Aa
anxiety & meds
I am having a Lot of anxiety - I have had two major surgerys in the past 2 years and was involved in an auto accident a month ago. After the accident I had a real bad reaction to the combination of pain meds and anxiety meds - it effected my breathing to the point that I am scared to death to take any anti-depression/sleeping meds at all. To say I have a high anxiety level is an understatement - I hate the way I feel and I am scared to take meds to help me. Is there another way to help me? Any kind of meditation or non-pill way to help me not feel so scared and shaky? I get about three hours of sleep a night - usually an hour then a few hours later I can sleep for two hours. I am so tired but afraid to go to sleep for fear I will be hurt. I contacted our local mental health services and did an intake today - after two hours of questions I am signed up for counciling - the counsoler said it appears I have post tramitic stress syndrome. I just want to feel better and be able to do things again; As it is now I am afraid to do anything or go anywhere. Any advice would be so appreciated.
I couldn't care less about what people say regarding the information provided in your post about Klonopins. I was actually looking for some information about the maximum dose and your post was very informative. I think that you are very knowledgable in your post and thank you for the information you provided.
I do have a question, if you please? I am taking Loratab 10/325 and they make me feel real jittery, so much to the point that I have began to have panic attacks again. I suffered from them for 3 years then all of a sudden they just went away. I was taking Klonopin for them then and when they came back this time I'm taking it again.
The information I was looking for was was the maximum dose a person could take in a day of the drug. I take the Loratab 2 pills 5x daily. The Klonopin were perscribed 1mg 4x daily. The thing is, I seem to only need them to help me come back down offf the loratab. Example, when I take a loratab, I feel jittery, so I take 1 (1mg) Klonopin to counteract the loratab, so I actually feel balanced. But, I am having a really hard time sleeping at night becuase of the Loratab. I am wondering, can I take 2mg at night to help me sleep along with the others throughourt the day? My nurse practitioner says the maximum dose of klonopin a day is 4mg. She is not the brightest crayon in the box and I am not sure I can trust anything she says. So what do you know about it? Please elaborate, if you will. I trust your opinion, regardless of what others may think :)
I do have a question, if you please? I am taking Loratab 10/325 and they make me feel real jittery, so much to the point that I have began to have panic attacks again. I suffered from them for 3 years then all of a sudden they just went away. I was taking Klonopin for them then and when they came back this time I'm taking it again.
The information I was looking for was was the maximum dose a person could take in a day of the drug. I take the Loratab 2 pills 5x daily. The Klonopin were perscribed 1mg 4x daily. The thing is, I seem to only need them to help me come back down offf the loratab. Example, when I take a loratab, I feel jittery, so I take 1 (1mg) Klonopin to counteract the loratab, so I actually feel balanced. But, I am having a really hard time sleeping at night becuase of the Loratab. I am wondering, can I take 2mg at night to help me sleep along with the others throughourt the day? My nurse practitioner says the maximum dose of klonopin a day is 4mg. She is not the brightest crayon in the box and I am not sure I can trust anything she says. So what do you know about it? Please elaborate, if you will. I trust your opinion, regardless of what others may think :)
It will probably be taken as horrible advice, but it's helped me for a long time.. if you lucky enough to be in a state that has a medical MJ program, it's a great sleep aid, and it doesn't really conflict with any other drugs. I naturally have anxiety, and difficulty sleeping.. MJ increased my appetite, makes me get to bed at a normal time when i cant sleep, and resulting gives me more energy in the day when i'm at work. A heavy indica strain will turn you into a narcoleptic ;).
Sometimes, if nothing else works for you.. you gotta go a different route. I got my cannabis card two years ago and haven't really had any pills in a good long time. I'm going to school and working full time, and SSRIs drained my motivation.
Sometimes, if nothing else works for you.. you gotta go a different route. I got my cannabis card two years ago and haven't really had any pills in a good long time. I'm going to school and working full time, and SSRIs drained my motivation.
