Posted by Else on July 21, 2001, at 7:37:05
In reply to Re: What do I do now? » Else, posted by jojo on July 21, 2001, at 3:10:11
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> I don't see that you've ever tried Valium, which may be less addicting (whatever that means) than Klonopin. You might have to taper down from the Klonopin, so maybe you should wait until your regular returns.I have tried Valium but have not obtained it through legal means (ahem, I ordered it from yugoslavia). I think it's very effective but I'm not sure it's better than Klonopin. Addiction is not a concern for me, I survived lorazepam withdrawal, I can survive anything.
> It would have helped if you had said how much Wellbutrin you were taking, but Wellbutrin, along with increasing amounts of Valium, starting at 2 to 5 mg., every 2 hours up to 20 or 30 mg. per day might control the shakes, yet still allow you the other effects of Wellbutrin.
I used to take 300mg every day, now I only take 150 ( I read in the CPS which is the Canadian PDR that doses above 150mg have not proven to be more effective and it also says that on the box). Is Klonopin as effective as Valium in controlling tremors? It is an anticonvulsant but I don't know if this has anything to do with it. Typically, I need large doses of benzos so 30mg Valium sounds about right.
>Have you had any withdrawal symptoms when cutting down on the Klonopin? The shakes could be a withdrawal symptom of Klonopin, rather that an effect of Wellbutrin. You also don't mention the effects of Neurontin. Check your PDR (I hope you have one). I think there's a lot of room to increase the neurontin, at least to 1200 mg/day to see if you notice the effect. If there's a possibility of you getting pregnant, you should check for possible fetal effects from the benzodiazepines.
No, Wellbutrin makes me shake even more when I don't take Klonopin. One GP said it was an Extra-Pyramidal symptom which I find less than reassuring. I've never had withdrawal symptoms from Klonopin but when I came off Ativan I didn't shake, I just felt this electrical buzzing throughout my body (I also felt like I weighed a million pounds and that my death was imminent, this was not a gradual taper, mmind you, 6mg to nothing the next day. Some quack at the hospital was responsible for this fuck-up). Neurontin can cause shaking but I have not had that side effect while I was taking it on its own. Neurontin doesn't do anything but lower anxiety slightly and cause sexual side effects as far as I can tell.
> BTW, does your rumination have anything to do with this good looking, blushable Therapist going on vacation? Do you know if he's married? You said that you felt ok a few days ago, but you also say that after a week on 2 mg. of Klonopin your "back to being a nervous wreck. Did you increase it or decrease it to 2 mg.? When did your Therapist leave for vacation?
NO, it started before I found out the tragic news. My ruminations have to do with imagining the worst that could possibly happen in every situation I might face the following day, as usual. I started out using 2mg and stayed at that.
There was no change in dosage. I suppose my doctor must have left right after I saw him which was on the 13th. I didn't ask when he was coming back. I probably should have. I'll call his secretary on monday. I've given this some thought. I think it's safe to increase the Klonopin to 3mg and drop the Neurontin. Right now I'm going back on Wellbutrin (only 150mg, no shakes) to improve my mood. I think I'll wait until I see my doctor to change the Klonopin dosage since otherwise, I'll run out before it's "time" and the drugstore wont want to refill my prescription. The remaining problem is Neurontin. I hate it but maybe it does help stabilizing my mood (it's the impression that I get, I stopped for a few days and I was very irritable and cried for no reason, but then maybe that's just PMS). Which make me realise: I don't get PMS on Wellbutrin. I'll have to double check but I think it's true. This is the first time I get PMS symptoms in months and I just stopped Wellbutrin. Anyway. I hope it's only a one week vacation. Lovely weather. He's probably married. I looked him up in the phone book, he lives in the suburbs (I'm not a stalker or anything, I was just curious, ok). I always forget to check for rings and more obvious signs. He has these hypnotic pale blue eyes , you see, very distracting.
poster:Else
thread:71077
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010720/msgs/71183.html