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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by becksA on July 14, 2004, at 14:51:22
I started Klonopin after switching from Xanax XR about a week ago....Maybe the dose is too low....I'm at 0.5 mg 3x daily, although yesterday I tried taking 1mg throughout the day...but it still didnt seem like enough. I could feel it however, I felt very lethargic throughout the day. Is this something that will take a bit longer to start working properly? With the Xanax I seemed much more social, open, talkative, happier.....thoughts?
Posted by zeugma on July 14, 2004, at 15:17:56
In reply to Klonopin - not helping?, posted by becksA on July 14, 2004, at 14:51:22
> I started Klonopin after switching from Xanax XR about a week ago....Maybe the dose is too low....I'm at 0.5 mg 3x daily, although yesterday I tried taking 1mg throughout the day...but it still didnt seem like enough. I could feel it however, I felt very lethargic throughout the day. Is this something that will take a bit longer to start working properly? With the Xanax I seemed much more social, open, talkative, happier.....thoughts?
Well, Chemist said that Klonopin and Xanax do not fully substitute for each other, but I know nothing of the pharmacological niceties of this. However, many say Klonopin reduces social anxiety but is not pro-social, and I agree. Also, many complain about a depressant effect of Klonopin, and I would have to say that I have experienced that too. Xanax on the other hand appears to have an AD effect. The best I can say for Klonopin is that it keeps the generalized and social anxiety attacks at bay, and that the sedation will eventually pass.
Posted by becksA on July 14, 2004, at 16:33:47
In reply to Re: Klonopin - not helping?, posted by zeugma on July 14, 2004, at 15:17:56
Thanks...I agree with that...I think I'm going to try and go back to the Xanax.
Posted by Glydin on July 14, 2004, at 17:04:59
In reply to Re: Klonopin - not helping?, posted by becksA on July 14, 2004, at 16:33:47
Folks who are used to the feeling of Xanax, sometimes have difficulty adapting the feelings of Klonopin. Klonopin never gave me a "uplifted" feeling other than take away my toxic anxiety - which was what I was going for. The lack of a "europhic" feeling was one of the reason I chose Klonopin over Xanax, but that is a very personal choice. It took two weeks for the full effect of Klonopin
Posted by becksA on July 14, 2004, at 19:53:36
In reply to Re: Klonopin - not helping?, posted by Glydin on July 14, 2004, at 17:04:59
when you say for the "full effect" of klonopin"...could you go in depth a bit more about that?
Posted by Glydin on July 14, 2004, at 20:45:05
In reply to Re: Klonopin - not helping?, posted by becksA on July 14, 2004, at 19:53:36
My initial first two weeks of Klonopin use were characterized by drowsiness and some mental "slowness" all the while, I continued to have anxiety symptoms with panic attacks and extreme agoraphobia. The lifting of these symptoms happened gradually over a two week period and at the two week point, I left the house for the first time since my doctor visit to get my Klonopin RX (I only left the house for Doctor appts for months prior to that) and my first day free of a panic attack. I also managed to carry on a conversation face to face, in public on first outing, without feeling like I was dying.
Does that cover your question?
Posted by becksA on July 15, 2004, at 2:31:50
In reply to Re: Klonopin - not helping? » becksA, posted by Glydin on July 14, 2004, at 20:45:05
yep thanks...i just miss the "euphoric" feeling as people put it, of the Xanax....which makes me much more sociable, outgoing and "happy", for lack of a better word...
Posted by Glydin on July 15, 2004, at 6:49:13
In reply to Re: Klonopin - not helping?, posted by becksA on July 15, 2004, at 2:31:50
As I said before, I do think the differences in the "feeling" are an adaptive thing that some folks aren't keen on changing. If your Xanax use is approiate and you aren't having untoward effects, in my reasoning, there's no reason to switch. Am I remembering correctly that you thought Xanax was causing some judgement problems and that was the reason to think of switching? I may have you confused with someone else --- anyway, good luck.