I used to suffer from really bad anxiety when I was younger, and prozac really helped me.. I only took 20MG though. Prozac made my depressive brother sleep all of the time. I never found it stimulating in the slightest. That really depends on the individual whether it is directly stimulating or depressing.
Sounds like your scenario is pretty bad.. you know a pretty good safe sleep aid is adding exogenous melatonin .. one of my favorite tryptamines :) you can buy it as a dietary supplement. That stuff makes sleeping easier, and it feels like it's higher in quality. It's nothing crazy, but keep it away from MAOIs.. they will keep your body from breaking it down.
Even though benzos like valium and xanax will help, they are probably the wrong solution... and most sleeping pills like ambien will turn you into a zombie. Once you take sleep aid stuff for a while, you usually won't be able to without them.
In general, stay away from any stimulants in your diet.. even caffeine. Those will only make the problem worse.
Sounds like your scenario is pretty bad.. you know a pretty good safe sleep aid is adding exogenous melatonin .. one of my favorite tryptamines :) you can buy it as a dietary supplement. That stuff makes sleeping easier, and it feels like it's higher in quality. It's nothing crazy, but keep it away from MAOIs.. they will keep your body from breaking it down.
Even though benzos like valium and xanax will help, they are probably the wrong solution... and most sleeping pills like ambien will turn you into a zombie. Once you take sleep aid stuff for a while, you usually won't be able to without them.
In general, stay away from any stimulants in your diet.. even caffeine. Those will only make the problem worse.
Ryan-
What medicine would you recommend for the anxiety? I want to stay away from Prozac but I really need something that is going to help me and not make it worse. In regards to the ativan...do I take it when I feel anxious or do I have to be having rapid heartrate and all that? You seem to be very knowledgeable and I would love any advice to help me try and control my anxiety???
Thanks
Franceslee
What medicine would you recommend for the anxiety? I want to stay away from Prozac but I really need something that is going to help me and not make it worse. In regards to the ativan...do I take it when I feel anxious or do I have to be having rapid heartrate and all that? You seem to be very knowledgeable and I would love any advice to help me try and control my anxiety???
Thanks
Franceslee
Interesting about the Cortisol. I'm going to have to do some reading about that.
You said that it sounded to you like I might have a fast metabolism (above). If you have time, can you describe what a fast metabolism would be like? I may have a gross misunderstanding of the issue.
You said that it sounded to you like I might have a fast metabolism (above). If you have time, can you describe what a fast metabolism would be like? I may have a gross misunderstanding of the issue.
Thanks Ryan! I really think the depression I had was because of the anxiety -- so I guess that would make it secondary to the anxiety. I mean I had the anxiety before the depression. And this has happened before too -- where in the past I've had the anxiety and then the depression would visit. So, I really think the depression stems from the anxiety.
By taking .5 Klonopin twice a day -- what is the likelihood of dependency on the drug?
Further, I'm curious if you find the mornings at all anxious for you? My mornings are very anxious when I wake up -- I have to do deep breathing exercies to control my shakings/tremblings & sweaty palms/feet & racing heart. I would "think" the .5 Klonopin that I took @ 10pm the night before would control this -- but this happens like clockwork every morning. Once I get up and get moving I'm usually ok. I wonder if it has anything to do with our metabolic rate -- which is lowest in the morning. Your thoughts?
Thanks Ryan!
Shannon
By taking .5 Klonopin twice a day -- what is the likelihood of dependency on the drug?
Further, I'm curious if you find the mornings at all anxious for you? My mornings are very anxious when I wake up -- I have to do deep breathing exercies to control my shakings/tremblings & sweaty palms/feet & racing heart. I would "think" the .5 Klonopin that I took @ 10pm the night before would control this -- but this happens like clockwork every morning. Once I get up and get moving I'm usually ok. I wonder if it has anything to do with our metabolic rate -- which is lowest in the morning. Your thoughts?
Thanks Ryan!
