepines and does not, in and of itself, indicate drug misuse or abuse. Again it really depends on the person but physiologic dependence to benzodiazepines can occur with doses administered for as little as 3-4 weeks. It usually is not this quick though and is typically put around 6-12 months of continuous use.
The best advice to give regarding drugs like clonazepam is to be sure to take the medications only as needed and at a dose that is effective for you, whatever that may be. Excessive doses are what cause that drowsiness, or zombie like feeling as you put it :)
It also is usually recommended that even if you are not having any symptoms of dependence, to slowly taper the medication down if and when you would be stopping it. This is just to avoid and possible withdrawal effects.
