Posted by sheer on March 26, 2005, at 7:46:24
In reply to Re: Klonopin making me worse? spriggy » woolav, posted by SLS on March 25, 2005, at 5:33:10
i need to post this because i'm blown away by the immediate improvement i've gotten from titrating OFF klonopin - no more depression!
a year ago, after i had been on klonopin - up to 2 mg/ day (i only succumbed to taking it when i could not even get water down, due to life events- induced anxiety) my ECT pdoc, strongly suggested i discontinue it. not only was he quite sure that for me - one of those with a major depression diagnosis - klonopin does indeed commonly increase depression, but, he was just as sure that (even after only these 6 months of usage), it was significantly contributing to my insomnia - both the falling asleep and many awakenings throughout the night - varieties.
i did at that time then go from 2 mg/ day down to .5 mg -.625 mg/ day, but i put off getting rid of this last (i thought such an "insignificant" dose) for this entire year, fearing all the discontinuation horror stories here + just plain laziness. i could now kick myself for being a weanie re: this!
i am not following the suggested advise here of going down by just .125 mg/ week. i guess (?) i would suggest - maybe - for others to do this. i went down by an entire .5 mg this first week. next week, i will ditch the remaining .125 mgs. *be advised that i AM taking a micro dose of remeron at night. i also had a low dose neurontin of 100 mg to 300 mg TOPS to "fill in," also taken all at night, but i stopped the neurontin after 2 days.*
my sleep is great. insomnia all gone, again depression GONE. in less than one week! am able to socialize MORE easily and do the daily "grind" much more easily. irritabilty/ anger gone. no panic. no "manicky-ness"...as one therapist said years ago - and, rightly - i am experiencing (gasp) happiness. the only other med i take is only 5 mg. prozac, which i can now even take with the micro remeron... at night! (i haven't even had to cut out caffeine totally.) i am beyond amazed!!! i feel better than i have felt...since...VERY shortly after i started klonopin. gee, could there have been a connection? LOL
poster:sheer
thread:475155
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050326/msgs/475727.html