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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 becksA on December 10, 2006, at 16:47:03
I have been diagnosed with Social Anxiety disorder, but now im SERIOUSLY questioning (as is my pdoc) if that is the right call. (It was a different doctor that diagnosed it, and had me at a VERY high dose of Xanax XR which was not working one bit for the anxiety). So I came off that and the new doc tried me on Klonipin at an equivelant high dose. (14mg per day). It was the first thing after about trying 25 million different drugs that worked at ALL for the anxiety. However the side effects at that dosage are too much and I want to come down off it, possibly completely because we're trying a new approach with Lithium. (Because of the possible misdiagnosis).
My two questions are, 1. IS it indeed a mis-diagnosis considering the fact that we tried every single drug in the book, and not only did they not do enough at maximum dosage, but I did not feel them one bit, until the klonopin at 14 daily?
2. Somewhat unrelated but I know it's risky but maybe it is even related, maybe not, I've always been curious of my uncanny ability to come off meds at extremely fast rates with very little withdrawl effects. Xanax XR I was taking I believe 12 - 14 mg daily for about a year, and I was completely off it within 3 weeks. The klonopin I have been on 14mg for about 8 - 10 months, and last week I went down to 12mg, and this week I will go down to 10. (I really could do it faster but my doc won't let me)
I remember I was maxed out on Effexor XR for almost a year and went off that COLD TURKEY! Am I human?
answer both questions plz! thanks :)
Posted by yxibow on December 10, 2006, at 19:19:58
In reply to Enough to choke a horse!, posted by becksA on December 10, 2006, at 16:47:03
> I have been diagnosed with Social Anxiety disorder, but now im SERIOUSLY questioning (as is my pdoc) if that is the right call. (It was a different doctor that diagnosed it, and had me at a VERY high dose of Xanax XR which was not working one bit for the anxiety). So I came off that and the new doc tried me on Klonipin at an equivelant high dose. (14mg per day). It was the first thing after about trying 25 million different drugs that worked at ALL for the anxiety. However the side effects at that dosage are too much and I want to come down off it, possibly completely because we're trying a new approach with Lithium. (Because of the possible misdiagnosis).
>
> My two questions are, 1. IS it indeed a mis-diagnosis considering the fact that we tried every single drug in the book, and not only did they not do enough at maximum dosage, but I did not feel them one bit, until the klonopin at 14 daily?
>
> 2. Somewhat unrelated but I know it's risky but maybe it is even related, maybe not, I've always been curious of my uncanny ability to come off meds at extremely fast rates with very little withdrawl effects. Xanax XR I was taking I believe 12 - 14 mg daily for about a year, and I was completely off it within 3 weeks. The klonopin I have been on 14mg for about 8 - 10 months, and last week I went down to 12mg, and this week I will go down to 10. (I really could do it faster but my doc won't let me)
>
> I remember I was maxed out on Effexor XR for almost a year and went off that COLD TURKEY! Am I human?
>
> answer both questions plz! thanks :)
You're probably a very fast metabolizer. I do take a fairly high level of Valium and that is probably one reason, the other being the complexity of the disorder. But I must say that 14mg is definately the highest I've heard yet though that is between you and your doctor and there are rarely some reasons for such things. It is a good thing to switch from Xanax to an agent (Klonopin) with a greater half life (16+ hours), but one should definately not drop it by milligram ranges at a time as every milligram is 20mg of Valium.At that level one should probably never drink alcohol, and if one does even a small amount, certainly only at home.
He's protecting you from having all sorts of nasty side effects like rebound anxiety and spasms, and quite frankly anything up to a grand mal seizure, because even though you may not have a seizure disorder, you're up in the region of Klonopin where that could occur with absence of medication in a hasty fashion.
-- Jay
Posted by becksA on December 10, 2006, at 19:43:44
In reply to Re: Enough to choke a horse! » becksA, posted by yxibow on December 10, 2006, at 19:19:58
What you just said about alcohol made me really begin to think I may not be human!....I'm at college and party with the best of them...14mg klonopin, 14 beers, and I'm just like anybody else at the party. (My beer tolerance has always been high as well...maybe my 6'7" size has something to do with that). I should try and get some money out of this....I could be a research experiment. I get all types of labwork done and my blood/liver always checks out A+
Posted by Phillipa on December 10, 2006, at 19:46:21
In reply to Re: Enough to choke a horse!, posted by becksA on December 10, 2006, at 19:43:44
For now but it will catch up with you in later life. I feel as Jay that l4mg is incredibly high but if you're drinking too. I don't know how you do it. And I guess it would prevent a seizure. Love Phillipa
Posted by becksA on December 10, 2006, at 20:07:56
In reply to Re: Enough to choke a horse! » becksA, posted by Phillipa on December 10, 2006, at 19:46:21
Yeah, that's one of the many reasons why, despite how amazing it has been for me and how bad the anxiety is, I want off it completely. So I'm hoping it WAS a mis-diagnosis, and the lithium will be the solution.
thanks
Posted by yxibow on December 12, 2006, at 23:48:41
In reply to Re: Enough to choke a horse!, posted by becksA on December 10, 2006, at 19:43:44
> What you just said about alcohol made me really begin to think I may not be human!....I'm at college and party with the best of them...14mg klonopin, 14 beers, and I'm just like anybody else at the party. (My beer tolerance has always been high as well...maybe my 6'7" size has something to do with that). I should try and get some money out of this....I could be a research experiment. I get all types of labwork done and my blood/liver always checks out A+
It may behoove you to remember that you're just like anyone else at the party, and that is a good thing for your social wellbeing, but you have an enormous benzodiazepine load in you, which you have become accustomed to its effects so you feel just like everyone else.
Nevertheless, while benzodiazepines were made to be far safer than barbiturates, 14 beers and 14mg of Klonopin will bring you closer to that danger zone of old line medications -- respiratory depression.That means your lungs are so relaxed by the medication that you stop breathing. Not a good place to go. Please be careful.
-- tidings
Jay
This is the end of the thread.
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