![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 20 of 20. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by becksA on January 6, 2006, at 21:46:34
I'm going to be starting klonopin soon, I have severe social anxiety, and have always been very resistant to drugs as well, so I'm predicting a fairly high dosage. What different dosages are people on if they take it and how does it work for you?
Thanks
Posted by ed_uk on January 7, 2006, at 4:30:50
In reply to dosages of klonopin?, posted by becksA on January 6, 2006, at 21:46:34
The usual dose of Klonopin for anxiety is 0.25mg to 4mg per day.
Ed
Posted by cache-monkey on January 7, 2006, at 14:04:12
In reply to dosages of klonopin?, posted by becksA on January 6, 2006, at 21:46:34
I've been on varying doses of Klonopin for the last year. For me there seems to be a trade-off between anxiolysis and slowed cognition/increased depression. My sweet spot seems to be 0.875 mg/day, but I think I may have achieved some tolerance at this point. I'd say start at 0.25 mg/day and work your way up slowly in 0.25 increments if you can. This avoids overshooting the minimum effective dose.
Best,
cache-monkey
Posted by Phillipa on January 7, 2006, at 20:37:01
In reply to Re: dosages of klonopin?, posted by cache-monkey on January 7, 2006, at 14:04:12
Ive taken up to four mg a day but it dulls me. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by krybrahaha78 on January 9, 2006, at 3:28:10
In reply to Re: dosages of klonopin?, posted by cache-monkey on January 7, 2006, at 14:04:12
i take one mg twice daily and that helps me
Posted by Colleen D. on January 9, 2006, at 17:43:58
In reply to dosages of klonopin?, posted by becksA on January 6, 2006, at 21:46:34
I have MDD, OCD, GAD and SP and I take up to 1.5mg daily.
I also take Lexapro, doxepin and neurontin.
Klonopin has been a miracle drug for me, even at this low dose.
Good luck!
Posted by waterfall on January 9, 2006, at 19:50:51
In reply to dosages of klonopin?, posted by becksA on January 6, 2006, at 21:46:34
Right now I'm using between one and two milligrams a day. On one milligram the anxiety is quite bad but I can think well enough to deal with high-level work stuff. Two milligrams and I'm completely comfortable but foggy. I can't take any at all in the morning or I can't think my way out of a paper bag at work.
Posted by JohnKeats on January 9, 2006, at 22:57:31
In reply to dosages of klonopin?, posted by becksA on January 6, 2006, at 21:46:34
> I'm going to be starting klonopin soon, I have severe social anxiety, and have always been very resistant to drugs as well, so I'm predicting a fairly high dosage. What different dosages are people on if they take it and how does it work for you?
>
> ThanksKlonopin and the other benzos are the one class of drugs that are guaranteed to significantly alleviate the of symptoms social anxiety, so I woudn't worry about being resistant to it or needing a very high dose.
I have Avoidant Personality Disorder and right now I take .5mg of klonopin as needed. If I'm going to be in a situation that causes acute social anxiety I find that the .5mg really improves things. Previously I used to take a regular daily regime of 1mg x 2, but for a lot of reasons I decided to discontinue regular use (although practically the .5mg is still regular use.) For me, doses above 3 or 4 mg did produce a very calm and relaxed feeling in social situations (which was a trememdous blessing after years stuggling with horrendous anxiety,) but it didn't seem to have any long term effects on me - if I didn't take the klonopin the anxiety was as bad as ever.
Also is your pdoc looking at MAOIS for your social anxiety? MAOIs have been very effective treating social anxiety and AvPD and can also be effective for people resistant to conventional ADs.
Good luck and all the best in treating this terrible debilitating disease. Lots of people out here are struggling with this so you're not alone.
Posted by University on January 10, 2006, at 15:22:35
In reply to dosages of klonopin?, posted by becksA on January 6, 2006, at 21:46:34
I have taken clonazepam for over ten years for occasional anxiety. I find that .5mg sublingually works for most "existential" or free-floating anxiety, but 1mg-2mg works best for severe, situation/event-related anxiety.
This drug's innocuous flavor makes it VERY easy to take under the tongue, and taking it this way usually causes my anxiety to disappear in fifteen minutes.
It's a very powerful drug, and can have amnesia effects at higher doses (I never remember my flights to and from the U.K. because I always take about 3-4mg for the plane trip!)
