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Yet Another Question About Clonazepam (Klo-Na-Pin)

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Posted 8/24/2007 5:05 PM (GMT 0)

Hi all.  Okay, I think I may have asked this question before, but in all honesty, I am confused?  Okay, I am taking clonazepam (Klo-na-pin).  Here in Canada Klonapin is called clonazepam.  I take the generic little suckers.  I honestly don't know anymore what it is used for?  It says it's mainly used for anxiety and seizures.  Well, which one is it mainly used for?  I mean I do find that they stop me from having muscle twitches but for anxiety as well?  I guess what I am asking is there a correlation between having high anxiety and muscle twitching?  I do not find that these little suckers make me tired even though on the bottle there is a little sticker that says they will?

 

Sorry if this question has been asked before.

Nick

 

 

Posted 8/24/2007 6:00 PM (GMT 0)

Hello Nick,

Klonopin is used alone or along with other medications to treat convulsive disorders  such as epilepsy. It also is prescribed for panic disorder - unexpected attacks of overwhelming panic accompanied by fear of recurrence.

Klonopin works best when there is a constant amount in the blood stream. Reference: PDR Pocket Guide, 7th Edition

To the best of my knowledge you do not have a seizure disorder and many people with anxiety may experience jerking of arms or legs. If you think you are having seizures, please see you physician.

Take care.

Posted 8/24/2007 7:23 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Kitt.  It's me Nick.  Thank you for getting back to me.  No, I am not having seizures at all.  My doctor put me throw a guantlet of tests from MRI's to mass blood work.  I do however, have an extremly bad anxiety dissorder.  I mean before I was on Clonazepam, I had a really bad mental breakdown.  So much so, that I needed help from a friend just to walk becuase I was shaking so much.  I lost weight, the works.  But I do have fearful thoughts about the time I honestly could not walk.  I mean I fell down the stairs.  And all the doctors that I have seen have said the same thing-Anxiety.

Even when I first started taking the Clonazepam, I did not feel tired at all.  In fact, if I didn't know better, I could be taking a sugar pill which I am not.  But since I have been taking them, I do not shake at all.  I guess what I am asking is am I supoossed to feel anything at all when I take them?  I mean I have heard of Valium from friends and they have all told me that once they took one, they went to sleep for days.  Not me.

I guess they do work for anxiety even though I don't feel anything at all, or I am not supposed too.

Nick

Posted 8/24/2007 8:15 PM (GMT 0)
HI Nick,
I usually hang out in the chronic pain forum, but saw your post and thought I would chime in. I just wanted to say that it is great that the clonazapam is helping with your anxiety. Although feeling tired is definatly a common side effect with that type of drug, not everyone will experience that particular side effect. Everyone reacts differently to medications, so the side effects that are listed for the drug are just things that could possibly occur. If they don't occur, that doesn't mean the drug isn't working. Also, clonazapam has some slight muscle relaxing ability, so that is probably why it seems to help the muscle twitches you have.

Best wishes,
kurt
Posted 8/24/2007 9:29 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Kurt.  Thanks for replying to me.  Yea, like I said, I don't feel tired at all on them.  But they do help with the muscle twiching.  Oh well, I will just keep taking them as prescribed.

Again, thanks.

Nick

Posted 8/24/2007 9:40 PM (GMT 0)

Hey Nick

I am with you, I can take the meds and I am just glad to feel calm but they do not put me to sleep for hours or days.  I tolerate whopping doses sad to say.  I wish I were able to take small doses and gt the desired effect.

Glad you are doing well on the Klonopin.

Take care

Posted 8/24/2007 9:53 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Kitt.  I hear you and you are not alone.  I mean I do feel less agitated becuase I am not twitching which I guess is a good thing.  I guess I am comparing the "WOW" feeling from something else as you already know.  I do know one thing though, if I stop taking them, I do have a hard time.  But if I have to take them for the rest of my life in order to lead a somewhat normal life, that's fine by me.

Nick

Posted 8/24/2007 10:00 PM (GMT 0)

You are right Nick, if they help and keep working for you it is just fine to use the medication.

Take care my friend.

Posted 8/25/2007 1:10 AM (GMT 0)
I'm also the same with meds I'm used to they don't knock me out (though sometimes I wish they would). Nick how much clonazepam (we call it that in Australia as well) are you on? I have severe anxiety and have been put up to 4mgs from 2mgs about 3 weeks ago, do you think it just needs more time for my body to adjust to getting the extra dose in the morning (I've always taken 2mgs at night) and the extra 2 is in the morning now.
Posted 8/25/2007 7:55 AM (GMT 0)
I'd like to add that Klonopin (Clonazepam is the generic name) was originally developed way back in the 1970's as an anti-convusant. It wasn't too long before doctors discovered that low dosages of the drug were ideal to treat GAD, panic disorder, agoraphobia, etc. For years it was used "off-label" to treat that stuff, and finally it was FDA approved for the treatment of anxiety disorders in the 1990's. The doses used to prevent seizures are much, much larger than the doses used to treat A/P. For A/P, the target dose of .5 mg bid is most common. For those who suffer seizures it's not unusual to take eight or ten mg. a day! Clinically it's been found that doses much larger than 2mg/day for A/P have no added benefit.

