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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Bonnie_CA on August 10, 2007, at 4:40:03
As much as we've talked about klonopin, I figured you'd like to hear this.
I had originally stopped taking klonopin because it made me depressed. I was on 40 mg of Celexa at the time I took it. I know we've talked about this.
This week I have had really bad akasthia, just going nuts. So nervous about the new job. I have been taking about 1 mg of xanax a day, which, you know for me, is a lot. It wasn't really helping much. So, I thought maybe I should try out the klonopin again, and I took .25 mg about an hour and a half ago. I'm not feeling perfect but I'm feeling some relief. I guess I just need the right drug at the right time? I might take some more in the morning, and see how I feel. I might use it to get through the stressful first few weeks.
I dunno, I just figured you'd like to know. For the type of anxiety I'm feeling, it seems like it might be the better drug.
I'm on 200 mg of Lamictal, 10 mg of Lexapro, and the BCP.
-Bonnie
Posted by steel on August 10, 2007, at 14:31:01
In reply to Steel, I'm taking klonopin., posted by Bonnie_CA on August 10, 2007, at 4:40:03
> As much as we've talked about klonopin, I figured you'd like to hear this.
>
> I had originally stopped taking klonopin because it made me depressed. I was on 40 mg of Celexa at the time I took it. I know we've talked about this.
>
> This week I have had really bad akasthia, just going nuts. So nervous about the new job. I have been taking about 1 mg of xanax a day, which, you know for me, is a lot. It wasn't really helping much. So, I thought maybe I should try out the klonopin again, and I took .25 mg about an hour and a half ago. I'm not feeling perfect but I'm feeling some relief. I guess I just need the right drug at the right time? I might take some more in the morning, and see how I feel. I might use it to get through the stressful first few weeks.
>
> I dunno, I just figured you'd like to know. For the type of anxiety I'm feeling, it seems like it might be the better drug.
>
> I'm on 200 mg of Lamictal, 10 mg of Lexapro, and the BCP.
>
> -BonnieWell a big differance you can expect in the two drugs is time,xanax is more direct,klonopin in some has the ability to cause a bit of jitters at first,however after that its almost as if the drug is non exsistent.
So i advise you take it a bit early,sooner than you would xanax so it can take time time to work.
Comforting part is its less noticable in your body while still working than xanax,seems to for me anyway work better,and feels more solid.
The only time i personaly noticed it to be sedating to the point of sleep is if your inactive,if you stay active,which i imagine w your job you will,again i doubt sedation will even be an issue,it also increases,or do for me a confidence level to approaching situations calmly.
If theres initial depression,give it time to pass,it will,also dont hestitate to have a little bit of mountain dew etc if there is any sedation at work,a few sips of the soda and it seems to disappear.
The differance can be seen most in say a airplane situation,PANIC,xanax is used for this cause its fast,direct,and hard hitting,klonopin however can be just fully kicking in by the time the flight is ending.Also klonopin will provide more of a backbone and even stated in some documents to be one of the few benzos to posses minor mood stablizing effects.
Ive taken both,i dont think one is better than the other,just one suits certain situations better.
I actualy believe (something that would never be done) that if a non addictive type person could,should have access to both,klonopin for the bulk of the daily anxiety,and miniscure xanax,very miniscure for severe anxiety bouts through the day.
This would cover most anxiety,and keep both dose ranges down from going into the high mg area where its not recomended for anxiety.
These meds again in my opion work best in lower dose ranges unless specific conditions exsist.
JUST MY OPINION OF COURSE.
GOOD LUCK,AND JUST EASE INTO THE MINOR DIFFERANCES,IVE BEEN ON IT FOR 5 YEARS AND COULD ONLY WISH MY OTHER MEDS WERE AS CONSISTENT AS THIS,WITH WEIGHT CHANGE,STRESS CHANGE,ETC,IVE STILL BARLY RAISED THE DOSAGE OF KLONOPIN.
Posted by Bonnie_CA on August 10, 2007, at 19:04:26
In reply to Re: Steel, I'm taking klonopin., posted by steel on August 10, 2007, at 14:31:01
>
> The only time i personaly noticed it to be sedating to the point of sleep is if your inactive,if you stay active,which i imagine w your job you will,again i doubt sedation will even be an issue,it also increases,or do for me a confidence level to approaching situations calmly.
>I never noticed that klonopin sedated me, but I xanax definitely does. If I take enough xanax I will go right to sleep, but it's not really very good sleep.
