Posted by utopizen on October 14, 2004, at 20:11:49
In reply to Doh! Waste of session w/psych today...., posted by mattw84 on October 14, 2004, at 19:22:48
>> Maybe it's just my imagination, but I think I have been even more scatter-brained, perhaps even closer to "brainless" since having started the klonopin. Anyone else experience this? Feels like I am right back to my unmedicated adhd self.
>I just returned to Klonopin dosing a week ago (and no, not from a doc appt., I just called my doc and explained my situtation with my classes and the concern my professors had of my social anxiety-- he called a script in to my pharmacy). The drowsiness, IQ drop thing, it goes away after 1-2 weeks. For me, it went away after a week (today).
You may need to adjust your ADD med to compensate for the Klonopin, but don't bother with this until you first find a Klonopin dose that relieves your anxiety (but not any higher than necessary to do this).
IMHO, no one should be on a benzo without an antidepressant, because it just places too much reliance on the benzo to relieve your woes-- leading to potentially higher doses than necessary.
And this comes from someone who's failed every AD, currently trying Lexapro, and will try Cymbalta for the first time in a month if Lexapro 20mg (or higher) doesn't work.
A benzo should reduce your pre-occupations and scatter-brain feeling. Maybe what you're describing is a type of depressive state? Do you feel "foggy" in your head? Lack of interest in things? Feeling of hopelessness, or overwhelmed by stress? It could be inadequete benzo dosing, or depression, or both.
The somnolence from Klonopin does go away after 1-2 weeks, so be on the watch for depressive symptoms once you're adjusted to the Klonopin. Taking an AD along with Klonopin helps to maximize the benefit you might receive from the Klonopin, and especially is important in warding off the risk of depression from taking a benzo. And since you have ADD+anxiety, benzo+Antidepressant is IMHO a must.
Yeah, I know it sounds harsh, but you need to take one thing at a time. If you feel your anxiety is the biggest problem for you, work with your doc (don't want until the next appt!!) to adjust the dose. Give it a few weeks at the optimal dose. And since it's just a benzo, adjusting or adding or replacing an antidepressant shouldn't be an issue for your doc to do at the same time. My favorite pick on my to-do list is Cymbalta.
Then, after managing your anxiety with an AD+Klonopin, in about a month, discuss with your doc over your remaining issues. If concentration is an issue, focus on continuing to treat the depression with adjustments to an antidepressant, augmenting meds with it, etc.
Then, adjust your stimulant dose or change it to a different one after these things are straightened out. But don't take my word as advice or anything, this is just me talking to myself.
If, let's say, your concentration is such an issue it's going to risk your job or schoolwork, then managing your ADD treatment and depression treatment of course needs to take a front seat over Klonopin concerns. If this is the case, just be grateful you have Klonopin for the more trying times in your life now-- many don't get any Klonopin =)
I'm on Lexapro 20mg, Klonopin 1mg 3x/day, Adderall 20mg 3x/day, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I have ADD, Soc. Anx. Disorder, and Depression. My next med change is to be Desoxyn to replace Adderall, followed by Cymbalta.
I suggest CBT for you, since Klonopin doesn't stop you from feeling overwhelmed unless you assess with your therapist how to stop feeling so overwhelmed. Without CBT, I'd have to rely on much higher doses of Klonopin!!
But in regard to ADD-- it's not that big of a deal to up your dose of your ADD med if Klonopin continues to make you somnolent or off-task after a few weeks. A small dose adjustment should do the trick to balance things off. Desoxyn I found most helpful for this, although I foolishly got bored and asked for Adderall this summer. Now I must wait a month just to return back to Desoxyn. Ahk!
Moral of story: Call your doc weekly, don't wait until appts., this slows things down.
And ALWAYS leave a brief message a couple of days before your next appointment outlining your major concerns, ideas, and priorities you have in mind.
That way you don't even need to come in with a list of things-- your doc already has it and has the chance to reflect over it before ever seeing you!!
poster:utopizen
thread:402191
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041012/msgs/403139.html