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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by HopeNotLost on November 24, 2002, at 22:20:29
Have done the merry-go-round of meds with most success coming from Nardil. Since it's unavailable right now, I'm trying to see what my options are. Currently take a low dosage of Ativan to stay on an even keel, but am wondering what benefits any of you have seen with Klonopin in the treatment of panic disorder. Also, side effects? How long did they last? Can one still function with those side effects?
*Hope*
Posted by comftnumb on November 24, 2002, at 22:26:51
In reply to Success of Klonopin with panic disorder, posted by HopeNotLost on November 24, 2002, at 22:20:29
My dad uses a long-term pharmacy that mails you your meds and gives you a 3-month supply. They have plenty of Nardil. You might try getting it off an internet pharmacy (a reputable one) or finding a long-term pharmacy. Just do a search on google for "long-term pharmacy".
Posted by bubblegumchewer on November 25, 2002, at 8:09:47
In reply to Success of Klonopin with panic disorder, posted by HopeNotLost on November 24, 2002, at 22:20:29
Don't mean to scare you, but I took a low dose (.25 mg 3 x per day going up to maximum of .5 mg 4 x per day) of klonopin for panic disorder over the course of four months and my panic disorder worsened during that time. I found it to be a fine stopgap measure but a terrible long-term therapy. When the PAs reappeared about midway through, they soon became bad enough to disable me, leaving me in my room trying to "rest" more and more as they got worse. Soon I was non-functional and checked into a psych ward as I felt that I could no longer live in such a state, as I was starving to death and constantly in a state of blind fear. I could not eat, drink or sleep much at a time. The diagnosis given, of course, was depression, and I did feel better when the nortriptyline they gave me kicked in after about three weeks, but I also felt better after ramping off the last of the klonopin. In fact, I was back to my "old" happy, eating, life-loving self less than a month after checking into (and out of; they only kept me a week although I went home quite shaky) the hospital. I believe the klonopin must have had a depressant effect on me in addition to giving me terrible rebound anxiety that was nearly constant and crippling.
Posted by Mr Cushing on November 25, 2002, at 9:16:36
In reply to Success of Klonopin with panic disorder, posted by HopeNotLost on November 24, 2002, at 22:20:29
I would say that whether Clonazepam/Klonopin works well for you depends on the severity of your panic attacks. I've been dx'd with Bi-Polar 1 with Mixed States plus Panic Disorder among other things. A mood stabilizer has kept me on a fairly even keel, however, I still use about 1mg to 1.5mg of Clonazepam every day to keep the panic attacks under control and to stop the racing thoughts that I seem to go through whenever I try to sleep no matter what I'm on or how tired I am.With Clonazepam I find that it works best if used with another medication, such as an AD or Mood Stabilizer. While you're waiting for that medication to kick-in, you should probably take 3 doses of Clonazepam every day. Your doses during the morning and afternoon should be half of what you take at bedtime.
As for side-effects, honestly, I never noticed any. It's kind of hard to get off of if you ever decide to quit, and you have a "slight" hangover in the morning which I always clear up with a cup of coffee right when I get out of bed, but other than that, it works fine with me.
Clonazepam takes about 1 hour to fully kick-in though.
As for long-term, I've been taking Clonazepam off and on for about 4 years now. As long as it is used with another medication, I find that you don't have to keep boosting your dose up. I'm still fine with a maximum dose of 1.5mg a day.
Posted by ZeeZee on November 25, 2002, at 10:25:02
In reply to Success of Klonopin with panic disorder, posted by HopeNotLost on November 24, 2002, at 22:20:29
Posted by gheld on November 26, 2002, at 8:15:34
In reply to Success of Klonopin with panic disorder, posted by HopeNotLost on November 24, 2002, at 22:20:29
I have used Klonpin for several years in varying amounts and am very happy with it. My diagnosis is panic without depression and it does a great job of "bringing me down" without any side effects after some fatique the first couple of weeks. I have been able to decrease the dosage over this time, with talk therapy in addition, of course. Combining it with Buspar has a synergistic effect for me.
This is the end of the thread.
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