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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 19 of 19. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by bipolarspectrum on January 25, 2006, at 17:18:59
Hi,
I'm on lithium and seroquel for bipolar 2... its working alright, but im a little agitated and was wondering if any bipolars have success with clonazepam?
bps
Posted by Lazarus on January 25, 2006, at 19:00:29
In reply to any BIPOLARS use CLONAZEPAM?, posted by bipolarspectrum on January 25, 2006, at 17:18:59
I too have BP II disorder. I take 900 mg lithium and 12.5 mg Seroquel at night in order to sleep.
Unfortunately, those medications do nothing for anxiety. So, my PDOC added Klonopin recently, 1 mg tablets, at bedtime to help me with the anxiety I'm experiencing.
The result? I feel wonderful. The social phobia and other forms of anxiety are gone. It is a god-send medication which has temporarily saved my life.
Lazarus
Posted by Squiggles on January 25, 2006, at 19:42:52
In reply to any BIPOLARS use CLONAZEPAM?, posted by bipolarspectrum on January 25, 2006, at 17:18:59
> Hi,
> I'm on lithium and seroquel for bipolar 2... its working alright, but im a little agitated and was wondering if any bipolars have success with clonazepam?
> bpsYes, I have taken Killer K for about 15 years,
initially, for anxiety of some sort, not
for bipolar. It is an excellent benzo for
long-term sedation as it does not have to
be increased often (maybe every 7-10 yrs.)
but I think it is close to deadly in the
withdrawal mode. I could not get off it.
Also, I think care should be taken when it
is combined with some other drugs, esp.
other benzos as respiratory depression might
be the result.Squiggles
Posted by Phillipa on January 25, 2006, at 20:05:09
In reply to Re: any BIPOLARS use CLONAZEPAM?, posted by Lazarus on January 25, 2006, at 19:00:29
That's great! Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on January 25, 2006, at 20:06:26
In reply to Re: any BIPOLARS use CLONAZEPAM?, posted by Squiggles on January 25, 2006, at 19:42:52
I never had a problem stopping it and I was taking over 3mg. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Squiggles on January 25, 2006, at 20:10:29
In reply to Re: any BIPOLARS use CLONAZEPAM? » Squiggles, posted by Phillipa on January 25, 2006, at 20:06:26
> I never had a problem stopping it and I was taking over 3mg. Fondly, Phillipa
Could be a matter of time; when I first tried
to stop 0.50 mg all i felt was an electric
surge down my arm and a funny headache -
i resumed that dose and after 30 days was
OK again. That was in the first 5 yrs of
taking.When I tried to stop very gradually after about
10 yrs. of taking 1.0, i had a stroke and
a seizure -- yes, i think it was a stroke
and a seizure.Whether other factors were involved, i doubt it;
many people have attested to how hard it is
to withdraw from.Squiggles
Posted by bipolarspectrum on January 25, 2006, at 20:17:43
In reply to Re: any BIPOLARS use CLONAZEPAM?, posted by Squiggles on January 25, 2006, at 20:10:29
Thank for the replies!
The real problem for me is taht i tried clonazepam awhile back and it made me really depressed! But i wonder if I can protect against that now that I'm taking lithium... I'm not sure what it is but the combo of seroquel and lithium makes me agitated.... but my depression is much better so I wont to stay on the combo...
bps
Posted by Phillipa on January 25, 2006, at 21:05:47
In reply to Re: any BIPOLARS use CLONAZEPAM?, posted by Squiggles on January 25, 2006, at 20:10:29
Squiggles that sounds odd. Are you sure you don't have a seizure disorder that it was keeping in check? Are you okay now? Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Squiggles on January 25, 2006, at 21:18:33
In reply to Re: any BIPOLARS use CLONAZEPAM? » Squiggles, posted by Phillipa on January 25, 2006, at 21:05:47
Yes, I'm sure. The Merck Manual, the APA,
not to mention activist benzo groups, recommend
a very gradual if not substituted benzo
addition for withdrawal. A withdrawal syndrome
similar to the barbiturate one, and alcohol
is cautioned, as it may lead to seizures, and
possibly even death.Squiggles
Posted by 4WD on January 25, 2006, at 22:37:11
In reply to any BIPOLARS use CLONAZEPAM?, posted by bipolarspectrum on January 25, 2006, at 17:18:59
> Hi,
> I'm on lithium and seroquel for bipolar 2... its working alright, but im a little agitated and was wondering if any bipolars have success with clonazepam?
> bpsKlonopin saved my life when I experiencing what I now know were mixed states. Now that I'm on Depakote, I'm cutting the Klonopin way down and doing fine. I think Klonopin has some mild mood stabilizing properties.
It really helped me with feelings of fear and terror. It didn't help as much with the physical part of it - the wired up jazzed, hyperactive feeling. It DID help with it, but not as much as it helped with outright terror.
Marsha
Posted by bprandy on January 26, 2006, at 9:42:16
In reply to Re: any BIPOLARS use CLONAZEPAM? » bipolarspectrum, posted by 4WD on January 25, 2006, at 22:37:11
I have used Klonopin for about 5 years now as a sleeping aid. No problems. 1 mg a night.
