![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Phil on March 4, 2005, at 11:37:26
I seem to be making more mistakes at work that, to me, seem very stupid. I'm also very unforgiving of myself and these errors are making me nuts. I realize that sometimes my heart isn't in this job and that may contribute.
I'm taking 6/50mg Symbyax, 400mg Lamictal, and 1.5mg Clonazepam. Any input welcome.Thanks,
Phil
Posted by Ritch on March 4, 2005, at 12:37:42
In reply to Is it the drugs or is it me? Cognition..., posted by Phil on March 4, 2005, at 11:37:26
> I seem to be making more mistakes at work that, to me, seem very stupid. I'm also very unforgiving of myself and these errors are making me nuts. I realize that sometimes my heart isn't in this job and that may contribute.
> I'm taking 6/50mg Symbyax, 400mg Lamictal, and 1.5mg Clonazepam. Any input welcome.
>
> Thanks,
>
> PhilPhil, I went up on my clonazepam from the usual .5mg at bedtime to 1.0mg for over a week and started having trouble with mistakes as well. Maybe a click down on the clonazepam would help? Of course, any of the others could be offenders as well.. I've heard of cog troubles at higher end doses of Lamictal and the olanzapine in the Symbyvax could be fogging you up. Have you been on the Symbyvax for quite a while? The biggest instigator of cognitive messiness for me is sleep deprivation (esp. med-induced sleep dep.). Are you sleeping pretty soundly? I've found over the years that more clonzepam at night for sleep doesn't work any more (it *does*, but just for a few days)-- Mitch
Posted by Phil on March 4, 2005, at 13:11:29
In reply to Re: Is it the drugs or is it me? Cognition... » Phil, posted by Ritch on March 4, 2005, at 12:37:42
Thanks Ritch..I may try to go down a half mg on Clonazepam. I've been on the Symbyax for about 6 months and the Lamictal about four months.
I'm sleeping way too much so I'm thinking some residual depression could be to blame.
It always seems to be something and I'm slow to forgive myself.Phil
Posted by shoebox on March 4, 2005, at 14:40:52
In reply to Re: Is it the drugs or is it me? Cognition... » Phil, posted by Ritch on March 4, 2005, at 12:37:42
Hi, Phil
Between the Klonopin and the Lamictal, you've got yourself a nice big jar of Stupid. I am very grateful to Lamictal for how much it has helped me, but when I'm talking to a friend and can't think of a word (ex: house) I want to say, I wish I could lower my dose. I used to be on 400 and weaned down to 300, along with an AD, and I'm hanging in there, but it isn't as good as the 400, and I'm still a bit fuzzy.
Posted by Phil on March 4, 2005, at 15:41:58
In reply to Re: Is it the drugs or is it me? Cognition..., posted by shoebox on March 4, 2005, at 14:40:52
Between the Klonopin and the Lamictal, you've got yourself a nice big jar of Stupid.
_____________LOL
Posted by ed_uk on March 4, 2005, at 15:48:29
In reply to Re: Is it the drugs or is it me? Cognition... » shoebox, posted by Phil on March 4, 2005, at 15:41:58
Hi Phil!
About the Klonopin.......
I just wanted to say that benzos make me REALLY dumb. I can't remember anything and I make so many stupid mistakes because I'm not paying attention.
Ed.
Posted by Phil on March 4, 2005, at 16:15:12
In reply to Re: Is it the drugs or is it me? Cognition..., posted by ed_uk on March 4, 2005, at 15:48:29
Hey Ed...
I know there are downsides to shorter half-life benzos but do, say Valium or Xanax, have less effect on the thought process? This is getting to be too much of a problem for me but so is anxiety. What to do, what to do?
Thanks,
Phil
Posted by shoebox on March 4, 2005, at 16:22:23
In reply to Re: Is it the drugs or is it me? Cognition... » ed_uk, posted by Phil on March 4, 2005, at 16:15:12
What about Ativan? Or is that too lightweight? It didn't make me feel stupid (at least that's what my coterie of yes-men tell me).
Posted by Phil on March 4, 2005, at 16:38:00
In reply to Re: Is it the drugs or is it me? Cognition..., posted by shoebox on March 4, 2005, at 16:22:23
Honestly not that familiar with Ativan but I can do a little research, I guess. Or I would appreciate more input.
Valium and beer used to be a great party combo for me(okay, I was smoking pot, too) back in the 80's. I've used Xanax PRN several years ago; not enough to know long term SE's.
Just when I think I've got a combo that's working half *ss I get dumb as a rock. Sh*t!
Posted by ed_uk on March 4, 2005, at 16:40:20
In reply to Re: Is it the drugs or is it me? Cognition... » ed_uk, posted by Phil on March 4, 2005, at 16:15:12
Hi,
>I know there are downsides to shorter half-life benzos but do, say Valium or Xanax, have less effect on the thought process?
In general, all benzos seem to cause the same degree of cognitive impairment. Sometimes, a person will find that a particular benzo seems to cause less impairment- this is very individual though, there aren't any reliable rules. I think you should try to gradually reduce your clonazepam if possible, this would probably be more effective than substituting a different benzo.
Btw, Valium has an active metabolite with a much longer half life than Klonopin!
Ed.
Posted by Phil on March 4, 2005, at 16:52:29
In reply to Re: Is it the drugs or is it me? Cognition... » Phil, posted by ed_uk on March 4, 2005, at 16:40:20
Thanks Ed.
Posted by Fred23 on March 4, 2005, at 21:46:16
In reply to Re: Is it the drugs or is it me? Cognition..., posted by shoebox on March 4, 2005, at 16:22:23
> What about Ativan? Or is that too lightweight? It didn't make me feel stupid (at least that's what my coterie of yes-men tell me).
Ativan has much less a foggying effect than Xanax for me.
Posted by shoebox on March 5, 2005, at 8:35:46
In reply to Re: Is it the drugs or is it me? Cognition... » shoebox, posted by Fred23 on March 4, 2005, at 21:46:16
Ha! This is amusing: last night I was feeling uncharacteristically homicidal towards the new puppy, and all out of Ativan--actually, I managed to get off of it a few months ago after years of using it for sleep--and my generous husband gave me a tiny piece of his Klonopin.
Well let's just say I don't remember anything after we got home from the Chinese place and woke up twelve hours later feeling like crap.
So I guess Klonopin and Ativan aren't quite comparable.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.