Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 367689

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Clonazepam: NEW ARTICLE- use in depression

Posted by utopizen on July 19, 2004, at 8:39:24

Nihon Shinkei Seishin Yakurigaku Zasshi. 2004 Apr;24(2):75-8.
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[Clonazepam as a therapeutic adjunct to improve the management of depression]

[Article in Japanese]

Morishita S.

Depression Prevent Medical Center, Jujo Hospital, 32 Hattandacho, Kishoin, Minami-ku, Kyoto, 601-8325 Japan.

Clonazepam, which is a benzodiazepine structurally related to chlordiazepoxide hydrochloride, diazepam and nitrazepam, has been available for the treatment of seizure disorders in the USA since 1976 and in Japan since 1981. Increasingly, clonazepam has been used in the treatment of a variety of psychiatric disorders. The effect of clonazepam on depression was first reported by Jones and Chouinard in 1985. Since their report, many investigators have reported on the antidepressive properties of clonazepam. A daily dose of at least 3.0 mg clonazepam in augmentation of ongoing antidepressant treatment should be considered in depression. Regarding clonazepam augmentation therapy, if a patient does not show improvement by the end of four weeks, the treatment regimen should be altered. Age at onset of the first depressive episode and a history of family psychiatric illness should be considered the predictor of prognosis. The author discusses specific guidelines for the use of clonazepam in depression.

PMID: 15164614 [PubMed - in process]

 

Re: Clonazepam: NEW ARTICLE- use in depression

Posted by SLS on July 19, 2004, at 13:35:51

In reply to Clonazepam: NEW ARTICLE- use in depression, posted by utopizen on July 19, 2004, at 8:39:24

Several people here, including myself, reported that clonazepam made their depression worse. I tried it twice. For me, I would say that the degree of worsening was from mild to moderate.


- Scott

 

Re: Clonazepam: NEW ARTICLE- use in depression

Posted by linkadge on July 19, 2004, at 13:43:17

In reply to Re: Clonazepam: NEW ARTICLE- use in depression, posted by SLS on July 19, 2004, at 13:35:51

I found that clonazepam helped my mood considerably.

Linkadge

 

Re: Clonazepam: NEW ARTICLE- use in depression

Posted by SLS on July 19, 2004, at 14:20:49

In reply to Re: Clonazepam: NEW ARTICLE- use in depression, posted by linkadge on July 19, 2004, at 13:43:17

> I found that clonazepam helped my mood considerably.
>
> Linkadge


From way back, I remember clonazepam being ascribed some sort of serotonergic property. Do you know what it is?


- Scott

 

Re: Clonazepam: NEW ARTICLE- use in depression

Posted by SLS on July 19, 2004, at 15:02:20

In reply to Re: Clonazepam: NEW ARTICLE- use in depression, posted by SLS on July 19, 2004, at 14:20:49

> > I found that clonazepam helped my mood considerably.
> >
> > Linkadge
>
>
> From way back, I remember clonazepam being ascribed some sort of serotonergic property. Do you know what it is?


While reviewing Medline, I saw that some of the older work suggests that clonazepam is unique among the benzodiazepines in that it decreases the release and utilization (turnover) of 5-HT in rat and mouse. I bet that makes it a good anti-manic agent and an occasional depressogenic.


- Scott

 

Re: Clonazepam: NEW ARTICLE- use in depression

Posted by rod on July 20, 2004, at 3:49:19

In reply to Re: Clonazepam: NEW ARTICLE- use in depression, posted by SLS on July 19, 2004, at 15:02:20

> > > I found that clonazepam helped my mood considerably.
> > >
> > > Linkadge
> >
> >
> > From way back, I remember clonazepam being ascribed some sort of serotonergic property. Do you know what it is?
>
>
> While reviewing Medline, I saw that some of the older work suggests that clonazepam is unique among the benzodiazepines in that it decreases the release and utilization (turnover) of 5-HT in rat and mouse. I bet that makes it a good anti-manic agent and an occasional depressogenic.
>
>
> - Scott

Intersting. I get depressed from long term use of Valium, short term use of Xanax, but do get an "antidepressant" response from Clonazepam. Clonazepam helps with the stupor like, burned out like feeling I often have. It doesnt make me happy or brightens mood. I only take 0,5 mg at night. If I take more, I only get more tired. Its good for sleep, but useless for me to take when I go out, because it makes me too tired and apathtic.

