Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 251128

Shown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Benzo advice please!

Posted by Jasmine Neroli on August 15, 2003, at 15:59:13

OK, there are so many of you out there with experience with benzodiazepines, I'd like some opinions. I have been on Celexa and then Remeron. Celexa worked for reducing my generalized anxiety and depression, did nothing for my insomnia, I think it made it worse! I became apathetic on it after about 8 months and occasionally had "despairing" lows and suicidal ideation. Remeron did nothing but give me great sleeps and a HOST of side-effects at all dosages tried. I am now drug free. No depression, but I'm getting a return of what I call "dumb" anxiety. It's basically a feeling of constant "butterflies" in my stomach, some nausea and irritibality . I have no phobic thoughts, fears,or anticpation worrying as I did before the SSRI. I just have rage/hysteria type attacks very occasionally, usually when I'm in an unfamiliar situation where I have to perform or do something physically new requiring coordination. Sooooooo...I was wondering about benzo's. I had been on Lorazepam for a short while whilst waiting for Celexa to work and it worked great...'cept made me a bit spacey. Any recommendations?? Low sedating anxiolytics...Anything at all. Help. Thanks!!!

 

Re: Benzo advice please!

Posted by jlo820 on August 15, 2003, at 16:05:19

In reply to Benzo advice please!, posted by Jasmine Neroli on August 15, 2003, at 15:59:13

>> I just have rage/hysteria type attacks...

Sounds like an atypical anti-psychotic (Seroquel, Risperdal, Abilify) could help.

 

Re: Benzo advice please!

Posted by Ame Sans Vie on August 15, 2003, at 16:33:04

In reply to Re: Benzo advice please!, posted by jlo820 on August 15, 2003, at 16:05:19

Before breaking out the big guns (i.e. anti-psychotics), I'd suggest giving Klonopin a try. Many of us on these boards use it and wouldn't do without it. Klonopin worked great for me, but I switched to Xanax XR a few weeks ago because I personally find it more uplifting than Klonopin. Any benzo may cause some sedation initially, but that subsides after a few weeks of continuous use. Klonopin and Xanax XR are by far the best though, IMHO. A normal dose of Klonopin can be anywhere from 0.5-20mg/day, and a single dose lasts about 8-12 hours; a normal dose of Xanax XR is typically from 0.5-10mg/day and a single dose lasts about 12-24 hours. Good luck!

 

Re: Benzo advice please!

Posted by jlo820 on August 15, 2003, at 22:00:27

In reply to Benzo advice please!, posted by Jasmine Neroli on August 15, 2003, at 15:59:13

Ame is right, I only mean tthe anti-psychotics could be used based on the specific statement you used. I think benzodiazepines would be a better first-line treatment.

Another thing to consider might be one of the mood-stabilizers to control your rage.

I would talk to your doctor about both options.

 

Re: Benzo advice please!

Posted by Guy on August 15, 2003, at 23:21:07

In reply to Benzo advice please!, posted by Jasmine Neroli on August 15, 2003, at 15:59:13

Before taking any meds, I would ask myself if I really need to go down that road. Withdrawal from the benzos can be difficult if you change your mind in the future...could put you back on the meds merry-go-round. However, if you need them you need them. Just be sure you have explored other avenues before you start.

 

Re: Benzo advice please! » Guy

Posted by Jasmine Neroli on August 16, 2003, at 0:55:59

In reply to Re: Benzo advice please!, posted by Guy on August 15, 2003, at 23:21:07

Hi Guy: Yes, I do feel cautious about it and I had posted a query (unanswered to date) about a "natural" substance derived from magnolia bark called honokiol, which has mild anxiolytic properties but doesn't act on GABA. I can't find much out about it. I was hoping to use diet, supplementation and my good old HRT instead of benzo's, but I need to return to my (stressful) job in 2 weeks and function! Thanks for your interest!

 

Re: Benzo advice please! » jlo820

Posted by Jasmine Neroli on August 16, 2003, at 1:02:47

In reply to Re: Benzo advice please!, posted by jlo820 on August 15, 2003, at 16:05:19

Yikes! I'm afraid of anti-psychotics! I only get those attacks very occasionally and I should learn to heed the "butterflies" and not put myself in stressful situations to avoid rage/hysteria attacks, I think. I feel like, if I took a benzo at the "butterflies" point, it would avoid anything worse.????
Thanks for your input Jlo.

