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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Tepiaca on November 5, 2004, at 19:37:31
How is your memory now?
had u have to increase the dose???thanks
Posted by stresser on November 6, 2004, at 16:21:34
In reply to who has taken klonopin for more than 5 years??, posted by Tepiaca on November 5, 2004, at 19:37:31
I know I wrote in concerning Klonipin, so I'm answering your question even if it's not directed to me. My memory isn't as good as it was, but.....some of my friends say the same thing at our age-which is 42. I have my suspicions that the Klonipin may be the culprit, and am checking with my dr. next month. Hope that helps! -L
Posted by Squiggles on November 6, 2004, at 17:30:37
In reply to who has taken klonopin for more than 5 years??, posted by Tepiaca on November 5, 2004, at 19:37:31
> How is your memory now?
> had u have to increase the dose???
>
> thanksI have taken it for over 15 yrs;
I think my memory is as good as ever;
My dose has been increased 3 or 4 times -
now at 1.50mgSquiggles
Posted by woolav on November 6, 2004, at 21:27:40
In reply to Re: who has taken klonopin for more than 5 years??, posted by Squiggles on November 6, 2004, at 17:30:37
Hi, just a question. I am kinda surprised that your pdoc has let you stay on it for so long..what is the reason? I mean is it just for GAD or do you have panic disorder?? Also, what is 1.50mg. I take "3" 1 mg pills a day. How much do you take daily like that??
Thanks
S
Posted by Squiggles on November 7, 2004, at 6:37:12
In reply to Re: who has taken klonopin - Squiggles, posted by woolav on November 6, 2004, at 21:27:40
> Hi, just a question. I am kinda surprised that your pdoc has let you stay on it for so long..what is the reason? I mean is it just for GAD or do you have panic disorder?? Also, what is 1.50mg. I take "3" 1 mg pills a day. How much do you take daily like that??
> Thanks
> SAren't you supposed to stay on it that long?
When i was at benzo.org, i tried to come off it
with my friends calculator help over almost
2 years. I had a seizure or something at the
end and had to get back on and increase it.I take (3) 0.50mg tablets per day now.
I forget why I was put on the drug.
Squiggles
Posted by woolav on November 7, 2004, at 8:21:37
In reply to Re: who has taken klonopin - Squiggles, posted by Squiggles on November 7, 2004, at 6:37:12
Isnt is sad that we are given so many meds that we cant remember what its all for?? But anyway, I am doing well with klonopin and hope that i can take it for as long as i need it. But when i was taking xanax i was on it (off and on) for about 5 yrs, i asked my pdoc to raise the dose bc of tolerance, and she didnt want to, and that is why she switched me to the klon. I know some pdocs dont like ppl taking benzo's for long term bc of addiction.
S
Posted by Squiggles on November 7, 2004, at 8:29:25
In reply to Re: who has taken klonopin - Squiggles, posted by woolav on November 7, 2004, at 8:21:37
> Isnt is sad that we are given so many meds that we cant remember what its all for?? But anyway, I am doing well with klonopin and hope that i can take it for as long as i need it. But when i was taking xanax i was on it (off and on) for about 5 yrs, i asked my pdoc to raise the dose bc of tolerance, and she didnt want to, and that is why she switched me to the klon. I know some pdocs dont like ppl taking benzo's for long term bc of addiction.
> SUhm, yeah. I guess it's in your record right, :-)
Klonopin is more stable than other benzos, it
seems; i.e. you do not reach tolerance for
a long time. But at first i found it really
makes you feel heavy and even a little low.
I would not try to get off it now, because the
withdrawal was so unexpectedly difficult.As for Xanax, it's good for situational anxiety
but quickly addicting if you take it often.Nevertheless, I am going to ask my dr. for
a prescription again, for the rare times as
the ones i just went through trying to adjust
to the reinstatement of the lithium dose.I don't have anxiety now that the Synthroid is
low, and the Rivotril a bit higher.Squiggles
Posted by Tepiaca on November 7, 2004, at 11:27:42
In reply to Re: who has taken klonopin for more than 5 years??, posted by Squiggles on November 6, 2004, at 17:30:37
> > How is your memory now?
> > had u have to increase the dose???
