[kkrrhh]

Hi! Sorry if the title's a bit of a mess, I didn't wanna create 2 different threads, haha.

So I've always definitely been afraid of benzos, for the probably obvious reasons. For a long time I wouldn't take them, and now I'll take ativan here and there as needed when anxiety's really bad. I've definitely wanted to never take one regularly, but I have heard great things about Klonopin not only for anxiety but also for depersonalization/derealization, which is a pretty big problem for me. My therapist has suggested taking Klonopin, (on a daily, regular schedule, not as needed) and I'm thinking about considering it. I don't want to end up making things worse in the long run and regretting it, and I don't want to turn my brain to mush. I'm most likely returning to school in the fall so I'm especially not wanting any brain fogginess or anything which I know could be a problem, yet I think I've also heard people talk about Klonopin actually helping their thinking, especially with the improving derealization thing. I've heard so much on both sides, but wanted to see if anyone here had any input. Is it actually that bad of an idea to do this, or not? Has anyone taken Klonopin for more than just a short spell of time and not regretted it, particularly if you've already gone through quitting it and everything?


I also wanted to ask if anyone has any input on taking AAPs for depression and anxiety, not as an add-on to an antidepressant. I'm basically out of options with ADs. Nardil worked but had too many side effects, Prozac helped me just a bit years ago, and other than that nearly all SSRIs, tricyclics, MAOIs, plus remeron and bupropion have either not worked for me or had too many SEs to stick it out long enough. I've heard plenty about AAPs being used for mania or as add-ons to ADs, but I can't find much on if they can be useful alone for depression/anxiety. I'm on 250 mg Lamictal, which helps a little but I'm hoping to get off of if at all possible. I also just started low dose naltrexone, so we'll see how that goes.

I've been considering trying Abilify or Geodon, since they seem to be possibly antidepressant and at least supposedly weight-neutral. It's possible I have bipolar 2, but not entirely sure and depression is my big problem. I'm also worried of course about the whole antipsychotics thing and trying to decide whether going on one is worth it. I've been in a bad spell for a while and am basically looking to hopefully pull myself out of a depression, but don't know what to even try next. Has anyone found Geodon or Abilify helpful for depression itself, or possibly anxiety? Or does anyone have any other suggestions to treat depression particularly, without ADs? I feel like I've explored all options, but maybe there's something I don't know about yet. :P

Thanks!

[*Laurie*]

I can share my experience of long-term Klonopin. I've been on it for about 20 years. I take 2mgs day, exactly as prescribed. Unfortunately, benzos have fallen drastically out of favor with psychiatrists. I get treated like the worst filthy drug-seeking addict by many medical professionals because I have been on Klonopin for such a long time. I have to remind them that I DID NOT PRESCRIBE THE KLONOPIN, it was prescribed by a pdoc and I'm a compliant patient.

Just this week my pdoc cut my Klonopin by half. I am terrified of benzo withdrawal and I believe the pdoc cut my dose WAY too fast.

Klonopin can be a terrific medication; unfortunately most doctors stigmatize it. I want to go off Klonopin because of the way I am (mis)treated by doctors for being on it.

There are others on PC who have had experiences similar to mine. I would not suggest taking Klonopin regularly or for the long term. The whole benzo picture is scary these days.

As for depression, mine was severe. Latuda and Abilify have been helpful.

[cincidak]

I take Geodon and it seems to have helped alleviate my ocd and anxiety, along with mania. I don't know if it helped with my depression, but I take prozac as well and Lamictal

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I've been on benzos for years. Take as prescribed and haven't had a dosage increase in years. I have a lot of MI conditions that Klonopin helps me manage. I have a good pdoc.

Originally Posted by LauraBeth

I can share my experience of long-term Klonopin. I've been on it for about 20 years.

Just this week my pdoc cut my Klonopin by half. I am terrified of benzo withdrawal and I believe the pdoc cut my dose WAY too fast.

Klonopin can be a terrific medication; unfortunately most doctors stigmatize it. I want to go off Klonopin because of the way I am (mis)treated by doctors for being on it.

There are others on PC who have had experiences similar to mine. I would not suggest taking Klonopin regularly or for the long term. The whole benzo picture is scary these days.

As for depression, mine was severe. Latuda and Abilify have been helpful.

Yikes, cutting in half sounds way too fast. Are you ok?

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by rainyday107

Yikes, cutting in half sounds way too fast. Are you ok?

Thanks so much for asking. It's been 2 days and so far I'm not terribly sick. I have had two "spells" of feeling really weird, as though I was out of my body and going to pass out. That scared me. I see my nutjob pdoc on Wednesday. I'm going to tell him that I think I'm coming off the Klonopin way too fast. The last time I had a appointment with him he tried to increase my Klonopin, a month later he criticized me for still being on Klonopin and dropped the dose. Very frustrating - and scary - to have a pdoc who is unreliable.

Originally Posted by LauraBeth

Thanks so much for asking. It's been 2 days and so far I'm not terribly sick. I have had two "spells" of feeling really weird, as though I was out of my body and going to pass out. That scared me. I see my nutjob pdoc on Wednesday. I'm going to tell him that I think I'm coming off the Klonopin way too fast. The last time I had a appointment with him he tried to increase my Klonopin, a month later he criticized me for still being on Klonopin and dropped the dose. Very frustrating - and scary - to have a pdoc who is unreliable.

Keep us posted...I hope he is less wishy-washy this time. I am prescribed one mg of Klonopin every six hours (not PRN), so I think I'd have major withdrawal without a slow taper.

I usually don't take all four mg daily. Two to three mg is my average. I confess that I'm stockpiling the "overage" if I ever need them for a slow taper. My quality of life is so much better on Benzos. They help tame mania and my various anxiety disorders. Lexapro helps, too, but not fast-acting like Benzos.

I've read that switching to Valium makes a taper easier because it is longer-acting. (Switching to Valium at equivalent strength and then taper.)

Of course, pdocs typically want to call the shots but I thought I'd mention it to you, just in case. Of course, I'm no doctor so don't take this as med advice. Check with your pdoc. Just layperson talk here.

Take care.