Posted by LAURAH952 on June 25, 2013, at 12:50:01
In reply to Re: Klonopin for severe panic disorder » LAURAH952, posted by Phillipa on June 25, 2013, at 11:53:25
> Laura I had debilitating panic starting age 24 and at the time was given valium and miltown which was popular then. It worked wonders. About a year later just stopped the miltown continued with valium 5mg three times a day. Over the years the anxiety was up and sometimes gone. So it's been 40 some odd years. For a number of years Xanax was a good med at .25mg three times a day. Klonopin and I didn't get along. Now I take 7.5mg of valium at night & .25mg of Xanax, and 25mg of luvox and 2.5mg of Lexapro none of which seem to work.
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> I see you have pain may I ask what type as I have severe back pain that is degenerative. At one time took Cymbalta when new on the market and I do think it helps with pain as didn't know I had any till went off it. But the cost is so expensive.
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> 8mg of klonopin I think is the equivalent of 80mg of valium. So I do think it's a high dose. Phillipa
Hi Phillipa,No antidepressant has ever worked for my panic attacks, even though I believe it's sometimes prescribed for that. The pdocs believed that the attacks were caused in part from an underlying depression, so even when I wasn't depressed, I had the antidepressant/benzo combination. Xanax had too short a half life for me, so I think that's why I didn't care for it long term.
I'm sorry the combo you're on now doesn't seem to work. I don't know of anything else that would, unless you were willing to give a small dose of Klonopin another shot.
The Cymbalta was mainly prescribed for depression, but was said to help with pain, so a perk for me. (I'm not really sure if it's helping the pain or not) I was given tegretol initially in a small dose for the peripheral nueropathy, as I can't tolerate more than 100mg Lyrica/day. It really helps with that nerve pain. Funny, but now I'm up to 400mg for bi-polar II which, again is a perk - I was already on it.
Other than the neuropathy, I have spinal stenosis, lumbar spondylosis, herniated discs in c-spine, and bulging discs in lumbar spine. I don't pay that much attention to that pain, but have had injections, and muscle relaxers here and there.
Do you have insurance? I just used my plan's prescription by mail, and saved a ton - Cymbalta costs only $60 for 3 mos. I was told also to look for coupons, and write the pharmaceutical company that makes this (and other meds) to see if they would send it free or at a discount. I also have a card for Lyrica given me by my neurologist, and I pay only $25/mth for it.
BTW - I can take 6mg Klonopin at once, and barely feel it in my system - it just gets rid of that panic. (not that I'm proud of that.....)
HTH some - Laura
poster:LAURAH952
thread:1045849
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20130617/msgs/1045870.html