> >
> > thanks
>
> I have taken it for over 15 yrs;
wowww , 15 years ?? , that is almost my age>
> I think my memory is as good as ever;
>
> My dose has been increased 3 or 4 times -
> now at 1.50mg
>
> Squiggles
what have been your highest dose???
thanks squiggles !
Posted by Squiggles on November 7, 2004, at 11:45:21
In reply to Re: who has taken klonopin for more than 5 years?? » Squiggles, posted by Tepiaca on November 7, 2004, at 11:27:42
> > > How is your memory now?
> > > had u have to increase the dose???
> > >
> > > thanks
> >
> > I have taken it for over 15 yrs;
>
>
> wowww , 15 years ?? , that is almost my age
>
>
>
> >
> > I think my memory is as good as ever;
> >
> > My dose has been increased 3 or 4 times -
> > now at 1.50mg
> >
> > Squiggles
>
>
> what have been your highest dose???
> thanks squiggles !
>
>
Yeah, i'm almost a Senior Citizen.My highest dose is the present one
3 little orange ones (0.50mg each)
my first dose was 0.50mg;Squiggles
Posted by Mr.Scott on November 9, 2004, at 0:17:46
In reply to Re: who has taken klonopin for more than 5 years??, posted by Squiggles on November 7, 2004, at 11:45:21
I've been on benzo's for 13 years with the exception of two seperate 6 month periods. I was originally placed on xanax for severe anxiety that was in the context of a major depressive episode (bipolar vs. unipolar still not 100% clear). I briefly took as much as 1.5mg of Xanax and later as much as 1mg of klonopin daily. Inbetween I tried Tranxene never exceeding 15mg and ativan 1mg daily. I currently take .5mg of klonopin and am slowly tapering. When I was truly in the depths of hell and despair benzos came in handy. However...they are very difficult to taper and I feel better as I come off. The initial two to four weeks after any dosage lowering is real bad. Then I begin to feel better than when I was taking the higher dose. I plan to be off the rest of it in 6months, and I'll only use them again for emergency PRN usage or if I reach that point in depression where nothing matters anymore except alleviating the anguish so that I don't kill myself.
Posted by woolav on November 9, 2004, at 18:46:36
In reply to Re: who has taken klonopin for more than 5 years??, posted by Mr.Scott on November 9, 2004, at 0:17:46
Hey, I am curious as to why you want to stop taking benzo's now. Are you just trying to see how you will do with out meds?? I went thru hell getting off of xanax and now that i am taking klonopin i have a major fear of getting off. I am trying to see a therapist who believes he can teach me other ways to deal with anxiety so i dont need benzo's, but i am scard to believe him and i dont want to get off and then have panic attacks again..
Anyway, just asking...
S
?
Posted by Mr.Scott on November 10, 2004, at 0:58:28
In reply to Re: who has taken klonopin - Mr Scott, posted by woolav on November 9, 2004, at 18:46:36
Hi,
Most of my panic level anxiety has gone away over the years and I've sort of smoldered into a more predominantly dysthymic state. I can spin myself into a pretty anxious doozy if I allow the committe in my brain to go on obsessing about this or that for too long, but the benzos really aren't very helpful for me in dealing with that. They slow my cognitive function and make me a bit dippy, but the obsessive worry is really not helped. Somehow I have realized that nothing is ever really worth panicking over, and the obsessive worry seems to be best treated with other kinds of meds (as they are tolerated by someone so med sensitive as I) and cognitive principles. I have found ways to get over myself and my self absorbed misery a bit, and I try to spend less time in my head. These days the benzo's (and to some extent all meds) seem more of a liability than anything else to me. When I was flaming with anxiety they were helpful relief, but in my current case they are kind of a drag and I'm looking forward to ridding myself of them completely in a slow and comfortable fashion.
Scott
Posted by tom_traubert on November 11, 2004, at 18:42:59
In reply to Re: who has taken klonopin - Mr Scott » woolav, posted by Mr.Scott on November 10, 2004, at 0:58:28
I took 1.5mgs Klonopin for 6 years along with Anafranil.
Dx ocd, then bipolar after episodes resulting from abrupt stoppage of med. Have been off all psych meds for more than 5. Tapered off of course, but was not easy at all. The first 6 months were hard, with skyrocketing anxiety levels and mild initial feelings of paranoia.yes it can be managed but still a challenge, and totally worth it.
tt
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