Posted by Rick on June 12, 2000, at 0:19:09
In reply to Re-Andre #1:SOC PHOBIA COCKTAIL--WOW!!: Survey..., posted by Rick on June 12, 2000, at 0:06:48
(part 2 of ?? parts)
About the "buzz": For me it wasn't very strong -- more like fatigue, actually -- and that effect quickly went away after a week of regular use, leaving only the desired anxiolytic effects. Unless I raise the usual dosage by more than 1 mg, I feel nothing, and I do mean NOTHING, from Klonopin other than continued mental calmness in social and performance situations. And that calmness comes with no "slowdown", lethargy, or decrease in alertness...but definitely no high or excessive dis-inhibition. Once in awhile, I feel a very gentle fatigue for five-ten minutes -- usually on a day when I'm already a bit slow from staying up late or getting up early.
This is very different from when I was taking AS-NEEDED Xanax, a shorter-acting benzo that comes on somewhat stronger and presents a slightly greater risk of addiction and withdrawal problems. As-needed (important modifier there!) Xanax really made me feel doped-up, tired and just plain "icky". It made me MORE self-conscious. Although it works well for many (notably panic sufferers), I hated it, except as a sleeping pill. (BTW, since taking 1.5 mg Klonopin in the MORNING, I rarely have trouble getting to sleep, and staying asleep, at night.)
Many studies at some of the most-respected medical centers debunk the rampant benzo myths. In point of fact, the great majority of people who responsibly take low-dose Klonopin on a maintenance basis have no post-dosing "buzz", and can withraw with zero-to-minor difficulty. In fact, Klonopin is often used to ease the withdrawal process for people who find themselves having problems weening off of shorter-acting, less "smooth" benzos. BTW, after taking Klonopin every morning for eight months, I forgot to take it along when I went overseas for two weeks. While I was a little worried about going off cold turkey for that length of time, it turns out I had no problems as a result, except for a few mild headaches, plus some return of my social anxiety.
In a double-blind,
poster:Rick
thread:36883
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000610/msgs/36981.html