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Re: Zyprexa or Geodon? » med_empowered

Posted by Colleen D. on June 17, 2007, at 20:34:29

In reply to Re: Zyprexa or Geodon?, posted by med_empowered on June 17, 2007, at 18:00:42

> I think it really depends...how high is your dose? Some docs give 4, 6, 8mgs/day of Klonopin (and sometimes xanax), so it may just be your doc. I personally think that if you've been on benzos for a long time, you're not abusing them or involved in other substance abuse, and you're still having anxiety, a dosage increase (to a point) shouldn't be a big deal, unless higher doses cause problems (cognitive impairment, rage reactions, disinhibtion, that kind of thing) for you.

The Klonopin, I think, is responsible for my daytime drowsiness, mild cognitive impairment, rage reactions, disinhibtion...especially if I have even one drink on the weekend, on my one day off from parenting.


>Antipsychotics might "work," but they work more by inducing apathy and numbing overall consciousness and emotions, rather than by sedating or allowing for relaxation, which is what benzos, miltown, and the barbiturates do. "Addiction" aside, benzos are much safer and cheaper than antipsychotics, and I think most antidpressants.

I actually asked for Xanax in place of the Klonopin, so I could take PRN and eliminate the drowsiness. I take Klonopin .5mg at bedtime and when I wake rather than the 3x per divided dosing that's recommended.

>What's causing the stress? If its situational stuff, try addressing it, maybe enlisting the aid of a therapist/counsellor if that helps. Are you taking any other medications that cause anxiety? Tolernace to the benzos might be part of the anxiety problem if you're going through mini-withdrawals (common with xanax) or if your panic attacks are worse now than before the benzos. I think in those cases you're supposed to taper or go on a higher dose.

It IS situational stress and physical exhaustion from caring for the three of them on my own. My son has low vision and is autistic and his self-stim behaviors are over-stimulating me. I petitioned the agency for respite care since the only support I have is my mom, and my ex has the kids one day a week. No sibs to help on occasion. The agency determined that because there are other children in the home I don't qaulify for any of the respite programs. I lost my dream job (position eliminated) in Feb. and now am unemployed drawing UE until mid-July. I just purchased a home last fall because of the great job I HAD.

>Anyway...it kind of sucks, but maybe BuSpar? I imagine that WITH a benzo it might be helpful; alone, it isn't so great. Antidepressants help some people...I read a case study where a patient with treatment-resistant panic attacks got better on Surmontil (an old tricyclic) after other antidepressants had failed.
>
> Good luck.

My current cocktail is Zoloft 100mg, Klonopin up to 1.5mg , doxepin 25 to 50mg for sleep, and now the Geodon, 40mg 2x per day. Zoloft is wonderful for my OCD and MDD...

Thanks for responding! Sometimes it's so hard to sort through all the stuff I find in internet searches when I get prescribed yet another trial of X drug. May I ask if you are live in the US? I know drugs are prescribed differently in different countries.

:-) Colleen


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poster:Colleen D. thread:763578
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070613/msgs/763812.html