Posted by Mr.Scott on November 9, 2004, at 0:17:46
In reply to Re: who has taken klonopin for more than 5 years??, posted by Squiggles on November 7, 2004, at 11:45:21
I've been on benzo's for 13 years with the exception of two seperate 6 month periods. I was originally placed on xanax for severe anxiety that was in the context of a major depressive episode (bipolar vs. unipolar still not 100% clear). I briefly took as much as 1.5mg of Xanax and later as much as 1mg of klonopin daily. Inbetween I tried Tranxene never exceeding 15mg and ativan 1mg daily. I currently take .5mg of klonopin and am slowly tapering. When I was truly in the depths of hell and despair benzos came in handy. However...they are very difficult to taper and I feel better as I come off. The initial two to four weeks after any dosage lowering is real bad. Then I begin to feel better than when I was taking the higher dose. I plan to be off the rest of it in 6months, and I'll only use them again for emergency PRN usage or if I reach that point in depression where nothing matters anymore except alleviating the anguish so that I don't kill myself.
poster:Mr.Scott
thread:412355
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041108/msgs/413604.html