Posted by nickm on October 21, 2003, at 8:34:23
In reply to Klonopin can worsen depression..., posted by msanjelpie on October 20, 2003, at 2:40:44
I've seen it with my wife. She was kept on Prozac and others cocktails, and finally, in 2003, on Zyprexa, Prozac, Lamictal, Klonolpin, and Provigil. She looked like a zombie. Got up at 10-11 am, and had to go back to bed by 8 pm. During her awake hours she had no concentration or focus, and began losing her memory. Anything said to her had to be repeated several times.
With Prozac and Zyprexa she developed akathisia, dyskinesia, and EPS. Her lips trembled, her hands shook, and her gait became a shuffle. She was on only 0.5 to 1 mg of Klonopin before bed.
Finally, to get rid of the akathisia, another doctor tried Wellbutrin, Abilify, and Xanax. As soon as she went off the Klonopin she began having panic attacks, and in two weeks she had akathisia again.
The new doctor told us she was dependent on Klonopin because of taking it for several years. I've read that even if on a small dose, if it's taken for more than 2-4 weeks patients develop dependence.
Yet another doctor put her back on Klonopin up to 4-5 mg per day, after a series of ECTs. The effect of the Klonopin only lasts 2-3 hours, and she started needing it more and more. This third doctor wouldn't even admit she had akathisia, or EPS, and kept saying Klonopin was best because of long lasting action. I asked him about anti-cholinergics, beta blockers, or even coginet, mirapex, levadopa or other Parkinson's drugs she could go on for the akathisia. Since he wouldn't admit to the akathisia he would do nothing, and kept saying it was okay to stay on Klonopin at those doses.
I was afraid she'd end up with 10 mg a day of Klonopin and she's over sixty.
I took her to another doctor who prescribed benadryl for the akathisia symptoms, and to help her sleep.
Hopefully, the akathisia will subside and she will need the Klonopin less and less.
Klonopin, Ativan, Xanax, etc., are addictive, and don't let any quacks tell you they're not.
N
poster:nickm
thread:269094
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031021/msgs/271394.html