Posted by rev on March 28, 2005, at 11:57:43
In reply to Re: I have a question » rev, posted by ed_uk on March 28, 2005, at 6:53:52
> PS. Did you stop taking the clonazepam abruptly? Are you having any withdrawal symptoms?
>
> Ed.No, very gradual reduction while at the same time reducing zoloft. At first the night terrors came back but that has subsided. But now I can only sleep 5-6 hours a night. Dizziness came back--resolved with minute doses of each med (12.5 zoloft and .25 clonazepam.) Heart palpitations/slight pain are coming back but benign.
From past experience I know that Ambien is a great "get to sleep" med but doesn't last for me. Also, I get crying spells in the morning after taking Ambien. But not with Klonopin. I am trying to decide between 2 new doctors. I went in just to get established and told each that I wanted to wean off meds. The first did not like Klonopin (clonazepam.) But thought I would be better off staying on meds. i.e. thought I would have depression/anxiety related illnesses if I wean off. That doctor wanted me to switch to Ambien and increase Zoloft and take Reglan for gastro related problems caused by Zoloft. My family wanted me to get a second opinion. Went to another doctor and said I wanted to wean off meds. That doctor suggested I stay on Klonopin (because it is harder to get off of) and decrease Zoloft. I have found that the 2 meds work better together, increasing or decreasing each at same rate.I cannot get to sleep if I do not take something! Klonopin alone depresses me (I think) and Zoloft alone keeps me awake. But perhaps I am a typical "mood disorder" patient who is always blaming meds for physical/mental illnesses.
I had reached the point where the apathy/lethargy was causing me to take 30 mg Sudafed and one Excedrin for motivation. Then I got a potential glaucoma scare. That made me want to get off all meds.
The second doctor said it would probably take 10 days of feeling yucky to get off the zoloft. I haven't had 10 days yet where I haven't resorted to taking some--mainly because of dizziness and diarrhea and heart.
Long answer to your short question. I think I might be like the poster who takes eensy weensy bits of a med and does better. And to my original question--why Ambien over clonazepam?
By the way, originally clonazepam was added to Effexor as a mood stabilizer.
rev
poster:rev
thread:471579
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050326/msgs/476739.html