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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by BRC on January 20, 2005, at 6:09:40
Hey everyone,
I always get concerned when it comes to my Klonopin. It is a wonderful med for my anxiety and it really makes me feel normal again (whatever that is suppose to be :)).
Anyway what concerns me is that some people consider it addictive, or abusive, etc. and I really become self concious when I hear stories like that.
But I have been on my Klonopin for over five years now and hope I will never have to give it up. I hope a doctor never has the idea of taking me off of it.
So, I was wondering what others experiences where with this medication good and bad. What Dosage do you take? How long have you taken it? And does it help you?
Hope to hear your responses.
BRC
Posted by anneL on January 20, 2005, at 6:51:48
In reply to Share your Klonopin stories--Good, Bad, Dose, etc., posted by BRC on January 20, 2005, at 6:09:40
I have been on Klonopin 1 mg. coming up on five years now. I started Klonopin on the advice of my GP to help me ride out severe start-up side effects from Effexor (I would get nocturnal panic attacks).
It works for me. I have no problems with it, besides a little morning sleepiness, have never felt that it was a medication with any abuse potential (for me). Perhaps I have been fortunate that none of my doctors both old and new, have ever made any negative comments about my continued use of Klonopin.
I did have one experience of forgetting to take it before bed and I woke up at 4:00 AM with what I could only imagine drug withdrawal to feel like.
I was anxious, shakey, wanted to crawl out of my skin. I had to take a dose at 5:00 AM and because it is so sedating for me, I did not wake up until 1:00 PM. Fortunately it was Sunday, and I did not have to be at work. :) anneL
Posted by johnnystats on January 20, 2005, at 7:55:44
In reply to Re: Share your Klonopin stories--Good, Bad, Dose, etc. » BRC, posted by anneL on January 20, 2005, at 6:51:48
I took .5 miligrams three times a day and i experienced intense drowsiness. I almost had a couple of accidents in my car. I'm currently on xanax, and you mentaioned addiction potential. I think this is only a problem for those who are drug/alcohol abusers or who only have moderate anxiety. But for servere anxiety, there's no better class of medications if you can tolerate the sedation and lack of coordination.
Posted by tensor on January 20, 2005, at 15:18:01
In reply to Share your Klonopin stories--Good, Bad, Dose, etc., posted by BRC on January 20, 2005, at 6:09:40
Hi,
i've been on clonazepam for almost four years, initially at 4mg, divided in two doses. The last two years 2mg at morning. It doesn't give me problems with coordination(i still beat my brother in ping-pong :-) ) but my memory is impaired. That's a devastating side effect if you study.
/Mattias
Posted by Maxime on January 20, 2005, at 21:57:44
In reply to Re: Share your Klonopin stories--Good, Bad, Dose,, posted by tensor on January 20, 2005, at 15:18:01
I have been on 4 mg of klonopin since 1996 as a mood stabiliser. I would be lost without it since I have trouble finding meds that work. I feel absolutely no sedation from it either. I still have problems sleeping in fact.
Maxime
Posted by University on January 20, 2005, at 23:22:36
In reply to Share your Klonopin stories--Good, Bad, Dose, etc., posted by BRC on January 20, 2005, at 6:09:40
I've taken clonazepam--as needed--for over a decade now. My average use is about 1mg a month--practically nothing. But when I've got existential anxiety, it works like nothing else.
I also take it when I have to fly--because I'm phobic. It makes flying a breeze (pun not intentional).
Unless you're taking it daily to ward off persistent anxiety, I wouldn't worry about it at all.
