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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by darwinsmunky on November 11, 2008, at 15:01:06
Ive been prescribed klonopin for about a year now and after trying many different medications have found this to be the most effective. I am bipolar and in addition to klonopin i also take lamictal. Ive tried many antipsychotics in the past but find them far too debilitating. My concern is the long term affects of taking a benzo. Im aware of the addiction to this medication but what worries me more are any disorders or other side effects that i might incur later down the road. Ive spoken with my psych about it and to his knowledge there really arent any. If anyone has any experience with this or has read anything that says otherwise i would be very appreciative to learn about it. Thx
Posted by Maria3667 on November 11, 2008, at 15:26:11
In reply to long term use of benzos, posted by darwinsmunky on November 11, 2008, at 15:01:06
Hi Darwin,
I posed the same question to my Pdoc and he said benzo's were relatively safe in the long run, even if the dose is high.
At the crest of my anxiety, he prescribed me 8 to 10 Ativan per day. Besides weight gain and loss of libido I had no adverse effects.
Trouble is coming down... It's taken me 6 months to go down to 3 per day presently. Come next spring I hope to be down to 1 or 2 per day.
Take care,
Maria> Ive been prescribed klonopin for about a year now and after trying many different medications have found this to be the most effective. I am bipolar and in addition to klonopin i also take lamictal. Ive tried many antipsychotics in the past but find them far too debilitating. My concern is the long term affects of taking a benzo. Im aware of the addiction to this medication but what worries me more are any disorders or other side effects that i might incur later down the road. Ive spoken with my psych about it and to his knowledge there really arent any. If anyone has any experience with this or has read anything that says otherwise i would be very appreciative to learn about it. Thx
Posted by desolationrower on November 11, 2008, at 15:42:36
In reply to long term use of benzos, posted by darwinsmunky on November 11, 2008, at 15:01:06
I think your doctor is right. Benzos are very safe, as long as you don't quit abruptly. I don't think the same can be said for many antidepressants.
Anxiety and stress, on the other hand, can lead to many health problems.
-D/R
Posted by darwinsmunky on November 11, 2008, at 16:06:28
In reply to long term use of benzos, posted by darwinsmunky on November 11, 2008, at 15:01:06
Thanks for the responses. My imagination hasnt been able to accept the fact that this is safe but its good to know that i dont have much to worry about. I would hate to lose this medicine.
Posted by Phillipa on November 11, 2008, at 18:01:52
In reply to Re: long term use of benzos, posted by darwinsmunky on November 11, 2008, at 16:06:28
Darwin been on benzos for 38 years and no weight gain no side effects at all. And I haven't had a problem weaning down as during those years some were totally benzo free. Love Phillipa and welcome to babble.
Posted by JadeKelly on November 12, 2008, at 9:41:06
In reply to long term use of benzos, posted by darwinsmunky on November 11, 2008, at 15:01:06
> Ive been prescribed klonopin for about a year now and after trying many different medications have found this to be the most effective. I am bipolar and in addition to klonopin i also take lamictal. Ive tried many antipsychotics in the past but find them far too debilitating. My concern is the long term affects of taking a benzo. Im aware of the addiction to this medication but what worries me more are any disorders or other side effects that i might incur later down the road. Ive spoken with my psych about it and to his knowledge there really arent any. If anyone has any experience with this or has read anything that says otherwise i would be very appreciative to learn about it. Thx
Hello,
I've been on Klonopin for about 10 years for nerve pain. It def works for that. I am up to 3mg after starting at .5mg. I want to taper off of it but will wait as on new A/D. The only thing I've noticed is slight dullness in my cognitive abilities, but that may be due to depression. Havent heard complaints about Klonopin, except the w/d. Its widely prescibed for many reasons.
