mermaid72000
Member
Reged: 01/19/04
Posts: 125
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i take this drug for anxiety. its kinda lighweight to me or else i have a tolerance. am i supposed to feel less anxiety or is this what they subscribe becuz they are afraid of valium and xanax dependance? it helps sometime and other times i feel nothing. the dr who scripted it says oh take it all your life its safe, but what is the point if nothing is happening? thanks for the advice
carol
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xiolablue15
Journeyman
Reged: 03/17/04
Posts: 59
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how many mgs are you on? klonipin is also addictive. sure you can take it all your life, just make sure you're never w/o it otherwise you will be suffering. klonipin feels like a regular benzo high. it lasts longer than xanax though, but it isn't as fast acting. your anxiety is supposed to be alieviated by the klonipin. youre supposed to feelk more relaxed. aren't you on .5mg 4 times a day? maybe you should be on the 2mg dose?
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mermaid72000
Member
Reged: 01/19/04
Posts: 125
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thr dr changed it to 3x daily i have about 75 and i am going to take 2 daily. i dont feel sedation from them at all. but i cant go the valium xanax route. i mean i am getting so forgetful i am screwing up my bank account by not writing down debit stuff. i just dont remember to do that and that is not me. the dr and i fight alot becuz he is so afraid of addiction that he throws what he thinks is the safest and i am tired of hearing his mouth anyway, so i will take this pills very lightly and let it go.
thanks for answering me
carol
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Clonapin is a benzodiazepine simular to valium, zanax, Librium, etc.... They all are in the same drug class. Clonapin is used for anxiety as well as for control of siezures. For some reason doctors are more apt to prescribe it than the others like valium and zanax. Although, it is addicting. Clonapin is one of the main drug Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac was abusing in the 70's-80's.
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potatoboy99
Permanent Fixture
Reged: 02/04/03
Posts: 1211
Loc: Deep North (East)
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I never heard anyone suggest that Klonopin was more "lightweight" than Valium! In fact I think lots of people would rank it up there with Xanax in terms of strength.
Klonopin is often used in opiate detox situations. And as in the above post, it is just as hightly addictive as Xanax. The classic benzo "taper" always involves switching from the higher-potency benzos, like Xanax and Klonopin, to an equivalent dose of Valium, which is much easier to wean yourself off of.
The memory problems you are experiencing are classic benzo side effects. They really do a number on your short term memory. This gets amplified several times if you drink alcohol, so it's a really good idea not to drink AT ALL when you are on Klonopin or any benzo.
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mermaid72000
Member
Reged: 01/19/04
Posts: 125
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potatoeboy, i am really freakin out right now this is as addictive as xanax? is this dr on drugs himself? what a creep he is. thanks for filling me on this becuz i have enough stress without worrying about coming off this drug
take care
carol
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potatoboy99
Permanent Fixture
Reged: 02/04/03
Posts: 1211
Loc: Deep North (East)
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I'm not pretending that I know anything more than your doctor! This is just my personal experience.
There is an interesting forum based in the UK devoted solely to the various benzos. Take a look RIGHT HERE. Lots of good discussions and general info.
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cougar35
Enthusiast
Reged: 01/08/02
Posts: 227
Loc: canada
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Yes , Klonopin(clonazepam) is just as addictive as any other benzo when taken on a daily basis over an extended period of time. Klonopin is prescribed for anxiety and(minor) seizures. Depending on the dosage and the length of time Klonopin is taken, risk of seizure increases if you try to stop taking them cold turkey. Your Dr. should start you on the lowest dose possible and then slowly taper you off the benzo when you feel(that's up to you and your Dr.)you no longer need an anti-anxiety med. For me personally, I take Ativan 1mg. sublingual once or twice daily or when I feel a panic attack coming on because they are fast acting and don't leave me feeling like a "zombie" for hours. Your lack of attention or short term memory loss(forgetfullness)is typical of benzo use. You really need to discuss with your Dr. why benzos are your best form of treatment. There are alternatives depending on whether your anxiety is short term or stress related(like changing the situation that is causing you stress)or if you suffer from panic attacks in which case you would only take a benzo when you feel an attack coming on. If you are suffering from daily, on going feelings of stress or unease, you may be better off taking an anti-depressant like Buspar or Celexa and supplementing that with a benzo like Ativan or Valium when needed. Sorry to ramble on, I'm definitely not a Dr. but it seems to me that taking a strong benzo(like Klonopin)daily for life is a bit excessive. But( a BIG but, I don't know your personal/medical condition). Please take care of yourself, get as much info as you can on your condition and treatment and please, please never fear to ask DB members for help or just to vent. This site and the members have helped me a lot!!! 
