Posted by Rick on July 15, 2001, at 17:37:23
In reply to Re: Giving up/Klonopin ENHANCED Cognitive Function » Joe Schmoe, posted by Rick on July 1, 2001, at 17:41:28
I've been taking Klonopin daily for two years, and for about six months I've been having some memory lapses beyond what was normal for me pre-meds. (However, the overall cognitive *enhancement* that comes from focusing on things besides anxiety strongly outweighs the recall annoyances.)
I'd say the memory lapse is probably NOT due to Konopin per se, but rather due to any one or more of:
A) Serzone, which I started about a year ago
B) Combining Serzone and Klonopin (although
I'm taking less Klonopin than I did pre-
Serzone)
C) Getting older
D) Insufficient sleep (not insomnia, just staying
up too late because I'm busy or I'm spending
too much time on the net...oops)Not long ago I experimented with cutting back on each med (1.25 to .5 mg Klonopin, and 450 mg to zero Serzone), and there was a very clear improvement in the memory situation when the Serzone got to a low dose. Unfortunately, but not unexpectedly, my strong Social Anxiety cocktail wasn't quite as effective without the Sezone. The Klonopin decrease (with Serzone still at 450) didn't seem to improve the situation at all. OTOH, I may not have let the experiment go on long enough to draw the best conclusions. And maybe I should've tried cutting down on my third med as well (Provigil), but I'd be very surprised if that one was contributing to memory lapses.
I know Klonopin causes memory problems for some people, especially at higher doses. It certainly has a reputation for having that potential. I know many people also complain of memory deficits with Serzone, Effexor, and other AD's as well. I have a friend who is taking Serzone solo, and she's ecstatic with how it's helped her GAD, but she's now having memory lapses as well.
But for myself, especially after that little test, I have a feeling Klonopin is NOT the main culprit.
*****Which leads me to a question: Does anyone -- especialy Klonopin users who have had memory problems -- know if it can take a whole year before the lapses start to occur? Even if the dose has been titrated down instead of remaining stable or increasing?*****
Fyi, the long-term memory lapses are annoying, but the short-term ones are most problematic. "Rick, I have a question about that report you're pulling together for tomorrow." "Oh...yeah...THAT report...uh, what's the question?"...as I frantically try to recall the details, with success levels ranging from all-comes-flooding-back-instantly to near-complete amnesia on some occasions. (Once in awhile I'm pretty sure it's the OTHER person who is confused.) I have been a little disorganized and overworked as of late, and I've never been one to remember details (the RELEVANT ones, that is!), but I'm sure there's more to it than that.
Rick
poster:Rick
thread:68599
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010714/msgs/70227.html