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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Joe Schmoe on July 16, 2001, at 20:03:54
It is the twelfth day since I started my new combination of Klonopin 1.5 mg/day and Wellbutrin 300 mg/day for social anxiety and dysthymia. I assume it is too early to judge the Wellbutrin since ADs take a while to kick in.
The Klonopin was prescribed as one 0.5 mg tablet three times a day, but that seemed kind of pointless so I have been taking two tabs in the morning and one in the mid-afternoon to help me with social anxiety at work.
The first week was pretty good, but now it does not seem to help as much as I would like. I am wondering if it is because the Wellbutrin is counteracting its effect by increasing my anxiety, and whether this is a temporary effect or whether Wellbutrin will always do this.
So I would like to hear from some users of this combo. Is the answer to increase my Klonopin dosage? Or just wait it out and hope the Wellbutrin anxiety effects subside after a few weeks?
I also would like to know your dosing schedules, as the three times a day schedule for Klonopin in the literature seems more suited for its use as an anticonvulsant than its use for social anxiety. I had the impression that people taking it for social anxiety took it once or twice a day, not three times. If you take it twice a day please tell me at what times. Right now I am taking it around 8:30 AM and 2:30 PM.
Thanks.
Posted by Janelle on July 16, 2001, at 21:39:53
In reply to Advice needed from Klonopin/Wellbutrin users, posted by Joe Schmoe on July 16, 2001, at 20:03:54
I can give you my experience as a long-time Klonopin taker (varies from 0.5 mg/day to 1.5 mg/day, sometimes a bit more, depending on circumstances).
I started out taking 1.0 mg of Klonpin in the morning (with Paxil) and that worked just fine for YEARS. However, at certain times if my anxiety kicked up, the doc had me increase the Klonopin to 1 mg twice a day (morning, late afternoon) and one time things were so bad she had me take 1 mg every few hours!
Then just recently major life changes/huge stresses and diagnosis of possible BipolarII/hypomania caused the Paxil to poop out, but Klonopin is still helping (though not as much as in past situations).
For what it's worth, I agree with your modification of dosing schedule for taking the Klonopin, and knowing how Wellbutrin can indeed cause more anxiety and can be agitating, it could very well be counter-acting the Klonopin (esp. since Klonopin is one of the slower acting benzo's).
If you can, just wait it out and hope the Wellbutrin anxiety effects subside after a few weeks. If they don't, I'd suggest getting off the Wellbutrin rather than off Klonopin.
Of course, all of this is JMHO (Just My Humble Opinion). Good luck and keep us updated - I'm curious to see how you fare with this combo.
-Janelle
Posted by Else on July 18, 2001, at 19:16:49
In reply to Re: Advice needed from Klonopin/Wellbutrin users » Joe Schmoe, posted by Janelle on July 16, 2001, at 21:39:53
1.5 mg Klonopin a day is still a relatively low dose. You can always stay on the Wellbutrin and up your Klonopin dosage. I used to take both drugs at the same time. They work great but I took about 2.5-3.0 mg Klonopin back then and found Wellbutrin helped with the drowsiness. I had to drop the Wellbutrin because it gave ma some kind of neck twitch (a very unusual reaction, don't worry). But I found the two drugs complemented each other quite nicely.
> I can give you my experience as a long-time Klonopin taker (varies from 0.5 mg/day to 1.5 mg/day, sometimes a bit more, depending on circumstances).
>
> I started out taking 1.0 mg of Klonpin in the morning (with Paxil) and that worked just fine for YEARS. However, at certain times if my anxiety kicked up, the doc had me increase the Klonopin to 1 mg twice a day (morning, late afternoon) and one time things were so bad she had me take 1 mg every few hours!
>
> Then just recently major life changes/huge stresses and diagnosis of possible BipolarII/hypomania caused the Paxil to poop out, but Klonopin is still helping (though not as much as in past situations).
>
> For what it's worth, I agree with your modification of dosing schedule for taking the Klonopin, and knowing how Wellbutrin can indeed cause more anxiety and can be agitating, it could very well be counter-acting the Klonopin (esp. since Klonopin is one of the slower acting benzo's).
>
> If you can, just wait it out and hope the Wellbutrin anxiety effects subside after a few weeks. If they don't, I'd suggest getting off the Wellbutrin rather than off Klonopin.
>
> Of course, all of this is JMHO (Just My Humble Opinion). Good luck and keep us updated - I'm curious to see how you fare with this combo.
> -Janelle
This is the end of the thread.
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