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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by BRC on December 16, 2004, at 22:05:56
Hi,
I have been taking Klonopin for years now and it provides me great relief. I was wondering if anyone else was taking the med for the long haul and at what dose.
I take 4mg a day.
Thanks,
BRC
Posted by tensor on December 17, 2004, at 1:41:39
In reply to Anyone take Klonopin long term and at what dose?, posted by BRC on December 16, 2004, at 22:05:56
Hi,
yes i do, i used to take 4mg and 3mg daily, but now adays i'm doing pretty fine with 2mg.
Regards,
Mattias
Posted by missamor on December 17, 2004, at 11:59:14
In reply to Re: Anyone take Klonopin long term and at what dos » BRC, posted by tensor on December 17, 2004, at 1:41:39
i take only klonopin @ 1.5mg daily.
Posted by mikerush on December 17, 2004, at 13:49:55
In reply to Re: Anyone take Klonopin long term and at what dos, posted by missamor on December 17, 2004, at 11:59:14
I have been on 2/mg a day for 4 years and it has done wonders for my social anxiety. I don't have any plans on going off of it.
Posted by MM on December 17, 2004, at 15:45:51
In reply to Re: Anyone take Klonopin long term and at what dos, posted by mikerush on December 17, 2004, at 13:49:55
I have taken .5 mg of Clonazepam (generic Klonopin I believe) for about 3 years now and it has been a great help for my anxiety. I don't know if I'll go off it in the future...I don't really see the harm in staying on it, unless it is a factor in my weight (anyone have problems with it?). I'm on a low dose, but I'm very sensitive to meds.
Posted by Questionmark on December 17, 2004, at 17:07:58
In reply to Re: Anyone take Klonopin long term and at what dos, posted by MM on December 17, 2004, at 15:45:51
Those of you who have been taking Klonopin for months or years, are you experiencing any bothersome side effects? How do you feel that your memory is? How about cognition and ability to articulate in particular? Have any of you felt more depressed; feel more depressed? How's your motivation? Also, if you miss a dose, do you get bad anxiety at all (& please include how often you take it)?
Thank you.
Posted by Kon on December 17, 2004, at 22:56:08
In reply to What are the side effects for each of you?, posted by Questionmark on December 17, 2004, at 17:07:58
I've been taking clonazepam for a little over 2 years for SAD and my dosage varies from 0.5-2mg. Works fantastic with no major side-effects. Wrt to memory/cognitive problems, if I go into the 1.5 -2 mg range it affects my memory (for a an hour or so after it kicks in). If I only take 0.5 -1 mg I find it helps me concentrate, study for exams, etc. especially if I'm nervous. I would estimate that I perform slightly better when I'm on a low dose versus no drug while writing an exam, because I'm more relaxed. Did well last 2 years in university (after a long absence) with no negative impact on performance. Never had depression and clonazepam had no effect on depression...if anything it makes feel happier since I'm more relaxed.
Posted by MM on December 18, 2004, at 0:40:34
In reply to What are the side effects for each of you?, posted by Questionmark on December 17, 2004, at 17:07:58
> Those of you who have been taking Klonopin for months or years, are you experiencing any bothersome side effects? How do you feel that your memory is? How about cognition and ability to articulate in particular? Have any of you felt more depressed; feel more depressed? How's your motivation? Also, if you miss a dose, do you get bad anxiety at all (& please include how often you take it)?
> Thank you.I don't know if it has affected my memory...it seems like it has been better, but other medications/stress is probably involved in that. My ability to articulate and/or cognition might be affected, but that too could be other medications, or a combination. I have a hard time thinking of the word I want to say a lot of the time. I don't know if that's the Klonopin or something else though. I can't pinpoint whether or not it makes me more depressed either exactly. I am happier that I'm less anxious, and it definitely helped that. When I went on a drug holiday (except for Klonopin) I do think it's possible that it had some depressive affects. I didn't taper off of it slow enough, and rather than risk destabilizing myself, I just stayed on it. When that happened, I did get some anxiety (withdrawl?); I had some panic etc. With my other medications, if I skip a dose of Klonopin, I haven't had much of a problem with anxiety, or at least I can handle what does happen. I take .5mg every night before I go to sleep (with my trileptal) and have been doing so for about 3 years. I have taken up to 1 mg when I needed it. Oh, and I am on Clonazepam (which I believe is generic Klonopin, if not the medical term?) if I didn't mention that before. I have had some issues regarding not being able to lose weight despite cutting out soda (apprx. 600 calories a day, or more) and increasing exercise, and I thought going on the med holiday might help. It didn't, so now I'm curious whether or not the Klonopin is the problem. Anyone have weight problems with it?
