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Question about Clonazepam

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Posted 10/20/2006 11:22 AM (GMT 0)
Hello I'm trying to find out some information about this medicine.

My wife has been on antidepressants for the last 8 years.

For the past 3 years she has tried to wean off of them and has struggled due to the side effects of the meds.

She complains of feeling shocks, run down, and weepy.

She went back to the dr yesterday and she prescribed her this new meds Clonazepam.

I was wondering if anyone has had any kind of experience with this med...good or bad.

After reading the side effects, it seems silly for her to try this med due to the fact that the biggest side effect is muslce weakness, tiredness, cluminess and unsteadiness.

Seeing as this is one of her biggest complaints.

But everyone reacts to meds differently...right?...lol

Any information ya'll could give me would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Posted 10/20/2006 12:13 PM (GMT 0)
I was on that med for about 2 years. The side effects I had were the following:
Nightmares
Sleeplessness
agiatation when the next dose was coming due (would go away after I took my next does)
now,this was my biggest problem with the med. It is very highly addictive.
I did get off of it,but it took about 8 months to feel normal again.
Keep in mind,everyone has different side effects.
When I was put on it,it was because everything else did not work. I was also on wellbutrin and taking pain pills at the same time.
Your wife is VERY lucky that you care about her enough to investigate this. And that you see she has an illness and that you want her to get the best possible help. Good luck,and do not give up on her!
Posted 10/20/2006 1:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Ya Dad05, Well Clonazepam or Klonopin which is a Benzodizepine derivative and a class 5 controlled substance.  Meaning that it ranks right up there along side Ativan and Xanax.  It has alot of differant uses such as for seizures, fine motor skills with parkinsons diease, restless leg syndrome, mania with schizophrinia and other type of disorders of this type, and also anxiety disorders. 

It does have the side effects that have all been listed above but this can be true of any medication really.  There are many physicians that will resort to a benzodizepine med to help some wean off of an antidepressant who has been having problems getting off of them theirselves.  Perhaps this is the reason for her perscription?  This med is pretty safe the only major negative to it is that it can possibly become habit forming with extended and abusive use of the medication.

Posted 11/7/2006 8:16 PM (GMT 0)

Dad,

What was your wife on before the Clonazepam?  I'm sure its as Els mentioned and they are prescribing it to her to help ease her withdrawls from the other meds.  Clonazepam is primarily a anti-seizure medication that works well with anxiety / panic.  I am currently taking Clonazepam and it seems to be working for me without side effects.  I am taking it for fibro symptoms though, because in addition to its other uses, it helps relax the muscles in fibro patients.  I would be happy to tell you more about it if you are interested.  Catch me in chat or on msn.

Izzy

Posted 11/15/2006 5:17 AM (GMT 0)

Hi,

I took Klonopin for almost seven years.  I took it for anxiety/anxiety attacks.  It worked great for the anxiety but it made me so sleepy and out of it.  I was groggy all the time.  I didnt realize how addicted i was to it until I tried to get off of it (as per the dr.). It took me like almost a month to get off of it with serious withdraws.  I would shake and tremble and just felt like I had the flu while i was coming off of it.  It was TERRIBLE.  I would not recommend it unless its absolutely nessecary.  But that is just my opion.  Drugs work different for different people.

Posted 11/16/2006 9:27 AM (GMT 0)
I've been taking Klonopin for more than five years.  I take 4mg in the morning and 4mg at night.  I take it for anxiety/panic attacks and it works for me pretty well.  I also take Wellbutrin(300mg) and Cymbalta(90mg).  The thing about these kind of drugs is that the POSSIBLE side effects are usually along the lines of what the medication is taken to prevent.  Side effects are fairly rare, and usually only last for a short time after beginning the medication.  My mother is terrible at reading about the side effects first and talking herself out of taking medication prescribed for her.  She did this for three years, talking herself out of taking Paxil for anxiety.  She depended on Lorazepam (same family of drugs as Clonazepam), which just made her sleepy most of the time.  When she still had total emotional meltdowns on a regular basis, hysterical crying spells,

anger, depression, basically a total lack of emotional control.  She finally was convinced by her PCP to take the PAXIL, and she is like a totally new person now.  Much more in control.  It's far better to give new medications a try for a few weeks, than to be controlled by fear of side effects.

Just my experience,

Leigh Ann cool

Posted 11/18/2006 11:58 PM (GMT 0)
I have been taking Klonopin (Clonazapem) for about a year and a half -I take 0.5mg once to twice a day (as needed) and I have had no side effects on it. Sometimes it can make me feel a little sleepy, but all in all, it has been a Godsend. It helps with anxiety and panic and helps me feel normal for the first time in years. I am able to function at work now, and don't feel overwhelmed and stressed the way I used to feel. I feel it is an excellent medication for anxiety and panic.
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