Roland

 

Re: Clonazepam: NEW ARTICLE- use in depression

Posted by mair on July 20, 2004, at 7:36:02

In reply to Re: Clonazepam: NEW ARTICLE- use in depression, posted by rod on July 20, 2004, at 3:49:19

I, too, have only used it for sleep and typically at no more than .5 a night. Do people who take it in much greater amounts divide the dose? I've never tried to take it at any other time, I guess, because I've always thought of it as a sleep drug. And yes, when I have taken more than .5, I've felt more washed out in the AM.

 

Re: Clonazepam: NEW ARTICLE- use in depression

Posted by zeebop on July 20, 2004, at 9:43:47

In reply to Clonazepam: NEW ARTICLE- use in depression, posted by utopizen on July 19, 2004, at 8:39:24

I had a stange experience with it:
When I tried it "solo" it gave me severe apathy and a strong depressed feeling and tiredness.
-I tried it with prozac,and it "worked"...but then I don't know why I stopped it.
-Clonazepam and Clorazepate are the only BZ which gave me depressed effects...all other BZ I tried were good,especially Bromazepam,Diazepam,Lorazepam&Alprazolam.
-I think that all BZ have some "antidepressant"effects in general.I notice that most people who take "true" AD's , take also BZ,maybe because when you get anxiety&insomnia out,you pave the road for the end of depression.

 

Re: Clonazepam: NEW ARTICLE- use in depression

Posted by Cottonwool on July 20, 2004, at 9:58:55

In reply to Re: Clonazepam: NEW ARTICLE- use in depression, posted by zeebop on July 20, 2004, at 9:43:47

My fiance has taken Clonazepam for a while - since before we'd even met. I don't know his medical history very well - but I know it's extremely addictive, and it bothers me that he takes it. His doctor wants to switch him to xanax, which I am even more against, since he already has an addictive personality - he claims it will take three years for them to lower his dosage to get him off of it - he claims if he doesn't take it for periods of time he risks siezures from withdrawl. This all makes me so nervous.

 

Re: Clonazepam: NEW ARTICLE- use in depression

Posted by linkadge on July 21, 2004, at 9:20:52

In reply to Re: Clonazepam: NEW ARTICLE- use in depression, posted by Cottonwool on July 20, 2004, at 9:58:55

Taking clonazepam is not a big deal. It is much safer to be taking a regulated anxiety medication than to try and mask your anxiety with alchohol or other substances. There is not really much to worry about.

If he needs to get off, he will have to taper because sudden benzo withdrawl can cause seizures. I think that 3 years is a little bit of a strech myself, but it really depends on his dosage and his medical history.


Linkadge

 

Re: Clonazepam: NEW ARTICLE- use in depression

Posted by cybercafe on July 22, 2004, at 1:14:27

In reply to Re: Clonazepam: NEW ARTICLE- use in depression, posted by linkadge on July 21, 2004, at 9:20:52

i know it definately has antidepressant properties for me.... seemed to work well with parnate ... ummm.. i definately have a major anxiety disorder but whether it worked through clearing my head of anxieties or some other means i don't know ....... it seemed like i was generally more happy though, even in situations where anxiety would not have been a factor

right now i'm taking 2 mg tid which i guess is a big dose..... sometimes i will just take 4 mg od depending on what i'm doing/the situations i'm in ... othertimes i will take 2 mg bid and 4 mg od :)

 

Re: Clonazepam: NEW ARTICLE- use in depression

Posted by zeugma on July 22, 2004, at 12:53:39

In reply to Re: Clonazepam: NEW ARTICLE- use in depression, posted by cybercafe on July 22, 2004, at 1:14:27

> i know it definately has antidepressant properties for me.... seemed to work well with parnate ... ummm.. i definately have a major anxiety disorder but whether it worked through clearing my head of anxieties or some other means i don't know ....... it seemed like i was generally more happy though, even in situations where anxiety would not have been a factor
>
> right now i'm taking 2 mg tid which i guess is a big dose..... sometimes i will just take 4 mg od depending on what i'm doing/the situations i'm in ... othertimes i will take 2 mg bid and 4 mg od :)


I would guess that those with a tendency to unipolar depression get depressed on clonazepam, while bipolars find it stabilizing and/or antidepressant. It relieves my anxiety, and I am thankful for that, but aggravates my depression.

 

Re: Clonazepam: NEW ARTICLE- use in depression

Posted by starlight on July 23, 2004, at 16:25:02

In reply to Re: Clonazepam: NEW ARTICLE- use in depression, posted by zeugma on July 22, 2004, at 12:53:39

I can't use it. It aggravates my depression as well. Horribly. That's why I'm so glad that effexor works on my anxiety and keeps me from being depressed.
starlight


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