Posted by Mr. Scott on March 17, 2001, at 16:39:00
In reply to Worried about Klonopin, posted by edsangel on March 15, 2001, at 15:07:47
> I am worried about my boyfriend, who just started taking Klonopin. He's been on Serzone for depression for 5 years, but recently changed to a more stressful job & started having more anxiety problems. Then someone broke into his car & the anxiety got worse, so his doctor is trying him on Klonopin in addition to Serzone. He takes .5 mg in the morning & (I think) .5 mg, or maybe 1 mg. at night.
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> The Konopin is reducing the anxiety, but making him extremely sleepy & tired during the day, so he's taking a caffeine pill at those times. But that seems counterproductive to me - I know from experience that caffeine raises anxiety levels. He says it doesn't make him feel stressed, just more awake. But he drives a fork-lift all day, plus with driving, the extreme sleepiness worries me. And even without the danger factor, what kind of a life is it if you feel groggy about 1/2 the time? He's just been on it almost 2 weeks. I am wondering if his doctor could reduce the daytime dose to .25 mg, or maybe split it: .25 when he gets up & another .25 later. His doctor also considered changing him from Serzone to Wellbutrin if the Klonopin didn't work, but the side-effects I've read about sound like that would make him more nervous.
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> I'm also very worried about him being on this stuff at all. I've heard so much about addiction or withdrawal, that he may need to take more over time. He's not in any kind of therapy to learn how to better react to stress, which I wish he would try.
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> Anyone have any advice?I think it's great that YOU are concerned about someone who is important in YOUR life. I speak from experience when I say Klonopin is a Last Resort option. Withdrawal IS a pain in the ass for most people, but not impossible to do either. The fact that he "Operates Heavy Machinery" is the most scarry part. If he needs Caffeine pills to keep him awake then I think it's time to change the treatment strategy. I'm surprised a doc would put someone on a double whammy of sedating drugs when they are in a job that requires alertness. Also Serzone inhibits the metabolism of Klonopin and other benzo's so if a short course of Benzo's are truly required, maybe a shorter acting one like Ativan is a better choice. Either way I would look for an alternative.
poster:Mr. Scott
thread:56589
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010310/msgs/56776.html