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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by falconman on January 27, 2003, at 20:06:24
I am currently reducing my dose of clonazepam (4mg daily) administered for depression and anxiety(general/social and depersonalization). I have been on the med for about 14 months and have found it has significantly stunted my creativity, memory and motivation. It has however, allowed me to take up some voluntary work and function to a better degree.
Although It has had these positive effects on my life, I still feel it is no way to be living like this. I'd describe myself as an empty shell ,with a profound 'loss of sense of self', just going through the motions whilst experiencing no sense of well being or achievment. Infact I'd say I was fairly numb to all emotion except anxiety.
On reducing the dosage I have felt a raise in anxiety (which was to be expected), which I'm finding very hard to tolerate, but I am also experiencing more bizarre symptoms such as bodily tingles,itches,tickles and a general hyper-sensativity to my clothing. Has anyone experienced this whilst going through benzo withdrawel?
I am reducing the dosage because I'm going into psychotherapy and I feel the clonazepam is covering up my true illness , and will therefore act as a barrier to the benefits talking therapy may be able to offer. I have been on far too much medication over the last 5 years and feel the need to find out my 'base-line' state.
This is the first time I've posted and I'm not really sure why I'm doing this except that I'm really scared about reducing my medication. I am interested in any words of wisdom concerning anything that I've talked about, but more specifically peoples views on psychotherapy and other talking therapies. For example it would seem that my illness can be fully accounted for phsiologically, therefore do people agree that there is not much hope in psychotherapy or is it possible that talking therapies can actually change brain chemistry? Sorry for the long babble and thankyou to anyone that may respond to this. Regards
Posted by Dinah on January 27, 2003, at 23:24:09
In reply to psychotherapy/medication, posted by falconman on January 27, 2003, at 20:06:24
First of all, yes I did experience the hypersensitivity when going off Klonopin. I didn't taper. But I also went off Depakote and Luvox at the same time. Hard to tell what caused what. In addition to the extreme sensitivity (a light breeze hurt my arms), I also experienced some odd perceptual distortions.
I'm back on the Klonopin and Depakote. I don't think I want to go back to a life full of anxiety and I have to acknowledge the physiological basis of my anxiety and agitation.
You might want to watch the presentation of our guest at Psychological Babble (see the top of the page for links). He discusses a study done of the outcomes of cognitive behavior therapy versus medications. The results are quite interesting. Here is a link.
http://psychiatry.uchicago.edu/grounds/030120/
My own personal belief is that medication can help therapy to work better by giving a stable base to work from. Although CBT alone has a pretty good track record for certain anxiety disorders. But that's just my belief. What does your pdoc and therapist think?
Posted by falconman on January 28, 2003, at 6:31:51
In reply to Re: psychotherapy/medication » falconman, posted by Dinah on January 27, 2003, at 23:24:09
Cheers for the response , I'm feeling pretty weird right now.
I understand that often people are too unwell to undertake psycotherapy, and drug treatment needs to be administered. This is true especially for major depression when the patient is likely to be on an antidepressant. However in my case because there are several diagnoses and I'm on clonazepam, it is hard to work out what symptoms are being caused by the root of the problem. I see my pdoc when I'm on 4mg and he diagnoses me as having major depressive disorder, then once I've dropped to 2mg I'm displaying a whole new set of symptoms such as depersonalization and paranoia. Its like my personality is totally defined by the medication.
The psychotherapist I'm going to see who works closely with my pdoc thinks its better for me to be clean from all medication when I go into therapy. I can see his point, the clonazepam does mute my emotions and therefore if I stay on it we won't have much to work with. Regards
Posted by judy1 on January 28, 2003, at 17:53:57
In reply to Re: psychotherapy/medication, posted by falconman on January 28, 2003, at 6:31:51
Why don't you try xanax to address your anxiety problems- if you take it on a prn basis perhaps you won't feel so much depersonalization (not uncommon with klonopin). Your therapist will give you skills to help your anxiety and once those are in place you may not feel you need as much medication. Nobody dives into the heavy stuff in therapy right away so don't worry- you'll need to develop a trusting relationship with your therapist first. It's been about 3 years for me, and I'm still trying to get there. I wish you well- judy
Posted by falconman on January 28, 2003, at 18:46:59
In reply to Re: psychotherapy/medication » falconman, posted by judy1 on January 28, 2003, at 17:53:57
Thanks for the suggestions, much appreciated I'll look into xanax
Posted by Luka62 on January 28, 2003, at 23:21:57
In reply to psychotherapy/medication, posted by falconman on January 27, 2003, at 20:06:24
Falconman--I had similar weird sensations and side effects when going off benzos.
I think it's great starting therapy. I often would wonder how I would know if I could do without a medication if my (former) pdoc wouldn't take me off, or taper it down. I've been in therapy for a long time, and I don't know whether brain chemistry is affected, but the (slow, gradual )changes in my life because of a combo of therapy and meds is like night and day.
Does your therapist want you to be off all meds now? It was a gradual thing for me.I still take meds, but less than I ever have. I have a therapist and a pdoc who act as a "team"
Posted by falconman on January 29, 2003, at 7:53:02
In reply to Re: psychotherapy/medication » falconman, posted by Luka62 on January 28, 2003, at 23:21:57
> Falconman--I had similar weird sensations and side effects when going off benzos.
> I think it's great starting therapy. I often would wonder how I would know if I could do without a medication if my (former) pdoc wouldn't take me off, or taper it down. I've been in therapy for a long time, and I don't know whether brain chemistry is affected, but the (slow, gradual )changes in my life because of a combo of therapy and meds is like night and day.
> Does your therapist want you to be off all meds now? It was a gradual thing for me.I still take meds, but less than I ever have. I have a therapist and a pdoc who act as a "team"Hi,
thanks alot for responding.
The pscotherapy is very intensive (5 days a week), with a team of therapists all acting closely with my pdoc. If it goes ahead I'll be very fortunate. The plan is to have me completely off meds before I start, so the sooner I'm off the better. Obviously I'm not being stupid by just stopping the meds or coming off it very quickly, but the intension is to be off them quite soon. Infact I'll probably be in hospital when I'm coming off the last bit, so I I'll get loads of support.
Thanks again
Posted by judy1 on January 29, 2003, at 10:35:51
In reply to Re: psychotherapy/medication, posted by falconman on January 29, 2003, at 7:53:02
Is this part of a day hospital? Just wondering, because I went through something similar. Will it be an all day thing with group therapy? take care, judy
Posted by Luka62 on January 29, 2003, at 11:25:44
In reply to Re: psychotherapy/medication, posted by falconman on January 29, 2003, at 7:53:02
Falconman--glad to hear you will have lots of support! I wish you all the best. Keep us informed how you're doing.
Posted by falconman on January 29, 2003, at 18:55:59
In reply to 5 days/week? » falconman, posted by judy1 on January 29, 2003, at 10:35:51
> Is this part of a day hospital? Just wondering, because I went through something similar. Will it be an all day thing with group therapy? take care, judy
It'll either be a day hospital, or I'll be an inpatient. It will start with thrapy one on one and then hopefully if I improove I'll join group therapy. There is a large possability none of this will happen. It depends on if I get the funding or not. Take care
Posted by falconman on January 29, 2003, at 18:58:27
In reply to Re: psychotherapy/medication, posted by Luka62 on January 29, 2003, at 11:25:44
> Falconman--glad to hear you will have lots of support! I wish you all the best. Keep us informed how you're doing.
>Thanks, I hope it goes ahead. Take care
This is the end of the thread.
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