I don't have sources at the ready but the info's readily available on the internet. Check out the FDA's website, PDR, wikipedia, etcetera.

Aussiegirl, this is just a suggestion but you may want to seek out a second opinion regarding your 4mg dose of clonazepam. At that dose your risk of tolerance is greater, and there are other health issues that can come up as well.
Posted 8/25/2007 12:50 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Aussiegirl.  It's me Nick.  I am on 3mg of Clonazepam a day divided into 3 doses.  So I take 2-.05mg tablets 3 times a day.  Now here in Canada, Clonazepam is the generic name for Klonopin.  Now I was on 2mg a day but I found that I had muscle twictching from anxiety.  So after a ton of tests to make sure that I didn't have anything pysically wrong with me, my doctor put me on 3mg a day.  This has stopped the muscle twictching.  The most noticable muscle twitching was in my "pinky" finger.  But never once did these meds ever make me tired at all.  And I have to agree with debaser, 4mg a day is a lot however if it is helping you lead a somewhat normal life, as with me, I could care less if I become addicted to them.  But if they help you cope with anxiety while attempting to use other methods of dealing with anxiety like deep breathing (which does work and yes it's hard to do it right-when you are able to put yourself asleep while deep breathing-you did it), then you may want to consider lowering your dose but VERY slowly.

Same with Valium.  I was on the little blue ones 3 times a day for about a month and they honestly didn't do anything for me at all.  Now Ativan on the other hand is a totally different story.  I put 2 of those under my tongue and I fell asleep within 30 minutes.

Hope this helps and sorry for the speeellling....

Nick

Posted 8/26/2007 3:46 AM (GMT 0)
  eyes Hi Nick, As far as I know (all meds. are used for or can be used for a # of dx.) but with klonopin, I have known docs to primarily use it to treat Anxiety/panic attacks; but if it is not working for you I would let your doc know, their are so many meds for that dx. I'm sure that they (or he/she) would want you to feel that you're being treated and not just medicated. If the med is helping with the dx. wether it be anxiety or panic attacks, the one way that you know it is treating the problem is if it is helping you, without you falling asleep, if you are falling asleep or very tired/ groggy feeling; that is when you know that you (or whoever) is on toooo much or the wrong med., unless they are treating insomnia (not being able to fall or stay asleep) and they intentionally prescribe a high or higher dose.  I know that they also use is for seizures or ? epilepsy, I believe that it is best used/prescribed if there is a constant dose in your system, like phenonbarbital is a seizure rx. but it the same way? But strangely I recently heard that (I think)!! I'm not POSITIVE, klonopin has one med on the market that melts in your mouth (so, no water needed), I know that xanax (the generic name) definitely did & I think the other anxitey one was the generic for klonopin but I am not positive, the purpose is so it will work right away and you don't need to swallow a pill. I'm sure your doc. will be able to tell  you, best of luck to you. I hope that helps somewhat. Take care, m.


Post Edited (MGRC) : 8/25/2007 10:01:52 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/26/2007 1:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Boomer2uall,

I too, live in Canada and take .5mg of Clonazepam for my panic/anxiety symptoms (up to 3 times a day).  I just take it as I need it.  Some days I don't need any, some days just one, others I take the max.  It does help me though.  I was on Lorazepam (Ativan) for 6 years, but it started giving me nausea when I took it, so I actually just recently started the Clonazepam.

I just started school for Medical Office Assistant, and this past week we learned Pharmacology.  I've also learned a ton about all these meds on my own for the past several years.  All meds defintely are used for different things.  And definitely every person reacts differently to them.  Just keep an eye on how you're doing with the Clonazepam.  If it ever stops working or is causing other side effects, talk to your doc.

