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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by linkadge on September 29, 2004, at 13:54:14
I was recently prescribed clonazepam in addition to the zoloft I am taking. Clonazepam helps my anxiety in a way that no SSRI ever could.
I am concerned (not anxious) that I will build up a tollerance to it and return to my old self.
Is there anyone out there would has taken clonazepam long term, and still gained benefit from it (ie not completely reverted back to their original state) ?
Linkadge
Posted by elainen on September 29, 2004, at 15:56:37
In reply to Clonazepam questions, posted by linkadge on September 29, 2004, at 13:54:14
I have been on Klonopin for about a year and a half and I have made one increase after we figured out when and how to take it.
I started with .50 split in half one in the am and then the pm
then to the whole .50 at night.
Now, it's .75 at night and we just made that change cause I keep reacting to other MS.
Now, if I am having a wicked day, I take a .50 and that just smooths it out.
If not, I pass out. Another benefit for me is (and I dunno if this is normal) is appetite suppression.
Hope this helps. Dude, I can't remember my original state: maybe it was extra crispy....
but I can deal with traffic so much better now.
The traffic circles in Germany are rings of death.
Posted by jparsell82` on September 29, 2004, at 16:42:10
In reply to Clonazepam questions, posted by linkadge on September 29, 2004, at 13:54:14
I've been on both Xanax XR(2mg) and clonazepam (1 mg at bedtime, 1 mg in morning). I'm still taking the clonazepam(been about 6 months). I'm happy to say that I haven't developed any tolerance with klonopin unlike with xanax. Initial side effects such as drowsiness/fatigue went away for me after a couple weeks. My only complaint about clonazepam is the memory problems I've had... they haven't went away yet. It can be a pain when you're trying to go to college.
Josh
Posted by awatts on September 29, 2004, at 17:45:47
In reply to Clonazepam questions, posted by linkadge on September 29, 2004, at 13:54:14
I've been taking clonazepam for several years and have not developed tolerance. The same 0.5 mg twice a day works as well as it always has on my anxiety.
> I was recently prescribed clonazepam in addition to the zoloft I am taking. Clonazepam helps my anxiety in a way that no SSRI ever could.
>
> I am concerned (not anxious) that I will build up a tollerance to it and return to my old self.
>
> Is there anyone out there would has taken clonazepam long term, and still gained benefit from it (ie not completely reverted back to their original state) ?
>
> Linkadge
>
Posted by BRC on September 29, 2004, at 19:05:55
In reply to Clonazepam questions, posted by linkadge on September 29, 2004, at 13:54:14
Hi, I have been on Klonopin for about five years now. It works wonders for anxiety. I take 2mg in the morning and 2mg at night.
I agree that it works better than an SSRI for anxiety. But doctors are hesitant to prescribe the medication because it can be very addictive and withdrawals have to be very slowly to get off of the medication.
But my opinion if it works stick with it and worry about other consequences when you reach that bridge.Hope this helps,
BRC
Posted by Jasmineneroli on September 29, 2004, at 19:53:49
In reply to Re: Clonazepam questions » linkadge, posted by BRC on September 29, 2004, at 19:05:55
Hi Linkadge!
I've been on Clonazepam for 14 months. Started at 1mg per day ( in 2 .5mg doses) + .25mg as need for extra stressful times.
I now take .5mg at bedtime (for about past 3 months) along with 10mg Celexa. It works wonderfully for my anxiety ( and is the only thing that does).
As you can see, I've actually been able to lower my dose, with NO adverse affects at all. Before the Celexa "kicked-in" I had the occasional bad day where I had to take an extra .25mg (so a total of .75mg per day). That was always directly related to how much stress/demands were on me that day. I haven't needed more than .5mg for 2 months.
From what I've read, most ppl with anxiety disorders do NOT develop a tolerance for Clonaz. However, if you are using it as a sleep aid only, you tend to need more and more of it to get to sleep.
It seems that if GABA regulation is your problem and anxiety the main part of the disorder, then Clonazaepam is unlikely to cause a tolerance build-up.
Getting off it can be difficult, and has to be done very slowly, often by adding, then substituting a really long-life benzo.
I find it really works well with SSRI's. And if u have a real low dose, even withdrawal may not be much of a problem :).
IF you have a history of substance abuse, it should probably be avoided, though.
Best of luck..hope it works for you.
Jas
Posted by ron1953 on September 29, 2004, at 19:59:57
In reply to Clonazepam questions, posted by linkadge on September 29, 2004, at 13:54:14
I've been taking it for over 6 years, mostly for sleep. I was sometimes taking it for daytime anxiety but rarely need to any more. I take 4mg at bedtime. This may seem like a hefty dose, and it would be for most. But alas, I have a very high tolerance for all drugs. I haven't had the need to up the dosage and often take 2mg. I've stopped taking it cold turkey many times over the years, for various reasons. No withdrawal, no seizures.
Posted by linkadge on September 29, 2004, at 21:28:56
In reply to Re: Clonazepam questions » linkadge, posted by ron1953 on September 29, 2004, at 19:59:57
I was taking 5mg of zyprexa and told the doctor I'm not psychotic, it helps my anxity but really kills my cognition. I am taking 1.5mg of clonazepam and it is better than 5mg of zyprexa (cognition wise) I am just concerned that taking it long term will lead to complete tolerance and dependance.
I've heard mixed results with regards to this.
I get no high from it, infact it brings me down a little (emotionally).Linkadge
Posted by zero on September 29, 2004, at 22:17:02
In reply to Re: Clonazepam questions, posted by linkadge on September 29, 2004, at 21:28:56
8 years at 2mg. with no dose increase (1st year at 3mg., then decreased to 2mg.).
