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Posted 1/30/2014 11:43 PM (GMT 0)
Short background here.....
December 12th I was switched by my OBGYN straight from 20 mg of lexapro (was on it for 5 years) to 100mg of Zoloft. The Zoloft made me absolutely crazy! Thought I was losing my mind. Started taken Ativan, anywhere from 2.5 mg to 3 mg a day. FINALLY after 5 weeks of unimaginable hell I began seeing a psychologist and had a loooong talk with my pharmacist and both demanded I get off the Zoloft ASAP and go back to my Lexapro. I have been back on my Lexapro for 2 weeks and since Monday I have been taking 25 mg. the reason I was switched in the first place because my OB thought I was suffering from PTSD due to a cancer battle I had last year and that my Lexapro was giving out on me.

I experience horrible panic attacks and all day I feel so wound up and anxious and can't relax. My OB informed me Monday that he was only giving me 10 more Ativan and that was it. That terrified me. I'm still not stable on the the Lexapro and am struggling with anxiety and he wants to take the one thing that has made this whole nightmare bearable.

I spoke with my therapist about this and he thought it was a terrible idea to take them away after going through SSRI change twice, the one SSRI caused so much damage, and without the Lexapro being effective yet and the emotional traumas I'm working out in therapy.

My psychologist spoke with my OB and informed him of how severe my situation is. He agreed to put me on Klonopin. I am to start the Klonopin today and continue to take the 5 Ativan pills I have left. This necessarily isn't bad news to me because this week has been awful I have been in a constant state of anxiety and the Ativan is no longer doing anything. It maybe preventing a major attack (I don't know) but it has done nothing this week to relax my body or mind. I'm hoping Klonopin will do for me what Ativan quit doing.

I'm scared of meds and am finding myself very nervous about taking Klonopin. Has anyone had success with this med when previous med gave out? What should I expect? Will it really calm my body like me OB said? I would love to hear from anyone who has made this switch or takes Klonopin........I'm a ball of nerves!

Side note I also do guided imagery, mediation, deep diaphragmatic breathing, and a quick work out. None of those things have helped me this week :(

PLEASE HELP!!!!

Somebody said...

Posted 1/30/2014 11:53 PM (GMT 0)
Klonopin. Great medication. I've taken it in small doses for over 20 years. It has a long half life, 30 hours or so, so it's calming effects, for me at least, are felt well into the next day. Ativan half life is short, only about 12 hours. They are both benzodiazepines, so the effect should be similar, just longer acting.
Posted 1/30/2014 11:58 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you JungRulz for your quick response! I'm sitting here staring at the bottle feeling very anxious about this med. I was prescribed 1mg 2x a day. I just want relief! I've been so anxious and depressed this week! Glad to hear about positive results!
Posted 1/31/2014 1:17 AM (GMT 0)
The calming effect should be similar to Ativan, just longer acting.

In America, drugs are given a generic name when they are first designed, and when the manufacturer sells it, they are given a Brand Name.

Drugs in the same category share the same suffix, to some degree, of the generic name. The following are listed as brand/gereric.

Klonopin/Clonazepam
Xanax/Alprazolam
Ativan/Lorazepam
Valium/Diazepam.

pam and lam are listed as suffixes for benzodiazepines, at least ones related chemically. So Ativan is in a similar chemical group to Klonopin.
Posted 1/31/2014 1:30 AM (GMT 0)
How long until you start feeling the effects? I know it's not as fast acting as Ativan or Zanax. I took my first dose almost an hour and a half ago and am starting to feel very sleepy and a little calmer.

I'm just curious if I take 1mg in the morning and 1mg in the evening if I will need to finish out my last 5 1mg Ativan. My doctor said to, but that seems like a lot of meds in a day. Is it possible to go through Ativan withdraw while starting Klonopin?
Posted 1/31/2014 2:00 AM (GMT 0)
If your doctor didn't provide specific instructions, you may want to be careful, you may get excess sedation from the combination. You can also ask your pharmacist about taking both, he/she should be able to help you decide if it would be an issue.

If I were you, in the absence of specific instructions from the doctor, I would avoid taking both the Ativan and Klonopin at the same time or during the same 24 hour period.
Posted 1/31/2014 5:55 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Knw.,

I just want to add my support. I am so sorry for all that you have gone through recently.

I want to applaud you for all of the advocating that you have done for yourself...as well as the work that you have put into your anxiety management plan!

It sounds like your psychologist is a keeper.:) I am glad that you have this one on your support team.

We are a part of it too I hope...we are listening, and cheering you on along your journey to feeling better.

Keep posting!

S.C.

p.s. I agree with the advice to call your doctor or pharmacist for clarification on how to combine your benzos during the crossover period of the next few days.
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