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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by squaw16 on July 22, 2005, at 16:51:48
Dear fellow Psycho-Babblers,
My pdoc prescribed me klonipin for anxiety, but I don't feel a thing. I took 1 mg for a couple of days, then my pdoc boosted it up to 2mg which I've been taking for about a week and a half. Again, I don't feel a thing. Does this stuff take longer to work, or do I need a higher dosage? I'm supposed to be on this stuff until my Lexapro kicks in (probably not for another 4 weeks). Any feedback would be appreciated. Thank you
Squaw16
Posted by johnb11 on July 22, 2005, at 17:34:38
In reply to How long does klonipin need to take effect?, posted by squaw16 on July 22, 2005, at 16:51:48
klonopin is supposed to go to work pretty quickly - 2 to 3 hours. However, unlike the old tranquilizers, it works best once you've already built up a steady state in your system. For example, if you're taking 3 mg/day for anxiety and you know you are going to be giving a large presentation, you might take an additional 2 mg the night before and an additional 2 mg in the morning. Overall, however, I've noticed the most benefit from Klonopin when it is augment another anti-anxiety drug, whether nardil or some other.
Hope this helps. John
Posted by Phillipa on July 22, 2005, at 19:36:17
In reply to Re: How long does klonipin need to take effect?, posted by johnb11 on July 22, 2005, at 17:34:38
Sq*aw, I just didn't like klonopin. Know what you mean about the anxiety. It never seemed to help me. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by spriggy on July 22, 2005, at 21:07:53
In reply to Re: How long does klonipin need to take effect?, posted by Phillipa on July 22, 2005, at 19:36:17
Maybe you could ask for Ativan or Xanex instead. Klonopin is longer acting so it doesn't hit you as quickly as the other's.
It didn't do much for me either but I was only on about .25 mg's.
When I went over that, it made me feel a bit depressed.
Posted by Glydin on July 23, 2005, at 8:54:22
In reply to How long does klonipin need to take effect?, posted by squaw16 on July 22, 2005, at 16:51:48
Hi squaw16,
It took Klonopin about two weeks to reach full effects for me. I did "feel" it prior to two weeks in - in the form of foggy thinking and lethergy. Those effects left at about two weeks and I was left with the antianxiety good effects. Kickin time after dosing was about 1/2 hour to 1 hour.
I was on only Klonopin or three years and it worked great for anxiety. I am now on Lexapro and have found it to be excellent for anxiety problems as well as depression.
If you are struggling with anxiety during your startup on Lex and you aren't getting relief from K, I suggest you do speak with your doc about a switch to another benzo. If you can tolerate the startup anxiety with minimal distress, maybe just waiting for the Lex kickin might work. You shouldn't have to really suffer however. I find if folks try to just "ride out" an extreme level of anxiety brought on by med startups, they are unlikely to give meds a decent chance and will drop them. So, do what works best for you. I do encourage you to give the Lex a chance - it's been a really good treatment for me and I had given up on finding an AD that would work for me. I'm glad I took one more chance.
Hope you work it out,
Glydin
Posted by vicksnow on July 24, 2005, at 11:29:03
In reply to Re: How long does klonipin need to take effect? » squaw16, posted by Glydin on July 23, 2005, at 8:54:22
i'm on klonopin 1mg 3 x a day. sometimes i still get anxiety at least once a day, but the pdocs won't give me anything else. they tell me to pop a benedryl with my klonopin. sometimes i have extreme anxiety that the klonopin doesn't touch. its not fair that the drs won't give me something for the occasional big anxiety attack. they are afraid i will become addicted they say. i have asked for xanax or ativan but its a no go. i don't really know if i even feel the klonopin working.i'm also on prozac 30 mg, welbutrin 300mg, risperdol 3mg.
with this combo i feel good at least 99% of the time except for my bouts of anxiety. when i worry about things beyond my control like my house burning down, car accident, family member dying, getting broken into my house in the middle of the night by a burglar or a rapist. i just start getting so anxious thinking about these things sometimes. and think about death everyday in some way. sorry i got off topic but klonopin for me does not help the extreme anxiety i feel occasionally, so not sure how long klonopin takes effect. well i'm off to take my midday klonopin now.
Posted by Dr. Bob on July 24, 2005, at 16:39:41
In reply to Re: How long does klonipin need to take effect?, posted by Phillipa on July 22, 2005, at 19:36:17
> Sq*aw
Hmm, that happened because it's considered often offensive or usually disparaging, so could you re-register ("for the first time") under a different name?
https://dr-bob.securesites.com/cgi-bin/pb/signup.pl
Thanks,
Bob
This is the end of the thread.
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