[joe50000]

Hi all, i'm bipolar II. I suffer from mostly depressive/mixed states where I feel constantly agitated, anxious, unfocused, and my thoughts are clouded with intrusive thoughts.

I'm normally on zoloft, oxcarbazepine (trileptal), and trazodone, but it really wasn't helping me deal with the constant cloud of thoughts going on through my mind.

My GP prescribed klonopin (.5 mg 2x a day). It works incredibly well, but even .5 mg puts me to sleep right away. It's actually the best sleep i've had in years, and when I wake up, I feel totally refreshed and not groggy, depressed, or slow like I usually am in the morning. I wake up energetic, lively, focused, with my thoughts ordered and prepared for the whole day. I feel more responsible and caring while on it, and I don't feel that irritable "edge" that most BP people feel.

I don't feel "high", I just feel NORMAL. I feel balanced. I feel like I can get things done, I can communicate with people better without delusional anxiety that they're going to judge me or yell at me even for minor problems, I can sit in traffic and not fall into a depressive/anxious state, I don't feel the need the constantly distract myself or entertain myself to get my mind off my racing thoughts, I can engage others willingly and thoughtfully, and a whole host of other things.

I don't have social anxiety, but being BP has really put me on edge over the years, where I feel I can't express my feelings properly or I tend to react in a very hostile and mean manner towards people. I used to have angry outbursts and explode at people for the tiniest things, and say really hurtful and spiteful things towards friends. It really cost me a lot of close friendships that even today i'm still trying to recover from.

I know the half-life of klonopin is really long and it doesn't have the "high" that xanax does, but I don't get bad panic attacks often, I just feel anxious and edgy all the time, so I thought it was the right one for me.

Does anyone else have experience with klonopin? was it good or bad? did it put you to sleep right away? will I eventually get used to the sleepiness?

[anneo59]

Originally Posted by joe50000

Hi all, i'm bipolar II. I suffer from mostly depressive/mixed states where I feel constantly agitated, anxious, unfocused, and my thoughts are clouded with intrusive thoughts.

I'm normally on zoloft, oxcarbazepine (trileptal), and trazodone, but it really wasn't helping me deal with the constant cloud of thoughts going on through my mind.

My GP prescribed klonopin (.5 mg 2x a day). It works incredibly well, but even .5 mg puts me to sleep right away. It's actually the best sleep i've had in years, and when I wake up, I feel totally refreshed and not groggy, depressed, or slow like I usually am in the morning. I wake up energetic, lively, focused, with my thoughts ordered and prepared for the whole day. I feel more responsible and caring while on it, and I don't feel that irritable "edge" that most BP people feel.

I don't feel "high", I just feel NORMAL. I feel balanced. I feel like I can get things done, I can communicate with people better without delusional anxiety that they're going to judge me or yell at me even for minor problems, I can sit in traffic and not fall into a depressive/anxious state, I don't feel the need the constantly distract myself or entertain myself to get my mind off my racing thoughts, I can engage others willingly and thoughtfully, and a whole host of other things.

I don't have social anxiety, but being BP has really put me on edge over the years, where I feel I can't express my feelings properly or I tend to react in a very hostile and mean manner towards people. I used to have angry outbursts and explode at people for the tiniest things, and say really hurtful and spiteful things towards friends. It really cost me a lot of close friendships that even today i'm still trying to recover from.

I know the half-life of klonopin is really long and it doesn't have the "high" that xanax does, but I don't get bad panic attacks often, I just feel anxious and edgy all the time, so I thought it was the right one for me.

Does anyone else have experience with klonopin? was it good or bad? did it put you to sleep right away? will I eventually get used to the sleepiness?

yes, I'm one whose had success with clonazepam. Still I don't take it all the time, am a little wary. Am glad to hear it is helpful for you. Very good for the anxiety for me, not the best for sleep, have never been able to get used to grogginess, either, but still prefer to anxiety and insomnia. The best to you!