Posted by Phillipa on January 10, 2006, at 17:41:20
In reply to Re: dosages of klonopin?, posted by University on January 10, 2006, at 15:22:35
See you guys are using it only occasionally. Daily use over decades decreases the effect. I wonder what a substitute would be? Fondly,Phillipa
Posted by University on January 10, 2006, at 21:57:34
In reply to Re: dosages of klonopin?, posted by Phillipa on January 10, 2006, at 17:41:20
> See you guys are using it only occasionally. Daily use over decades decreases the effect. I wonder what a substitute would be? Fondly,Phillipa
That is not necessarily true; many benzo users (who use the drugs for anxiety) stay on the same drug for decades--without ever having to increase the dose. Is it possible that your problem with anxiety could be causing you to concentrate on this negative, unlikely scenario instead of appreciating the drug's effectiveness *now*?
Another great thing about clonazepam is that it has a very long half-life compared to other benzos; its duration of effect is therefore longer. Knowing that the maximum daily dose is 20mg/day (for control of epileptic seizures) helped me to keep my relatively small, infrequent dose in perspective, too.
My depression was always accompanied by severe ruminative anxiety, and I remember--when I first took a benzo (Ativan)--it was so effective but so short-lived, that I could only seem to worry and worry about dosage creep, losing effectiveness, etc. When my depression was successfully treated with an SSRI, I only needed to use a benzo every now and then; have you considered trying an AD? My apologies if you already explained in an earlier post.
Posted by Phillipa on January 10, 2006, at 22:06:20
In reply to Re: dosages of klonopin?, posted by University on January 10, 2006, at 21:57:34
That's the problem so far none of them except luvox has helped. With all the others my anxiety is so extreme i literally feel like my head will explode. And thanks for your answer I'm on valium and what you say could very well be true. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by University on January 10, 2006, at 22:11:30
In reply to Re: dosages of klonopin? » University, posted by Phillipa on January 10, 2006, at 22:06:20
> That's the problem so far none of them except luvox has helped. With all the others my anxiety is so extreme i literally feel like my head will explode. And thanks for your answer I'm on valium and what you say could very well be true. Fondly, Phillipa
Sure. Well, there are sooo many ADs that can be effective for anxiety--keep trying. In the meantime, try switching to Klonopin. Valium and most other benzos are so short-acting, that--to me--they almost seem to worsen anxiety, because you can actually *feel* it wearing off. Klonopin absolutely brings (my) anxiety to its knees--every time. And its long-acting effect, for me, I think tends to make me "forget" about what caused me to be worried--or it interrupts the anxiety for a long enough time that I don't just revert to panic.
Posted by 4WD on January 12, 2006, at 20:37:28
In reply to Re: dosages of klonopin?, posted by University on January 10, 2006, at 15:22:35
> I have taken clonazepam for over ten years for occasional anxiety. I find that .5mg sublingually works for most "existential" or free-floating anxiety, but 1mg-2mg works best for severe, situation/event-related anxiety.
>
> This drug's innocuous flavor makes it VERY easy to take under the tongue, and taking it this way usually causes my anxiety to disappear in fifteen minutes.
>
> It's a very powerful drug, and can have amnesia effects at higher doses (I never remember my flights to and from the U.K. because I always take about 3-4mg for the plane trip!)Hi.
Do you take it regularly or just occasionally? It's very weird. It doesn't seem to have such a long half life for me. If I take .5mg at 9am, by 2pm I am anxious again. Of course, the .5mg at 9 doesn't really get rid of the anxiety (it's actually more fear than anxiety), it just dampens it a bit. And it seems to take at least an hour and a half to get into my system. Maybe an hour if sublingually.
Marsha
Posted by University on January 12, 2006, at 22:20:24
In reply to Re: dosages of klonopin? » University, posted by 4WD on January 12, 2006, at 20:37:28
> > I have taken clonazepam for over ten years for occasional anxiety. I find that .5mg sublingually works for most "existential" or free-floating anxiety, but 1mg-2mg works best for severe, situation/event-related anxiety.
> >
> > This drug's innocuous flavor makes it VERY easy to take under the tongue, and taking it this way usually causes my anxiety to disappear in fifteen minutes.
> >
> > It's a very powerful drug, and can have amnesia effects at higher doses (I never remember my flights to and from the U.K. because I always take about 3-4mg for the plane trip!)
>
> Hi.
>
> Do you take it regularly or just occasionally? It's very weird. It doesn't seem to have such a long half life for me. If I take .5mg at 9am, by 2pm I am anxious again. Of course, the .5mg at 9 doesn't really get rid of the anxiety (it's actually more fear than anxiety), it just dampens it a bit. And it seems to take at least an hour and a half to get into my system. Maybe an hour if sublingually.
>
> Marsha
>
>Hey Marsha,
Well, 5 hours isn't bad for good anxiety relief at such a low dose. Are you using the generic or Klonopin? I ask because the former does *not* work as well, for me I have found.
