Posted by Elizabeth on July 22, 2001, at 15:48:51
In reply to Klonopin addiction, posted by Joe Schmoe on July 22, 2001, at 12:50:50
> Supposedly after six weeks or so I will be "addicted" to it - physically dependent. What does this feel like? Do you start to feel really anxious when a dose wears off like with Xanax? Can you tell you are addicted?"Addicted" really isn't the right word for whtat you're talking about. But there is a possibility that using Klonopin for too long (how long it will take varies) can lead to pharmacologic dependence. You might experience rebound anxiety as a dose wears off, although it's not as pronounced as it would be with Xanax. You might also have difficulty getting to sleep or wake up in the middle of the night if you don't take a dose at bedtime. (I always found it was more effective if I took it three times a day. Some people can get away with using it only twice a day, tho'.)
> Apparently seizures can occur if a benzo is "abruptly discontinued" or not "tapered slowly enough."
That's an extreme reaction. You shouldn't discontinue Klonopin abruptly, but withdrawal from normal therapeutic doses is unlikely to cause seizures (that's not to say it's impossible, just unlikely).
> What is "abrupt" - no Klonopin for 24 hours? 48 hours?
Depends how long it works for you. Abrupt discontinuation means stopping it altogether without tapering at all.
> If you normally take say 2 mg a day, if you take 1.5 or 1 for a day does that put you at risk for a seizure, or just for feeling anxious?
The latter, if even that.
> I am taking it for social phobia.
That is a legitimate use. I wouldn't worry about withdrawal; if you do ever feel like discontinuing it, just do so very slowly (for example, decreasing your total daily dose by 0.25 mg once a week, less if once a week turns out to be too rapid for you).
As long as it's not causing unacceptable side effects, though, there's no particular reason why you should stop taking the Klonopin. Wellbutrin by itself is unlikely to help with social phobia, but Klonopin is a very good drug for this condition.
> I am struggling to determine the appropriate dose because I am also in the middle of starting Wellbutrin (starting third week) and I don't know if the Wellbutrin will feel different in a few weeks than it does now, what effect caffeine is having, etc.
Wellbutrin can be very jittery at first, and you might need more Klonopin during the first few weeks. This should get better with time.
-elizabeth
poster:Elizabeth
thread:71359
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010720/msgs/71389.html