Just started Paxil and Klonopin regimen, have a few questions.

Hiya Hatter :=D
Before i start my opinion and advice please remember i am not a mental healt professional or a DR this is just my opinion and what i think through experience!!!

1st of all you have only been on the Klonopin (clorazepam its called here in the UK) For 1 week, I researched this drug a lot when my Mother was put on it to help with insomnia (now your only taking 0.5 mg as needed twice a day at most yeah?) My mum was on a much much higher dose for months, she tapered off it after 6 months and felt a bit jittery, her sleep pattern was disrupted slightly but she really had no immense adverse reactions to it!!

Klonopin is one of the Benzo's that has really fast acting effects on anxiety and really does help us ease off the panic attacks or anxiety were feeling, In my opinion being on it for a few weeks s isnt't as scary an idea as you may think, my research into the Drug and after talking to my psychiatrist ( a good few yrs ago now) Concluded that it is one of the best benzo's because the tolerance build up is very very very slow and after 3 or 4 weeks most (according to statistics 75%) People taper off really well with minimal rebound anxiety and withdrawlf effects!!!

My Advice to you is accept the medication is working for you at the moemnt and will continue to do so until the Paxil kicks in and takes over to the point where you won't feel the need to take the Klonopin any longer , and , if your only taking it when you need it the chances of addiction are slim to none!!

As per your shortnes of breath this is a common anxiety symptom and sometimes we still retain some symptoms while taking medication, Can you explain what kind of shortness of breath your experience? is it hyperventilation you breathe rapid and quick and feel tight like you can't breathe or is it more of a need to take deep breaths constantly etc etc, also is there pain with the shortness of breathe i.e in the chest or back (have you been ruled out as having asthma) is there any wheezing or anything when it happens?? If you are concerned about the breathing tell your Doctor and rule out asthma and then you will know its all due to anxiety and learn some breathing techniques, S.C gave me some fantastic link i shall passthem on below, but please reply and let me know how your doing and how you feel about what i;ve said/suggested i really like gettin feedback and how folk are gettin on, my email address is also on my rpofile so if you want anymore help/advice feel free to email me


TRY THESE LINKS FOR BREATHING EXERCISES

www.stress-relief-exercises.com/
www.healthyplace.com
www.ehow.com/video_4405003_breathing-exercises-panic-attacks.html
www.psybersquare.com/anxiety/panic_relax_I
Much hugs


Kitty xx

Hi Hatter

Welcome to healingwell this is a great place to come and get support and advise from people who can relate to what you are going through.

You have received good advise from Kitty and S.C and I have nothing else to add just wanted to say hi.

Hibee

Hey everyone, thanks for the replies.

To Ninja Kitty, my shortness of breath is not being able to get enough air into my lungs. I feel like I have to yawn and take HUGE deep breaths all the time to get enough air pumped into my lungs. No pain though. My doctor did a simple listening to the lungs test while I took deep breaths to rule out basic lung problems.

Thank you for the links, I have in the past used breathing techniques to lessen the duration of my panic attacks and they work, to some degree. I still find medicine alot more effective but together they are both powerful tools imo in stopping an attack.

Thanks everyone.

Dude I have panic disorder real bad depression and am a recovering  addict. I was given all sorts of garbage meds for my anxiety and not until I rec'd klonopin did i get the relief i sought. Prior to getting a RX for klonopin reluctantly my doctor started me on 2mg/daily then 3mg/ daily which I currently take. It took five days of no sleep, paranoia, hallucinations and basically the extreme opposite effect the xanax had on me. On the 5th morn I was getting up to go to hosp. when I started blurting out undecipherable crap, and walking aroun in circles where I collapsed and proceeded to have a withdraw seizure in fron of my girlfriend. when the ambulance got their I had just woken up scare and very much a wreck. Hospital gave me 2/mg IV lorazepam ans sent me on my way. I m grateful my dr agreed to put me on my choice(either xanax or clonopin). I went w/ klonopin bcause I felt xanax had a higher potential 4 abuse n did not want that. So here I am three yrs later taking 3mg klonopin, 12mg suboxone, and 300mg wellbutrin. The klonopin is the only thing that does not make me high but takes away most anxiety. Im still very depressed and scared as I know how dangerous cold turkey & benzos can be. also the suboxone is addictive and I will have to eventually get off that. Scared to death!!

Sorry for the edit - discussions of  illicit drug use is not permitted in the forums.  I thank you in advance for your understanding.

Post Edited By Moderator (stkitt) : 2/27/2011 7:40:35 AM (GMT-7)

Hey Hatter!

I've been taking 40mg of Paxil/daily and .5mg of Klonopin/twice a day for about 5 years now. I had to make an account here because I have the EXACT same symptom of not feeling like I'm getting enough air into my lungs when I breathe. I went to the doctor when this first started and she thought I had asthma because I failed a breathing test...but my breathing was checked out and everything came back perfectly fine.

It's so strange, isn't it? I've actually found though that taking both of these medications makes the feeling go away completely for me. Maybe you should just give it some more time to build up in your system? I've noticed that when I skip taking Klonopin, those breathing feelings come back. I know exactly how you are feeling, and I know it's horrible...but if I can make it, I know that you can too.

As for withdrawl symptoms, coming off of Paxil is indeed WICKED. It's very bad. I haven't had the need to stop taking it yet, but sometimes I let my prescription go too long before getting it refilled (dont do this to yourself!) and so I feel brain zaps and dizziness.

Like I said with Klonopin, when I stop taking that, my anxiety revs up and I start feeling like I'm unable to breathe again. But other than that and getting headaches, that's all I've found the withdrawl symptoms to be. I'd be more worried about the withdrawl symptoms from Paxil.

I thought I was the only one with this weird feeling of not getting enough air into my lungs and feeling like I need to yawn and take deep breaths! It's so nice to know someone else understands. I'm sending so much love your way! Please don't forget, I've been taking these medications for awhile now and I've felt so much better. The anxiety goes away and I can breathe normally <3 I think it is the Klonopin that makes it go away, at least that has been my experience!