Why not try taking 1mg sublingually--on an empty stomach--and see what happens? Also, how--for yourself--are you differentiating fear and anxiety?
Taking the klon with a cup of chamomile tea, I have found, makes it more effective. Maybe placebo, maybe not.
Best,
JM
Posted by 4WD on January 12, 2006, at 22:56:21
In reply to Re: dosages of klonopin?, posted by University on January 12, 2006, at 22:20:24
> > > I have taken clonazepam for over ten years for occasional anxiety. I find that .5mg sublingually works for most "existential" or free-floating anxiety, but 1mg-2mg works best for severe, situation/event-related anxiety.
> > >
> > > This drug's innocuous flavor makes it VERY easy to take under the tongue, and taking it this way usually causes my anxiety to disappear in fifteen minutes.
> > >
> > > It's a very powerful drug, and can have amnesia effects at higher doses (I never remember my flights to and from the U.K. because I always take about 3-4mg for the plane trip!)
> >
> > Hi.
> >
> > Do you take it regularly or just occasionally? It's very weird. It doesn't seem to have such a long half life for me. If I take .5mg at 9am, by 2pm I am anxious again. Of course, the .5mg at 9 doesn't really get rid of the anxiety (it's actually more fear than anxiety), it just dampens it a bit. And it seems to take at least an hour and a half to get into my system. Maybe an hour if sublingually.
> >
> > Marsha
> >
> >
>
> Hey Marsha,
>
> Well, 5 hours isn't bad for good anxiety relief at such a low dose. Are you using the generic or Klonopin? I ask because the former does *not* work as well, for me I have found.
>
> Why not try taking 1mg sublingually--on an empty stomach--and see what happens? Also, how--for yourself--are you differentiating fear and anxiety?
>
> Taking the klon with a cup of chamomile tea, I have found, makes it more effective. Maybe placebo, maybe not.
>
> Best,
> JM
I use the generic. My pdoc told me it would be up to 20% less effective. I'm hoping not to need it soon, anyway, though, when the Effexor/Depakote kicks in.For me anxiety, is worry. Obsessive thinking, worrying about stuff and can't turn it off. My "fear" is more like an extremely nervous, jittery feeling - deep apprehension. It can feel like terror, even. Like a person who's afraid of flying and the plane is in the air and the pilot anounces you're about to make a crash landing feeling. There's a distinct physical component, too. It mostly lives in my stomach and chest. Like I can feel way too much adrenaline surging around in there. This is a chronic situation, not situational.
My pdoc has been after me all this time to take more Klonopin but I am terrified of becoming more dependent on it than I already am. I don't want to someday have to go through benzo withdrawal. And I fear higher doses make me more depressed. It also makes me ditsy. Like the other day, I meant to take my water bottle with me but when I got to the car I had the TV remote.
If I have to continue it, maybe I'll ask for the brand next time.
Thanks,
Marsha
Posted by overtheedge on January 13, 2006, at 14:05:02
In reply to Re: dosages of klonopin?, posted by waterfall on January 9, 2006, at 19:50:51
I take 30 mg a day,still hyper.... meaning go to the gym 2-3 hrs a day, but i also go to bed by 8pm....exshausted....maybe by then they have finally hit me?
Posted by Phillipa on January 13, 2006, at 18:01:19
In reply to Re: dosages of klonopin?, posted by overtheedge on January 13, 2006, at 14:05:02
30mg? Thought the max was 20 for seizure pts. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by overtheedge on January 23, 2006, at 7:05:33
In reply to Re: dosages of klonopin? » overtheedge, posted by Phillipa on January 13, 2006, at 18:01:19
Funny, yesterday driving in the car i was thinking gee need to look at that bottle.....and do you know what, they are 10 mgs each take 2 in the morn and 2 at night that would make it 40 mgs.......but i take 2 in morn 3 at night, more to calm myself down, from the extreme high i am on......
Posted by University on January 25, 2006, at 22:20:31
In reply to Re: dosages of klonopin?phillipa, posted by overtheedge on January 23, 2006, at 7:05:33
> Funny, yesterday driving in the car i was thinking gee need to look at that bottle.....and do you know what, they are 10 mgs each take 2 in the morn and 2 at night that would make it 40 mgs.......but i take 2 in morn 3 at night, more to calm myself down, from the extreme high i am on......
I don't think Klonopin comes in 10mg tablets. There's no way you could be taking 40mg of clonazepam a day and not also be extremely somnolent--plus, you'd have considerable amnesia--not able to remember what happened each day. Better check your Rx again.
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.