Posted by Mitch on May 17, 2001, at 11:32:38
In reply to Re: Klonopin Question??????, posted by grapebubblegum on May 17, 2001, at 8:07:02
Your pdoc is correct that it would be *better* to control your panic with AD's instead (that is if you can stand them and find the right one that works). When she is saying that Klonopin is short acting what she really means is that it works best as a "short-term" solution for the panic.
You are correct about Xanax and withdrawal anxiety. I saw a behavioural neuro that told me he *rarely* prescribes it because of that, he said: "With Xanax all you are doing is treating a withdrawal". I am not as concerned with the problem of addiction as with the problem of *tolerance*-because that means the benzo could stop working for you! And you have to take more. That is why she wants you to PRN the Klonopin. If you hate the Paxil-find another AD to take that will control your panic. I would suggest a more activating SSRI (i.e. Zoloft)and see how it goes (Paxil is fairly sedating-you said you were getting "very very tired" of Paxil). If you find that makes you too sleepy-maybe try some Effexor.
Hope this is of some help,
Mitch> Thanks, Mitch. This is something that my pdoc and I go round and round on. I think she has told me in the past to do just what you said, but then she tells me to use the klonopin sparingly because it is addictive and a tolerance to it easily develops. Since I don't like to take a lot of meds, I have been on paxil 20 mg. every day with the klonopin reserved for emergencies. But I am getting really, really tired of paxil.
>
> Here is what she has told me about klonopin; you tell me if it seems right since you seem pretty knowledgeable: She says it is short-acting, and she prefers me on paxil because she says that klonopin can worsen depression over the long term. Also, I don't know why she does not prescribe xanax; I seem to remember that it worked pretty well in emergencies and I guess klonopin does too, but pdocs are so afraid of prescribing xanax because of the addiction potential. Or is it because it is shorter-acting than klonopin with a greater potential of withdrawal anxiety? I know she said that is another downside of ongoing use of benzos; that the wearing off of the effects can cause anxiety that might not have been there otherwise. Anyway, I have clearly shown no propensity toward addictive tendencies since I mince my meds into little fragments and take the bare minimum I need to take for any given situation, and avoid taking them on an ongoing basis.
poster:Mitch
thread:63264
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010515/msgs/63340.html