Posted by Michael Bell on December 19, 2004, at 21:16:52
In reply to Anyone take Klonopin long term and at what dose?, posted by BRC on December 16, 2004, at 22:05:56
>Glad to know it has helped you so much. I've been taking Klonopin for about 2 years now for SP. It's helped a lot. My current dosage is about 1 mg/day, but I've had to go up a little since adding Lamictal to the mix.
Hi,
>
> I have been taking Klonopin for years now and it provides me great relief. I was wondering if anyone else was taking the med for the long haul and at what dose.
>
> I take 4mg a day.
>
> Thanks,
>
> BRC
Posted by blnch on December 21, 2004, at 18:23:16
In reply to Anyone take Klonopin long term and at what dose?, posted by BRC on December 16, 2004, at 22:05:56
I have a diagnosis of Major Depression. Altho I've tried to deny it!, there is no doubt that for me & many with this diagnosis (perhaps not for those with other types of depression), klonopin DOES increase depression.
Been on klonopin for over a year. I am down from 2mg, at the highest, to .5mg (or less) daily. I do know that going back, yet once again, to Remeron as my AD, helped me decrease my klonopin dosage pretty easily.
I've always heard that the benzos have no effect on weight, but even before the Remeron, I've suspeced that klonopin keeps me at a weight that is too high for my liking (and abit too high to be my healthiest). I must take Remeron because it's far & away the kindest AD re: my GI tract, tho not 100%. YMMV.
Posted by darkhorse on December 22, 2004, at 3:53:57
In reply to Anyone take Klonopin long term and at what dose?, posted by blnch on December 21, 2004, at 18:23:16
> I have a diagnosis of Major Depression. Altho I've tried to deny it!, there is no doubt that for me & many with this diagnosis (perhaps not for those with other types of depression), klonopin DOES increase depression.
>
> Been on klonopin for over a year. I am down from 2mg, at the highest, to .5mg (or less) daily. I do know that going back, yet once again, to Remeron as my AD, helped me decrease my klonopin dosage pretty easily.
>
> I've always heard that the benzos have no effect on weight, but even before the Remeron, I've suspeced that klonopin keeps me at a weight that is too high for my liking (and abit too high to be my healthiest). I must take Remeron because it's far & away the kindest AD re: my GI tract, tho not 100%. YMMV.Hi,
I also have the same expereience...I had Major Depression episodes and I have taken far too many benzos but clonazepam is the ONLY benzo that always gave an immediate and rapid depressive syndroms.
Like you,I also tried to deny this because of the "positive" effects Clon on Social anxiety..but, unfortunatley it gave me isolation and depression..
As for weight issues..I do not think it increased my appetite,but Remereon is well- known for rapid weight gain ?
Regards,
Adam.
Posted by cybercafe on December 22, 2004, at 8:17:14
In reply to Re: Anyone take Klonopin long term and at what dose? » blnch, posted by darkhorse on December 22, 2004, at 3:53:57
> > I have a diagnosis of Major Depression. Altho I've tried to deny it!, there is no doubt that for me & many with this diagnosis (perhaps not for those with other types of depression), klonopin DOES increase depression.
> >
> > Been on klonopin for over a year. I am down from 2mg, at the highest, to .5mg (or less) daily. I do know that going back, yet once again, to Remeron as my AD, helped me decrease my klonopin dosage pretty easily.
