Posted by Comet on February 22, 2006, at 13:33:41
This is a bit long with a couple of questions but I wanted to get some feedback from either current or former Lex or Klonopin users for GAD/Panic and Insomnia.
History: Mid 30's. I've first had panic attacks in my early 20s. In my 20's I was mostly able to control the panic and generalized anxiety with exercise, avoidance of caffeine and alcohol etc. Occasionally had to resort to intermittent use of Xanax (every few years - usually only a few days or weeks at a time). About 6 months ago I was having a bad time with GAD. Under a lot of stress, no time to exercise, lack of sleep, too much caffeine - led to panic coming back. Went to doc - this time he prescribed Klonopin. The K worked fairly well at controlling GAD (but had a sense it wouldn't work as well for a flat out panic attack)- but this time, I stayed on it for a number of months. My dosage was .5 mg a day taken at night. I slept well and had no problems. 6 months later I let my prescription run out when I wasn't feeling stressed or anxious. Within two weeks my anxiety returned full force accompanied by the worst insomnia I've ever had. My ears were ringing so bad it was a living nightmare, I was up all night and had to work all day - after a couple of weeks I was litterally walking into walls. After a few weeks of this I was pretty despondant. Went to a new doctor who put me back on K. Immediately, everything was OK again. Doc suggested that K should only be used for the short term and strongly urged me to try Lexapro as a treatment for the GAD.
The Lexapro: So about 10 days ago I decided to try the Lexapro (in part because I've always suspected that I'm at least mildly dysthymic as well). Dosage 10mg. First week was pretty bad. Agitation, fogginess, wanted to come out of my skin, and the dreaded loss of orgasm. The worst part was the inability to concentrate (I'm in grad school and this is a major problem). Also, just to deal with the side effects, I went up in K to 1mg/day. Three days ago I switch from taking the Lex in the morning to the Lex at night. This has definitely helped with the fogginess during the day. But I'm still taking more K or Ambien to sleep at night. So, here are my Questions.
1. It seems like the K was working just fine. I know docs seem to be wary of longterm use - but at least I was functioning well with no side effects that I was aware of. Maybe I should have just insisted with sticking with the K and trying to wean down slowly.
2. It's been almost two weeks on the Lex without noticible improvement but with definite side effects (though most are subsiding, except the anorgasmia). Will this actually work so that I can drop the K. Currently cutting back to .75mg and will stay on that for a week or two before going to .5.
3. But the main question - should I stick with the Lex at all or just rely on the K for now since I know that it works with no side effects. I feel like I've made a mistake by getting on Lex now.
4. I would definitely like to drop at least one of these drugs and eventually both. Any suggestions on which one to drop and how to do so would be most welcome.
Thanks and sorry for the long post.
poster:Comet
thread:612082
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060219/msgs/612082.html