Posted by becksA on July 15, 2004, at 10:52:05
In reply to Re: Klonopin - not helping?, posted by Glydin on July 15, 2004, at 6:49:13
Well I have a couple of options, I could stay with this Klonopin, and possibly add something else that would open me up and make me more social? Or I could go back with the Xanax , and take something to calm me down a bit. Suggestions? Sounds like the best situation would be stay with the klonopin since it relieves my anxiety....but I just need something to make me more social. Ideas much appreciated. Thanks
Posted by Glydin on July 15, 2004, at 22:00:20
In reply to Re: Klonopin - not helping?, posted by becksA on July 15, 2004, at 10:52:05
>Or I could go back with the Xanax , and take something to calm me down a bit. Suggestions?
---I take it you don't find Xan calming enough but helps your social interactions in making you more outgoing? Bummer the Xan wouldn't do both for you. Being the Klonopin head for over 2 years and having failed other drug trials, I'm not a good one to give suggestions for other chemical interventions - sorry.
Sounds like the best situation would be stay with the klonopin since it relieves my anxiety....but I just need something to make me more social. Ideas much appreciated. Thanks
---Hope you work it out. My heart always goes out to fellow anxiety laden suffers -- it's h*llish and we deserve good treatment for a quality life.
Posted by Snowie on July 18, 2004, at 16:59:59
In reply to Re: Klonopin - not helping?, posted by Glydin on July 15, 2004, at 22:00:20
I haven't tried the long-lasting Xanax, but I did like regular Xanax. It calmed me down and made me much more social but I hated feeling like a drug addict when Xanax would start to wear off. I also tried Klonopin for a while. I guess I was more social on it, but in the sense that I lost some of my inhibitions, such as fear of social situations, although Xanax had a similar effect. I also had slowed thinking on Klonopin, but I don't think that lasted forever. Maybe it did, since some of that time seems like a fog to me. I was definitely not happier while taking Klonopin. I remember having depression several months after taking Klonopin and had trouble controlling my anger, which had never been a problem before. I eventually went back to Xanax for a while, and I now take one 15 mg. of Tranxene in the morning. Unfortunately, Tranxene doesn't work the same for me as Xanax, and my social life is non-existent, so I'm considering trying Xanax XR. However, I like the feeling that I'm not dependent on Tranxene since it doesn't really do that much for me. I also take Neurontin, 400 mg. a couple times a day.
Snowie
Posted by shadows721 on July 18, 2004, at 20:32:48
In reply to Klonopin - not helping?, posted by becksA on July 14, 2004, at 14:51:22
I read somewhere that Klonopin and Xanax dosage are equivilent. However, Xanax helps both depression and anxiety. Klonopin only helps anxiety. Maybe, you would need an antidepressant with the Klonopin to get the effect you want with the increased mood.
Posted by Viridis on July 18, 2004, at 23:55:50
In reply to Klonopin - not helping?, posted by becksA on July 14, 2004, at 14:51:22
I find that Klonopin helps tremendously with anxiety, and haven't noticed that it induces depression (although individual reactions will vary). It took me about 1-2 weeks to get over mild sleepiness, clumsiness, etc., and now I don't even notice its effects, other than major anxiety relief.
I also take Xanax occasionally, and for me it's definitely a mood-lifter. However, it also has a short half-life, and if I take it often I develop tolerance rapidly (unlike with Klonopin). So, I reserve Xanax for very stressful situatons, yet take Klonopin daily.
Xanax is a great med and for me does act as an antidepressant, but if I take it regularly I have to escalate the dosages, something that neither I nor my pdoc are willing to do at this point.
Have you tried adding Lamictal? I find it very helpful, mild, and it mixes well with Klonopin.
Posted by starlight on July 19, 2004, at 14:06:07
In reply to Re: Klonopin - not helping? ? becksA, posted by Viridis on July 18, 2004, at 23:55:50
klonopin definitely made my depression worse. I've never tried xanax but love Effexor XR, which seems to help my anxiety greatly.
starlight
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