Shannon
Ryan, quick question about Klonopin. I take .5 Klonopin at night to help me sleep -- I suffer from insomnia because of the anxiety. I wake anxious -- but once I get moving am usually ok. Have sporatic periods of anxiety in during the day, i.e. sweaty palms; tremblings mostly. Is this once dosage at night enough to reach steady stream for me? Or should I take some additional Klonopin during the day? Thanks! Shannon
PS -- I also take Celexa (40mg a day) for a bout of depression. Have been on this for 5 weeks. Depression has lifted to some degree, but the anxiety is still there.
PS -- I also take Celexa (40mg a day) for a bout of depression. Have been on this for 5 weeks. Depression has lifted to some degree, but the anxiety is still there.
In the summary of the clinical trials I read, it didn't give a date but of course they'd have to do more to have it approved for another use.
I'm not sure I fully comprehend the concept of metabolizing drugs. I've always been under the assumption that I was slow to metabolize everything, including drugs. For example, if I eat poorly I get fat. A long time ago before I got scared of taking pills, I'd take a Tylenol PM at 9 o'clock and not get sleepy until well after midnight.
And it's weird. Until the last two weeks or so, I'd been really good about taking my pills religiously: 8am and 8pm. But for various reasons I've started taking doses much later than usual. An hour or two. One time three hours late. I might feel a little more anxious leading up to that time, but usually nothing terrible. Other times, It'll be six in the afternoon and I get all shaky and nervous. That's what a typical day is like, usually.
I don't know what to make of it.
I'm not sure I fully comprehend the concept of metabolizing drugs. I've always been under the assumption that I was slow to metabolize everything, including drugs. For example, if I eat poorly I get fat. A long time ago before I got scared of taking pills, I'd take a Tylenol PM at 9 o'clock and not get sleepy until well after midnight.
And it's weird. Until the last two weeks or so, I'd been really good about taking my pills religiously: 8am and 8pm. But for various reasons I've started taking doses much later than usual. An hour or two. One time three hours late. I might feel a little more anxious leading up to that time, but usually nothing terrible. Other times, It'll be six in the afternoon and I get all shaky and nervous. That's what a typical day is like, usually.
I don't know what to make of it.
Yet another question for you.
Ate a Slim Jim last night that necessitated a Maalox, as it would with a lot of people. Went into the bathroom with my mind on something else and for some reason took the Klonopin instead of a Maalox. This was a little before 6:30 in the evening, or a little more than an hour ahead of my scheduled dose. I experienced very, very little anxiety last night.
This morning I woke up at 6:00, and since then I've felt my anxiety climb rapidly. My morning anxiety is usually felt most obviously in my stomach in the form of nausea and bloating, but not today. Instead, I'm jittery, have some weird nervous ticks (like someone who'd just consumed an inappropriate amount of caffeine), and am itchy (of all things).
Is this more likely an indication of an interdose problem or a spurious event? I'm not going to adjust the dose on my own based on your response...your response will simply help me discuss the issue with my physician.
The reason I ask is because you and I used to talk about a possible interdose problem and you usually dismissed it. However, it's occurred to me lately that the "target dose" of .5 mg bid is likely based on the clinical trials that occurred in the 1970's. People are simply bigger and fatter now than they used to be. While I'm certainly not obese, I do weigh in at around 190. And, if memory serves, most of the sample for the pre-marketing trials were women (which is fine since most anxiety/panic sufferers are women). Would it follow that the "target dose" for me, individually, might be a little higher? Have I been under-dosed? Or does body mass even come into consideration with a drug of this type?
Thanks in advance for your response. They're always well-crafted and carefully considered. Everyone here (except maybe the organic chemist) appreciates that.
Ate a Slim Jim last night that necessitated a Maalox, as it would with a lot of people. Went into the bathroom with my mind on something else and for some reason took the Klonopin instead of a Maalox. This was a little before 6:30 in the evening, or a little more than an hour ahead of my scheduled dose. I experienced very, very little anxiety last night.
This morning I woke up at 6:00, and since then I've felt my anxiety climb rapidly. My morning anxiety is usually felt most obviously in my stomach in the form of nausea and bloating, but not today. Instead, I'm jittery, have some weird nervous ticks (like someone who'd just consumed an inappropriate amount of caffeine), and am itchy (of all things).