> >
> > I've always heard that the benzos have no effect on weight, but even before the Remeron, I've suspeced that klonopin keeps me at a weight that is too high for my liking (and abit too high to be my healthiest). I must take Remeron because it's far & away the kindest AD re: my GI tract, tho not 100%. YMMV.
>
> Hi,
>
> I also have the same expereience...I had Major Depression episodes and I have taken far too many benzos but clonazepam is the ONLY benzo that always gave an immediate and rapid depressive syndroms.
>
> Like you,I also tried to deny this because of the "positive" effects Clon on Social anxiety..but, unfortunatley it gave me isolation and depression..
>
> As for weight issues..I do not think it increased my appetite,but Remereon is well- known for rapid weight gain ?
>
> Regards,
>
> Adam.
>
>i take 4 mg of clonazepam (or more?? public speaking is quite horrible) when socializing ... which could be more than once a day
i used to take a tiny dose.. like maybe .5 or 1 mg at a time.. then i asked myself -- am i supposed to take enough to make me able to function at a low level (leave the house but avoid people) or get rid of enough anxiety that I can actually be "normal". so i figured i would take enough to actually be "normal".
i found my dose going up even more as i put myself in more stressful situations, so i cut out the stressful situations (taking on too much work at once, etc)
Posted by mikerush on December 22, 2004, at 10:44:29
In reply to Re: What are the side effects for each of you?, posted by MM on December 18, 2004, at 0:40:34
The only side effects I experience are that I am more social with people, I perform better at work and don't procrastinate nearly as much. I don't turn small matters into big deals. As for physical side effects, I do notice if I do not take klonopin because my anxiety comes back but I have not increased the dose I am taking so I don't see addiction being any problem. If you suffer from SAD klonopin is probably one of the best drugs that will help you.
Posted by cybercafe on December 23, 2004, at 6:02:28
In reply to Re: What are the side effects for each of you?, posted by mikerush on December 22, 2004, at 10:44:29
The journal of clinical psychiatry just recently published an article/CME course on benzodiazepine use.
They basically say (repeatedly) that they're only supposed to be used for 2-3 weeks/temporarily/etc etc but that in reality clinicians will prescribe them for long term treatment (20 years etc) ...
Lots of discussion about the difference between physical dependance and addiction
and that most doctors are overly-cautious about their abuse potential (it is much lower than their reputation would have one believe)
basically it confirms a lot of the things we already knew, but doctors would never admitt :)oh and it also talks about the possibility of some cognitive deficits from benzodiazepine use... but then i figure if i don't take benzos my brain will probably be overly stimulated, and isn't this neurotoxic? .... or at the very least, the stress they save my heart might help me live a couple extra years :)
Posted by mbavon on December 24, 2004, at 13:57:22
In reply to Interesting article, posted by cybercafe on December 23, 2004, at 6:02:28
It too bad you didn't link the article.
Posted by invisiblemanpa on December 25, 2004, at 9:51:20
In reply to Re: Anyone take Klonopin long term and at what dos » BRC, posted by tensor on December 17, 2004, at 1:41:39
I switched for Ativan to Klonopin this past summer. The ativan definately quit working. Klonopin so far has been great. I am taking 4 mg..and hope to cut back as I have started on Lexapro and hope to have some crossover benefit for Anxiety. But the Klonopin is a real benefit. I just went through the horrible search of trying to find a new Psy. doc., after being forced to switch because of something with insurance changes. I went to two that said they did not believe in benzos and if they were to treat me I had to wean on the klonopin, well I told them to bugger off real fast. Benzos have been the only med that has given me any clear benefit. So I found a new doc. that agreed to leave me on it, I started Lexapro a few days ago, he also increased my Remeron to 60 mg, as that had been added in July and I had received so noticable benefit for depression symptons as the poisonous Effoxer was no longer working, not that it ever did. The new psy doc. says that the Klonopin will quit working as all benzos do, but I know and have read on here of people that have been on them successfuly for years. I would hope to decrease my dose after the Lexapro, hopefully kicks in and has some benefit...I would rather be off all of this .......I am tempted to add Sam E on my own....
E
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