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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jerimycoplo on April 28, 2004, at 1:34:28
I have been prescribed 1 mg of klonopin by my pdoc per day recently. It has completely chnaged my life. Apparently my anxiety was the biggest issues I had and not my OCD. I used to feel like others were talking about me, looking down on me, felt constanly super vigilant and anxious to the point that life was absolutely no fun. After starting to take the 1 mg klonopin per day my life has COMPLETELY CHANGED. I am making tons of freinds, i feel like my true personality is shining true, i speak my mind and strangely enough people like it and they like me. I also am more productive with my work and school since I don't spend all my time worrying about how things could go wrong. For the first time in my life , I can say I am truly happy. I am dating good looking girls and have many friends.
This is compared to before the Klonopin when I felt horrible just being around people because of anxiety.
Now about the addiction part. If I stop taking the klonopin, I will*of course* be pissed, disappointed, unless i find another med that can make my anxiety go away: because who would want to live a life of anxiety like the one I had
to live without it? Does that mean I am addicted to it? I think not. It seems kinda oxymoronical to think that. When I missed my daily dose or not ran out, I get somewhat irritable- but there is a reason behind it: I have seen how life *SHOULD* be (warm friendships, dates, no excessive anxiety) and when I don't take it all that horrible NIGHTMARE of anxiety comes back and I find myself (although temporarily) in the same boat I was for most of my life when I had not being treated for GAD, Social phobia, etc...(anxiety) and I realize how faulty and abnormal my perceptions of reality are when I am unmedicated...
So is that the definition of addiction, because it seems rather illogical when looked at it this way...your opinion?
jc
Posted by Rainee on April 28, 2004, at 7:52:33
In reply to BENZO ADDICTION? LOGICAL FALLACY?, posted by jerimycoplo on April 28, 2004, at 1:34:28
The Benzo experience is different for everyone. They have the potentional to be abused by some.
The have gotten to the "street" status making it harderon those of us that need some help many Dr's are hesitant to prescribe them. Some won't at all. My first experience with them was a nightmare. I had debilitating anxiety and panic attacks My Dr gave me Klonopin I thought He was God I was better so for 2 years I took them several Mg's a day.
I became very depressed he told me too cut back but I was so afraid of the anxiety I couldn't. I was hospitalized.labeled and addict and ripped off in three days. The withdrawl was a nightmare I thought I'd die. and the symptoms went well into a year or so. It wasn't until I started prozac that I was able to over come what had happend too me.
so it can be a good thing or a bad thing my case was handled wrong. I use them today but with great respect for these drugs. In your case that's not addiction and 1mg is nothing.Rainee
Posted by Civ on April 28, 2004, at 11:34:52
In reply to BENZO ADDICTION? LOGICAL FALLACY?, posted by jerimycoplo on April 28, 2004, at 1:34:28
>>I have been prescribed 1 mg of klonopin by my pdoc per day recently. It has completely chnaged my life. Apparently my anxiety was the biggest issues I had and not my OCD. I used to feel like others were talking about me, looking down on me, felt constanly super vigilant and anxious to the point that life was absolutely no fun.<<
I can completely empathize with these feelings. It definitely sucks to live life like that. I'm a little unclear. though... does the K help obsessional thinking or just your social anxiety? I would love to find something for my OCD (more obsession than compulsion).
Congrats on your success, though. It's fantastic. I'm happy for you.
Posted by djmmm on April 28, 2004, at 19:17:33
In reply to BENZO ADDICTION? LOGICAL FALLACY?, posted by jerimycoplo on April 28, 2004, at 1:34:28
> I have been prescribed 1 mg of klonopin by my pdoc per day recently. It has completely chnaged my life. Apparently my anxiety was the biggest issues I had and not my OCD. I used to feel like others were talking about me, looking down on me, felt constanly super vigilant and anxious to the point that life was absolutely no fun. After starting to take the 1 mg klonopin per day my life has COMPLETELY CHANGED. I am making tons of freinds, i feel like my true personality is shining true, i speak my mind and strangely enough people like it and they like me. I also am more productive with my work and school since I don't spend all my time worrying about how things could go wrong. For the first time in my life , I can say I am truly happy. I am dating good looking girls and have many friends.
