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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by house on July 29, 2002, at 8:23:53
I find that clonezapam helps my anxiety but hurts my short term memory and makes me depressed. I'm up to 4mg a day but see these adverse affects even at a low dosages(1mg). What are some long term benzo options besides xanax, which simply doesn't last long enough and makes me extremely tired? Does anything simular to benzos exist.
House
Posted by katekite on July 29, 2002, at 16:15:27
In reply to clonezapem/memory loss/depression, posted by house on July 29, 2002, at 8:23:53
Buspar is touted to have anti-anxiety effect without so many side effects. You would want to add the Buspar first and then taper off the clonazepam. Buspar by itself can take up to 6 weeks to work - it is nothing like the immediate relief of a benzo. Many people who have used benzodiazepines say that Buspar feels weak in comparison, but I would guess it is worth a try.
SSRIs are often used for anxiety, especially Paxil. Again it would take weeks to see an effect.
Neurontin is effective for some (like me) for anti-anxiety. I felt like it was like Valium without sedation, a very relaxed feeling. People are very individual on whether it feels sedating at the dose necessary for anxiety relief. One advantage of neurontin is it can be started at an effective dose and if it helps you would know within a few days.
If you end up tapering off of clonazepam, do so very gradually (for example, at 1/4 decrease once a month) to avoid withdrawal. I have taken several months to get (almost) off of clonazepam and am happy to report that my memory is back and general fogginess much less. Cognitive problems with chronic benzodiazepine use should be reversible.
kate
Posted by house on July 30, 2002, at 7:40:57
In reply to Re: clonezapem/memory loss/depression, posted by katekite on July 29, 2002, at 16:15:27
>Thanks Kate
> Buspar is touted to have anti-anxiety effect without so many side effects. You would want to add the Buspar first and then taper off the clonazepam. Buspar by itself can take up to 6 weeks to work - it is nothing like the immediate relief of a benzo. Many people who have used benzodiazepines say that Buspar feels weak in comparison, but I would guess it is worth a try.
>
> SSRIs are often used for anxiety, especially Paxil. Again it would take weeks to see an effect.
>
> Neurontin is effective for some (like me) for anti-anxiety. I felt like it was like Valium without sedation, a very relaxed feeling. People are very individual on whether it feels sedating at the dose necessary for anxiety relief. One advantage of neurontin is it can be started at an effective dose and if it helps you would know within a few days.
>
> If you end up tapering off of clonazepam, do so very gradually (for example, at 1/4 decrease once a month) to avoid withdrawal. I have taken several months to get (almost) off of clonazepam and am happy to report that my memory is back and general fogginess much less. Cognitive problems with chronic benzodiazepine use should be reversible.
>
> kate
This is the end of the thread.
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