Posted by Viridis on March 31, 2003, at 22:25:53
In reply to Any risks with Klonopin (Clonazepam)??, posted by Tepiaca on March 31, 2003, at 0:06:33
Benzodiazepines like Klonopin have a strong likelihood of causing dependency, and if you stop, you should do so gradually. Different people have different degrees of difficulty in discontinuing these medications. But, Klonopin and other benzos are also very safe, so if you have to take them long-term it shouldn't be a problem.
You have to weigh the risks (dependency) against the benefits (relief of anxiety and improved mental and physical health). My choice has been to risk dependency and stick with the anxiety relief. Most antidepressants that supposedly relieve anxiety also cause severe withdrawal problems for some people, so it's really not much different. I see it as sort of like diabetes -- if you take insulin regularly, it would be very risky to stop suddenly. But, why would you want to? The fact is, you have a chronic medical condition, and should treat it accordingly.
If Klonopin works and you aren't abusing it or experiencing major side effects, then I'd stick with it as long as your doctor allows. It seems that any medication that successfully treats a major psychiatric disorder is going to be difficult to discontinue, but at least benzos are known to be safe for long-term use, unlike many of the newer drugs.
poster:Viridis
thread:214621
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030329/msgs/214917.html