> This is compared to before the Klonopin when I felt horrible just being around people because of anxiety.
> Now about the addiction part. If I stop taking the klonopin, I will*of course* be pissed, disappointed, unless i find another med that can make my anxiety go away: because who would want to live a life of anxiety like the one I had
> to live without it? Does that mean I am addicted to it? I think not. It seems kinda oxymoronical to think that. When I missed my daily dose or not ran out, I get somewhat irritable- but there is a reason behind it: I have seen how life *SHOULD* be (warm friendships, dates, no excessive anxiety) and when I don't take it all that horrible NIGHTMARE of anxiety comes back and I find myself (although temporarily) in the same boat I was for most of my life when I had not being treated for GAD, Social phobia, etc...(anxiety) and I realize how faulty and abnormal my perceptions of reality are when I am unmedicated...
> So is that the definition of addiction, because it seems rather illogical when looked at it this way...
>
> your opinion?
> jc
>I wouldn't say this considered "addiction" ...but your fears concerning the psychological effects of discontinuaton sound more like "drug dependence" which can lead to physical depencence/addiction. I have been through Klonopin "withdrawal" which is probably the worst experience I have EVER been through. At times I wanted to die.
It has taken me several months to taper down to .25mg/day (from 4mg/day) I recently attempted to stop for the 3rd or 4th time, and experienced horrible withdrawal again. I have since given up on trying to discontinue this medication, and will continue to take .25mg for the rest of my life if I have to.
The worst of my withdrawal symptoms have nothing to do with anxiety/rebound anxiety... I experience severe and rapid weight loss, joint pain so severe it is difficult to walk, vision disturbances that make it impossible for me to read (uneven pupil dilation), gait disturbances, hallucinations, nightmares (if I can sleep) neck/jaw/back pain..the list goes on.
Posted by chemist on April 28, 2004, at 22:51:02
In reply to Re: BENZO ADDICTION? LOGICAL FALLACY?, posted by djmmm on April 28, 2004, at 19:17:33
> > I have been prescribed 1 mg of klonopin by my pdoc per day recently. It has completely chnaged my life. Apparently my anxiety was the biggest issues I had and not my OCD. I used to feel like others were talking about me, looking down on me, felt constanly super vigilant and anxious to the point that life was absolutely no fun. After starting to take the 1 mg klonopin per day my life has COMPLETELY CHANGED. I am making tons of freinds, i feel like my true personality is shining true, i speak my mind and strangely enough people like it and they like me. I also am more productive with my work and school since I don't spend all my time worrying about how things could go wrong. For the first time in my life , I can say I am truly happy. I am dating good looking girls and have many friends.
> > This is compared to before the Klonopin when I felt horrible just being around people because of anxiety.
> > Now about the addiction part. If I stop taking the klonopin, I will*of course* be pissed, disappointed, unless i find another med that can make my anxiety go away: because who would want to live a life of anxiety like the one I had
> > to live without it? Does that mean I am addicted to it? I think not. It seems kinda oxymoronical to think that. When I missed my daily dose or not ran out, I get somewhat irritable- but there is a reason behind it: I have seen how life *SHOULD* be (warm friendships, dates, no excessive anxiety) and when I don't take it all that horrible NIGHTMARE of anxiety comes back and I find myself (although temporarily) in the same boat I was for most of my life when I had not being treated for GAD, Social phobia, etc...(anxiety) and I realize how faulty and abnormal my perceptions of reality are when I am unmedicated...
> > So is that the definition of addiction, because it seems rather illogical when looked at it this way...
> >
> > your opinion?
> > jc
> >
>
> I wouldn't say this considered "addiction" ...but your fears concerning the psychological effects of discontinuaton sound more like "drug dependence" which can lead to physical depencence/addiction. I have been through Klonopin "withdrawal" which is probably the worst experience I have EVER been through. At times I wanted to die.
