Posted by angier29 on November 19, 2010, at 22:24:50
In reply to Re: Potential switch from xanax to klonopin, worried » angier29, posted by Phillipa on November 18, 2010, at 21:50:33
> Sorry you are having so many problems. I too have always benefited from benzos 40 years on them now but seems the older I get the less I need. Klonopin for some can be depressing have you or he discussed valium. Was the only one out when I suffered first panic attack. It worked and was med free for quite a while. Til thyroid went. So I ask have you had your thyroid levels checked? Can can anxiety/depression. Good luck. Have you considered a second opinion? Phillipa
I've been physically fit/healthy for all of my life (29 now), so I don't want to indulge any borderline hypochondria about other causes; plus without insurance I don't really have the option of doing a lot of tests. Last full medical I had came back with a clean bill about 2 and a half years ago.
I'd get a second opinion about my meds if I knew how to find a psych who wasn't a benzo-phobe. I don't have anything that I would identify as depression - I just feel miserable when I'm anxious and haven't slept. If I've slept and don't feel anxiety then my mood is fine. At least, this has been the pattern for the last decade. It's just that this last event has triggered anxiety about my medications and I feel helpless because the doc is getting on his soapbox.
Again, I'd be happy to try klonopin or valium, but I fear I will psychologically undermine the drug if I perceive it as being less effective than the xanax and especially if I perceive my psych as being stingy with the dose. I can't imagine .5mg bid klonopin will be more therapeutic for me than .5mg bid xanax at this point.
Saying all this, if klonopin works and I can make a smooth transition, it's probably a better med for me because I don't have severe heart racing panic attacks (for which xanax would be best I guess); I'm currently having this restless miserable feeling and restless thoughts and anticipation anxiety about sleeping poorly that's lasting more or less all day except for 4-5 hours around 2pm when I take .5mg xanax.
poster:angier29
thread:970705
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20101117/msgs/970821.html