Posted by stresser on January 21, 2005, at 17:10:40
In reply to Re: Share your Klonopin stories--Good, Bad, Dose,, posted by University on January 20, 2005, at 23:22:36
I take .75mg at night for RLS and have for around seven years. Many nights I find that I get restless, and my feet along with my lower legs feel as if my skin is crawling. I have to keep shaking them until I feel really tired and fall asleep. I have felt that since the beginning, and don't think that it's an addiction thing, but you never know. I do know that I won't sleep well without it, I keep waking up and my husband wakes up because of my jerking movements. I hope this helps. Do you think it sounds like I am addicted to Konopin?-L
Posted by Colleen D. on January 21, 2005, at 19:07:10
In reply to Share your Klonopin stories--Good, Bad, Dose, etc., posted by BRC on January 20, 2005, at 6:09:40
I've been on clonazepam for about 3.5 months and I think I may be a "lifer." I have never felt this good as far as my reactions to life situations being appropriate rather than all over the place in the past.
I take 1 mg daily in two doses along with Cymbalta and I still need to take doxepin to sleep well at night. I experience no daytime sleepiness.
I used to self-medicate daily with alcohol up until I had children (who are still young - 5, 2 and 1) and now have lost the desire to drink except for an occasional glass or two of wine with dinner or a marguarita so I don't know if I'm really "at risk" for developing dependency on this drug. My GP and pdoc don't seem concerned at this point and I have talked with them openly about my past drinking.
Colleen
Posted by BRC on January 21, 2005, at 19:23:18
In reply to Re: Share your Klonopin stories--Good, Bad, Dose,, posted by stresser on January 21, 2005, at 17:10:40
No, stressor I wouldn't worry if I were you about being addicted if you only take .75mg. That is a very small dose and RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome) is a real medical condition and if Klonopin helps at that low of a dose then you are doing great.
A little info. Klonopin is actually a benzodiazapine anticunvulsant (pardon the mispelling). It was actually approved for by the FDA for the use of seizure disorders. But the medical and scientific community has found other beneficial uses for the medication such as RLS which you mentioned, panic disorder,etc.
People who usually abuses medications like Klonopin take mega doses and drink and other stuff to get high I guess.
See I have never taken drugs and don't drink. And I am on what is considered a pretty high dose for my anxiety disorders so I was just wondering how and why others take the med.
Thanks for your response and hope I answered your question.
Posted by missamor on January 22, 2005, at 12:04:24
In reply to To Stressor from BRC » stresser, posted by BRC on January 21, 2005, at 19:23:18
i have been taking for approx 2.5 year now, starting at 1mg and quickly moving to 1.5mg daily and staying at that dose. i have been taking it for gad, ocd. i always worry about taking the stupid pills but i cant imagine not taking them at this point. earlier this week me and my dr discussed the possibility of my getting pregnant and i am very worried about it. im not even engaged! but i worry about getting pregnant, weaning off, how i will feel then, just everything. i love to worry for some reason. heres a klonopin story. my two dogs split my bottle on wednesday night. i had just picked up prescription and had medicine bottle in purse on countertop. i have big dogs, so they can jump up and reach on the countertops. i woke up and there was the remainders of what they hadnt eaten from my purse. they left me a couple ink pens and a compact. but they chewed everything else. including 90-.5mg klonopin pills. so i had to be so worried and then extremely embarassed to my dr., who told me that if i was taking this type of medicine, i should be responsible with it. my pharm. who acts like i am a crack head. the vet who thinks i am a horrible pilled up mother. "my dogs ate my pills" sounds like such a lie! but my dogs ate my pills! luckily my dr. knows this has never happened. so he just refilled it. but everyone, even the insurance company scolded me. the wiemaraner was fine, but my labrador was high as a kite. could barely stand up, kept slipping on wood floors for 24 hours. i felt really bad for her.
Posted by mmcconathy on January 23, 2005, at 14:30:00
In reply to Re: To Stressor from BRC, posted by missamor on January 22, 2005, at 12:04:24
1-1.5mg of Klonopin makes me want to say anything to anyone, and not sit like im a robot, and talk "block".
2mg at night is ok for insomnia but i have bad issues, so im going for other medication.
Taken it about a couple months, there really nothing to abuse about it, makes you just tired and unmotivated, not my "type".
Matt
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