> The differance can be seen most in say a airplane situation,PANIC,xanax is used for this cause its fast,direct,and hard hitting,klonopin however can be just fully kicking in by the time the flight is ending.Also klonopin will provide more of a backbone and even stated in some documents to be one of the few benzos to posses minor mood stablizing effects.
>Yeah, for panic, xanax is king. But it wasn't working for me this week because that wasn't the kind of anxiety I had. I guess my anxiety was more like GAD than panic. I'm sure the Lamictal doesn't really help with that, since it can cause some amount of anxiety.
> Ive taken both,i dont think one is better than the other,just one suits certain situations better.
>Yep. However, ativan did nothing at all for me. Like taking sugar pills. Weird huh?
> I actualy believe (something that would never be done) that if a non addictive type person could,should have access to both,klonopin for the bulk of the daily anxiety,and miniscure xanax,very miniscure for severe anxiety bouts through the day.
>
> This would cover most anxiety,and keep both dose ranges down from going into the high mg area where its not recomended for anxiety.
>I haven't even needed to take any xanax today. I took klonopin last night, .25, and I just took another .25 a little bit ago since I'm gonna take my second dose of Lamictal soon. But I know what you're saying. I've always been good about those things, so taking xanax and klonopin isn't an issue. I'm not going to go off and take... 2 mgs of xanax and 2 mgs of klonopin at the same time. I'd probably never even take a whole mg of klonopin!
> These meds again in my opion work best in lower dose ranges unless specific conditions exsist.
>I concur.
> JUST MY OPINION OF COURSE.
>Yes yes, I know!
> GOOD LUCK,AND JUST EASE INTO THE MINOR DIFFERANCES,IVE BEEN ON IT FOR 5 YEARS AND COULD ONLY WISH MY OTHER MEDS WERE AS CONSISTENT AS THIS,WITH WEIGHT CHANGE,STRESS CHANGE,ETC,IVE STILL BARLY RAISED THE DOSAGE OF KLONOPIN.Well, I don't know if I'm going to take it forever, but for this particular instance, it's great. I wasn't jittery and messed up feeling today. So yaaaaay! If it works, it works!
-Bonnie
Posted by steel on August 11, 2007, at 2:12:41
In reply to Re: Steel, I'm taking klonopin., posted by Bonnie_CA on August 10, 2007, at 19:04:26
Well glad its helped.Dont know your plans in regards to continuing it,but keep not that while it is a great thing to stay at .25,.5 is actualy extremly common.
.25 is a very low dose,and one plus i found with klonopin over xanax is i could easly take a .5 and break it to use as needed more so than xanax,xanax,and could be the type of tab ive had,always seems to be chalky and kinda makes no sense to break as the other remainder kinda disappears.
Xanax is more direct in its sedating effect because its i believe actualy labled for panick now,so it has to be potent and fast.
They all carry there own pros and cons,i like xanax for immediate on the go anxiety,while id never opt to give klonopin up for it as i know klonopin for me is doing more than calming me,its controlling my mood as it has qwelled anger outbursts without knocking me to sleep before.Good luck
Posted by clubfitter on August 11, 2007, at 20:49:01
In reply to Steel, I'm taking klonopin., posted by Bonnie_CA on August 10, 2007, at 4:40:03
Bonnie, I too take 200 lamictal, 20 lexapro, and klonopin...also
Geodon 80. may i ask your diagnosis?? mine are MDD, SAD, AVP, and my pdoc is now leaning towards bipolar....thx!
Posted by Bonnie_CA on August 12, 2007, at 0:40:53
In reply to Re: Steel, I'm taking klonopin.)Bonnie, posted by clubfitter on August 11, 2007, at 20:49:01
> Bonnie, I too take 200 lamictal, 20 lexapro, and klonopin...also
> Geodon 80. may i ask your diagnosis?? mine are MDD, SAD, AVP, and my pdoc is now leaning towards bipolar....thx!I am diagnosed BP2 rapid cycling, and panic disorder. I've never taken Geodon. I think my problem right now is that I am having a manicky period because I just got a new job. I've barely ate this week, and I've been sleeping terribly. I've actually been taking both xanax and klonopin, to cover the different kinds of anxiety I'm feeling. It's not a mixed episode, because I'm not depressed at all. I'm gonna try to take 150 mg of lamictal for awhile and see if that relieves some of the anxiety (since it can cause anxiety). I read that these drugs are not set in stone, and there are times when I might need more or less. Just don't change doses more than once a week. I think I might need less right now. I'm sure I'll keep everyone posted.
-Bonnie
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