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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 18 of 18. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Maxime on December 9, 2007, at 14:08:47
I am really happy that I am no longer a high dose of clonazepam. I think it was making things "fuzzy" for me. I don't need the adderall anymore. And the Seroquel is good for my anxiety.
If only I could get the depression under control then everything would be grand. But at least I am benzo and stim free!
Maxime
Posted by Racer on December 9, 2007, at 15:07:40
In reply to Glad I am no longer on a benzo, posted by Maxime on December 9, 2007, at 14:08:47
Sounds good.
And now, give the Zoloft some more time -- maybe it will prove to be the right medication for you, and bring an end to your depression, too.
I hope so.
Posted by sonic_gb on December 9, 2007, at 17:35:46
In reply to Glad I am no longer on a benzo, posted by Maxime on December 9, 2007, at 14:08:47
Hi Maxime,
Good for you! I agree that the clonazepam is pretty awful stuff in terms of feelin fuzzy, etc. I also found it worsened my depression. But obviously very habit forming...
I'm working on the same goal as you. My benzo usage snowballed last week before I got admitted. I maxed out at 6mg of clonazepam and 150mg of oxazepam all in one big dose in the evening. Was honest with the psychiatrist about this during my initial assessment, and he considered it a suicide attempt. It wasn't, I just wanted sleep and anxiety relief so badly. And even after that huge dose, I only got 4 hours of sleep.
Anyways, I'm down to 0.5mg of clonazepam and 30mg of oxazepam per day, and will work on tapering from here, while I'm in this facility. So far the taper is all self imposed since I haven't seen a Doctor since admission, and a large "PRN" order was written, so its all up to me... It's not the most comfortable process, but it's for the best.
So whie benzos are great for some, I've learned that they are evil and dangerous for me.
Again, congrats on being benzo free. It's an accomplishment to be proud of!
Sonic
> I am really happy that I am no longer a high dose of clonazepam. I think it was making things "fuzzy" for me. I don't need the adderall anymore. And the Seroquel is good for my anxiety.
>
> If only I could get the depression under control then everything would be grand. But at least I am benzo and stim free!
>
> Maxime
Posted by tecknohed on December 9, 2007, at 19:07:48
In reply to Glad I am no longer on a benzo, posted by Maxime on December 9, 2007, at 14:08:47
Congratulations indeed! Not only are you off the Klonopin you cleaned yourself from the Adderall too! What an accomplishment, and all in one go!!! You are a lot more head strong than you think ;)
I'm glad you're happy with the Seroquel too. Had you tried it before? If so, whats different about it this time? And what type of anxiety is it helping?
And now you can focus better on sorting out the depression - this must have been an almost impossible task whilst 'pickled' on the benzo & stim. Whatever works for it I hope it works soon! Just be good to yourself. One thing at a time, eh? ;)
Kev XO
Posted by MidnightBlue on December 9, 2007, at 20:00:54
In reply to Glad I am no longer on a benzo, posted by Maxime on December 9, 2007, at 14:08:47
Maxime,
Hang in there. One battle at a time.
MB
Posted by Maxime on December 9, 2007, at 21:18:01
In reply to Re: Glad I am no longer on a benzo Maxime, posted by tecknohed on December 9, 2007, at 19:07:48
> Congratulations indeed! Not only are you off the Klonopin you cleaned yourself from the Adderall too! What an accomplishment, and all in one go!!! You are a lot more head strong than you think ;)
>
> I'm glad you're happy with the Seroquel too. Had you tried it before? If so, whats different about it this time? And what type of anxiety is it helping?
>
> And now you can focus better on sorting out the depression - this must have been an almost impossible task whilst 'pickled' on the benzo & stim. Whatever works for it I hope it works soon! Just be good to yourself. One thing at a time, eh? ;)
>
> Kev XOHey! :)
Well I didn't have any choice as I was in the hospital and they wouldn't give it to me. Wise decision on their part.
