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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jets on June 30, 2003, at 13:14:31
The pdoc currently has me on .5 mg twice a day. It takes that edge off, but I think it should be upped to 1 mg twice a day. I think he is going to give me a problem with this. How should I present it? He also prescribed Inderal 20 mg once a day as needed and Zoloft 75 mg per day. Thanks!!
Posted by Caleb462 on June 30, 2003, at 22:45:51
In reply to I need a higher dose of Klonopin, posted by Jets on June 30, 2003, at 13:14:31
> The pdoc currently has me on .5 mg twice a day. It takes that edge off, but I think it should be upped to 1 mg twice a day. I think he is going to give me a problem with this. How should I present it? He also prescribed Inderal 20 mg once a day as needed and Zoloft 75 mg per day. Thanks!!
Tell him it is common practice for the dose of a benzo to be increased until suitable anxiety relief is found. Do some searching and you should be able to find some literature on it.
Posted by Viridis on July 1, 2003, at 2:24:47
In reply to I need a higher dose of Klonopin, posted by Jets on June 30, 2003, at 13:14:31
My pdoc considers 1 mg/day Klonopin (the amount I take) to be at the very low end for people with severe anxiety, and has offered to increase the dose. This isn't necessary for me, but apparently many people need more. Epileptics take up to 20 mg/day!
I think the key thing is to be honest and say that the med seems to work, but the dose is a bit low. Certainly don't give any indication that you're "enjoying" it (I'm not suggesting you are, but many doctors are very wary of benzos because of their undeserved reputation for abuse). And definitely don't say you need more because you "spilled it" or something (again, I doubt you would, but these are the sorts of things doctors watch out for).
I'd just be very straightforward and, as Caleb suggested, try to provide a few references on standard doses. I don't have time to dig these up, but a Google search with some combinations of "clonazepam" and "anxiety" or "panic" should turn up various sources that indicate a range of doses, according to the patient. Again, my pdoc says that often "a few mg a day" is the necessary dose, so an increase from 1 mg shouldn't seem too unusual, as long as your doctor isn't benzophobic, or has some reason to suspect "drug-seeking behavior".
One other thought: I used to split my dose, but now take 1 mg all at once in the AM. Somehow this seems more effective. It lasts about 12 hours for me, enough to get through the most stressful parts of the day.
Good luck!
Posted by Jets on July 1, 2003, at 8:38:47
In reply to I need a higher dose of Klonopin, posted by Jets on June 30, 2003, at 13:14:31
Thanks for the info. What is a common increase in dosage from .5 twice a day? Perhaps 1 mg twice a day?
This is the end of the thread.
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