Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.

Mental Health (Expert Forum)

Email this

Paxil/ Klonopin vs. Valium

Answered by

Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness

Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.

Post a Question Back to Forum

MedHelp Member's Question

Paxil/ Klonopin vs. Valium

by Gryffin900, Apr 27, 2003 12:00AM

Tags: Anxiety, mental, Health, Mental Health, dose, psychiatrist, wellbutrin

I posted a question here before.(http://www.medhelp.org/forums/MentalHealth/messages/C32146-11.html)

I'm currently taking 40mg of Paxil daily and Klonopin 0.5mg 3 times daily for social anxiety disorder and obbsessive-compulsive didorder. I've been on Paxil for about 9-10 weeks now and Klonopin for a few weeks.I see my psychiatrist tommorrow. The Klonopin has helped a lot with my anxiety but from the beggining 0.5 mg 3x daily wasn't enough to decrease my anxiety to a cofortable level, now the anxiety is getting worse again. After the Klonopin has taken effect it usually lasts maybe only 2 hours at the most, then some of the anxiety returns. Shouldn't it last longer? If I'm on higher doses of Klonopin will it last longer? It seems the more sedated I am the more calm and less anxious I am also. I'm not sure if Paxil is doing anything for my anxiety. It seems to have helped with my obbsesive thoughts and made my mood happier. Would Serzone be a good antidepressant for me since it is the most sedating of the antidepressants? I was also wondering if maybe I should switch from Klonopin to Valium since it is longer lasting and has an anxiolytic specifically for anxiety? It also relaxes muscles, I get very tense when I'm anxious. I've read many books about these medications and my disorders. Valium is mainly for anxiety correct and Klonopin is more used for seizures? Can you please answer all my questions fully. Sorry for all the questions. Thanks for helping me get on Klonopin in my last post.

Thanks,

DAN

Doctor's Answer

by Roger Gould, M.D.

, Apr 30, 2003 12:00AM

Klonopin is very effective for anxiety at the right dose, and should definitely last longer than a few hours...you might ask your psychiatrist about dose change before switching to valium..Sometimes Paxil is stimulating and creates more anxiety, and if that is what is happening to you, you might want to consider Serzone.

Member Comments (9)

by Gryffin900, Apr 28, 2003 12:00AM

To: M.D.

Desyrel is more sedating than serzone would that be a better choice?

Thanks,

DAN

by tears, Apr 28, 2003 12:00AM

I would suggest getting off the paxil while you have a chance. I've been on paxil for 5 months, 25 mg. & decided to switch to wellbutrin & the side effects are killing me. I'm missing work, my family is beside themselves with my mood swings & sickness. I've been reading the internet on paxil withdrawls & it's not a pretty story, infact, there's a class action suite against GSK the manufacturers of paxil for not revealing the severe withdrawls. If you can get off of paxil before it's been in your system very long, you would be very wise to do so!!

by Gryffin900, Apr 28, 2003 12:00AM

To: Everyone/DR.

I taked to my psychiatrist today. We decided to start me on 15mg of Remeron daily and to continue on clonazepam 0.5mg 3x daily. I'm also going to start tappering off Paxil. Can I get Klonopin instead of clonazepam? I haven't filled my clonazepam or remeron prescriptions yet. He has to call the Remeron in anyways. Do I just ask my psychiatrist for the brand name? Is there a difference? Is this a good choice of medications for my problems doctor?

Thanks,

DAN

PS: Thanks for your comment tears, for careing.

by drock, May 01, 2003 12:00AM

i think that medication in relation to anxiety disorders should be used to aleviate the bad symptoms just enough so that you are open to learning ways of changing thought patterns and learning coping strategies i think just relying on medication gives you a crutch that will only make things worse in the long run

by chrismary, May 08, 2003 12:00AM

Does the Wellbutrin help reduce the withdrawal problems from Paxil? I have been of Prozac for 7 months and I am very sick with zaps and can't sit still and pain. I am on klonopin for it and this really disturbs me. Thanks,

Chrismary

by Mithotyn, Aug 27, 2003 12:00AM

I've been on klonopin for about 2 years now 2MG twice a day i started on .5MG 3 times a day for like 1 week than jumped to 1MG twice a day for about a month basicaly i dont think klonopin works well at all until you hit the right dose cause this 4MG has worked great even to this day.

