Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 311523

Shown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

how bout clonazepam from 19 to 99?

Posted by jonh kimble on February 9, 2004, at 23:51:39

can I do that? this is the only drug that helps me and i need help (i have most anxiety disorders namable, not too much ocd) I could get addicted, which would mean realling on an extremly effective side effect free drug (god forbid) therefor it is logical to drink 40's at every social occasion, live in hell or limbo at best (unable to enjoy anything for fear of...) and ultamately wish i was dead. But at least it wasnt the doctors fault for getting me into clono addiction. Look for the logic i cant find it either.

anyway im off topic. is it plausible to expect the effects i got from 2 mgs of clono every day for the rest of my life? even if i go up a bit, who cares. is this possible though?

 

Re: how bout clonazepam from 19 to 99? » jonh kimble

Posted by action on February 10, 2004, at 1:38:22

In reply to how bout clonazepam from 19 to 99?, posted by jonh kimble on February 9, 2004, at 23:51:39

Hey John,

I was looking into taking clonazepam (Klonopin) myself and came across this very informative thread:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031231/msgs/295342.html

Hope it helps.


> can I do that? this is the only drug that helps me and i need help (i have most anxiety disorders namable, not too much ocd) I could get addicted, which would mean realling on an extremly effective side effect free drug (god forbid) therefor it is logical to drink 40's at every social occasion, live in hell or limbo at best (unable to enjoy anything for fear of...) and ultamately wish i was dead. But at least it wasnt the doctors fault for getting me into clono addiction. Look for the logic i cant find it either.
>
> anyway im off topic. is it plausible to expect the effects i got from 2 mgs of clono every day for the rest of my life? even if i go up a bit, who cares. is this possible though?

 

Re: how bout clonazepam from 19 to 99? » jonh kimble

Posted by KellyD on February 10, 2004, at 8:40:25

In reply to how bout clonazepam from 19 to 99?, posted by jonh kimble on February 9, 2004, at 23:51:39