Feels just as effective as at the start.
With me, it has a somewhat "heavy" feel, and anything more than 2mg. is no more anxiolytic - just makes me feel dumbed-down.
z
Posted by Jasmineneroli on September 29, 2004, at 22:41:20
In reply to Re: Clonazepam questions, posted by linkadge on September 29, 2004, at 21:28:56
> I was taking 5mg of zyprexa and told the doctor I'm not psychotic, it helps my anxity but really kills my cognition. I am taking 1.5mg of clonazepam and it is better than 5mg of zyprexa (cognition wise) I am just concerned that taking it long term will lead to complete tolerance and dependance.
* You may become psychologically dependant on it, if it works for you!!! Why would this be any different, than say, having to take an AD all the time??? Tolerance, as I mentioned before, isn't as likely for anxiety disorders.
> I've heard mixed results with regards to this.
> I get no high from it, infact it brings me down a little (emotionally).* I felt a bit like that when I first started it at 1mg - 1.25mg per day. I found it a bit sedating and just the absence of anxiety, replaced by complete calm, made me feel flat. I now realize this was in part, due to the fact that I had been so anxious before and it was a big contrast. After about 2 weeks or so, that "slow" or sedated feeling went, and on the lower dose, all I feel is "even" and not "flat".
Apparently, Ativan and Xanax are more activating benzo's. I took Ativan for a short while several years ago, but I don't remember that affect at all.
Maybe you'll feel better after a little while on Clonaz.. Perhaps you can taper your dose too after a while, if your doc agrees. I think the lows maybe dose related.
Warm wishes,
Jas
Posted by zeugma on September 30, 2004, at 18:52:42
In reply to Re: Clonazepam questions, posted by linkadge on September 29, 2004, at 21:28:56
Dependence, yes, tolerance, probably not. My opinion is that clonazepam is a far more rational choice for anxiety disorders than an atypical AP.
-z
Posted by Rick on October 1, 2004, at 3:21:39
In reply to Re: Clonazepam questions » linkadge, posted by zeugma on September 30, 2004, at 18:52:42
> Dependence, yes, tolerance, probably not. My opinion is that clonazepam is a far more rational choice for anxiety disorders than an atypical AP.
I agree 100% with zeugma.
As for my own Klonopin experience, I'm now up to almost five years. (Erroneously said four in another post a few minutes ago...maybe I'll blame it on the Klonopin :) ). Anyway, at 1mg, all first thing in the morning (currently with 100 mg Provigil), it remains my wonder med. The first year or two, I *reduced* my dosage little by little from 2.5-3.0 mg down to the 1 mg. And I rarely take the extra .25-.50 mg "boosters" that I used to take on particularly challenging days or before a presentation, etc.
So add me to the list of those with no K tolerance in the least.
Rick
Posted by Kon on October 1, 2004, at 22:07:50
In reply to Re: Clonazepam questions, posted by Rick on October 1, 2004, at 3:21:39
Is it possible that some people here are simply introverted (even with the social anxiety removed)? I know that clonazepam eliminates my social anxiety and I could easily be a social butterfly but in all honesty I prefer to be a bit less social and remain a bit introverted and this has nothing to do with my anxiety but with my core personality, something that I'd rather not change. There are introverted people who do not have SAD. Why shoudn't there be SAD people who are naturally introverted (even when the anxiety is removed)? Maybe I'm the exception?
Posted by Rick on October 2, 2004, at 0:12:45
In reply to Clonazepam and socialibility, posted by Kon on October 1, 2004, at 22:07:50
> Is it possible that some people here are simply introverted (even with the social anxiety removed)? I know that clonazepam eliminates my social anxiety and I could easily be a social butterfly but in all honesty I prefer to be a bit less social and remain a bit introverted and this has nothing to do with my anxiety but with my core personality, something that I'd rather not change. There are introverted people who do not have SAD. Why shoudn't there be SAD people who are naturally introverted (even when the anxiety is removed)? Maybe I'm the exception?
This is a very interesting point. There are lots of folks out there who confuse introversion, (non-pathological) shyness, discomfort with the opposite sex, etc. as Social Phobia. (Note: I am *not* asserting that this is the situation for any of the posters in this thread.) In fact,the FDA recently took Glaxxo Smith Kline to task for advertising Paxil's use in Social Phobia via a series of vignettes depicting social discomfort and avoidance which fell far short of the truly debilitating and incapacitating mental and physical distress and fear that actually characterizes SP. Regardless, my guess is there are still a lot more people who are unaware that they have SP (or that such a disorder even exists) than there are folks who think they have it but don't.
Specifically to your point about introversion...while most Social Phobics are certainly introverted, I'm sure most introverts aren't Social Phobics.
But my guess is that childhood Social Phobia could play some part in the development of an introverted personality in certain cases, at the very least in terms of bringing out a genetic tendency in that direction. And maybe it could work the other way around, too...being alone too much as a child, and failing to develop social skills, could bring out an innate susceptibility to development of Social Phobia.
The experts sure are just now taking baby steps toward understanding the etiology of Social Phobia, so we're sure not going to solve it here.
But thanks for bringing up some great food for thought.
In case anyone's interested, here's a link to the aforementioned FDA warning letter to Paxil (an 878kb pdf) about the Social Anxiety ad it considered misleading. (It integrates a second, safety-related warning as well). This even includes specific screenshots and dialog transcripts from the commercial in order to make the FDA’s point that Glaxxo is presenting situations that aren’t really indicative of Social Phobia.
Rick
http://www.fda.gov/cder/warn/2004/MACMIS12439.pdf
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