Posted by Ritch on January 4, 2003, at 9:37:18
In reply to Re: BENZODIAZEPINES , posted by harry b. on January 3, 2003, at 23:55:54
> Somewhere back in the '80's I began taking amitriptyline for panic attacks. I had been having the PA for years but they were getting worse. I did not even know what they were. I could 'feel' them coming on & I got so that I would drive quickly to the hospital & just sit in my truck, sometimes for hours, sometimes all night, wrestling with the PA & the fear. I never went into the hospital, just sat there, outside. It gave me a bit of comfort.
>
> I finally went to a doc about them & began taking amitriptyline. The PA became more mild & less frequent. OK. Now I knew what I was dealing with.
>
> Unfortunately the amitrip began causing severe 'restless leg' problems. At the same time I began having facial tics. My doc gave me Klonopin.
>
> The K stopped the PA dead in their tracks, I have not had a bad one since. It also helped with the facial tics & there were no more 'restless leg' problems.
>
> My current dosage is 3mg/day. I've been on dosages as high as 6mg/day. My actual daily dose varies. Sometimes only 1mg, sometimes 5mg if I'm feeling too intense.
>
> The K, even at 5mg, no longer puts me to sleep. It would probably take double that amount.
>
> Am I 'addicted'? Er, ah, yes. My Pdoc would like me to quit but I'm afraid of the PA.
>
> I guess the worst thing is the 'dumbing down' effect. I can live with an addiction, if it helps me, but I really do not like having a brain that works at half capacity & in slow motion.
>
> harry b.Hi, are you still taking amitriptyline with your clonazepam? Have you tried any of the SSRI's with clonazepam like Paxil or Zoloft, i.e? If so, have they allowed you to reduce your dosage of K? What does your pdoc want to do as an alternative to clonazepam if you quit it? Sorry for the questions, but am just wondering what your doctor's reasoning is on this issue.. Mitch
poster:Ritch
thread:133201
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021230/msgs/134441.html