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Originally Posted by thesaint Hi everyone,
I would any suggestions regarding the following: I started with anxiety over a year ago. I went to th ER , did all kinds of test etc... and my doctor concluded that it was anxiety. He put me on Zoloft (50MG) and 1 mg of Klonopin at bedtime. I have strictly taken these amounts for the past year. My anxiety is OK, however my sleep has been affected. I do not know if it's because of the Zoloft (usually the side effects from this medication like insomnia) should have lasted for the first few weeks right? When I try to fall asleep, I noticed sometimes palpitations, my eyes feel tired but I can not sleep. The Klonopin does help me to sleep but I really want my natural sleep back and I really want to start tapering off. Any suggestions, similar circumstances?
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Yes, AD's can cause insomnia. Believe it or not, Klonopin can worsen a pre-existing insomnia as well. It is a drug that has a high tolerance factor. Tolerance translates into the drug not being as effective after some time, or sometimes stops working altogether. While taking a benzo like Klonopin, the brain loses it's own abilities to make sleep chemicals and also the brain's defense will set up opposite transmitters to defend against the klonopin. All this takes awhile but when it, does, you will have an imbalance in chemicals. You simply can't stop the Klonopin as you could have seizures.
I'm no expert or doctor, but I think slowly weaning off the Zoloft would be good, followed by slow weaning off the Klonopin. This will not guareentee no withdrawals or sleep problems, but could make things easier. Look up the Ashton Manual online for the infomation on Klonopin; it's free for download.
The brain can relearn to sleep on it's own again but it does need some time for that to happen.
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