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Confused about klonopin dosage and how it's affecting me...

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Posted 12/10/2010 2:14 AM (GMT 0)
I was given klonopin by my shrink a few days ago.  I was told I can take up to 3 mgs a day.  I'm too afraid to take that much... so here is what I've been doing...

Yesterday morning I took 1mg of klonopin and then .5mgs of klonopin in the afternoon.  I felt relaxed and good.

Today I did the exact same thing and passed out at my desk, completely exhausted and tired when I woke up.  I had to have my sister/administrator drive me home because I felt I was too out of it to drive safely.

Why did the dose act so much different between two days? I just find it odd.  Any thoughts?  Is my body going to get more used to the klonopin or is this going to be unpredictable?

I didn't sleep well last night also.  I ended up falling asleep on the couch til 4 am so I did not feel rested when I woke up this morning.  I thought I would just add that in.

TG~

Posted 12/10/2010 2:38 AM (GMT 0)
It could have something to do with how you take it. Perhaps the first time you took it on a full stomach, and an empty stomach the second time. (or vice-versa) Medications will absorb differently depending on the conditions of how / when they are taken.

I've taken Klonopin, as well. It has caused me to experience some drowsiness off and on, but nothing major. I've only taken it in dosages of .5 mg at a time.

I, too, wouldn't go near the higher dosages. I'm timid about taking anything. I always break medications in half, or insist on receiving the lowest dosages available.
Posted 12/10/2010 5:08 AM (GMT 0)
I would think that the second day you took it, it was built up in your system from the day before maybe. i was prescribed this also and take .50 when i feel really anxious. at lunch the other day i took .50 and it wasn't doing much so i took another half and i was a zombie! makes me feel drunk. it just depends on diff. factors like Wendel said. if you take it on an empty stomach, how tired you are, etc. i would just try the lowest dose for awhile to see if it helps - until you know how you react to it. that's what i always do.
Posted 12/10/2010 5:17 AM (GMT 0)
It just sucks because I feel anxious yet I'm tired and I want to take another klonopin but don't want to pass out sitting up or something. I feel insane right now. I'm so anxious and feel like going to the psych ward because I feel like I'm going crazy. I literally am freaking out that I might be put in a psych ward and never be normal again.
Posted 12/10/2010 5:57 AM (GMT 0)
Hazelnut is right. Klonopin has a very long half-life and it's building up in your system. It's no surprise that it's making you tired, but it should be relieving your anxiety. It's not like an SSRI...benzodiazepines will normally reduce anxiety very shortly after taking your first dose. Could be that it's not the drug for you. Or, it's sort of a big dose to be taking right off the bat (most people start at .5 mg twice a day), so maybe its effect is so pronounced that it's throwing you for a loop in a mental sense.

I've never taken that much. Actually, I've stayed at .5 mgs bid since I started with Klonopin. It has never really made me that tired. Seems to make me more tired if I am already tired, but it's hard to tell since I take it every day. Some report that the drowsiness goes away over time, but it's never been tested at your dose as far as I know (for anxiety).

PS -- you're not going to have to go to the psych ward. Just talk to your doctor about it.
Posted 12/10/2010 6:02 AM (GMT 0)
Debaser - your doc prescribed it for everyday mine said he doesn't liek to prescribe benzos for everyday use but my friend got it for twice a day too. buspar just isn't doing the trick. i guess it depends on the doctor you ask. who prescribed it for you? your general doctor?
Posted 12/10/2010 6:21 AM (GMT 0)
My psychiatrist prescribed the buspar, lexapro, and klonopin.

I was used to taking up to 3 mgs of ativan a day with almost no effect so perhaps she thought 3 mgs of klonopin wouldn't do a lot. She said to try taking a half mg at first to see how I feel but a half mg in the morning of klonopin just isn't enough
Posted 12/10/2010 2:33 PM (GMT 0)
debaser  is correct that this is a medication that should be taken on a regular basis.

The half life of Klonopin (clonazepam) is 35 hours. What this means in 35 hours after taking a dose, half of the drug is still circulating in your system. In another 35 hours, half of that which was left at the first 35 hours, is circulating. And so on and so on, until it is gone, providing you are not taking anymore. If you are taking your daily dosages, then you maintain a steady therapeutic dose; the
optimal dosage needed to alleviate disorder symptoms.

Very simply put, Klonopin slows the brain down, through a form of
sedation You could try cutting back to .5 mg twice daily on a schedule.  That would give your body a chance to adjust to the new medication.

I would suggest you contact your Dr. and explain how you passed out at your desk.

You have been advised well by the members .

Take care and keep on talking with us.

Kindly,

Kitt

Posted 12/10/2010 4:05 PM (GMT 0)
Now I recall what I did differently... and I'm not sure if this makes a difference but... I was upped on my dose of Buspar from 15 mgs to 20 mgs three times a day...

