Posted by Peter on March 22, 2002, at 1:37:58
In reply to Re: Thanks everyone but I'm just sick of it all » Peter, posted by judy1 on March 22, 2002, at 0:57:50
> if klonopin helps, have you ever tried a higher dose or xanax instead?
Hi Judy: Thanks for being such a great help to me. I'm really encouraged by all of you giving of your time to share your experience and help one another. To answer your question, I was originally prescribed klonopin @3 years ago and have always stayed below the 2mg threshold my doc set for me. When I first took it, it was a wonder drug for months; I had lots of social phobia and panic back then, and I noticed an immediate difference-I could socialize, go to museums by myself, and go to restaurants without panicking and losing my appetite. It was great! But as the years went on, klonopin lost its 'flare' and really became a preventative drug for me-I no longer felt the sense of elevated mood it had first given me, but it just worked to ward off panic attacks. I'm sure my SP would have been worse now had I not been on klonopin all these years, but it's still not so good. I usually avoid most parties and gatherings of people I don't know, and I still have some trouble meeting new people. The problem is, when I've tried to take more klonopin, it really sedates me, which in itself renders me more withdrawn and antisocial. I don't know if I'd want to switch to xanax, with it's shorter duration and all.
>how long have you been off street drugs (i was on also for years and i truly believe it took my brain at least a year to 'normalize'. i know how difficult this is- i've stopped meds many times- but maybe in your case simpler is better, just use what has worked in the past - klonopin and adderal- and play with doses. i wish you the best- judy
I've been off street drugs since '97, though I've relapsed 2-3 times since (the last time about two years ago) due to SSRI-induced emotional numbness and hypomania. My doc insists on me being on some sort of mood stabilizer (he thinks Neurontin) if I were to stick with the klonopin and adderal. But because the adderall, though it elevates my mood at times, seems to be making me a bit more withdrawn and causing me to hyperfocus on repetitive actions, its not on the whole beneficial for me. Also, it makes my hands freezing, which is a definite hindrance for a pianist! So, even though the thought of lithium makes me feel uncomfortable, I'm thinking it's really the last hope I have for a simple, effective drug that will keep me stable while helping my depressive episodes and the hypomania I've been told I portray (though I still don't see it-maybe I'm just in denial). My doc wants me to stay on klonopin for my constant anxiety/worry and he believes that even staying on Neurontin at the right dose with lithium can be a good combo for me. He has assured me that the isues about blood monitering and precautions about dehydration are not as bad as I think; he also said many people experience no side-effects at all, like they're just taking a mineral (which I guess, in essence, they are). If he thinks lithium is the best choice for me, I just want to get going with the blood tests and start it ASAP so I don't have to sit here agonizing over it for weeks. So, if he really thinks it's best for me, I might be able to start it next week, and we'll taper off the adderall as we find the right lithium blood level for me. That's it in a nutshell. I'm trying not to keep on stressing and your input has helped me tremendously, but it looks like Lithium is the only way to go at this point, according to my current pdoc and the other doc I saw for a consultation. BTW, what meds are you taking?
Peter
poster:Peter
thread:98867
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020318/msgs/99403.html