Take care :-)

PS-Clonazepam is not a med that melts under your tongue, you just take it with water.  Lorazepam (Ativan) is one that comes that way though... :-)

Posted 8/26/2007 10:22 PM (GMT 0)

Hi all.  It's me Nick.  How was your weekend?  I hope it was stress free.  Okay, I have been reading this post I started and really thinking about the replies.  I am also scratching my head from the confusion regarding Clonazepam (Klonapin) in general.  Okay, before I was put on them, I had a HUGE mental breakdown.  I remember it very well.  I was in the bathtub and bang, I could not get out of the tub.  I started to shake-tremble is a better word.  My heart was beating fast like I was having a heart attack (so I thought), I was sweating really bad at night, and just walking was almost impossible.  On www.mentalhealth.com , it lists Clonazepam as an anticunvilsion.  Ever since I started taking it, it has stopped the shaking and trembling and I can walk.  But it is also an anti-anxiety medication as well at low doses?  I guess I am going to have to talk to my doctor.  I mean it does work that's for sure.

I personally find that the Ativan ones work great for getting rid of anxiety but puts me asleep.

Nick

Posted 8/27/2007 3:03 AM (GMT 0)

mogli said...
Hi Boomer2uall,


I too, live in Canada and take .5mg of Clonazepam for my panic/anxiety symptoms (up to 3 times a day). I just take it as I need it. Some days I don't need any, some days just one, others I take the max. It does help me though. I was on Lorazepam (Ativan) for 6 years, but it started giving me nausea when I took it, so I actually just recently started the Clonazepam.



I just started school for Medical Office Assistant, and this past week we learned Pharmacology. I've also learned a ton about all these meds on my own for the past several years. All meds defintely are used for different things. And definitely every person reacts differently to them. Just keep an eye on how you're doing with the Clonazepam. If it ever stops working or is causing other side effects, talk to your doc.



Take care [img]/community/emoticons/smile.gif[/img]



PS-Clonazepam is not a med that melts under your tongue, you just take it with water. Lorazepam (Ativan) is one that comes that way though... [img]/community/emoticons/smile.gif[/img]

Roche does make Klonopin in wafer for for dissolving under the tongue. I don't really know why, but they do and it is said to work. But Klonopin/Clonazepam is at its best when it's at a steady state. Apparently Roche noticed that doctors were prescribing Klonopin PRN and decided to make a wafer version of it. Doubt they sell much because insurance is likely to think it's a waste of money (the wafers are quite expensive).
Posted 8/27/2007 3:08 AM (GMT 0)
Nick,

Again, it was originally designed and marketed as an anti-convulsant, but since it works as a GABA agonist it is also helpful in the treatment of anxiety and especially panic. Doctors prescribed it off label for years, and finally Roche applied with the FDA to market it as therapy for A/P.

If you're worried that you were having seizures and this tiny dose of Klonopin is preventing them, I would doubt it. I was likely A/P that was causing your shaking and trembling.
Posted 8/27/2007 7:01 PM (GMT 0)

Hi debaser.  It's me Nick.  Yes, I think you are 100% correct.  The shaking and trembling was the anxiety "showing it's face" in the pysical form.  I went and talked to a pharmist today and he said yes as well that Klonapin does help A LOT with anxiety and panic and a sure sign of anxiety is sweating (especially at night), shaking, and trembling.

So hey, it works for me.

Again, thanks.

Nick

Posted 8/27/2007 7:19 PM (GMT 0)
I'm really happy you've found something that works for you. Just remember to keep the dose as low as you can get by with, and remain in monthly contact with your physician if possible.
Posted 8/28/2007 12:15 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Debaser.  It's me Nick.  Hey, thank you and everyone else for helping me on this one.  Yes Debaser, it does make sense to have the lowest dose possible but at a happy medium.  I mean I just want the shaking and trembling to stop which it has.  So I am going to talk to my doctor and see if 3mg a day is too much or if I can get by on 2mg.

Again, thanks.

Nick

Posted 8/28/2007 10:42 AM (GMT 0)

Ah :-) You learn something every day--totally didn't know about the wafer form of Klonopin :-)

Take care guys!

Posted 8/28/2007 11:48 AM (GMT 0)
I am like Kittt I am able to take high doses of theses meds and not have problems .....
Meaning when broken out in the PG I have to take 6 mg 2....TID.......to keep stress levels down way down and blood slower going thru system

I also am on Valium 10mg as needed up to 3 times a day and for me it has worked well for over 30 yrs
I have been weaning off with doc's help as I dont want to be on that much Valium anymore either

I am glad the meds are working for you
Posted 8/28/2007 11:51 AM (GMT 0)
Mogs
Most benzo's can be put under tongue to get faster action but it is the ones that are Sublingual that are supposed to be placed under your tongue

Lorazapam/ativan and Klonopin are 2 of them
Posted 8/29/2007 3:28 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all, I've just been put on zyprexia as well so sleep like 18hrs a day. I spent 3 days in the emergency psych ward while they tried to reach my pdoc. It looks like I'll be like this for the next 3 weeks until I can see the new pdoc I've organised to get a proper idea of what is happening with me and my meds.

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