> anyway im off topic. is it plausible to expect the effects i got from 2 mgs of clono every day for the rest of my life? even if i go up a bit, who cares. is this possible though?


~~~How long have you been a 2 mgs.???, if its been a while, chances are its the dose for you and can stay quite effective.

And, BTW, physical dependence is different from addiction. Addiction, by definition, involves psychosocial disruption, accelerated use, inapproiate use, and drug seeking behavior. If you have those signs, then yes, you are addicted, otherwise....

For me, it's not just a question of word usage. I am insulted and lead to feel even more stigmatized (isn't having a mental illness bad enough?) when that term is used to describe my usage of a med that I take to treat a disorder I have and will probably have life long. Plenty here throw the addiction word around for any use, past a few weeks, of a benzo. The information in the 'net doesn't help, either.

Good follow up with your doc is essential, but yes, there is a case to be made for long term approiate use.

 

Re: how bout clonazepam from 19 to 99? » KellyD

Posted by Chairman_MAO on February 11, 2004, at 10:08:33

In reply to Re: how bout clonazepam from 19 to 99? » jonh kimble, posted by KellyD on February 10, 2004, at 8:40:25

150 years ago the term addiction simply meant 'something which someone likes to engage in repeatedly'. Back then, if you told the average citizen that you believed a DRUG _caused_ an addiction, they would have laughed at you as they did most of those wackos in the temperance movement. Hell, even the people in the temperance movement didn't want to get rid of safe drugs like MORPHINE.

KellyD, if you are interested in this topic, a goog place to start is with what I'm currently reading, Stanton Peele's "Diseasing of America"--or trying to read because my concentration is that of a caffeinated 5-year-old and my doctor is so conservative that I have to wait out THREE WEEKS on 150mg of Wellbutrin just to go to 300. Oh yeah, this dose is really going to help my ADD. Right. Well, at least I knew enough to refuse the PROZAC he wanted to prescribe me to help my concentration. Man, how are these people board certified?

 

Re: how bout clonazepam from 19 to 99? » Chairman_MAO

Posted by KellyD on February 11, 2004, at 10:29:21

In reply to Re: how bout clonazepam from 19 to 99? » KellyD, posted by Chairman_MAO on February 11, 2004, at 10:08:33

Thanks for the book tip... I will check it out.
This "word" seems to be becoming my cause celeb... out of irritation and frustration.

Now ---- Focus, Focus....
(I did mean that to be funny)

Again, I do hope the WB helps you out.
Kelly

 

Re: how bout clonazepam from 19 to 99?

Posted by djmmm on February 11, 2004, at 20:16:29

In reply to how bout clonazepam from 19 to 99?, posted by jonh kimble on February 9, 2004, at 23:51:39

> can I do that? this is the only drug that helps me and i need help (i have most anxiety disorders namable, not too much ocd) I could get addicted, which would mean realling on an extremly effective side effect free drug (god forbid) therefor it is logical to drink 40's at every social occasion, live in hell or limbo at best (unable to enjoy anything for fear of...) and ultamately wish i was dead. But at least it wasnt the doctors fault for getting me into clono addiction. Look for the logic i cant find it either.
>
> anyway im off topic. is it plausible to expect the effects i got from 2 mgs of clono every day for the rest of my life? even if i go up a bit, who cares. is this possible though?

For what it's worth...I was taking 4mg of Klonopin for about 6 months...and after 3 or so days w/o it, I experienced the most horrible "discontinuation" syndrome you could imagine...Now, dont get me wrong, Klonopin works wonderfully, but, the "withdraw" is horrible...I thought I had the flu, but all of my joints hurt, I lost 10 lbs in a period of days, I experienced myclonic seizures, unevenly dialated pupils, extreme weakness....all of which disappeared about 30 min after taking 2mg of Klonopin. I am currently in the process of tapering down, I will NEVER use Klonopin again.

 

Re: how bout clonazepam from 19 to 99? » djmmm

Posted by Viridis on February 12, 2004, at 2:56:10

In reply to Re: how bout clonazepam from 19 to 99?, posted by djmmm on February 11, 2004, at 20:16:29

Did you stop taking it suddenly the first time you went off it? After a few months at 4 mg/day, abrupt discontinuation definitely could cause problems, even life-threatening ones. Benzos work extremely well, but a doctor who prescribes them is irresponsible if he/she doesn't stress the importance of gradual tapering to discontinue them.

Of course, withdrawal from many antidepressants can be pretty nasty too. I agree with KellyD that occurrence of discontinuation syndrome hardly constitutes "addiction" (not that you suggested this -- it's just that cases like yours can get distorted by others into "evidence" for benzo addiction).

 

Re: how bout clonazepam from 19 to 99?

Posted by djmmm on February 12, 2004, at 20:17:08

In reply to Re: how bout clonazepam from 19 to 99? » djmmm, posted by Viridis on February 12, 2004, at 2:56:10

> Did you stop taking it suddenly the first time you went off it? After a few months at 4 mg/day, abrupt discontinuation definitely could cause problems, even life-threatening ones. Benzos work extremely well, but a doctor who prescribes them is irresponsible if he/she doesn't stress the importance of gradual tapering to discontinue them.
>
> Of course, withdrawal from many antidepressants can be pretty nasty too. I agree with KellyD that occurrence of discontinuation syndrome hardly constitutes "addiction" (not that you suggested this -- it's just that cases like yours can get distorted by others into "evidence" for benzo addiction).

I did stop suddenly, but only because I could get the medication...I had stopped suddenly before, a month or so earlier, and had no problems....go figure.

As far as addiction, I believe in certain individuals, benzos are quite addictive...but only when abused.

In my case, the dr. wouldn't even call it "withdrawal" because he said that, because I had been on that dose for an extended period of time, with out needing to increase... my "withdrawal" was really a discontinuation syndrome.

and FWIW...Nardil was a FAR superior med for social phobia...the Klonopin had more of an "alcohol-like" pro-social effect..where as Nardil made me smile, and honestly, gave me a feeling similar to being in love.

 

Re: how bout clonazepam from 19 to 99?

Posted by KellyD on February 12, 2004, at 20:58:44

In reply to Re: how bout clonazepam from 19 to 99?, posted by djmmm on February 12, 2004, at 20:17:08

FWIW.. everyone is different and requires different approaches. One individual's nirvana is another's nightmare. Shows how little we really know about these issues and their treatment.

The luck is finding a treatment that works.


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