clonazepam and efexor

Hi . I am still having ongoing problems with sleep and have now been prescribed yet another round of drugs! Am supposed to take one each of the above at night. Am on day four now and feel drowsy , sick , and wake with a headache. Can anybody give me some first hand information on these two, especially clonazepam,which I am reluctant to take because of its addictiveness. Thanks so much.

I have been on effexer many times in the past several years. It worked well with the anxiety and depression, but I suffered from the sexual side effects. It got to the point that although I was feeling better it was creating other problems. Didn't your doctor have you start at a smaller dose and work your way up to the goal dose? It took about three weeks to get me up to the dose of 150mg twice a day.

I take 2mg of lorezepam (same catagory depending upon manufactorer?) to help me sleep and 1/2 to 1 mg to help deal with anxiety. (Which my current antidepressant, Wellbutrin, does not address.) I try not to take it unless I have to, which is difficult because you're supposed to take it several hours before you plan to sleep.

I understand your reluctance to take the clonazepam because of the addictiveness, but which is worse? I didn't sleep for days, then something so small as someone changing the radio station in my car would send me off the deep end.

I hope this combination works for you!

i too take clonazepam and effexor xr (extended release) for anxiety/panic disorder and depression.effexor is one of those drugs you slowly dose up on over a period of about 3 wks. it takes time for your body to adjust. for me about a week or so to get rid of metalic taste in mouth, dry mouth, headache, eye buzz. i also have found that i cannot take it close to bedtime or it keeps me awake. and i suffer from insomnia already. as for clonazepam, i think it is wonderful! i know it is addictive but if we have to use it as a daily maintainance drug....well we just do it. i think the panic attacks, constant anxiousness, and endless worry are a great trade off for a little pill. some feel a little drowsy when they first start it but it will go away as your body adjusts. another good thing is clonazepam tends to stay in your body longer than most other benzodiazepines so it keeps you at an even keel without the bottoming out you get with some others.

i hope you do well with it. this combo has worked wonders for me.

I'm on both and the combination works well for me, although I'm on a bunch of other stuff too. My main sideffects on the effexor are dizziness and nausea. I can understand your being worried about the clonazapam being addictive but it really works for anxiety. Just take it exactlly as your Dr. prescribes it - don't start upping the dosage - that's when you get into trouble.

Hope the combination works for you.

--splitimage

I would never take Clonazepam every night. It is usually my last resort if I have tried everything and absolutely can't sleep. I worry about it being addictive as well, so that's why I am really careful with it.

hiya
I was taking both of these until recently. I had no probs coming off the clonaz altho I did do it slowly. I was on several drugs at the time- quetiapine, clonaz, effexor, epilim (and i can't remember the others) and I don't know what caused what but I had trouble waking every single morning, would have to have at least 1x nap a day and was constantly lethargic. Coming off all but the effexor and quetiapine was the best- I was a new woman! I think this was mostly by coming off them all, but also of course because I was so much better. Gd luck

I have been taking Effexor for at least 5 years. It's has been a wonder drug for me. I have been diagnosed with both major depression and generalized anxiety, and the Effexor has taken good care of me.

The worse side effect I have experienced is an increase in sweating. I carry a water bottle around with me constantly. If I don't keep on top of the fluid I dehydrate rather quickly. Because of this side effect, I tried Cymbalta for a while but that rose my blood pressure. My doc and I figured dealing with the dehydration issue was the better of the two.

The other comment I can offer on the Effexor is that I, and many others who take it, are extrememly sensitive to the dose. The slightest increase or decrease can be very noticeable. If you need to change doses, doing so in small steps is best. Follow your doc's instructions closely on this.

I have not taken clonazepam, but I have been taking lorazepam (a cousin) for several years. I take this med at bedtime, and it has worked well for me.