Posted by Squiggles on January 26, 2006, at 11:08:06
In reply to Re: any BIPOLARS use CLONAZEPAM?, posted by bprandy on January 26, 2006, at 9:42:16
> I have used Klonopin for about 5 years now as a sleeping aid. No problems. 1 mg a night.
I have no problems with it while *on* it, and
I know people who take it - you can hardly feel
it as a "drug" but it is certainly beneficial
as an anti-anxiety drug. It is when you try
to get off it that it is problematic (at least
for me and others who have done so after a long
time on it).If withdrawal is not the explanation for those
effects, I certainly do not know what *is*.Squiggles
Posted by James K on January 26, 2006, at 12:48:37
In reply to Re: any BIPOLARS use CLONAZEPAM?, posted by Squiggles on January 26, 2006, at 11:08:06
I just wanted to throw this in. Klonopin (clonazepam) is habituating and some people do go through heck stopping it.
I've been extremely lucky to go on and off it over the years. I've also abused alcohol heavily while on it. I've even quit klonopin and alcohol cold turkey while on Welbutrin. Like I said I'm very lucky. I should have seized up or stroked out or died or something. Everyone is different. I'd like to have a brain scan just in case though.
So I think it is a good medicine for me (to bpspect) right now, but there are risks to be considered and studied.
James K
Posted by bipolarspectrum on January 27, 2006, at 16:27:20
In reply to Re: any BIPOLARS use CLONAZEPAM? » Squiggles, posted by James K on January 26, 2006, at 12:48:37
Hi,
I'm using clonazepam for agitation associated with the lithium im taking... what dose is everyone on? I would like a startin point..
bps
Posted by Squiggles on January 27, 2006, at 16:32:00
In reply to what DOSE of CLONAZEPAM do you use?????????, posted by bipolarspectrum on January 27, 2006, at 16:27:20
> Hi,
> I'm using clonazepam for agitation associated with the lithium im taking... what dose is everyone on? I would like a startin point..
> bpsLithium is causing you agitation? Wow,
it knocked me out like a 600 pound
pachyderm. I guess everyone really
*is* different like the earlier poster
on clonazepam withdrawal told me.What dose of K (clonazepam)
did your doctor start you on? Typically,
it's 0.50 mg. After 15 yrs or so, it is
now 1.50mg. I have a conservative (i don't
mean politically) dr.Squiggles
Posted by Squiggles on January 27, 2006, at 17:41:30
In reply to what DOSE of CLONAZEPAM do you use?????????, posted by bipolarspectrum on January 27, 2006, at 16:27:20
Sorry, but after many years on the net
perusing articles, learning the field,
trying to weigh the political fights
in psychopharmacology, etc., I am really
frustrated. There seems to be such a
multitude of opinion, and i was taught
that in scientific inquiry it is not
opinion that counts but proof. Furthermore,
scientific inquiry isn't even considered
valid in psychiatry and sometimes replaced
with sociology, as if the brain is not
the seat of thought. Even Aristotle guessed
at that possiblity.We seem to be in a new era. Medical
training must be different now, compared
to the days of Cade and Schou. I am very
lucky to have had the doctors who diagnosed
me 25 yrs. ago, as biological psychiatry
was not anathema then.It's very frustrating. I hope someone
with knowledge in biology, linguistics,
and maybe even logic can come with
valid clinical trials and a better
understanding.
Squiggles
Posted by cindy lou on January 30, 2006, at 13:18:26
In reply to what DOSE of CLONAZEPAM do you use?????????, posted by bipolarspectrum on January 27, 2006, at 16:27:20
I have taken Klonapin for about 5 years now. I take it before bed, usually 0.5 mg. Sometimes I need 1 mg. if I am really uptight and can't sleep. Also, I will take a half of a 0.5 tablet if I am agitated during the day (if I take the whole 0.5 it usually makes me too sleepy during the day.)
On a side note, Lithium also made me quite agitated, as did Lamictal. I have quit the mood stabilizers and take Lexapro and Dexedrine, along with Klonapin for sleep. Kind of a band-aid treatment, but keeps me afloat without knocking me out.
Best to you,
cindy> Hi,
> I'm using clonazepam for agitation associated with the lithium im taking... what dose is everyone on? I would like a startin point..
> bps
Posted by Greif on February 3, 2006, at 22:11:41
In reply to Re: what DOSE of CLONAZEPAM do you use????????? » bipolarspectrum, posted by cindy lou on January 30, 2006, at 13:18:26
Take 2 mg of K 1 at night and .5 twice during day. 5 mg lex in AM...this is best after 25 yearws of trying every mood stabalizer and SSRI
Posted by 4WD on February 3, 2006, at 22:42:06
In reply to what DOSE of CLONAZEPAM do you use?????????, posted by bipolarspectrum on January 27, 2006, at 16:27:20
> Hi,
> I'm using clonazepam for agitation associated with the lithium im taking... what dose is everyone on? I would like a startin point..
> bpsI was taking .5mg twice a day (.5mg 3 times a day for a while). After adding Depakote 500mg at night, I am back down to .5mg K in the morning only.
Marsha
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