>
> It has taken me several months to taper down to .25mg/day (from 4mg/day) I recently attempted to stop for the 3rd or 4th time, and experienced horrible withdrawal again. I have since given up on trying to discontinue this medication, and will continue to take .25mg for the rest of my life if I have to.
>
> The worst of my withdrawal symptoms have nothing to do with anxiety/rebound anxiety... I experience severe and rapid weight loss, joint pain so severe it is difficult to walk, vision disturbances that make it impossible for me to read (uneven pupil dilation), gait disturbances, hallucinations, nightmares (if I can sleep) neck/jaw/back pain..the list goes on.chemist here...been there, done that: with dalmane, restoril, klonopin, valium, ativan, halcion, prosom, and xanax. points made in above post are spot-on: if it makes your life tolerable, so be it. addiction/tolerance/dependence are the least of your worries if a little pill makes you right...all the best, chemist
Posted by Viridis on April 29, 2004, at 4:32:59
In reply to BENZO ADDICTION? LOGICAL FALLACY?, posted by jerimycoplo on April 28, 2004, at 1:34:28
So, you take a medication (a very safe one), it improves your life, you're not abusing it, and you're worried about addiction?
I'd say you're lucky. If you decide to stop taking it, then you'll have to do so gradually, but this is true for many other meds, including the most commonly prescribed antidepressants. Some people have taken Klonopin for decades with no negative effects.
Constant stress causes all sorts of mental and physical problems, so if this alleviates the anxiety, I'd stick with it. You'll probably be healthier as a result, and at least you'll be able to enjoy your life.
Posted by judy1 on April 29, 2004, at 13:21:56
In reply to BENZO ADDICTION? LOGICAL FALLACY?, posted by jerimycoplo on April 28, 2004, at 1:34:28
I remember how wonderful I felt after being prescribed klonopin- it completely stopped my panic attacks. I've taken 6mg/day for years, sometimes lower depending on how I felt. I'm very happy for you that you've found a medication that works so well.
take care, judy
Posted by shadows721 on April 29, 2004, at 18:50:30
In reply to BENZO ADDICTION? LOGICAL FALLACY?, posted by jerimycoplo on April 28, 2004, at 1:34:28
I was prescribed 2mg per day for essential tremor for years. It helped, but then I developed a tolerance and my depression started breaking through too. I was ripped off the drug and in 3 days. It was undescribable what I went through. There was a defiant physical dependence.
Psycho dependence is a real thing too with this med. It's when some one thinks they can't do things without it. You are still the person doing all these things. Don't think it's all the med doing it. I think that's a false sense of security.
This med is really working on the parasympathic nervous system. People can unlearn to hyperventilate and give negative self talk. That's why I don't believe in just the med as the trick. I believe in helping the client see how they can learn how to control their own parasympathic nervous system. I think the med is useful, but not a panacea.
Posted by Viridis on April 30, 2004, at 1:31:14
In reply to Re: BENZO ADDICTION? LOGICAL FALLACY?, posted by shadows721 on April 29, 2004, at 18:50:30
Dependency is likely to develop with Klonopin -- no question. But if it improves your life and there are no substantial side effects, why not use it? Yes, there are effects on the PNS (and CNS) but that's the whole point. If it didn't affect your nervous system then there would be no reason to take it.
If you can control anxiety problems with behavioral modification, that's great. But many people simply cannot do this. Some people can control their cholesterol levels with changes in diet and exercise; others can't and need medication. It's really not much different.
Posted by shadows721 on May 1, 2004, at 0:42:38
In reply to Re: BENZO ADDICTION? LOGICAL FALLACY? » shadows721, posted by Viridis on April 30, 2004, at 1:31:14
Yep, I understand what you are saying. I don't disagree with you.
What I am saying here is that I am for the mind/body recognition and not just on the med.
This is the end of the thread.
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