Posted by utopizen on February 15, 2004, at 22:33:54
In reply to only benzos ?, posted by francesco on February 10, 2004, at 16:12:54
> Is there someone who manages to do something with a 'monotherapy' with benzos ? It seems that they are the only thing that I can tolerate and that they improve all my syntoms (also lack of concentration and urological problems !) with no noticeable side-effects.
>It sounds bad, and if I were me hearing this from someone else, I'd not want to here it, but over the last week I've realized something. If I go of my Klonopin, like I had for the past three weeks, and start it again, I feel the terrific, non-anxious self I felt back when I wasn't using it at 3mg for a substitute for the Ambien I would never get scipted, when I was in the first 3 months of using it, before that magical calmness dissipiates.
So I'm thinking of just telling my docs I'd like to keep the Klonopin permanently at 1mg 3x/day, asking for Ambien somehow (my sleep doc has to cave in some day-- otherwise I'll never use his stupid CPAP machine for my apnea). And only using the Klonopin when I feel stressed, or feel like it's causing me to brood over my schoolwork to the point where I'm not accomplishing anything, or I have a discussion class, which is once per week.
Also, using Klonopin's great, because it gives you the short-term relief you need whiel having time to experiment with other meds. Have you tried Zoloft? I've tried pretty much every med but it, including three antipsychotics. I'm going to try Zoloft to add to my Klonopin, and then after a couple of months give it a booster of Abilify.
I've done med trials for over 2 years now, most of that time without Klonopin except for prn doses if that. Believe me, you want to explore all your options, even if you are on Klonopin, because eventually the Klonopin will not have the same effect. I wouldn't call it tolerance, because I take 1mg and I'm pretty sure taking more wouldn't do that much. But whatever it is, you want to reduce your net anxiety somehow, even if you plan on keeping Klonopin for life.
And use CBT. I was stupid enough not to once I got Klonopin from a new doc. CBT helps. And keep exploring new meds. I'm not convinced a single patient truly had their social anxiety reduced, but my psychiatrist laughed when I asked him if he ever saw a patient who was helped by an SSRI.
I'm trying Zoloft soon. Oh, and if you ever have a problem with your current doc, don't assume you won't either, the first thing the typical doc may say to you is "let's taper that K first." Your med trials aren't as exaustive as mine. I've even tried Buspar and the three antihistamines. Three antipsychotics. Wellbutrin, Effexor for 5 months at 400mg, Celexa for 5 months, Paxil not tolerated- insomnia. Neurontin for months at 3000mg or so a day, but it made me retarded, so I stopped. Lots lots more.
So if I try Zoloft, that's pretty much the last stab I can give before the trycyllics. But I've tried Remeron and Trazodone. I've tried to explain to my current doc that they're not for patients with stuffy noses, but he doesn't listen.
I've had some hell for the past few years. The one doc I once saw who gave me Ambien monthly I told him I didn't need it after a couple of months to make him feel like I wasn't a druggie. Stupid idea. Now I see a new doc who won't prescribe it. Will see a new doc soon.
poster:utopizen
thread:311780
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040215/msgs/313854.html