what comes after Klonapin?

[Joe Black]

I've been taking Klonapin with much success for several years to treat generalized/ social anxiety. But, as label says, people can create a tolerance to it. I am now up to 2mg/ day which I take in the morning... anxiety comes back by 2pm (I've tried splitting doses, takin at different times of day, etc.) Dr. says he's not comfortable going up in dosage from 2mg.

Has any one moved from Klonapin to something else when Klonapin starts loosing it's effectiveness.. ? I also starting taking wellbutrin about a month ago 300mg//day... drug information says that drug can cause anxiety in healthy subjects... wondering if anyone has experience taking these two drugs together?

Thanks,

Joe

[nonnie52]

HI JOE,

I have been on Klonopin also for many years started off 5 yrs ago 1 mg now i take 2 and 1/2 a day, i have panic disorder and social anxiety only in certain situations. the drug does cause tolerence and i noticed mine is worse in ther morning when i have gone thelong time w/o the pill, and the worst part it is a very hard drug to withdraw from which scares me, my doc said i could take 3 mgs a day but i do not want to increase i want to be able to get off it and take only as nneeded. but it is a good drug for anxiety but it lose effectivness afer long term use. and then the only option is increase dose, antidepressts are used for social anxiety and at least the dose stays the same, if you read my post on lexapro you will see i am afraid to take it with good reason,but if i could take it in place of klonopin for anxiety i would but i am afraid of the side effects. let me know how you are doing and what you doc says about your dose.
warm regards
nonnie[V]

[psisci]

Joe,

I would guess the wellbutrin is your problem at this point as it has no indication for social anxiety, and may be actually causing many of your problems. I would talk to your Dr about tapering off the wellbutrin and trying something like lexapro.



Dr.S.

[Linda J]

I am in the process of trying to get depression, panic attacks and general anxiety under control
I have been taking a low dose of Klonapin for about 8 weeks. I take .25 mg 4 times a day. I also take Wellbutrin SR - 200 mg in the morning.

I felt positive effects from the Klonapen immediately - especially at work. I was getting projects completed, no more "cotton head", no more ruminating anxious thoughts, etc. It was great.

I couldn't tell if (at any point) the Wellbutrin had started to kick in.
At about 6 weeks, the doctor wanted me to raise the wellbutrin SR by 100 mg.

at my 8 week Dr. visit, I reported that I was starting to experience some panic attacks again - not as strong or often as before, but, definitley feeling them.

I was taken off of the 100mg of added Wellbutrin (thinking that might be adding to the anxiety) and he started 10 mg of Buspar to augment the 200 mg of Wellbutrin. I took the Buspar for 3 days and absolutely hated it - headaches irritability, etc. I continued with the Klonapin - same dose as before.

So now I am back on just the 200 mg Wellbutrin SR and the low dosage of Klonapin. this week, I am noticing that I am not feeling the same positive effects of the Klonapin and am extremely irritable all the time.


Any ideas?

[cmistret]

I take 2mgs of klonapin a day but the dosage is 1 mg every twelve hours. This seems to work. I find that excessive amounts of klonapin gives me a headache with no other apparent side effects.

Klonapin doesn't stop working... see an endocrinologist. Also see "Meet Joe Black", the movie. The only thing after klonapin is death.

I am not being incensitive, or studpid. I have suffered from anxiety and depression all my life and know that there is no real cure for either. You must take an active part in relieving the symptoms of anxiety other than taking drugs.

Keeping very busy also helps. Drugs are only the first step and if there is real relief it is usually temporary.

Sorry Joe,

cmistret