Posted by laima on February 6, 2007, at 10:25:18
In reply to Re: Larry, Link Benzo-induced memory impairment » temoigneur, posted by Larry Hoover on February 6, 2007, at 9:19:23
I used 2-4mg clonazapam nightly, sometimes more during the day, and in retrospect, I see I experienced considerable cognitive fuzziness then, which has since cleared up. In fact, I had started wondering if I was developing early alzheimers or some other serious cognitive problem! The kind of cognitive trouble I had sounds much like what you're talking about- utter perplexity at learning new stuff, "slow", creativity vaporizing, forgetful, Checkbook? So impossibly confusing. Reading comprehension badly impaired. I've been off for about 3 months, but while on it, I had eventualy developed a real tolerance to it, for I used it a number of years- doctor agreed I likely had built up quite a tolerance. I was also, by the end of my using it, a much more anxious and jittery person, prone to shortness of breath, stomache aches, panic attacks, etc- than I ever was before I started the benzos, or since coming off. I speculate- could I have been going through daily withdrawals? Dr. wrinkled up his face with skepticism when I suggested the possibility, but I think Heather Ashton mentions somewhere on her site that it's a possibility. Panic attacks, breathing problems like hyperventilation- none since coming off clonazepam. General anxiety level also considerably reduced. Feeling smarter, sharper- though it's hard to sort out the reasons scientifically- for I'm using adderall now, and wasn't then. Though- I was using ritalin while using clonazepam- so one would imagine that would've helped make up for more of the cognitive fuzziness which I experienced? And no, no breathing issues or added anxiety from the adderall.
My experience with the other benzos I've used, xanax and ativan, is much more limited and mostly longer ago, so it's hard for me to make a very useful comparison. But I'm going to go out on a limb and say I believe the clonazapam made me feel cognitively fuzzier than the other two, and that the xanax seemed best suited for daytime use, out and about, on the job, etc. Ativan was almost like a sugar pill for me, but I think that could be because I was already used to the very powerful clonazepam by then and there was cross-tolerance. It's also pretty short acting. I therefore can't comment at all about how it would work out during the day. When I took it at night, I'd bound out of bed super alert at 3am when it wore off. Clonazepam hangs around in the body a relatively long time.
BTW, could any of your neurosis and sweating be related to a mini-withdrawal of some sort? Plausably, if you've used clonazepam a long time? Just speculation, for that sounds like mild version of part of the withdrawal symptoms. Of course, it could also be your original anxiety. There are some writings on the internet, again, I think primarily on Ashton's site, which attempt to distinguish "genuine"* anxiety symptoms from benzo related issues, withdrawal issues and symptoms.
* (sorry- can't think of a better word- I mean no offense to anyone regarding either anxiety or withdrawal or anything else.)
poster:laima
thread:730251
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070201/msgs/730328.html