Posted by Squiggles on February 8, 2007, at 8:13:37
In reply to Re: Benzo Confidential )Phillipa, » Squiggles, posted by laima on February 8, 2007, at 7:59:21
>
> Your dose doesn't sound all that high Squiggles, and I don't understand from your post if you are still taking it, or if you are saying you quit cold and lived to tell the tale. I'm sure your doctor or pharmacist would be able to advise you of the risk level for your own situation.
>
It has never been high-- God bless my dr.;
I am still taking it. I was unable to withdraw because after 18 months, I got a seizure and or stroke. I was very sick-- brain wise. I increased the dose. This is after about 15 yrs. on 1.0mg. That's why I'm curious about the nature of this withdrawal. BTW, I found an article that confirms what I am suggesting about K-- that tolerance does not build. What I'm saying is that it was not due to tolerance that I had that withdrawal, but something else.
>It seems that the longer you take this benzo, the harder it is to withdraw. And it is not a novel idea to have withdrawl without tolerance in drugs, e.g. the recent reports of the SSRI withdrawal difficulties.
BTW, if anyone can suggest a tapering schedule for a person taking it for only a year-- just to reduce the dose from 3.0mg to 2.0mg, i would appreciate any advice.
Thanks.
>
> 1: Psychopharmacol Bull. 1998;34(2):199-205. Links
Long-term experience with clonazepam in patients with a primary diagnosis of panic disorder.* Worthington JJ 3rd,
* Pollack MH,
* Otto MW,
* McLean RY,
* Moroz G,
* Rosenbaum JF.Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114-3117, USA.
This study examined the use patterns and efficacy of the high potency benzodiazepine (HPB) clonazepam in panic patients who were treated and followed naturalistically in the Massachusetts General Hospital Longitudinal Study of Panic Disorder. Of 204 patients followed over a 2-year period, 46 percent were receiving clonazepam alone or in combination with an antidepressant. Treatment was not controlled at initial evaluation or during the followup period. The main variables assessed in this analysis included global severity of the panic disorder and stability of clonazepam dose. All treatment groups tended to improve over time without significant differences in outcome between groups. Clonazepam doses remained stable over time. Results of this study suggest that treatment of panic disorder with the HPB clonazepam achieved and maintained a therapeutic benefit similar to that obtained with alternative pharmacologic treatments, without the development of tolerance as manifested by dose escalation or worsening of clinical status.
PMID: 9641001 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Squiggles
poster:Squiggles
thread:730516
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070207/msgs/731047.html