[archipelago]

I have PTSD and a fair amount of anxiety so I have been on clonazepam for a long time at a steady dose of 1mg twice a day. Before it was 3 times, but I lowered it.

Now I'm feeling more effects from depression and changed to very activating meds, including an atypical stimulant. This was mainly to address lack of energy and concentrate, but also mood.

I don't feel subjectively like I have more energy, but I am sleeping less and lasting longer, able to concentrate so something is working.

Question is, maybe I should reduce the anti-anxiety med because it is a sedative and see if the activating meds work even better. Or maybe not because those activating meds can cause anxiety and so the clonazepam is providing a balance.

I know I should ask my shrink, but curious since people here seem to know an incredible amount.

[Sneezyyy]

How long have you been on Kolonopin?

[archipelago]

Hmm. More than a decade perhaps.

[~Christina]

I have been on Xanax over 6 years .. I am prescribed 1mg up to 3mg a day.. I seldom take the morning dose .. But I do take 2 mg at nite per my pdocs instructions to help me sleep .. I cut back to 1 mg here and there . but altho I do not have addiction problems . Taking benzios daily will cause your body to get use to the medication ,whereas if you suddenly stopped it you could have seizures .. So if your wanting to even get off them ask your Pdoc for a taper schedule ..

My Pdoc has no problem with me on benzios long term.

[splitimage]

I'm on 3.5 mg of clonazapam daily. Was originally on 5 mg, but tapered down about a year ago. I've been on it since 2007, and both my addictions Dr, and pdoc are fine with my being on it.

Definitely do not stop it cold Turkey. I was on Ativan at about an equivalent dose and when I went into a rehab, they took me off it cold Turkey and I had a withdrawal seizure.

splitimage

[archipelago]

Thanks. It's nice to hear that others use this type of med long term. I've never really doubted that. It doesn't matter to me if I'm technically addicted or not. I'm not abusing it. And don't seem to even need to increase the dose after so long.

I do know that I shouldn't stop it all of a sudden due to the the dependence. I wasn't actually considering doing that. I was thinking of reducing the level just to see if the activating meds worked better. I'm not so sure. I still have anxiety as well as depression and they are from different conditions so perhaps it is better to stay with meds for both.

[vans1974]

Originally Posted by archipelago

I have PTSD and a fair amount of anxiety so I have been on clonazepam for a long time at a steady dose of 1mg twice a day. Before it was 3 times, but I lowered it.

Now I'm feeling more effects from depression and changed to very activating meds, including an atypical stimulant. This was mainly to address lack of energy and concentrate, but also mood.

I don't feel subjectively like I have more energy, but I am sleeping less and lasting longer, able to concentrate so something is working.

Question is, maybe I should reduce the anti-anxiety med because it is a sedative and see if the activating meds work even better. Or maybe not because those activating meds can cause anxiety and so the clonazepam is providing a balance.

I know I should ask my shrink, but curious since people here seem to know an incredible amount.

Sorry to hear, maybe ask a pharmacist about Nefazodone its an SARI AD, that works great for MDD, OCD, PTSD, anxiety and is weight neutral...good luck!

[lilypup]

I take Klonopin 1 mg every day for a problem called "burning mouth syndrome". It works fine. Have been on it about 5 years with no problems.

[Lauliza]

I'm prescribed klonopin 1-3 MG daily or as needed and also take activating meds. I find that klonopin definitely decreases the activating effects of the other medication. Ultimately how much its decreased depends on how anxious I am when i take the klonopin - sometimes it just has a balancing effect while other times I feel slowed down. I dont take the same dosage of klonopin every day though and very rarely take 3MG in one day, so I may feel effect from it. I'd think that since you've been taking klonopin so long time that you may have built up enough tolerance where it may not make too much difference. It also depends on what the stimulating med is. I take up to 60 mg Adderral a day and Prozac (which is considered stimulating) so that is a lot. Maybe you could try reducing it a tiny bit just to see if you notice any changes?

[(JD)]

PTSD is an anxiety disorder. There is no cure for it at present, but psychotherapy can help make it manageable.

Be sure to include "natural" in your healing...

Remember your stomach is your "second brain" and needs tlc... eat right, avoid fried/greasy foods...etc eating maybe every 2-3 hours (small portion) helps

Don't eat right before bed..in fact don't eat for several hours before bedtime

Create a bedtime routine that allows you to escape the wiles of the day: no tv, computer, smart phone etc NO electronics as they tend to excite the brain

Write down the things you need to do the next day so you can later, while trying to get to sleep, tell yourself that you don't need to think about that as it's on the list and it's nighttime and you can do nothing about any of it right now!

Breathe. Most people with anxiety don't breathe deeply and slowly. This is a skill that needs to be practiced as the tendency to hold your breath when anxious exacerbates the anxious feelings.

Do cognitive behavior. Work on black and white thinking, catastrophizing especially.

Try herbs. Remember that nearly all prescription medicines began as a plant (and are not synthesized with plenty of side effects.) talk to your doctor about adding any, but let him know you want to eventually "get off" the prescriptions if possible... valerian, passion flower, lavender...the list goes on. Some are exceptionally good for helping sleep.

Good wishes!

[archipelago]

Thanks for info and advice to both of you. My symptoms of PTSD are almost completely in remission so I'm not worried about being completely symptomatic and struggling with that. I do still have anxiety at times and since I am taking very activating medications, plus the fact that I have taken Klonopin for so long leads me toward continuing to maintain the current dosage. I don't feel overly sedated at any time.

As far as the suggestions, yes, I do meditation and Tai Chi, journal quite a bit, avoid alcohol, do not watch TV except for the news, have a very simple life that is quiet, and am for a while now paying special attention to diet and exercise. There is room for improvement. I am trying to find time to include creative activities to balance my obligations, which I actually enjoy working on, but still people do need outlets and the ability to play. A work in progress.

[Lauliza]

I just wanted to add quickly, and you may already know this, that depression can be a side effect of the long term use of any benzo. My pdoc told me this when I told him my depression had been worsening at one point. He didn't suggest I stop but just cut own a bit or not take it as regularly. It's annoying but it seems like when something works in one respect it can have adverse affects in another. I remember my doctor telling me this and that you just have to pick your poison

[archipelago]

Thanks. My shrink has wondered about my going off the Klonopin, but he is unusual in that he likes people to be off meds as much as possible. He does my therapy as well and tends to prefer that as a way to handle things.

This depression is to some degree situational. There could be a chemical component since it is proving to be very treatment resistant. I think I will have to give things a little bit more time to really see. I made a lot of changes recently so it is difficult to sort out what is affecting what.

[mgb46]

Originally Posted by Lauliza

I just wanted to add quickly, and you may already know this, that depression can be a side effect of the long term use of any benzo. My pdoc told me this when I told him my depression had been worsening at one point. He didn't suggest I stop but just cut own a bit or not take it as regularly. It's annoying but it seems like when something works in one respect it can have adverse affects in another. I remember my doctor telling me this and that you just have to pick your poison

I didn't know long term use of benzos could contribute to depression. I've been on Klonopin 1-3 mg's per day for about ten years. Of late, I have been experiencing more bouts of depression. Maybe try to cutback and see what happens.