I had taken Seroquel as a sleep aid - 25 mg. It knocked me out. They put me on 200 mg in the hospital and then my pdoc reduced it to 100 mg. It is not sedating at either of these dosages. It controls my generalized anxiety, but not my anxiety about food. Ah well.
Thanks K.
xx
Maxime
Posted by Phillipa on December 9, 2007, at 22:41:01
In reply to Re: Glad I am no longer on a benzo tecknohed, posted by Maxime on December 9, 2007, at 21:18:01
I just babbledmailed you about the benzos. Love Phillipa
Posted by Maxime on December 10, 2007, at 16:49:26
In reply to Re: Glad I am no longer on a benzo Maxime, posted by MidnightBlue on December 9, 2007, at 20:00:54
> Maxime,
>
> Hang in there. One battle at a time.
>
> MBIt hard MB. I feel like it's a race against time. I am due back at work on January 2nd. I need to be well.
Thanks for caring. :)
Maxime
Posted by Maxime on December 10, 2007, at 16:50:33
In reply to Re: Glad I am no longer on a benzo Maxime, posted by MidnightBlue on December 9, 2007, at 20:00:54
> Maxime,
>
> Hang in there. One battle at a time.
>
> MBIt hard MB. I feel like it's a race against time. I am due back at work on January 2nd. I need to be well.
Thanks for caring. :)
Maxime
Posted by Racer on December 10, 2007, at 17:10:37
In reply to Re: Glad I am no longer on a benzo MidnightBlue, posted by Maxime on December 10, 2007, at 16:50:33
> It hard MB. I feel like it's a race against time. I am due back at work on January 2nd. I need to be well.
>Maxie, hard as it is, I urge you to try to forget that date. The more you focus on that date, the harder it will be to recover. I know how hard it is, truly, but the best thing you can do for yourself right now is concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other RIGHTHEREANDNOW. Not what's going to happen in the future, but what's happening right now. I'd hate to see the anxiety about that date in the future screw up what could be a solid recovery for you, through impatience with the drugs, etc.
Best wishes to you.
Posted by torachan on December 11, 2007, at 14:40:17
In reply to Re: Glad I am no longer on a benzo Maxime, posted by Racer on December 10, 2007, at 17:10:37
soory if ILm being a party pooper, but isnLt an AP like seroquel worse than any benzo, especially longterm? I`m curious since I have GADw/depression and use clonazepam and effexor, but I`m trying to cut the benzo. How would I have a doctor prescribe seroquel for my condition and would it be a better solution?
Posted by tecknohed on December 11, 2007, at 15:26:24
In reply to Re: AP over a benzo for GAD????, posted by torachan on December 11, 2007, at 14:40:17
> soory if ILm being a party pooper, but isnLt an AP like seroquel worse than any benzo, especially longterm? I`m curious since I have GADw/depression and use clonazepam and effexor, but I`m trying to cut the benzo. How would I have a doctor prescribe seroquel for my condition and would it be a better solution?
I guess if your anxiety is partly down to excessive DA or a particular 5HT receptor malfunction then a medium to high dose AP would indeed lessen it(?)
Posted by llurpsienoodle on December 11, 2007, at 16:05:18
In reply to Re: AP over a benzo for GAD???? torachan, posted by tecknohed on December 11, 2007, at 15:26:24
I get anxiety relief from an atypical AP. I think the reason why it works is two-fold
1) it reduces the amount of ruminative thoughts in my head like "you forgot to... you stupid... you said something dumb...I can't believe I just... etc"
negative self-attributions. blame my medial frontal cortex or something
2) it is sedating and kind of quiets down the mind, offering it sleep and rest during the evening.
Posted by Racer on December 11, 2007, at 16:12:45
In reply to Re: AP over a benzo for GAD????, posted by torachan on December 11, 2007, at 14:40:17
Yes, it might be helpful. The old APs were considered heavy tranquilizers, after all. APs can reduce anxiety, without some of the tolerance issues that come along with benzos.
