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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Joe Schmoe on August 10, 2001, at 15:37:31
Great, just when I find something that works for my social phobia (Klonopin) my new pdoc says she intends to eventually get me off this "band-aid" in favor of a more permanent solution like Celexa. Argh! I don't like the sound of this. Since when has Celexa been considered equal to Klonopin for social phobia? Now that I am starting Celexa my cocktail is Celexa 20 mg, Wellbutrin SR 100 mg, and Klonopin 2 mg/day. Hopefully the Celexa will get rid of the Wellbutrin chest pains.
The idea of losing the Klonopin has me unhappy. Now I am worried.
Posted by Amy Blue on August 10, 2001, at 15:50:33
In reply to Uh-oh, pdoc wants me off Klonopin eventually, posted by Joe Schmoe on August 10, 2001, at 15:37:31
I was able to get off Klonopin completely while taking Celexa. Celexa was the only AD that helped my anxiety. I don't have social phobia, but pretty severe general anxiety combined with panic attacks very often. I am off Klonopin completely now after two stints of 1-2 years each time. Try the Celexa and see.... I lowered the K VERY slowly and it worked. No major withdrawal, other than my own anxiety that I would have withdrawal.
Amy
Posted by MB on August 10, 2001, at 16:44:02
In reply to Uh-oh, pdoc wants me off Klonopin eventually, posted by Joe Schmoe on August 10, 2001, at 15:37:31
> The idea of losing the Klonopin has me unhappy. Now I am worried.
Well, look at it this way. If she takes you off the Klonopin and you're social phobia comes back just tell her that her plan isn't working and that you want to be put back on it. Hopefully she won't make you suffer just because she's afraid of the DEA. If she's like that, better get a new doctor. Good luck to you.
Posted by Joe Schmoe on August 11, 2001, at 0:22:44
In reply to Re: Uh-oh, pdoc wants me off Klonopin eventually, posted by Amy Blue on August 10, 2001, at 15:50:33
Well, I took the MMPI personality test thing the other day, and we were going over the results, and she muttered something about "some addiction potential" and it was after that when I asked about my scrips that she said something about going off Klonopin eventually. I am suspicious that because I answered a question or two about past marijuana use, that now she sees me as an unsuitable candidate for long term benzo use, which would really piss me off if true, because it means you shouldn't tell the truth to your pdoc. I've been using Xanax as needed for a decade, you'd think she'd realize if I was going to abuse benzos it would have shown up a long time before this. Just because I smoked pot at one point like everyone else I know, doesn't mean I can't handle Klonopin twice a day if it helps my condition.
I am starting to think the best policy might be never to admit to past illegal drug use to any doctor, they will just use it as a reason to deny you access to drugs like benzos, no matter how responsible you were/are with both legal and illegal drug use, because any illegal drug use sets off some kind of flag with them that you can't handle drug use responsibly and are prone to addictive behavior, which is ridiculous. In fact this was the first time I ever admitted it to a doctor and now it looks like I may regret it. A week ago she was saying she had patients on Klonopin for 15 years, now suddenly it's a "band-aid" until the Celexa really kicks in? Very suspicious.
Posted by Shar on August 11, 2001, at 20:30:39
In reply to Re: Uh-oh, pdoc wants me off Klonopin eventually, posted by Joe Schmoe on August 11, 2001, at 0:22:44
oooooh, I hate the kind of knee-jerk response to situations as you describe...to view marijuana use in the past as a reason to withdraw treatment with a "potentially addictive" drug.
I lie whenever it looks necessary. Now, sometimes I may not guess right and end up hoist with my own petard....but, docs seem to have a generally unwarranted paranoid response to any info on past drug use, including alcohol. Or it is given a huge amount of weight when determining what meds to use.
This includes all the docs, now that the government has taken a big-brotherly interest in who is prescribing what to whom. This is major suckage. Wonder why docs don't go ahead a prescribe--they could tell if people were using a drug inappropriately, or not as prescribed. Ie, my pills dropped down the toilet so I need a new script.....
