Posted by yxibow on November 23, 2006, at 20:12:49
In reply to Klonopin Questions, posted by mr-vegemite on November 22, 2006, at 23:29:39
> I'm on an SSRI and I often get very anxious...can't calm down...grinding teeth...constantly moving my right leg.
>
> My doctor prescribed med 1mg of Klonopin to be taken once a day as needed. I was on antivan before but it didn't do anything for some reason.
>
> Klonopin makes me feel so good and relaxed I'm taking it every day.
>
> Any concerns with this? I'm new to this medicine.
>
> Thanks!There is a possibility of tolerance and habituation over a long period of time, but it is a medication that should be taken daily on schedule (actually in some people its half life is short enough to be twice daily). It is one of two good long term benzodiazepine choices, the other being Valium, which has a slightly greater half life.
The Ativan you took before may have reacted slightly differently, not every benzodiazepine is the same -- also the movement disorders or side effects your experiencing from an SSRI may be better quelled with Klonopin because I believe it and Valium are more suited in the direction of antispasmotics. All benzodiazepines work on 4 subreceptors, anxiolytic, sedative, antiepileptic, and antispasmotic, but some are better than others.
Some people never develop much tolerance, some do habituate over time -- but taken as your doctor directs, they are a safe medication and the only important thing is that you do not take it willy nilly but on schedule so that you aren't withdrawing between doses. And when the time comes if your doctor wants you to withdraw from it, do it slowly, and don't drop it like a lead brick. That's the only recipe for disaster from stopping a benzodiazepine.
Best wishes
-- Jay
poster:yxibow
thread:706384
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20061123/msgs/706547.html