The first day I did not take my klonopin with the buspar for the afternoon...

yesterday I took my klonopin and buspar at the same time...

could this have an effect?
Posted 12/10/2010 5:53 PM (GMT 0)
It may but I can't recall buspar and klonopin having any interactions. Even if there is some interaction, it is probably the build up of Klonopin in the bloodstream that's effecting you most. The half-life Kitt is describing is the half-life of the active component of Klonopin so I think that's your most plausible answer. It's a big dose to start out on. You may wish to talk to your doctor about starting at .5 mg twice a day and working up from there if you need to. Talk to your doctor about something, though, because passing out at your desk really shouldn't be happening.
Posted 12/11/2010 1:10 AM (GMT 0)
Well its odd because I took the same dose today and I didn't fall asleep but am extremely anxious
Posted 12/11/2010 1:47 AM (GMT 0)
It's possible that Klonopin isn't for you.
Posted 12/11/2010 2:29 AM (GMT 0)
Ativan is worse... it does nothing... so I don't have many options here...
Posted 12/11/2010 5:12 AM (GMT 0)
That's strange because from what I understand, benzodiazepines are about as universally effective as a medicine can get. It could be that you started off at a dosage that was simply way too high for you. Obviously I'm not a doctor, but the FDA recommended dose for treatment of anxiety/panic disorders with Klonopin is .5 mg twice a day. You're cleared for up to 3 mg, so that's within range. If you have the 1mg tablets they should be scored. Take half in the morning and half at night. Try to be very regular about when you take them. I take mine at 8 o'clock in the morning and in the evening.

There are still some options left in the benzo family if Klonopin doesn't work, and there are other medicines outside the benzo family, too. Don't give up hope just yet.
Posted 12/11/2010 7:06 PM (GMT 0)
Ok, I took .5 mgs of klonopin this morning... going to take another .5 mgs later tonight. Seems a little more level. Is it possible do you think that buspar could cause more anxiety for me?
Posted 12/11/2010 7:36 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not really qualified to say. I'm not sure how buspar works. Sorry. Lots of anxiety meds do increase anxiety at first, mostly SSRI types. I don't think Buspar is in that family, though. It would be very rare for Klonopin to cause more anxiety and I do know that from looking at the studies. There was an increase in anxiety reported by very few people, but it was statistically insignificant and less than the placebo group. Probably just statistical noise. That said, I guess anything is possible.

Maybe someone more familiar with Buspar will chime in.
Posted 12/12/2010 5:03 PM (GMT 0)
Im on about 4 MG a day.

I usually take one AM, one mid day, and two before bed for sleep.

Then again, im 6 feet, 220, so my dosage may be more than you could
handle.
Posted 12/12/2010 5:05 PM (GMT 0)
I forgot to add that I also experience various levels of "reaction" from the drug.

One day, i can take two and not feel anything.

Another, 1 MG and i feel like sleeping for a month.

Be careful driving when using that stuff!

It probably also depends on your body chemistry, and also how much
food is in your system, etc.

Get rid of caffeine, decaf, MSG, sugar, or other stimulants if you can.

Eat a vegetable/fruit/protein low fat diet as much as possible.
Posted 12/14/2010 6:28 AM (GMT 0)
Partsolve-

Well I'm glad I don't drink caffeine (in any way, shape or form of pop, coffee, etc) or eat out anywhere. I only smoke cigarettes (I know! Naughty! But it helps me relax)

I'm eating a pretty lean diet right now of lean proteins, nuts, veggies, fruit, whole grains, etc. Trying to lose weight.

Today I took .5 mgs in the morning and .5mgs at around 5PM and felt nothing. I felt anxiety later around 9 pm but we will see how tomorrow goes. I have a feeling I didn't eat enough and maybe that's why I am anxious.

TG~
Posted 12/14/2010 2:15 PM (GMT 0)
Good Morning Twiggy -

Hope your day goes well.  When you said you felt nothing from the .5 mg of Klonopin yesterday, ( morning and late afternoon dosing)  does that mean your anxiety was down ?  You posted you felt some anxiety around 9 PM.

Holiday blessings to you,

Kitt

Posted 12/15/2010 3:33 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry. What I meant by feeling "nothing" is that the klonopin didn't do anything for me.

Today I took it and was completely exhausted. I'm pretty much a cyberchondriac (I look up all these symptoms online and get convinced I have every disease) and am convinced I might have diabetes are something.

I slept 9 hours last night and was so exhausted today that I took a 3 hour nap and have been feeling light headed and just weird. It's frustrating.

I'm starting to wonder if I'm EVER going to have one good day. It's kind of depressing. It's one issue to the next. It's like this never ending cycle. I almost want to take a week off from work (which I can) and just relax because I feel like poo.

And now I am having odd anxiety because I was anxious about my sister and her husband staying with me for the week and now I'm anxious about them being gone and being alone. Anxiety is just so bizarre.

I feel more stable on my meds (thank god), but I still feel weird or sick or anxious every single day. Waiting for a stress-free no sickness day! Just one day would be nice! It's been like this for six months! Anxiety, feeling sick, convinced I have a disease and am going to die, or having vertigo or depersonalization.

A lot of the previous stuff has gone away thank goodness but some still lingers. I'm assuming then that the Lexapro is starting to work a little bit. I think it's been about 4 weeks since I restarted by Lexapro. I don't know.

Now I'm rambling.

Happy holidays Kitt and everyone.
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