[EBD8]

I'm not currently taking it but I took it for over 10 years and because of my addictions the docs are reluctant to give it to me now. All I can say is what it did for me. I'm 54, male, bipolar 2 and when everything caved in for me anxiety was a MAJOR problem as well as uncontrollable fear. Back in 1995 the pdoc started me on Buspar, then vistiril then finally clonazepam and for the first time in forever I felt I could sleep. For the first time in 7 years I had no anxiety and didn't realize how bad it had been until I got on the clonazepam. People used to always ask me, don't you feel high or something like that and all I could tell them is that for the first time in a long time I FEEL NORMAL. I've abused a lot of things but clonazepam was not one of them. If you take it on a regular basis the morning hangover side effects will go away. It can be addictive because once you start taking it your body stops making it's own natural "benzodiazapine's" and with clonazepam it is used is some patients to control seizure's. It was the right fit for me at the time and there are days I wish I had had a bottle full. There is a draw back because if you move and you have to see a different doc some don't and wont' give you what the other one did. That has always confused me the most about treatment for bipolar is that different docs don't always prescribe the same. They all have their favorite meds. Good Luck...

[BipolaRNurse]

I was on Ativan for over 10 years, just 1 mg per night at bedtime although I had the option of taking it up to 3x/daily. Then a few months ago, my work stress levels got out of control and I wound up taking it 3-4 times a day with only minimal relief. One day I finally had a nervous breakdown and was put on Klonopin for the anxiety, and I've done very well on it. I've needed only the occasional 0.5 mg Ativan for breakthrough anxiety since then, and not at all since I left that job.

I don't abuse the drug at all, even though I have a distant history of alcoholism. I take 0.5 mg at night and that's it. I'll probably be on it for the rest of my life but that's OK, there's a reason I need it.

Yes, I have a prescription for it, but I use it only occasionally when I have too much
acid buildup. Then, the use of it helps so much with a good night's sleep. Otherwise, I
don't use it because of the possibility of its becoming a habit, and I don't need that.

[Pierro]

I am currently being tapered of klonopin because it is a benzo and highly addictive. It makes me really sleepy too and I hate that because I feel exhausted all the time now, and taking klonopin just makes me 100 times worse.

[bluemountains]

I take 1.0 mg at night to help sleep, and .5 mg during the day when I am at work. On weekends I usually forego the daytime dose. It works well for me, both as a sleep agent and for anxiety avoidance.
Bluemountains

[manicdepressive07]

I'm prescribed .5mg of klonopin and I take it at night as needed for insomina. The BP meds I take make me physically anxious and restless and night, so I take my klonopin prob about 3-5x a week at night when I just can't get to bed on my own.

However my therapist warned me about the excessive use of klonopin (and any benzo for that matter). She said research has been done where it's actually HARMFUL for people who take it for anxiety in the long run. She said because what it essentially does, is it lessens your tolerance for anxiety (using benzos long term). She gave me the example of this: Say a person might get anxious on about a level 5 because of a particular situation or experience... and that same person gets put on benzos and takes them daily for a long time... now that person has the same situation or experience happen to them but NOW their anxiety level is at an 8 or 9.

So she basically said benzos are extremely useful for short term anxiety issues that need immediate relief, but they are a BAD idea for people who are looking to take them long term for anxiety. Because of what I said about anxiety tolerance decreasing drastically, and also because they can be so addictive.

I'm not a DR, and neither is my therapist... but she does have her Master's in Counseling Psychology and specializes in treating patients who suffer from Bipolar, Depression, Anxiety, & various mood disorders.

[cool09]

I've taken benzos for the last 27 years. Klonopin works great. If I take 2 mg/day I get sleepy. My Doc said it can be taken as high as 16 mg or so with some very sick people. I heard that Tom Sizemore was taking 9 mg and that's unreal. That would knock me out for at least a week.

My Doc told me that he had a patient that forgot her xanax on a vacation and had a seizure in an airport due to withdrawal.

[joe50000]

I've been taking .5 mg regularly for the last few days, and I can't stay awake on it. I tried drinking some coffee with it but it didn't do anything other than make me feel jittery.

