Saw the doctor, changed meds, need info - Panic Disorders Message Board

mommyof5 · 01-08-2003, 02:38 PM

Hi everyone, so I went to the dr. yesterday and she changed the meds. Instead of taking paxil (which seem to heghten my anxiety and create more panic attacks) I'll be taking zoloft (which I've had in the past,with minimal side effects - insomnia and heartburn) along with clonazepam (rivoltral sp?)0.5mg. twice a day and 1mg of ativan if I have a panic attack. I'm always scared to take new meds so I wanted to know how the clonazepam is going to make me feel or what it's going to do to me? Is anyone else taking it? I seem to still be anxious all day and would love to take the edge off but I'm afraid to be dopey or fall aleep! (just my fears, maybe I have a phobia of meds?). I'm supposed to go out tonight to see the rolling stones (bought the tickets when they came on sale-May. Felt better then). I would love to enjoy the concert and not have to THINK about my anxieties. Seeing as how we have 5 kids hubby and I only "go out" once or twice a year. Any personal experiences or info on clonazepam welcome thanks mommyof5

shasta · 01-19-2003, 06:49 PM

Well, as no one has answered your post, I'm wondering how you're doing?? Did the concert go OK? I've been on clonazepam for 3 years and at 1st, I thought it was a brand new world for me me. I was actually "living!" Now that I've been on it for so long and have also tried to get off of it (because I don't feel it's working that great anymore) I don't think it was my answer. Neither were any of the other 9 things I was prescribed. This was just 1 one I couldn't get off without withdrawals. My advice to you would be to take it only when and if needed! Not on a daily basis as it is highly addictive (which I was unaware of!)

mommyof5 · 01-23-2003, 04:59 AM

The concert went great!, I have always wanted to go to see the rolling stones and finally did,YAHOO!.I didn't take the clonazepam but I took 1 mg ativan and held onto my hubby for dear life while walking through the crowds and getting to our seats. Once we were seated I still held on to him for a while, we were in the bleachers and I'm also afraid of heights (I get dizzy) and it was a sold out show so you can just imagine the closterphobia(sp?) that I had with the amount of people there! I was anxious the whole evening but didn't have a panic attack!, at one point it felt like I was going to but it didn't happen. So on the one hand I had a great evening and on the other hand I had a terrible evening, I guess you understand what I mean, but I was also VERY proud of myself that I didn't chicken out and not go! Since then I've had the courage to take the clonazepam, I'm current taking 3/4 pill in the morning (doesn't make me sleepy or drowzy and 1/2 a pill at night (that one makes me very sleepy after a few hours). I tend to have a 2 hour nap every afternoon so I don't understand why the evening pill wears me out so much. Since taking the zoloft and the clonazepam I've had a lot of energy in the morning until about 1:00pm(I'm up at 6:00am). I've started cleaning more around the house and doing little odd jobs and things I've been putting off for months (could that be depression?). What I haven't done yet is start going out by myself (completly alone). I drove last night for the first time in 3 weeks (very anxious) but I had my eldest daughter with me (she's 11) so she was like a crutch because I talked to her about anything and everything to keep my mind off myself!
Gotta go 1st of 5 kids just woke up and says he's STARRRRVVVING! (he's almost 9!) thanks for listening.

Sorry so long - mommyof5