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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by mikel on October 4, 2001, at 12:08:38
For the past two years have been trying find right AD for
depression and anxiety.Prozac and Celexa both worked, but could
not take the side effects (both had sexual,prozac made me
hyper, celexa gave me bad TMJ). With both drugs I started
out on xanax 1-2mg and was easily able to get off it after a month
or two once the ADS kicked in. Six months ago I started on
Serzone, again with the xanax, and I thought I had it.
Once I reached 600mg, no side effects except the visual
trails when I woke up which I actually find kind of cool,
no anxiety or depression. This time, when I tried to get off
the xanax I experienced bad side effects- insomnia,nausea,
dizziness, and high anxiety. I was somewhat surprised,
based on my previous experiences, but then I realized I
had actually been on xanax for more than six months. This may
also be complicated by the interaction of serzone and
xanax which leads to increased half life and blood levels of xanax.
So my doc suggested that I switch to klonopin, longer half
life. So for the past 2 mos. I have been trying to
get off klonopin and feeling really lousy. I was on
one mg,was able to get completely off for about a week by
tapering over a month, but got such horrible symptoms including
anxiety and depression went back on 0.5 which is where I am at
but still feel lousy. Still on 600mg Serzone.
I am sure some of what I am experiencing is withdrawl,
but It could also be return of symptoms, and the
serzone may not be adequate alone.
So my question is, any advice on getting off the
Klonopin? How long should withdrawl symptoms last?
If I get off, and decide the Serzone isn't enough, any
suggestions as to augmentation of Serzone (my goal is
to be benzodiazepine free eventually, especially after
this experience with withdrawl)? How about the mixture of
Serzone an Effexor, anyone try it?
Help.
Posted by gheld on October 4, 2001, at 21:41:25
In reply to Trying to get off klonopin, posted by mikel on October 4, 2001, at 12:08:38
(my goal is
> to be benzodiazepine free eventually, especially after
> this experience with withdrawl)? How about the mixture of
> Serzone an Effexor, anyone try it?
> Help.I'm wondering why you'd rather be benzo free than SSRI free. SSRI's have more side effects than benzo's do. Why not try tapering off the Serzone while staying onthe Klonopin?
I have been tapering down on Klonopin and find that I get a reaction about a week after I drop a quarter mg, and that lasts for another week. Maybe your system is not yet ready to give up any of your medications.
Posted by bob on October 4, 2001, at 21:52:32
In reply to Re: Trying to get off klonopin, posted by gheld on October 4, 2001, at 21:41:25
> (my goal is
> > to be benzodiazepine free eventually, especially after
> > this experience with withdrawl)? How about the mixture of
> > Serzone an Effexor, anyone try it?
> > Help.
>
> I'm wondering why you'd rather be benzo free than SSRI free. SSRI's have more side effects than benzo's do. Why not try tapering off the Serzone while staying onthe Klonopin?
> I have been tapering down on Klonopin and find that I get a reaction about a week after I drop a quarter mg, and that lasts for another week. Maybe your system is not yet ready to give up any of your medications.*********************
I too find that there is a delayed reaction to reducing clonazepam. I was feeling over sedated and had no anxiety anymore on a combo of 75mg of Luvox with only 3/16mg of clonazepam. I reduced it over a week to 1/8mg, and then finally 1/16. The next morning, I had the shakes, anxiety, and nausea. I also had significant depression. I immediately started ramping back up to 3/16mg. It's not the third day, and my mornings are starting to get better, I think. Clonazepam, for me, is unbelievably powerful.
Bob
Posted by kregpark@yahoo.com on October 5, 2001, at 3:01:21
In reply to Trying to get off klonopin, posted by mikel on October 4, 2001, at 12:08:38
I was curious if you had generalized anxiety or
social phobia or something else?My understanding is that GAD patients often have
some difficulty tapering off benzodiazepines,
while social phobia patients tend not to. I didn't have much
trouble after 3 years at 4.5 Klonopin down to 2.5
Klonopin in 2 weeks. Adding 75 Provigil substituded
in well for Klonopin (a tad ironic but true).Anyway - to taper faster I added 200mg Serzone
and gabapentin (don't recall dose). Worked very
well.I recommend gabapentin, 3600 is higher end I think
usually. Very axiolytic and no dependence problem
If you got down to 0 for a week and it's still
hard with plenty of gabapentin while off K for many weeks
i would think that you simply do much better with
K because K is often so effective!!!!!Anyway - my 2 cents.
kregpark
http://www.socialfear.com/> For the past two years have been trying find right AD for
> depression and anxiety.Prozac and Celexa both worked, but could
> not take the side effects (both had sexual,prozac made me
> hyper, celexa gave me bad TMJ). With both drugs I started
> out on xanax 1-2mg and was easily able to get off it after a month
> or two once the ADS kicked in. Six months ago I started on
> Serzone, again with the xanax, and I thought I had it.
> Once I reached 600mg, no side effects except the visual
> trails when I woke up which I actually find kind of cool,
> no anxiety or depression. This time, when I tried to get off
> the xanax I experienced bad side effects- insomnia,nausea,
> dizziness, and high anxiety. I was somewhat surprised,
> based on my previous experiences, but then I realized I
> had actually been on xanax for more than six months. This may
> also be complicated by the interaction of serzone and
> xanax which leads to increased half life and blood levels of xanax.
> So my doc suggested that I switch to klonopin, longer half
> life. So for the past 2 mos. I have been trying to
> get off klonopin and feeling really lousy. I was on
> one mg,was able to get completely off for about a week by
> tapering over a month, but got such horrible symptoms including
> anxiety and depression went back on 0.5 which is where I am at
> but still feel lousy. Still on 600mg Serzone.
> I am sure some of what I am experiencing is withdrawl,
> but It could also be return of symptoms, and the
> serzone may not be adequate alone.
> So my question is, any advice on getting off the
> Klonopin? How long should withdrawl symptoms last?
> If I get off, and decide the Serzone isn't enough, any
> suggestions as to augmentation of Serzone (my goal is
> to be benzodiazepine free eventually, especially after
> this experience with withdrawl)? How about the mixture of
> Serzone an Effexor, anyone try it?
> Help.
>
>
Posted by Neal on October 7, 2001, at 22:53:01
In reply to Trying to get off klonopin, posted by mikel on October 4, 2001, at 12:08:38
I second the previous advice. Get hold of some Neurontin (gabapentin) and use it throughout the day. Maybe 600mg 4 or 5 times a day.
This is the end of the thread.
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