Does anyone feel depressed after taking Klonopin (Clonazapem)?

[Rianna]

I have been taking Klonopin for anxiety for about six months (0.5mg) once maybe twice a day, and although it works great for anxiety..I notice I feel down a few hours after taking it. I am currently on Remeron for depression and have increased the dosage. I am wondering if Klonopin can cause someone to feel down or depressed. I remember that when I used to take GABA (natural remedy) for anxiety, It worked very well, however, I would feel down or depressed as well. Thanks for listening.

[hyper79]

i have read that it can induce depression, i do take it but not like i was prescribed. you may need to switch to something like buspar, talk to ur doc about it.i spoke to mine about the grogginess from klonopin and its effect on my job, so i got a prescription for the lowest does of buspar. ill post how it works.

[pleasantville]

klonopin is the strongest benzo there is. it should never be taken daily as it is highly addictive and almost impossible to get off of. i have taken it and felt like a zombie on it and yes, it can cause depression. in england klonopin is only prescribed for people with severe seizures and nothing else. i have just spent 6 months of my life getting off of benzos and i would hate to see anyone else go through this.

p

[Rianna]

Oh gosh..I am only on 0.5mg of Klonopin, and my Psychiatrist told me it was the least addictive out of all the substances. I highly doubt I am addicted to it...especially on such a small dose. I know several people on it, and they have had no problems going off of it...but then again, they are on the smallest dose like I am on.

I have heard bad things about Busphar..and heard it only works well if someone is on SSRI's..and the antidepressant I take is not an SSRI..however, I may look in to it. Thanks for the replies.

[clill_IU]

First of all, benzos and SSRI's are both "addictive", except benzos don't have all the other nasty side effects that SSRI's do. The way its been explained to me is that benzos create dependence, not true addiction. The difference being that with addiction, you need more and more and more....Dependence means you simply need it to function. A lot of people have a problem with this, but a diabetic can't function without insulin, we all can't function with food, water, etc. I really think that the media has unfairly villified these drugs over time, when in fact they have some clear advantages over SSRI's.

A few years back when Xanax launched its XR formulation and the SSRI's were getting a lot of negative press, doctors were switching back to the more traditional approach. I, myself, have been on both, and have weaned off both....I found it was easier cutting down on the benzos. I believe the bigger problem is the manner in which many people taper down the drugs. So many of us feel like we have to go off of the drug NOW, and that can create a myriad of issues...seizure, depression, worse anxiety, etc.

I've been to some docs that swear by SSRI's and others that won't touch them with a 10 foot pole. I think this is why they say that "finding help is 90% of the battle with anxiety." It can really be difficult to buy into a program, when there are so many different attitudes and approaches....something that us anxious people don't need! :-)