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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by billym on January 23, 2004, at 1:25:33
MY OPINIONS:1) I don't believe SSRIs have any efficacy against Social Phobia/Anxiety/Inhabition.
3) Paxil may be as habituating as benzodiazepines, with far more side-effects.
4) Benzos have few side-effects for the general population.
5) Benzos do not appear to pose the health risks associated with powerful SSRI drugs.
6) Benzos, unlike SSRIs, actually work!
7) In the six days I've been on Klonopin, I've never felt more at ease around people, with more a desire to talk to people, engage with people and hopefully make a friend or two. I could notice a change with the first dose -- not psychosomatic, not a placebo effect -- immediate physical and mental CHANGE. Not dramatic, but simply an alieviation of the use irrational fears that dominate my mind -- that have unrelentingly, unceasingly dominated my mind for over a decade.
I don't know that I feel "normal" -- I just feel a lot more myself for once.
8) I'm on a low dose of .5 mg twice a day (1mg total) of generic clonazepam (possibly not as potent).
7) Side effects have included drowisness with the first pill, slightly -- very slight -- feeling of being drunk with subsequent pills. Occasional bouts of random sneezing and coughing, which I expect to go away, and which so far have proved harmless.
8) I'm not tired at all.
My conclusion: FINALLY a drug that works (and I'm on a LOW DOSE -- and trust me, before this, for months, years, I was f***** up), that isn't going to kill you, and that you don't have to combine with fifty billion other drugs to survive.
And it's relatively cheap -- $40.00 for a month's supply.
If this means addiction for me, I don't care. Bring it on! It's better than living in a constant depressed state, lacking any confidence, with barely any ability to putter out a coherent sentence around people.
This drug WORKS! WHY? Because certain people have a major problem with the GABA receptors in their brain, and this drug fixes it, just like alcohol does.
And go figure, I practically had to beg for it from my doctor -- she wanted to put me on PAXIL.
Posted by terrics on January 23, 2004, at 15:26:22
In reply to Klonopin may be the silver bullet, posted by billym on January 23, 2004, at 1:25:33
Well Billym, I agree 100%. Klonopin is A "magic bullet." I cannot work without it. If I forget it I realize right away because I am so withdrawn, nervous and unsociable. I always carry one just in case. I do not want to lose my job. terrics
Posted by rianny on January 23, 2004, at 16:25:32
In reply to Re: Klonopin may be the silver bullet, posted by terrics on January 23, 2004, at 15:26:22
> Well Billym, I agree 100%. Klonopin is A "magic bullet." I cannot work without it. If I forget it I realize right away because I am so withdrawn, nervous and unsociable. I always carry one just in case. I do not want to lose my job. terrics
Doesn't Klonopin cause depression, as its side effect?
Posted by terrics on January 23, 2004, at 22:07:49
In reply to Re: Klonopin may be the silver bullet, posted by rianny on January 23, 2004, at 16:25:32
You are right about depression being a side effect of klonopin,but I am on 3 antidepressants so maybe that helps. terrics.
Posted by micro on January 24, 2004, at 1:09:16
In reply to Re: Klonopin may be the silver bullet, posted by rianny on January 23, 2004, at 16:25:32
> > Well Billym, I agree 100%. Klonopin is A "magic bullet." I cannot work without it. If I forget it I realize right away because I am so withdrawn, nervous and unsociable. I always carry one just in case. I do not want to lose my job. terrics
>
> Doesn't Klonopin cause depression, as its side effect?
>
> Hello, Yes, Klonopin does carry the risk of precipitating a pharmacologial depression for some individuals. IT is well documented in the literature [which is why it is sometimes rxed with an antidepressant]. Although I am under the opinion that it should be d/c if depressive symtoms occur when they previously did not or worsen after instituting klonopin. However,I am greatful that it is available for those in need and do not experience difficulties with its usage. Regards Micro.
Posted by Cyrus on January 24, 2004, at 11:36:27
In reply to Re: Klonopin may be the silver bullet, posted by rianny on January 23, 2004, at 16:25:32
> > Well Billym, I agree 100%. Klonopin is A "magic bullet." I cannot work without it. If I forget it I realize right away because I am so withdrawn, nervous and unsociable. I always carry one just in case. I do not want to lose my job. terrics
>
> Doesn't Klonopin cause depression, as its side effect?
>
>
Yep. It did for me anyway. Had to switch to a small dose of another benzo (valium or librium) to keep the antidepressant effective.
Posted by HenryO on January 26, 2004, at 0:53:53
In reply to Klonopin may be the silver bullet, posted by billym on January 23, 2004, at 1:25:33
I had to beg for mine too.
I'm liking Klonopin a great deal. It was better for the first three weeks. I'm a bit worried there may be a hidden cost at the end of the line. But It has been terrific so far.
I'm going on three months. I don't feel a desire to increase the dose. I don't get a buzz from it. I added it to Lamictal and it helps a lot.
Somedays I don't take it at all. When the emotional pain is really on me I somtimes take an extra one. But I don't ever take more than two in a day. I'm a fan.
Like I say I have some worries about it. It's a Benzo and all, but so far I don't see any red flags.
I'm sure that it could be easily abused. But Ritalin is more tightly controlled and I used that for years without it becoming a problem. I still take Concerta on ocassion.
Posted by kevin40 on January 26, 2004, at 23:36:05
In reply to Klonopin may be the silver bullet, posted by billym on January 23, 2004, at 1:25:33
billym. Stop now and get off the klonopin. It and other benzo's are bad news. You may feel better now gut it is a monkey that will take over your life. There are some good websites to view the literature. Look up benzo. withdrawl syndrome at www.stormloader.com/bettyf/index.html.
Good luck.
kevin
This is the end of the thread.
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