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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Squiggles on August 30, 2006, at 8:03:09
I would like to address this question to
clonazepam users: How often has your doctor
raised your dose of clonazepam? Did your
doctor give any reasons for raising it?Thank you
Squiggles
Posted by Phillipa on August 30, 2006, at 11:21:00
In reply to Clonazepam dosing, posted by Squiggles on August 30, 2006, at 8:03:09
When I was on it for years it was never raised. Love Phillipa
Posted by Squiggles on August 30, 2006, at 11:32:40
In reply to Re: Clonazepam dosing » Squiggles, posted by Phillipa on August 30, 2006, at 11:21:00
> When I was on it for years it was never raised. Love Phillipa
Good. Thanks Phillipa - still a curiousity
though isn't it? But I have not felt any
withdrawal by being on the steady dosage
for a long time. I guess you have to know
your chemistry for this.Squiggles
Posted by Phillipa on August 30, 2006, at 18:31:37
In reply to Clonazepam dosing » Phillipa, posted by Squiggles on August 30, 2006, at 11:32:40
My pdoc says if it ain't broken don't fix it. Love Phillipa ps unless you were a seizure pt and had more seizures I wouldn't think you'd have to raise it.
Posted by Squiggles on August 30, 2006, at 19:23:05
In reply to Re: Clonazepam dosing » Squiggles, posted by Phillipa on August 30, 2006, at 18:31:37
> My pdoc says if it ain't broken don't fix it. Love Phillipa ps unless you were a seizure pt and had more seizures I wouldn't think you'd have to raise it.
It ain't broke, just a little
cracked from wear and tear. :-)Thanks
Posted by jedi on August 30, 2006, at 23:45:51
In reply to Clonazepam dosing, posted by Squiggles on August 30, 2006, at 8:03:09
> I would like to address this question to
> clonazepam users: How often has your doctor
> raised your dose of clonazepam? Did your
> doctor give any reasons for raising it?
>
> Thank you
>
> SquigglesHi,
I have been on 1mg of clonazepam for about eight years. It has never been raised. I don't have the "Sigh" of relief anymore or the somnolence side effect. But it still helps augment Nardil on my generalized and social anxiety.
Take care,
Jedi
Posted by Squiggles on August 31, 2006, at 12:43:34
In reply to Re: Clonazepam dosing » Squiggles, posted by jedi on August 30, 2006, at 23:45:51
I found a bio of Dr. Sternbach - he is
the Benzo Man. I am sorry he died recently.
I feel that these men created drugs to help
people but their discoveries were abused
or misused or just plain dumbly used,
and the results must have had
a very sad effect on them and their life's accomplishments may have been darkened
by stupidity.http://www.invent.org/hall_of_fame/228.html
Squiggles
Posted by UgottaHaveHope on August 31, 2006, at 13:20:46
In reply to Clonazepam dosing » jedi, posted by Squiggles on August 31, 2006, at 12:43:34
I've been taking Klonopin (Clonazepam) for nine years. I take less on a daily basis (1-2mg) than I did when I first started (3mg). If I really need it, I will take as much as 4-5mg on rare instances.
Dont believe the bad hype about the benzo, or any benzo. That comes from ppl who digest the drugs for recreational use. For medicinal uses, it is just fine.
Posted by Squiggles on August 31, 2006, at 13:42:16
In reply to Re: Nine years, posted by UgottaHaveHope on August 31, 2006, at 13:20:46
> I've been taking Klonopin (Clonazepam) for nine years. I take less on a daily basis (1-2mg) than I did when I first started (3mg). If I really need it, I will take as much as 4-5mg on rare instances.
>
> Dont believe the bad hype about the benzo, or any benzo. That comes from ppl who digest the drugs for recreational use. For medicinal uses, it is just fine.I'm afraid it is not a question of "belief"
but very painful experience. Though I do
not recommend to anyone that they stop clonazepam
after taking it daily for more than 5 years,
if i were advising a loved one, i would do
everything in my power to prevent withdrawal
without a knowledgeable addiction specialist's
help.Taking it indefinitely seems just fine;
it's when you quite that the problems start.Squiggles
Posted by Phillipa on August 31, 2006, at 19:00:36
In reply to Re: Nine years » UgottaHaveHope, posted by Squiggles on August 31, 2006, at 13:42:16
Why quit if it's working for you and helping you? And you're not abusing it? You can take it for life if needed. Love Phillipa
Posted by Squiggles on August 31, 2006, at 19:52:46
In reply to Re: Nine years » Squiggles, posted by Phillipa on August 31, 2006, at 19:00:36
> Why quit if it's working for you and helping you? And you're not abusing it? You can take it for life if needed. Love Phillipa
Yes, i will, but it's an academic question
too, you see.Squiggles
Posted by johnnyj on August 31, 2006, at 20:53:25
In reply to Re: Nine years » Phillipa, posted by Squiggles on August 31, 2006, at 19:52:46
Hello Squiggles:
Thank you for posting awhile back on benzo's and depression for me. I was on tranzene for over 10 years and added remeron to my mix for insomnia. While on remeron I weaned off my benzo slowly and actually felt better. The funny this is I slept MORE while weaning off but did have severe depression while weaning.
Anyway, I am on 300 mg of lithim and 3mg of lunesta right now. I have a good dx of anxiety related ocd(obsessive thoughts in my case).
