Posted by Rick on September 11, 1999, at 19:44:02
In reply to Klonopin and Obstructive Sleep Apnea, posted by Rick on September 11, 1999, at 5:25:10
Bob and Noa -- Thanks for your thoughts.
Bob - I take 1.5-3.0 mg/day, depending on the particular stresses I will be facing (presentations, parties, tough meetings). Ususal is 2.0-2.5. Are you taking the Klonopin for Social Phobia or some other anxiety/disorder? What AD are you using?
Noa - I appreciate your interest in my CPAP intolerance. I will definitely check out the site you recomended, although I have seen sleep disorder sites in the past. Maybe I just need a little more self-motivation and need to experiment more and look into alternate equipment (sigh..).
I could write a book on why I hate my "deluxe" CPAP, but I'll point out a few highlights: For one thing, during the sleep lab test I felt like I was hardly sleeping at all. But during the middle of the night, they came in and said "you've had the number of episodes that require we put you on CPAP immmediately", and they did. It was awful. When it was time to leave, they said my apnea episodes dropped markedly with the machine and that I know doubt felt "great". To the contrary, I walked out feeling like a zombie -- worst morning in a month.
I can't stand sleeping with my mouth closed -- it feels SO un-natural. And I hate the chin-strap that holds my mouth shut. Without the chin-strap, my mouth invariably leaks air with those weird "sucky" sensations. And even when I AM able to tolerate mouth--closed sleeping, I fidget because I don't the "right" way to do it: should I clamp my teeth (which encourages unhealthy grinding); try to hold them apart with my tongue held back; or put my tongue between my teeth, etc.
I've often had facial pain (TMJ?), and the CPAP with it's "truss" around my face tended to make this feel worse. (Of course, since I've been on psych drugs -- all since quittng CPAP -- the facial pain seems to have largely dsappeared for some reason, so maybe this would no longer be as great a factor re the CPAP). Also, irritations like red marks across my forehead; chin strap coming off (velcro pulls apart...and I'm not sure how to position it, anyways); and a sensation of leaks around my nose despite tightening. Gawd, I wish there wasa med or effective surgery for this!
> I was diagnosed with Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea about one and one-half years ago. I just can't tolerate CPAP, and don't use the machine I have. I believe the apnea MAY have subsided to a large degree since I've 40 pounds, but this is based soley on my spouse's occasional observations. I am mildly hypertensive (don't know whether it's apnea related or not), and my p-doc prescribed very low-dose Pindolol, a non-selective beta blocker with supposed seratonergenic (sp?) effect.
>
> My question: Now, about 6 weeks after starting 2mg average daily Klonopin for Social Phobia -- with very promising results -- I have read that long-acting benzos like Klonopin can aggravate apnea (and other resperatory ailments).
>
> Has anyone out there dealt with a similar scenario? Does anyone have any advice/cautions/re-assurances? Given Klonopin's long-acting profile, is there any benefit to taking all of the day's dose before 6 p.m.? And could the Pindolol be making things worse yet (I've read that non-selective beta blockers disturb sleep)?
>
> I'm not taking an AD, and I'd really prefer not to (after trying Nardil and various potentiators, with a net result of erratic effectiveness, major side-effects, and total poop-out after eight weeks). I have no other psych disorders that I know of, except perhaps mild OCD. The Klonopin's working so well, I'd hate to give it up. Any thoughts?
>
> Thanks,
> Rick
poster:Rick
thread:11395
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990829/msgs/11441.html