What's more, for some people -- myself among them -- benzos can increase depression, and sometimes cause paradoxical reactions. If I take a benzo for a panic attack, for instance, I am less likely to relax, and much more likely to experience much worse panic, along with black outs, etc -- just not fun. I can take benzos for mild anxiety, but in a panicky state, I'm SOL as far as benzos are concerned.
Hope that's helpful.
Posted by torachan on December 11, 2007, at 16:38:33
In reply to Re: AP over a benzo for GAD???? torachan, posted by Racer on December 11, 2007, at 16:12:45
Sorry for the strange character selection in my post. I did it online with my new PS3. First time I tried it.
So, a few questions. Benzos most certainly eliminate my anxiety, but as others have said, it does seem to cause some depression and there are tolerance issues it seems. I can't relate to Racer in that when I had my PA's a while back, a benzo would drop it like a rock in about 15-20 minutes. Perhaps the anxiety I had that created the panic wasn't as severe as yours, Racer.
Anyways, on the chemical front, let me try to understand the neurochemical roots of my anxiety. So benzos increase GABA activity thereby acting as a CNS suppressant thus reducing anxiety, but creates a sort of dazed and dullish brain fog.
And SSRI's, the ones I can't seem to tolerate, inhibit reuptake of serotonin which is thought to help with anxiety--don't know how exactly? The SNRI, Effexor, seems to help with my anxiety somewhat though I still feel it below the surface so I still require the use of a benzo. Why do I respond somewhat to Effexor at 75mg-150mg, but can't get past the first few weeks of an SSRI? Do the two classes act on different serotonin receptors? Somehow I suspect I haven't given an SSRI (Lex) a long enough trial if they do act on the same receptors as an SNRI (Effexor) since as I said I gained some relief from the latter.
Okay, to atypical AP's like seroquel for instance. Do they increase or decrease serotonin/norepinephrine/dopamine, and how does there action on these receptors compare and contrast with that of the other drugs mentioned? I know Seroquel acts on histamine which helps sleep, like Remeron, which I have, but I find histamine blockage only helps with sleep and not anxiety, at least not mine.
Enough for now.
Posted by Maximus on December 14, 2007, at 12:46:52
In reply to Glad I am no longer on a benzo, posted by Maxime on December 9, 2007, at 14:08:47
Yes!!! After 18 years of Rivotril's usage (1.5 mg a day), i'm finally free too. Mister Seroquel takes care of that. My mind is clearer and faster. Colors are vibrants. Libido is higher too. I now understand why pdocs insist on short term usage for benzos...
Posted by maxime on December 14, 2007, at 14:27:02
In reply to Re: I'm clonazepam free too! Maxime, posted by Maximus on December 14, 2007, at 12:46:52
> Yes!!! After 18 years of Rivotril's usage (1.5 mg a day), i'm finally free too. Mister Seroquel takes care of that. My mind is clearer and faster. Colors are vibrants. Libido is higher too. I now understand why pdocs insist on short term usage for benzos...
Mon ami!
How much Seroquel are you taking? I am on 200 mg. I think it has helped my depression. I was on 3.5. mg! Eek!
xx
Maxime
Posted by Maximus on December 14, 2007, at 15:58:34
In reply to Re: I'm clonazepam free too! Maximus, posted by maxime on December 14, 2007, at 14:27:02
> > Yes!!! After 18 years of Rivotril's usage (1.5 mg a day), i'm finally free too. Mister Seroquel takes care of that. My mind is clearer and faster. Colors are vibrants. Libido is higher too. I now understand why pdocs insist on short term usage for benzos...
>
> Mon ami!
>
> How much Seroquel are you taking? I am on 200 mg. I think it has helped my depression. I was on 3.5. mg! Eek!
>Actually i'm on 150 mg of Seroquel. No side effect. Ok, later, i gotta go. Bye. xx
This is the end of the thread.
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