 

Re: Benzo advice please! » Ame Sans Vie

Posted by Jasmine Neroli on August 16, 2003, at 1:10:04

In reply to Re: Benzo advice please!, posted by Ame Sans Vie on August 15, 2003, at 16:33:04

Ha! Funny you should mention Klonopin, cuz today I was researching, including some old threads on this board, and came to the same conclusion myself. It seems like such a successful drug for so many, and as I've posted to Jlo, I think taking it as I get the "butterflies", but before anything spirals out of control, might really help me. Do you think it is effective to take "as needed", or better on a continual basis? I will be talking to my doc about it next week.
Thank you so much!

 

Re: Benzo advice please! » Jasmine Neroli

Posted by Ame Sans Vie on August 16, 2003, at 15:48:59

In reply to Re: Benzo advice please! » Ame Sans Vie, posted by Jasmine Neroli on August 16, 2003, at 1:10:04

I personally find any benzo more effective when taken on a regular basis; I really begin to feel that they're working for me after about two weeks of continuous use. But yes, clonazepam (or any benzo) can be taken as-needed.

 

Re: Benzo advice please! » Jasmine Neroli

Posted by Viridis on August 18, 2003, at 0:53:24

In reply to Re: Benzo advice please! » Ame Sans Vie, posted by Jasmine Neroli on August 16, 2003, at 1:10:04

I do best with Klonopin daily, but also use Xanax on an as-needed basis (occasionally). Klonopin is very helpful for lowering overall anxiety with no side effects for me (except at the very beginning), but it's pretty subtle and sometimes isn't enough for really stressful situations. I find that Xanax comes on more quickly and provides a noticeable decrease in anxiety (one trick for really fast relief is to dissolve it under your tongue, if you don't mind the bitter taste).

Benzos are generally fine taken as-needed. The main thing to watch out for is that if you aren't used to them, they can make you sleepy, spacey etc. I found this wore off with Klonopin within a week or so of daily use, and don't notice this so much with small doses of Xanax. Some posters here have also found that it took a week or more of Klonopin use to really see the benefits.

If you are going to take a particular benzo just now and then, you should experiment a bit with doses and your reaction to make sure it doesn't zonk you out at work, or if you have to drive etc. For occasional, immediate and short-lived anxiety/panic situations, I'd lean more towards Xanax (alprazolam); for general anxiety relief on a regular basis I'd go with Klonopin. But of course, everyone reacts differently.

 

Re: Benzo advice please! » Viridis

Posted by Jasmine Neroli on August 18, 2003, at 2:45:21

In reply to Re: Benzo advice please! » Jasmine Neroli, posted by Viridis on August 18, 2003, at 0:53:24

Hi: Thanks so much for your input! Since first posting, I'm realizing that I have minor latent anxiety all the time, now I'm off Celexa (8 weeks ago) and Remeron (three weeks ago-was only on it for 4 weeks), but otherwise am feeling GREAT! More energy, got my sense of humour/fun back..hooray! I really feel that I do not need anti-depressant support, just anti-anxiety. And I know that if I ignore this minor consistent feeling it will get worse. So, I'm off to the doc tomorrow to ask for Klonipin!! I hope he agrees....he was really into the Remeron thing.
Thanks again.

 

Re: Benzo advice -Ames I got the Klonopin , Yeay!

Posted by Jasmine Neroli on August 18, 2003, at 18:35:47

In reply to Re: Benzo advice please! » Jasmine Neroli, posted by Viridis on August 18, 2003, at 0:53:24

Well, Ames, Viridis et al. MY low level fluttery anxiety stayed with me for past 4 days, flaring up twice. So I went to the doc today and am now the proud owner of Klonipin .5mg, one daily for now. !!! YEAY. He recommends taking it at night, but is ok with a.m. So I'm taking in morning at first and will take continuously rather than PRN.
Took some midday, I felt calm and a bit spacey within 1.5 hours. Yahoo!! Hope as I adjust I will get less spaciness. I'm VERY optimistic. Hope this is all I need, cuz the doc is talking about trying Effexor for "potential" depression, which may follow the anxiety (has been the pattern b4) and to help my obsessional tendencies.
I don't feel even the least bit depressed, and I think the (mild) obsessional thinking is part of the anxiety.
Thanks you guys:)

 

Re: Benzo advice -Ames I got the Klonopin , Yeay!

Posted by Ame Sans Vie on August 20, 2003, at 11:28:34

In reply to Re: Benzo advice -Ames I got the Klonopin , Yeay!, posted by Jasmine Neroli on August 18, 2003, at 18:35:47

That's great! I'm sure that you're life will be a great deal better from here on out provided your doctor is willing to stick with the Klonopin (or another benzo). Those dizzy, spacey side effects will go away in about a week or two.

Also, if you find that 0.5mg once a day isn't enough (it's actually a pretty low dose), just remember that it's not at all uncommon to go up to as much as 6mg/day.


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