I have been prescribed klonopin but have not taken any. To be honest, I am afraid. My quality of life is not good right now. I am quite numb to most feelings right now and I believe this is due to a lack of good sleep. I am afraid of getting depressed on klonopin.
I think you all can understand my feelings right now: Do I take something at the risk of an adverse affect? or Do I try and see if I slowly improve without meds? The fear is going on an ssri and klonopin, which my doc wants, but what if I am just getting on a roller coaster of pain? I am trying to sort throught things but it is tough. Withdrawal is so brutal I don't know if I can do it again if meds don't work for me. Then, there is that fear that if they don't work what then do I do? Keeping some hope sometimes seems better than not having any left.
Sorry to ramble, but your post got me thinking. thanks for listening
johnnyj
Posted by Phillipa on August 31, 2006, at 21:09:28
In reply to Re: Nine years » Squiggles, posted by johnnyj on August 31, 2006, at 20:53:25
Johnny I've been on all the benzos and yes klonopin depressed me. Now I know a lot of docs think xanax is a party drug. But it does have some antidepressant properties. If you don't have the urge to increase doesages this could be a compromise. Love Phillipa
Posted by Squiggles on August 31, 2006, at 22:16:39
In reply to Re: Nine years » Squiggles, posted by johnnyj on August 31, 2006, at 20:53:25
> Hello Squiggles:
>
> Thank you for posting awhile back on benzo's and depression for me. I was on tranzene for over 10 years and added remeron to my mix for insomnia. While on remeron I weaned off my benzo slowly and actually felt better. The funny this is I slept MORE while weaning off but did have severe depression while weaning.
>
> Anyway, I am on 300 mg of lithim and 3mg of lunesta right now. I have a good dx of anxiety related ocd(obsessive thoughts in my case).
>
> I have been prescribed klonopin but have not taken any. To be honest, I am afraid. My quality of life is not good right now. I am quite numb to most feelings right now and I believe this is due to a lack of good sleep. I am afraid of getting depressed on klonopin.
>
> I think you all can understand my feelings right now: Do I take something at the risk of an adverse affect? or Do I try and see if I slowly improve without meds? The fear is going on an ssri and klonopin, which my doc wants, but what if I am just getting on a roller coaster of pain? I am trying to sort throught things but it is tough. Withdrawal is so brutal I don't know if I can do it again if meds don't work for me. Then, there is that fear that if they don't work what then do I do? Keeping some hope sometimes seems better than not having any left.
>
> Sorry to ramble, but your post got me thinking. thanks for listening
>
> johnnyjjohnny,
here is an article i found that mentions
SSRIs, tranzene, and other alternatives,
like buspar.http://www.pubmedcentral.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1188900
Also the notorious benzo.org :-)
http://www.medical-directories.com/MedicalDirectories/mdr_tranzene.html
It sounds like an old drug. Skimming through
the net, i see that it is a long-acting benzo--
that may explain why getting off was not so
rough for you.As for depression - i think that is a symptom
that comes with may benzo withdrawal cases,
though in my experience it has always been more
on the side of agitation and anxiety.Regarding klonopin, I would not be afraid to
take this drug with SSRIs, assuming that you
are not afraid to stay on it indefinitely. It
is one of the hardest if not the hardest, if not
impossible benzo to get off of, if taken for
a long time.SSRIs are now notorious enough so that the
interaction between them (and they are agitating)
with a benzo may actually be a good thing.But so much depends on your initial dx and state -
i am sorry to say that it is complicated and you
have to work with your dr.Just my opinion.
good luck
Squiggles
p.s. once on Klonopin you do not get depressed
except a bit in the beginning and if you drink
with it.
Posted by cecilia on September 2, 2006, at 5:33:38
In reply to Clonazepam dosing, posted by Squiggles on August 30, 2006, at 8:03:09
I've been taking clonazepam for 6 years and I really don't have a clue if it's doing anything at all. I certainly don't notice anything different if I take an extra tablet. But you hear about withdrawal being so horrendous that I just don't want to deal with it it as long as my doctor is willing to keep prescribing it. I only take 1.5 mg/day. I went up to 2 mg /day when I was on Emsam, but it would have taken ten times that much to touch the Emsam anxiety/insomnia. Cecilia
Posted by Phillipa on September 2, 2006, at 20:07:06
In reply to Re: Clonazepam dosing, posted by cecilia on September 2, 2006, at 5:33:38
That bad? Love Phillipa
Posted by Greif on September 6, 2006, at 21:34:24
In reply to Re: Nine years » johnnyj, posted by Phillipa on August 31, 2006, at 21:09:28
Over 25 years I have tried mood stabalizers, benzox, SSRI atypicals, Lithium, Depakote etc. I was Xanax for 6 years and got me throught a difficult period. The ssris always caused too much anxiety. However, for the lst 2 years I have been on Lexapro and Clonzapam with no side effects. 15mg Lex in the morning and 2mg of K at night. Sleep well, have not been derpressed or had any type of anxiety mood swings. With out the K I could never tolerate the Lex. Looking back The Xanax provided a boost but I was taking 1 mg every 4 hrs too feel normal. Klon much better for long term. I keep a few Xanax around but never feel the need for it. Its an old friend that I took too long. Withdrawl was not that bad for me. Work requiring any complex decision making impossible the way I withdrew. Twice as fast as Doc recommended. Just wanted to end misery rather tahn slow burn. Took 90 day leave of ansensce and needed it.
Good luck
This is the end of the thread.
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