Hope that helps,
~Jade
Posted by Maxime on November 12, 2008, at 18:10:32
In reply to long term use of benzos, posted by darwinsmunky on November 11, 2008, at 15:01:06
I took a high dose - 4 mg - of Klonopin for 10 years. After time, I became more depressed but I didn't really realise it until I came off the klonopin. So I guess depression can be an effect.
Posted by jakejohnson007 on November 12, 2008, at 22:33:02
In reply to Re: long term use of benzos » darwinsmunky, posted by Maxime on November 12, 2008, at 18:10:32
Depression as a S/E makes sense since Benzos are depressants by nature. This S/E is probably more pronounced for those prone to depression.
The cognitive side effects are the ones that really worry me. I'm 22. What are the long-term cognitive side effects of taking Klonopin for, say, 40 years?
Posted by yxibow on November 13, 2008, at 1:37:01
In reply to Re: long term use of benzos, posted by jakejohnson007 on November 12, 2008, at 22:33:02
> Depression as a S/E makes sense since Benzos are depressants by nature. This S/E is probably more pronounced for those prone to depression.
>
> The cognitive side effects are the ones that really worry me. I'm 22. What are the long-term cognitive side effects of taking Klonopin for, say, 40 years?Depends on the dose. 0.5-1mg, probably nothing much, that's relatively easy to come off of. 8mg, it is your body weight, time, and a whole load of factors that can't be determined as to when you will become used to, habituated (not addicted), to a benzodiazepine.
Memory issues are a real problem with benzodiazepines for some people, especially at high doses -- I have trimmed my dose of Valium but I can't seem to go below a certain point without having breakthrough symptoms. And I've been on it for probably 4 years, no benzodiazepine now gives me a "zing".
Your GABA receptors become used to the agonizt effect and only time and a crystal ball will know how long it will take to undo the effects at GABA-A so that once again benzodiazepines can be used and have a "zing" back again.
But don't mistake it, they may still be working in the background.
I don't know about 40 years, but even 4 or 10 years, you're talking about short to medium term memory loss. Long term memories will still be there for the most part, unless you are elderly which then complicates things I would imagine -- not to single out a group because there are plenty of seniors with sharp memories.
Benzodiazepines, besides affecting anxiety, sleep, and anticonvulsant activity, are also amnesics. Hence the memory loss issue.
I do have problems with memory loss but it isn't necessarily 100% psychiatric, it may have some psychological ramifications. However I do notice it when having to go back up on my Valium. But I have to be functional on some extent. But mine is a special case. Everyone is different.
I hope that answers some thoughts on the topic
-- tidings
Jay
Posted by kenny7 on November 14, 2008, at 17:02:21
In reply to long term use of benzos, posted by darwinsmunky on November 11, 2008, at 15:01:06
You are BP correct? There are ugly long term effects with anti psychotics....STAY AWAY. But benzo withdrawal is arduous but possible. You won't experience a seizure where you're at. And you should give yourself a pat on the back you didn't get the fatal rash.
Posted by darwinsmunky on November 14, 2008, at 21:18:41
In reply to Re: long term use of benzos, posted by kenny7 on November 14, 2008, at 17:02:21
Ya, i consider myself lucky that i escaped the rash because i believe lamictal to be a wonder drug. Yes i am bipolar and am aware of some of the long term effects of antipsychotics. My psych gets a little perturbed when i call it that. "Mood Stabilizers!". Fortunately i am on a relatively low dose of klonopin, 1mg twice a day. It is for anxiety and mood stabilization. Sleep can be an issue from time to time but only due to my swings which have been severly blunted thankfully. To be honest the major factors in my mental state come only partly from the meds. For the most part it comes from my daily routine. Proper diet, exercise, socializing, and maintaining a consistent sleep pattern have a huge impact. If i grow lax in those then my symptoms will grow worse. Ive known people who ingest massive amounts of medicine because they are looking for an easy way out to things that we can treat physically. Anyhow, thx for all your feedback I am very grateful to you all.
This is the end of the thread.
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