Klonopin help...please.

Laurenmarie179 · 02-22-2004, 08:09 PM

I have been suffering from severe panic attacks for 15+ years now. For awhile, low dose SSRI's worked okay, but then I started getting bad side effects from those.

My dr has put me on 0.5 to 1mg of Klonopin for the past few months to take as needed (Not daily). It is working quite well and I only take it once a week typically, twice at most, when I feel a panic attack coming on. The Dr told me herself this is highly addictive and she wants to find me another drug as soon as possible that will work. Thats my problem, finding something that helps the panic attacks w/ side effects I can tolerate.

Is Klonopin always addictive at this amount and when not taken daily? Will my body get used to this dosage and feel it needs more to work even if i only take it once a week? I would rather not go down the road of becoming addicted. I was on Paxil, and even getting off of that took me 4 months w/ bad withdrawls--I know Klonopin is worse. Are there other Benzo's that might work for anxiety but not quite as addicting?

Not sure what to do.

Twinlynn · 02-22-2004, 08:56 PM

I regret that I am not the resident expert on benzos...but I, too, am prescribed Klonopin---fifteen pills a month at 0.5 mg strength. Again, I take them about as often as you do. In the three years I've been on them, I have not developed a tolerance and have not had to alter my dose. I take half a pill when I'm very anxious (though if I were having panic attacks I would take a full pill.) I know that benzos are highly addictive...but I have never felt the need to take a higher dosage..or take it more often. Hopefully, others on the board (one woman, who is missing this week) who are more expert than I am can tell you about the addiction aspect of it. Not having tried to go off the Klonipin, I do not know how I would react.

I'm sure having to choose a new anti-anxiety drug is enough to induce ANOTHER panic attack in you. But there may be others here who can help you. I'll be back on the Boards tomorrow. Try not to worry (easily said, I know!!) :-)

Lynn

Laurenmarie179 · 02-22-2004, 09:13 PM

thanks Twinlynn,

My dr has so far only refilled me one time. Considering how against she is w/ me taking this, I do not know if she will continue to refill my prescription, even at the low dose it is. She tried putting me on Lexapro (SSRI) last week, which I was leary of since I really disliked Paxil. Well I disliked Lexapro even more, as it made me throw up for 5 hrs after my first small dose.... uhhhh ..

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twinlynn

I regret that I am not the resident expert on benzos...but I, too, am prescribed Klonopin---fifteen pills a month at 0.5 mg strength. Again, I take them about as often as you do. In the three years I've been on them, I have not developed a tolerance and have not had to alter my dose. I take half a pill when I'm very anxious (though if I were having panic attacks I would take a full pill.) I know that benzos are highly addictive...but I have never felt the need to take a higher dosage..or take it more often. Hopefully, others on the board (one woman, who is missing this week) who are more expert than I am can tell you about the addiction aspect of it. Not having tried to go off the Klonipin, I do not know how I would react.

I'm sure having to choose a new anti-anxiety drug is enough to induce ANOTHER panic attack in you. But there may be others here who can help you. I'll be back on the Boards tomorrow. Try not to worry (easily said, I know!!) :-)

Lynn

staceyy · 02-22-2004, 09:26 PM

Hi I am Stacey, I Have been on and off klonopin for the last two years I just switched to adivan I take it for sleep but the highest dose of klonipin I have taken is 10 mg. every night. I am a recovered herion addict and I have to say and this is my opinion only. I have never had any w/d from coming off it and I take a month break every three months. I was on paxil for almost three years and when I stopped it I had a h--- of a time and they say that it is not addictive but I had bad w/d's from it. If you need an anti-depressent try Celexa I have been on well butrin, and prozax and all had side effects I have been on celexa for about 1 1/2 years and it has been really good for me. brain chems are different and each phsyc med acts different on different people. okay any way I have to say that if you areee taking that low of dose of klonipin I wouldn't worry about it to much Taking it once or twicee aa week is not an addiction if you have panic attacks it is probly the best thing for you remember my opinion.
if it works talk to you doc and do some more research.
Best of luck
Goddess Bless
Stacey

John 3:16 · 02-22-2004, 10:04 PM

Hi LaurenMarie,

I suffer from depression and severe anxiety. After the birth of my first child (who is now 5) I was put on Paxil (hated it) but quickly became pregnant again, therefore stopped the Paxil. After my third child was born (have a 4 and 1 year old as well) I had to be put back on an anti-depressant (Lexapro) which works well for me but did nothing for my anxiety. My OB gave me a small amount of Xanax (a benzo similar to Klonopin) because of its addiction properties but it worked GREAT for me! She recommended me seeing a pscyhatrist and he did seem to think I needed the Xanax on an as need basis (he actully prescribes me 90 tablets a month). I have been on them a year and my dose is actually decreasing rather than increasing and I can sometimes go a day or so (if I am experiencing no anxiety or worries) and be just fine!

Some people seem to get addicted to this type of drug rather easily and some people just flat out abuse it- there are those on this board who are very much against any type of benzo's. On the other hand, there are others who can take it occassionally, do not abuse and have no desire to abuse it, and have no problems when they stop taking it.

I have never abused this drug- it does not make me "high-" just calm and normal. If this works for you, you may want to look around for a doctor who would be willing to prescribe this. If you feel "worried" about its addictive properties and think this may be a problems for you, I would steer clear of any type of benzos. You know yourself best.

I probably wasn't much help- just kind of giving you my experience. Good luck and keep us posted with you progress. God bless,
michelle