Posted by utopizen on October 12, 2004, at 11:37:29
In reply to question about stimulants!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, posted by woolav on October 12, 2004, at 10:10:01
> Hi, If i take a benzo for anxiety, can i also take a stimulant? Or will they counter-act each other. I am so sleepy on my klonopin and wonder if i could add something to it (if my pdoc lets me) and what would be good?
> Thanks
> sandySleepiness, unless this is your first couple of weeks on Klonopin, suggests a couple of things:
1. Your Klonopin is to high. Consider lowering the dose and experimenting with antidepressants like Cymbalta and Zoloft to try to lower your Klonopin dose.
2. Your sleepiness is an early warning sign of depression, and needs to be treated regardless of what you do with your Klonopin dose.
Most likely, it's a combo of these two things that are occuring. I went off antidepressants entirely for my social anxiety disorder, went on Klonopin and Desoxyn (for my ADD) and months later became very sleepy, developed insomnia, and before I knew it was depressed. I still am.
I don't think anyone with an anxiety disorder should be treated with a benzo solo regimen-- antidepressants can and do help to some extent, even if it's not comprable to the immediate relief you find from Klonopin. It's worth trying each one, as you can fail 20 and succeed with the 21st. I'm about to try Cymbalta, and am also on Klonopin and Adderall.
Don't turn to stims for sleepiness. Take some Provigil, lower your Klonopin dose, and add an antidepressant. If it doesn't work, up the antidepressant as high as your doctor wants, and then later add some Lithium or an antipsychotic. But treat this seriously. Stimulants just mask the issues in the short-term, believe me. Their effect at hiding depression-related sleepiness goes away over time, and I am living proof.
poster:utopizen
thread:402110
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041012/msgs/402132.html