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cougar
Edited by cougar35 (04/02/04 01:33 AM)
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mermaid72000
Member
Reged: 01/19/04
Posts: 125
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thanks cougar for your reply, my anxiety got out of hand becz too many stressors happened like within 6 months, najor life changing things, i have gone years without benzos and thats why i dont want to get into a benzo nighmare. its just a bandaid for now and not a very good one. on other posts they talk about yoga, meditation, music diffrent aromatheraphy thats more me, and i need to look into that. thanks for your reply
carol
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radiometer
Enthusiast
Reged: 12/09/03
Posts: 217
Loc: California
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There are generalizations to be found about comparisons between the different benzos in terms of, for example: anxiolytic, hypnotic, amnesiac effects, but its also seems to vary from person to person.
I have GAD. I tried clonazepam and it did not work well for me. Lorazepam worked ok, but it was too effective on my mental functioning, which is very important in my work. I found alprazolam to work the best for me. I'm not trying to recommend alprazolam here - the point I want to make is that if you are using a benzo medicinally and it's not working for you or is causing undesired side effects, you and your doctor consider trying a different benzo.
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radiometer
Enthusiast
Reged: 12/09/03
Posts: 217
Loc: California
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I mentioned this in your other thread:
Quote:
the dr who scripted it says oh take it all your life its safe
Your doctor sounds SCARY and/or grossly misinformed to me. Some of these guys are so happy to believe the ads in their journals without bothering to look anything up. Anyone who says you can take a benzo for your whole life with no problems is full of it. I highly advise you seek an additional opinion on your condition and treatment.
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Trampy
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 04/02/02
Posts: 1241
Loc: Southwest U.S.
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It's used for long-term treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and convulsive disorders. Many people can take it for years and have no side effects, develop no tolerance, and feel no euphoria from it. I think it's a wonderful drug and never had a problem getting a new prescription when changing doctors. I just show them my pharmacy records going back for years. Of all the benzos, it's the only one that hasn't affected my memory or cognition. The only effect i notice besides a lack of anxiety is that i can't drink much alcohol. I don't see anything wrong with long-term usage unless the person drinks heavily or otherwise abuses it ... or runs out of it.
Trampy
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Your mileage may vary ...
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buey
Old Hand
Reged: 01/15/03
Posts: 453
Loc: USA
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I must have a wierd body chemistry. I read on here and on other boards about a benzo high, and I just don't get it.
I was prescribed Xanax. I've had a bottle of 60 2mg tabs since...I don't know....4 months maybe? The bottle is still almost full. It was prescribed for severe stress due to some situations going on in my family life. The doctor thought it would help to cut down on my migraines. Well, I never experienced any type of "high" or feelings of relaxation, unless you could call falling sound asleep like a rock a feeling of relaxation. And I only take 1/4 pill at night when I am stressed to the max and my mind is running a mile a minute with those feelings of deep anxiety. I could never become addicted to Xanax because all it does for me is put me to sleep. Guess that's a good thing though.
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537
Threadhead
Reged: 12/08/01
Posts: 774
Loc: west coast CA
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Same thing for me. Xanax and Valium ONLY put me to sleep. There's not even any relaxation, just pass out till morning. I wish it did work to ease some of my anxiety. I don't have a disorder with anxiety, it's just sometimes I can get freaked out when all three kids are screaming at me at once, or things get really crazy. I'd love for it to work then.
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gondola
Member
Reged: 10/27/02
Posts: 104
Loc: UK
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I've tried them all - the day they release a muscle relaxant which works, would be nice. Sometimes I think that a lot of us on here are probably more knowledgeable than any of my Dr. friends.s
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