Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 635344

Shown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

What dose klonopin?

Posted by blueberry on April 20, 2006, at 17:28:50

So I am having severe anxiety. So severe it is getting in the way of any kind of ssri or snri treatment. The only thing I know for sure will shut it down in a heartbeat is 1.25mg or 2.5mg zyprexa. But after 5 years of it, and weaning off over 4 months, I am resisting going back to it.

We did a neurotransmitter urine test and apparently glutamate is the smoking gun. While serotonin is low and other neuros are borderline low, glutamate is sky high at about 300% above normal ranges. To lower it, my doc wants to squash it down by raising all the others. But until then, I am in misssserrrryyy!

So my doc said take xanax or klonopin. I know xanax, and it works, but wanted to try another one that supposedly has less tolerance buildup. And from this board it appears that would be klonopin. I took .25mg, only calmed for about 3 hours. Then anxiety was fierce again. Any suggestions on dosing?

 

Re: What dose klonopin? » blueberry

Posted by john berk on April 20, 2006, at 19:44:36

In reply to What dose klonopin?, posted by blueberry on April 20, 2006, at 17:28:50


Hi , .25 of klonopin is a very low dose from my expeirence, when i first went on klonopin 4 years ago i was started at 0.5 3 x daily, now i just need an evening dose, which is usually 1.0!
i have even taken up to 3 mgs. daily and was able to reduce it over time, but when i am very anxious or obsessing, i don't hesitate to take 2-3 mgs. daily. i beleive up to 4 mgs. is considered safe, but i think 1-2 mgs. is a real good dose for anxiety, i hope this helps...john

 

Re: What dose klonopin?

Posted by Phillipa on April 20, 2006, at 22:10:53

In reply to Re: What dose klonopin? » blueberry, posted by john berk on April 20, 2006, at 19:44:36

Blueberry did your doc suggest a starting dose? If not then what John is saying is what I've been told that this would be a good starting dose. Love Phillipa

 

Re: What dose klonopin?

Posted by RobertDavid on April 20, 2006, at 22:38:52

In reply to Re: What dose klonopin?, posted by Phillipa on April 20, 2006, at 22:10:53

Seems everyone takes different doses at different times of day. Some once a day and some as many as 3 to 4 times a day.

The dose you're taking is very small, probably not enough to tackle your anxiety. From my experience with klonopin you need to do a slow taper up, increasing .25 every 3 or 4 days until you get relief.

Seems most with anixiety disorters wind up between 1 and 4 mgs a day, some higher. I found that 2mgs was where I needed for best results, though I once took as much as 3mgs.

It's truly trial and error, you've got to play with the dose. If you do go up, I'd just do it slowly as most are sedated at first. I take it once a day at bedtime.

Good luck. Rob

 

Re: What dose klonopin?

Posted by med_empowered on April 20, 2006, at 23:17:40

In reply to Re: What dose klonopin?, posted by RobertDavid on April 20, 2006, at 22:38:52

klonopin dosing is weird b/c there's benzo-phobia to deal with AND it has a super-long half-life. Here's my suggestion, since you seem to be freaking out:

take 1-1.5 mgs at **dinner** (it takes about 4 hours to peak out) and then that should help you sleep, at least for a couple days. If you need extra, you can probably make do with .5mgs or so in the day, in one dose or maybe divided up.

After that, see how you feel, and go up or down accordingly. 1-3mgs/day klonopin is fine; doses apparently can go up to 6-8mgs w/o any serious problems, although personally I'd try not to go quite that high unless you have other issues (bipolar, schizoaffective) that the klonopin is working on as well.

Since the half-life is so long, you can do it at nite and still feel it in the day, sans the drowsiness...the optional booster dose(s) help keep you even, and you may not even need them.

Good luck!

 

Re: What dose klonopin?

Posted by bassman on April 21, 2006, at 6:29:46

In reply to Re: What dose klonopin?, posted by med_empowered on April 20, 2006, at 23:17:40

The first time I took Klonopin, I took 0.5 mg and waited to see what would happen, since I'm sometimes sensitive to meds. I sat out on the porch and after about an hour, felt no sedative effects or anything, really, so I thought, "what was I worried about?". So I started reading a magazine. I woke up two hours later with a neighbor cat sleeping in my lap. :>} My pdoc started me at 1.5 mg/day, but I couldn't stand that high a dose-although I tried it for about 6 weeks. I never got over the snoozies and feeling tired and depressed. I hope you feel much better! Sounds like increasing the dose would improve the quality of your life. I personally had no difficulty whatever withdrawing from Klonopin, if you're concerned about that.
bassman

 

Re: What dose klonopin?

Posted by SandyWeb on April 21, 2006, at 11:00:31

In reply to Re: What dose klonopin?, posted by bassman on April 21, 2006, at 6:29:46

Just to let you know, ANY med I take is always at a high dose. I guess I'm one of those lucky few who achieve results in the small minority ABOVE the normal dosing. Makes doctors eyes pop out, though....and makes me feel like a junkie. Then again, I can always say that I'm just an above-average gal! Lol.

By the way, my daughter is the same way with her chemistry....even with over-the-counter. My son can take a SLIVER of a pill and be cured for life!! Lol.

My Klonopin dose is 4mg in the late morning/early afternoon timeframe, and then another 2mg in the evening....with even possibly another 2mg if the situation calls for it. It certainly doesn't work wonders, and I even tried 5mg once to see if I could get myself to go on a bus.....but I still couldn't do that. Obviously, social anxiety is my companion...whether I want her tagging along or not! *smile* And even at those doses, I don't find that it helps a great deal with the anxiety....but it DOES help some, and I'd much rather have it than nothing. (I also take Inderal LA 80mg twice a day to help with the adrenaline rushes and the pounding heart and all the other physical love tokens that social anxiety willingly gives to you).

Wishing you all the best!

Sandy

 

Re: Awesome response! Followup report...

Posted by blueberry on April 21, 2006, at 19:52:59

In reply to What dose klonopin?, posted by blueberry on April 20, 2006, at 17:28:50

The doc said to take .5mg twice a day to reach a consistent blood level, and then feel it out from there.

Actually today I only needed .125mg once. I felt like the fierce anxiety was just around the corner waiting to pounce on me, but it never did. Tonight at bed I'll probably do .25mg. I'm not really following doctor orders, but I mean, I'm just going to take what I need. Even at these ridiculously low doses, I do notice significant druggedness and somnolence. I figure I'll just let how I feel be the guide.

Thank you very much for all your responses. Very helpful to me.


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