Posted by Janelle on June 13, 2003, at 18:38:45
In reply to valium vs klonopin?, posted by chloe on June 13, 2003, at 18:00:14
Hi Chole, I like your name "Super Cycling Chole" -- that happens to be me lately "Super Cycling Janelle"
I also have bp2 and I have been taking KLONOPIN for many, many years - like EONS. In fact, I'm going to taper OFF it because it doesn't work for me anymore. My body has become habituated to it. But do NOT let that discourage you - I had GREAT results with it for a long time.
I can't answer if Klonopin is better for balancing out the mood than Valium, especially because NEITHER of these meds are designed to do that. They are anti-anxiety, (well Klonopin started off as anti-seizure for epilepsy)
You said you can't take ANY of the mood stabilizers - have you tried more than just the one you mentioned? There are quite a few. Just wondering. They can also be combined in LOW doses which might avoid the rashes and burning (that's what the pdoc is trying with me because I can't tolerate high doses - I get other type side effects, so for now I'm on two mood stabilizers at low doses)
Anyway, to answer your question, and this is JUST MY HUMBLE OPINION, I would say that it is worth giving Klonopin a try because it is slow acting, smooth, subtle, has a long half-life (lasts all day or should) and I personally had NO side effects from it!
The *average* person might report that it can be SEDATING, real sedating, but you could start off low and slow, and take it at night. Heck, it might help you sleep. I was given a hefty dose once to see if it would put me to sleep and nope! I remained wide awake; very frustrating. I have to use Seroquel for sleep, not as an A-P!
Good luck 2 U!
poster:Janelle
thread:233756
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030609/msgs/233765.html