Posted by RobertDavid on May 2, 2006, at 0:05:06
In reply to THIS IS MY STORY, CrazyHorse, anybody, posted by UgottaHaveHope on May 1, 2006, at 21:44:08
I can totally relate. I have SAD and GAD. Nothing worked for me until klonopin (including other benzo's). Once I got some relief the key for me was finding the right dose (which took a while to figure out). 1mg of klonopin was helpful, but I still had the uneasy anxious feeling you describe. Finally I got up to 2mgs which did the trick for the majority of my anxiety and was very comfortable for the first time (though I still was dealing with a dysthimic condition).
In my opinion benzo's offer the quickest and best relief for anxiety and can be used long term (12 years now for me). I would suspect that if you went up say .5mgs once a week you'd find a dose that would significantly help you from where you are now. The initial sedation wears off, but not the anxiety relief (for most people). To treat an anxiety disorter with klonopin most seem to end up on a dose between 1 and 5 mgs.
Because of it's long half life I take it at bedtime which helps me sleep and the anti anxiety benefits last through the day. Of course everyone is different and there are other benzo's to consider like xanax and ativan (but shorter half lifes require multiple daily dosing). And some find relief with valium.
I've also recently added EMSAM for the dysthimia which is really helping. Klonopin is probably helping with any inital side effects I may have felt that a few others are getting, but I'm not.
Anyway, that's my take. I'd go up on klonopin and try to find the right dose (particularly since your familiar with klonopin). And though I know there is much debate about this issue it's my experience that brand works best. My doctor told me when klonopin went generic many people suddenly complained. He writes "brand only" on my perscriptions. I know it cost's more, but I choose to pay it and have noticed a difference. Again, just my take.
I truly believe the major cause for failure to respond to klonopin for anxiety as a primary disorter is not finding the right dose. I hope that helps and good luck! Rob
poster:RobertDavid
thread:639045
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060429/msgs/639080.html