Shar
Posted by paxvox on August 11, 2001, at 20:45:40
In reply to Pdocs, other docs, and drugs, posted by Shar on August 11, 2001, at 20:30:39
> Shar
Affirmative Shar! I'm with you 100%. What's up with these docs? You better believe if THEY needed some med THEY would get it. I believe appropriate use of meds is much better than self-medicating with drugs/alcohol of one's own chosing. BFD if I get "tolerant" to a benzo when the alternative is I'm a F****** walking zombie w/o sleep from my AD side effects (Wellbutrin).
Which one is more likely to cause me major health problems? If I fall alseep while driving home, or make a mistake at work due to lack of sleep. Oh my, welcome to the F****** 21st century!
Posted by stjames on August 11, 2001, at 21:43:47
In reply to Uh-oh, pdoc wants me off Klonopin eventually, posted by Joe Schmoe on August 10, 2001, at 15:37:31
> Great, just when I find something that works for my social phobia (Klonopin) my new pdoc says she intends to eventually get me off this "band-aid" in favor of a more permanent solution like Celexa. Argh!
James here....
I would try it. If it does not work your doc should let you stay on Klonopin. If it were me I would make a deal with my doc "I will really give this a try, but if it does not work you will let me stay on Klonopin" A win-win situation.
James
Posted by Elizabeth on August 12, 2001, at 6:17:09
In reply to Uh-oh, pdoc wants me off Klonopin eventually, posted by Joe Schmoe on August 10, 2001, at 15:37:31
> Great, just when I find something that works for my social phobia (Klonopin) my new pdoc says she intends to eventually get me off this "band-aid" in favor of a more permanent solution like Celexa.
Klonopin has a good chance of being a permanent solution. This idea that some pdocs have that SSRIs address the "root cause" of anxiety while benzos are mere "bandaids" is noxious. Benzos *do* work, in the long term, for anxiety disorders. And passing judgment on you based on a multiple-choice "personality test" is simply unprofessional.
I think MB's suggestion is a good one, as is James's. If your pdoc is still rigid about refusing to continue the Klonopin long-term even if the Celexa doesn't work, I'd tell her up front that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." If she still refuses, then ask for a referral to a psychiatrist who does not have her (rather antiquated, if you ask me) attitudes.
The idea that anyone who's ever taken recreational drugs is a drug addict (or is sure to become addicted to any drug with the remotest "abuse potential") is just ridiculous (especially considering how many people drink alcohol).
-elizabeth
Posted by Mitch on August 12, 2001, at 15:17:38
In reply to Re: Uh-oh, pdoc wants me off Klonopin eventually, posted by Joe Schmoe on August 11, 2001, at 0:22:44
Joe,
Could be just cover-your-ass behaviour on the part of your shrink. They might be concerned that you could possibly end up suing *them*. "I took a personality test that showed some signs of substance abuse and you prescribed me a controlled substance for a chronic period of time that did x,y,z.. and it is established practice for you not to prescribe abusable drugs....blahblahblah"
Mitch
Posted by Rick on August 13, 2001, at 19:51:10
In reply to Re: Uh-oh, pdoc wants me off Klonopin eventually, posted by Joe Schmoe on August 11, 2001, at 0:22:44
I haven't been on P-B for awhile, and I'm really glad to see that Wellbutrin + Klonopin is in fact working for you in a big way! From another thread, it looks like you may have found the answer to the anxiety-driven chest pains, too, in Celexa.
Everyone had great responses. I'm just posting to say I'm happy things clicked and then throw in a few editorial comments.
Too bad you're encountering the, um, unenlightened and inconsistent reaction from your pdoc about continuing Klonopin. I'm reading into this that you're constrained by an insurance plan, etc. to sticking with your current pdoc (to her credit, she DID have a good idea about the Celexa). But I tend to agree with Mitch, that this is a CYA-driven move, maybe with a dose of true (but misguided) concern and underlying peer-pressure elements thrown in ("only incompetent pdocs have to resort to ongoing benzos").
I've recently been reading about how the tide is slowly turning, with a recognition that benzos are now under-prescribed in certain cases, that they're beginning to look very safe vs. AD's, and that -- importantly -- the unofficial edict that a former "substance abuser" should virtually never use benzos for longer-term therapy is misguided.
Rick
This is the end of the thread.
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