I dont take it with anything else and never will i try to limit the ammount of dangerous foreign chemicals in my brain. adding one drug to another is testing time for tragedy in my opinion.

Biggest side effects i've had from klonopin are muscle cramps, weird gas problems usualy causing constriction feelings in my throat usualy not more than once a week for 10-15 mins i just had to change my diet might even be a coincidence it's acid relux disorder related and the only other long-term side effect i have noticed are sexual.. basicaly i rarely think about sex but can still get an erection if i want (need) to but havent in months (i'm 20)

as for wellbutrin i wouldnt try it if i were you i tried it when i was 17 for 1 month i didnt feel a thing than my anxiety sky-rocketed and got 100 times worse and i ended up in hurley for 6 days getting hammered with haldol and benadryl to counter-act it the trauma lasted for a year wellbutrin has a notable rep for causing paradoxil effects for anxiety uses.

I really would concider taking out any single other drug you're on and just increasing the klonopin dose also i quit seeing phyciatrists they work more like scientists in the fact they obligate themselves to research newer treatments for purposes of a 1/1000 chance of medical evolution meaning their patients are basicaly gini-pigs.

I get my treatment from a physican, Their work ethic is more like that of a mechanic - see a problem, diagnose it / FIX IT !

to-the-point.. you're dose of klonopin is so low i laughed to myself it's typical phyciatrist BS.

2-4-6MG a day is minimal for beneficial effects. you can take as much as 20MG a day

by Gryffin900, Sep 02, 2003 12:00AM

To: Mithotyn

Can you email me Mithotyn? I have some questions I want to ask you.

***@****

Thanks,

DAN

by Gryffin900, Sep 05, 2003 12:00AM

To: Mithotyn

I just read your post a few days ago. I have some questions on Klonopin. You seem to know a lot more than me. Can you please email me.

Thanks,

GRYFFIN900

DAN

***@****

Back to Forum

Expert Activity

Fluoroquinolones increase risk of t...
Jul 08 by Enoch Choi, MD

Related Expert Forums

Emotional Eating

Self-Improvement Coaching

Related Communities

Anxiety

Depression

Bipolar Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Military Health Issues

Head & Traumatic Brain Injury

Information contained within this site is intended solely for general educational purposes and is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice relative to your specific medical condition or question. Always seek the advice of your physician or other health provider for any questions you may have regarding your medical condition. Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. By using this site you agree to the following Terms and Conditions.

MedHelp.org subscribes to the HONCode principles of the Health On the Net Foundation. Verify here

Your Name:
Your Email:
Friend's Email:
Message:

	Enter the code shown:



	Leave a Note Send Message Add as Friend Gryffin900 Member since Mar 2003



	Add as Friend Roger Gould, M.D. Male Member since Jan 2001 Journal Entry: "This is a comment for everyone who has re..." [Read]



	Add as Friend Enoch Choi, MD Male, 43 years Palo Alto - CA Member since Aug 2007 Mood: Enoch Choi, MD is back to PAMF UCC clinic Journal Entry: "This new box warning via FDA is something..." [Read]



	Leave a Note for Just a note Hugs Thinking of you Thank You Welcome Prayer Feel better Congrats! I Can Relate Just a quick note to say hi! Add as friend Post It Never Mind 800 character limit exceeded Just a quick note to say hi! You deserve a big bear hug! You're in my thoughts all the time, but especially today. Thank you for everything! Welcome to our community! You are in my thoughts and prayers. Hope you feel better soon! Congratulations! Time for a celebration... Just wanted to let you know I can relate. If you ever want to talk, you know where to find me.