I think that in general it's probably best used as a sleep aid for me. The next day I feel much better, as if I had actually gotten decent rest. At night, when i'm asleep, I have racing thoughts that keep me half awake; I toss and turn all night and I wake up constantly; it's almost as if there's a shadow of anxiety that overtakes me while i'm asleep. The past few days, I feel like i'm finally asleep for once - my brain completely shut down of activity.

I realize that benzo addiction and dependence is a major problem and i'm working with both my GP and pdoc right now for a long term solution. But right now - i'm getting the best sleep I've gotten in over 20 years. I can only remember 2 days in the last 20 years where I woke up with the same feeling - no weight on my shoulders (not that I had critically important things to think about and responsibilities that I needed to focus on), no grogginess, no depression, no anxiety, with a positive, energetic outlook on things and the drive and ability to get it done. I feel normal, finally.

[Squaw]

joe50000, I seem to be the only one taking Clonazepam that doesn't get groggy or sleepy while taking it..if anything, sometimes it seems to hype me up like when I have an Up phase with a Bipolar mania..I can get quite giddy, not high at all..This drug has never made me high but has essentially helped me get my life back..I was injured on the job which left me disabled and caused panic attacks 24/7..I got tired of being medicated in the ER and sent home. My doc prescribed this drug in 2003 and I've taken it ever since. If I have breakthrough panic attacks, I have Alprazolam ( Xanax) that I use only when necessary..very seldom. I have major anxiety issues where my brain just doesn't want to go to sleep, like right now, LOL..I hope this helped you...... :-) Squaw

[BlueInanna]

It seems to help me. Best at night. But sometimes it does nothing to slow mind racing and I have to just ride it out. Like now and it sucks. I've been taking it for 5 years. Tried to quit it recently but withdrawals were so bad she increased my dose from 2mg/day to 3mg/day. We decided nows not the time to stop but when I do, it will be a long process, cutting down 1/8 mg at a time. Took 2 tonight, waiting for sleep and relief, may take the 3rd... Idk it's a double edged sword. But sometimes just do whatever works to get through the minutes.

[anneo59]

Originally Posted by genetic

Yes, I have a prescription for it, but I use it only occasionally when I have too much
acid buildup. Then, the use of it helps so much with a good night's sleep. Otherwise, I
don't use it because of the possibility of its becoming a habit, and I don't need that.

when I have to take it, I try to take something OTC for acid first.

[anneo59]

Originally Posted by manicdepressive07

I'm prescribed .5mg of klonopin and I take it at night as needed for insomina. The BP meds I take make me physically anxious and restless and night, so I take my klonopin prob about 3-5x a week at night when I just can't get to bed on my own.

However my therapist warned me about the excessive use of klonopin (and any benzo for that matter). She said research has been done where it's actually HARMFUL for people who take it for anxiety in the long run. She said because what it essentially does, is it lessens your tolerance for anxiety (using benzos long term). She gave me the example of this: Say a person might get anxious on about a level 5 because of a particular situation or experience... and that same person gets put on benzos and takes them daily for a long time... now that person has the same situation or experience happen to them but NOW their anxiety level is at an 8 or 9.

So she basically said benzos are extremely useful for short term anxiety issues that need immediate relief, but they are a BAD idea for people who are looking to take them long term for anxiety. Because of what I said about anxiety tolerance decreasing drastically, and also because they can be so addictive.

I'm not a DR, and neither is my therapist... but she does have her Master's in Counseling Psychology and specializes in treating patients who suffer from Bipolar, Depression, Anxiety, & various mood disorders.

have heard this too, a lot, but still doing better on than off

[Dylanzmama]

Made me depressed. I'm on serax now. It's a benzo so my doc's going to take me off soon. I'm really nervous about that...

[BlueInanna]

Originally Posted by Dylanzmama

Made me depressed. I'm on serax now. It's a benzo so my doc's going to take me off soon. I'm really nervous about that...

I have a gf who says klonopin makes her cry, she can't take it. But she swears by Ativan. I don't know anything about serax. But good luck with it, try not to get *too* nervous (easier said than done, I know) - but if it doesn't help you, just let the pdoc know asap, and you can try something else. Like maybe the Ativan that helped my friend... Remember it will be and you will be ok eventually.