Klonopin for anxiety as needed

[serinitynow1]

Hello,
I was recently perscribed .5mgs or Klonopin for my morning aniexty to be taken only when needed.

My question is, if I just take it once or twice a week for a short period (month) will I still have to ween myself off of it?

My morning anxiety (90% sure) is a side effect from the Pozac that I started taking almost a month ago.  I had this same temporary side effect from Prozac the first time I was on it and it went away on it own after 5 -6 weeks.

Thank you

[nannymania]

My experience with klonopin destoyed mylife . It gave me aniexty and depression I did not know exisited. I was told by the sales rep in the hospital and jumped off the med . also saw other patient there the same way. and by the way
I was over dosed and could not think,but it can work for bipolarsand it is not just for aniexty syptoms. Yes, Klon does have withdrawal symptoms that are very hard....
BE CAREFUL- iF IT WORKS DO NOT EXCEED BECAUSE YOUR ARE ALITTLE ANIXIOUS It In my opinion it is a doctors who will give anythig out .....Know your doctor well.
Your in my thoughts.
annie

[serinitynow1]

Hi Calm Mom,

I told you that I would keep you posted if I took the Kolonpin.  Well, this morning I took .25g (1/2 of what was prescribed) and it did take the edge off of my anxiety but I also became a little drowsy too.  I don't plan on taking it very often, just when absolutley needed.  This morning my anxiety was a little higher than it's been in the last few days so I wanted to see how I would react to the Kolonpin while I was at home as opposed to at work. Have you started taking it yet?  If so how is it working for you?
Take care

[serinitynow1]

I'm thinking that I'm going to need to start taking the Kolonpin for my anxiety.  I'm trying to come off of Remerom down to 7.5mgs and I believe it's making me anxious.  It's my understanding that this is one of the easier ADs to come off of?  I've only been on it for about 2 months.

[serinitynow1]

Hi,
no you must have misunderstood me...sorry.  I haven't taken any Klonopin yet.  I've had it for 2 days now but have been keeping my morning anxiety under control.  Trying not to take it unless I absolutely need to.

[Julie359]

I've been told that in the morning the serotoin level in the brain is at it's lowest and thats why a lot of people with anxiety get anxious first thing... also our blood sugar is low when we wake up cause we haven't eatern for a long period of time and this has a major effect on our mood and the way we feel.  

I've was advised to eat oats for breakfast, so i ate porridge and you know, it actually helps.... apparently oats have some chemical/mineral??? not sure which one, that relaxes the body and stabilzes the blood glucose level... Give it a go it may help

[calm_mom]

So you took a half of .50 before you went to bed and in the morning your anxiety was not there.  That has been my problem morning anxiety, I have to take a .25 xanax as soon as I wake up and then again around 2pm...and then I'm good the rest of the night.  How did the Klonopin make you feel?  Did it knock you out or is it about the same as a xanax?  I am on day 9 of celexa but am only taking 1/2 of does (10mg) b/c that's what worked for me last time. I am hoping I won't have the morning anxiety after my celexa kicks in.  I don't remember this symptom last time but it was 7 years ago.
Thanks for the info.

[serinitynow1]

No, I did not take as being too preachy:)  Thanks for your relply.  I am going to hold out and only take the Klonopin if my anxiety gets really bad.  I do try alternative methods especially the deep (stomach) breathing but sometimes it doesn't even put a dent in the anxiety.  Funny, because I'm a morning person by nature so why the anxiety hits in the morning...I don't really know.  Hoping that I'm on the tale end of it though.

[Julie359]

Hi... if last time the anxiety tapered of after the 5th 6th week then maybe, depending on the severity of the anxiety, you should hold out and try to overcome this without the klonopin.  

I believe it shouldn't cause any withdrawl only taking it every now and then, so my suggestion would be to take it if the anxiety becomes unbearable.   First i would try other coping methods before, like meditation, breathing exercises, affirmations etc...

Tablets are good but i personally feel that taking pills to overcome anxiety don't teach us how to manage and defeat anxiety... we take a pill and it goes away... we don't get taught the necessary to over come it long term.

I hope that doesn't come across as too preachy....

[serinitynow1]

Hi,

I recently came off of Paxil this spring.  That drug scares me!  I know I might have to take AD's for the rest of my life, but I didn't like the fact that it is sooo difficult to come off of for most people, including myself.  I weened off of it very slowly (after doing a cold turkey last year....big mistake!) and still needed help.  My Doc prescribed Remeron and this helped quite a bit.  After about a month on the Remeron and off of the Paxil my Doc put me on Prozac which worked wonders for me years ago.  So I'm hoping along with some CBT I can get back on track again.
Thank you for the information

[serinitynow1]

Hi,

I was just prescribed it yesterday.  When I woke up this morning my anxiety wasn't too bad so I held off on taking any.  I did cut a.5mg table  in half and brought it to work with me just in case.

I really don't want to take it unless my anxiety gets high.  I beleive my morning anxiety is due to the fact that my body is getting use to the Prozac. I hope I'm nearing the end to this side effect.  Sorry I can't really answer any of your questions, but if I do end up taking it I will keep you posted with my experiences.

[calm_mom]

Have you taken any yet?  I was just prescribed this also for morning anxiety.  As soon as I wake up I have it, it's awful.  My neck gets tense and then I get a lump in my throat and have to take a Xanax.  My doc says the klonopin would help this but I'm scared it will make me so groggy in the morning and knock me out at night.  
If you've taken it what time of day and is it an instant result?  How does it make you feel...can you work and concentrate with it?