Posted by Mr.Scott on January 19, 2002, at 15:15:57
In reply to Do Benzos interfere with REM sleep, etc? » Mr. Scott, posted by AnneL on January 19, 2002, at 10:29:07
Anne,
Unfortunately the cognitive dulling has not been separated from the anti-anxiety effect in any currently marketed benzodiazepine. The less potent benzos like tranxene have less cognitive dulling, and caffeine quickly reverses much of the difficulty, whereas caffiene hardly reverses the effect of klonopin in my experience. However Tranxene probably isn't too good for Panic and hypomania. Klonopin binds very tightly to receptors and is difficult to displace. Trade-offs...Trade-offs...I guess.
Benzo's shorten the amount of time one spends in late stage REM sleep in studies and may indeed account for your difficulties, or the action of the drug itself may be making you tired in the morning. Maybe you don't need it right now and to taper it sounds reasonable.
When I was flaming with anxiety and needed it I didn't notice the side effects at all, but once the anxiety subsides a bit I would begin to.
Scott
poster:Mr.Scott
thread:89412
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020116/msgs/90781.html