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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Kaga on October 23, 2004, at 1:13:32
Hello everyone!
This is my fisrt post and I want to tell everyone here how thankful I am for all the posters and how much I've learned by lurking these last few months.
I'm currently taking .5 to .75 mg or Klonopin per day to try to treat my social anxiety, which is pretty bad. I think I've felt a little improvement, but not that much. I'm wondering if I should ask my Doctor to let me try a larger dose. I've heard that this is an effective med for this kind of extreme shyness, but maybe this dose isn't enough for me.
BTW, does anyone know is dosage of a benzo is related to weight? I'm curious because I'm 6-5 and 270 pounds.
Thanks guys!
Posted by Eljakeo25 on October 23, 2004, at 12:33:10
In reply to Klonopin for Social Anxiety, posted by Kaga on October 23, 2004, at 1:13:32
I was on .5 mg of Klonopin twice daily and with Klonopin, you do not get the "feel good" response as with xanax (athough I never tried valium or xanax) Athough from what I read, Klonopin is one of the most potent benzo's, but has a long half life, so it is less addictive. For me it seems to relieve social anxiety subtly, where I just feel comfortable within large groups of people or I notice myself taking on a classroom discussion session, without even the thought of what I say may embarras me in front of everyone else. Thats how Klonopin works. However, I had to find the right dose. I am not sure if it is weight dependent. However 1mg in the morning and 1 mg in the early afternoon seems to be the majic bullet for relieving social anxiety for me. And I never have the need to take more. It can cause tiredness at first, but I never really felt tired taking it. It helps me become more socially involved without those fears of going places with people. Also, in my case, I was just Dx with Intermittent Explosive Disorder along with my ADHD. It is an impulse control disorder and in my case, I would do things like threaten suicide to couples displaying public affection or yell out, why don't people care in the country, ignorent people. Or I would kick something. But no matter how bad my outburst is, it fortunately in never involves physical rage towards others. However I jumped in front of cars in front of those happy couples to seek attention to "make it look like" I was trying to kill myself eventhough I am not suicidal whatsoever. Therefore, Klonopin also acts as a moodstabilzer for impulsivity and has help with this along with the stimulant medications. I hope I given you some insight and thanks for letting me share one of my bigger issues where Klonopin helps big time. It may not prevent social anxiety or social impulsivity all the time, but it tempers it and allows you to think rationally. After a series of major verbal attention seeking outbursts, I took an extra Klonopin to actutely stabilize my mood and it made me realize that I need to check into the psych hospital for a few days for some intensive therapy with these issues. Thanks for reading.
Posted by jonh kimble on October 24, 2004, at 0:31:59
In reply to Klonopin for Social Anxiety, posted by Kaga on October 23, 2004, at 1:13:32
Hi! Im in a very similar situation, trying to figure out what dose would work best.
It is interesting, however, since I tried this great drug for the first time years ago and completely gave up on it. I was prescribed .5mg x2 a day. Did nothing. Another psychiatrist scibed a simlar dose, and having learned and read more, I took matters into my own hands and tried 1 mg at once. It worked! Not huge, but is the first drug or anything to have worked that I could reliably take for a long time. I switched docs just this week and have a new doc much more willing to experiment with benzos. I have, on my own been using 1mg x2 a day and been fairly impressed. I think for me 1.5 or 2 mgs a day would be best.
Clonazepam, as clinical useage has increased is being shown to be very good in treatment of social anxiety. First, it was shown to be very effective (given the right dose.) Second, and more interestingly, it can be used long term without much of the typical problems of addiction, tolerance and such. One example is http://www.socialfear.com/klonopin_discontinuation.html .This drug, the the prievious poster stated, is best used as a mild background sort of drug. It allows you say things/ do things/ virtually every aspect of sociability when in the past it didnt.
Anyway, I think a higher dose is certainly in order. If your doctor disagrees as mine did, try to change their mind, but ultimately, some docs wont change and you may need to find someone else. A higher dose will probably help with what is probably a serious issue and probably wont pose nearly as many problems as some if not most will say. Whether benzos effects are wieght dependant I would guess yes, but I dont know of any literature to support this. Hope I didnt give you too much useless info. Tom
Posted by Fred23 on October 24, 2004, at 10:11:09
In reply to Re: Klonopin for Social Anxiety, posted by jonh kimble on October 24, 2004, at 0:31:59
> Another psychiatrist scibed a simlar dose, and having learned and read more, I took matters into my own hands and tried 1 mg at once. It worked! Not huge, but is the first drug or anything to have worked that I could reliably take for a long time. I switched docs just this week and have a new doc much more willing to experiment with benzos.
This is that "threshhold effect" I have mentioned here, learned from personal experience, as you, too, discovered.
> Whether benzos effects are wieght dependant I would guess yes, but I dont know of any literature to support this.
It may be more related to how much someone drinks, as there is a cross-tolerance between alcohol and benzos. Also how much "help" the GABA regulation system needs, which varies between people.
Posted by invisiblemanpa on October 24, 2004, at 16:51:57
In reply to Re: Klonopin for Social Anxiety » jonh kimble, posted by Fred23 on October 24, 2004, at 10:11:09
I to have had success on Klonopin for socail anxiety. It does have a much more subtle effect than Xanax or Ativan. I was using Ativan, but it really started to poop out on me and was making me more anxious. I am on 1 mg 4 times a day, which may seem high, but so is my anxiety at this time in my life, on going socail anxiety...plus multiple personal crisis all at once...The anxiety is still there but I am able to function. I had used Xanax in the past. It works quickly and very effectively, almost like a shot of booze...which is why it can be so addicting.
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Posted by garcia cortez on October 28, 2004, at 16:01:00
In reply to Re: Klonopin for Social Anxiety, posted by invisiblemanpa on October 24, 2004, at 16:51:57
i am on 10 mgs of clonazepam for panic and it works 95%. Every year i reduce in spring time to 2mgs a day (in 6-8weeks) due to tolerance. after this quasi drug vacation i increase dosage as needed topping off at 10mgs . i have been on this regiment for 5 years now. My pdoc is a addiction specialist and says if the drug works there is no need to worry too much about dependence. i am a heavy person and do believe a heavier person probably needs a larger dose. without the klonopin i was homebound and isolated. with meds i am able to go out and socialize normally. previously i tried many types of meds both indicated for panic and also off label meds that were helful to others who paniced. i find klonopin almost devoid of side effects even when tapering down.
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