Is this more likely an indication of an interdose problem or a spurious event? I'm not going to adjust the dose on my own based on your response...your response will simply help me discuss the issue with my physician.
The reason I ask is because you and I used to talk about a possible interdose problem and you usually dismissed it. However, it's occurred to me lately that the "target dose" of .5 mg bid is likely based on the clinical trials that occurred in the 1970's. People are simply bigger and fatter now than they used to be. While I'm certainly not obese, I do weigh in at around 190. And, if memory serves, most of the sample for the pre-marketing trials were women (which is fine since most anxiety/panic sufferers are women). Would it follow that the "target dose" for me, individually, might be a little higher? Have I been under-dosed? Or does body mass even come into consideration with a drug of this type?
Thanks in advance for your response. They're always well-crafted and carefully considered. Everyone here (except maybe the organic chemist) appreciates that.
Well, I imagine I'll be able to go "out of network" for an addtional fee if I get so sick I can't move. The owners of the company chose the plan...at the time they had no intention to expand and put people in other cities. This hospital plan is non-profit and is very insular. It's actually a very good plan but apparently they have no provision for this. Maybe something can be worked out when I begin.
I realize that the pill isn't the only answer. I don't know if you've ever read my blog, but basically it's about that very subject. You can take advantage of the reprieve the pill gives you and it opens up new fronts to "fight" anxiety, blah, blah, blah. In my case I use creativity to alleviate the residual problems that Klonopin can't quite take care of. However, recently it just hasn't been enough. I don't have panic attacks, exactly, but I do experience very high anxiety states once or twice a day, and they get in the way of my other methods.
In my mind I should at least have a few days every now and then where I experience little if any anxiety. I'm back to having at least one major flare-up a day, even though they aren't as intense and do not last as long. They still suck.
Anyway, I shouldn't have to see my primary doc that often, so even if they are 200 miles away I guess I can deal with it. And they are a really good hospital. One of the "Top 100"....Scott & White Memorial in Temple, Texas. They were in-network on my last HMO and when I got fed up with everything people advised me to go to a teaching hospital, and that was the nearest decent one (lived in Austin at the time).
I realize that the pill isn't the only answer. I don't know if you've ever read my blog, but basically it's about that very subject. You can take advantage of the reprieve the pill gives you and it opens up new fronts to "fight" anxiety, blah, blah, blah. In my case I use creativity to alleviate the residual problems that Klonopin can't quite take care of. However, recently it just hasn't been enough. I don't have panic attacks, exactly, but I do experience very high anxiety states once or twice a day, and they get in the way of my other methods.
In my mind I should at least have a few days every now and then where I experience little if any anxiety. I'm back to having at least one major flare-up a day, even though they aren't as intense and do not last as long. They still suck.
Anyway, I shouldn't have to see my primary doc that often, so even if they are 200 miles away I guess I can deal with it. And they are a really good hospital. One of the "Top 100"....Scott & White Memorial in Temple, Texas. They were in-network on my last HMO and when I got fed up with everything people advised me to go to a teaching hospital, and that was the nearest decent one (lived in Austin at the time).
Thanks.
I'm honestly not sure whether it's "interdose anxiety" or whether it's just not strong enough. The symptoms are GENERALLY worse in the mornings and evenings, but sometimes I have the spells in the middle of the day, too.
I was hoping the switch from Caraco generic to Teva would help, but I can't tell a difference.
I have to "conserve" for now, in any event. Insurance gap.
When I am covered again, I'll talk to the new doc about it. I'm not even sure he'll prescribe a refill, honestly, and all the primary docs I can use are 200 miles away so it'll be really difficult to "shop around". Crazy insurance plan. It's a non-profit HMO through a hospital. I'm part of my company's group and the HQ is in that town. Big pain in the ***. It's a great hospital, at least.
I'm honestly not sure whether it's "interdose anxiety" or whether it's just not strong enough. The symptoms are GENERALLY worse in the mornings and evenings, but sometimes I have the spells in the middle of the day, too.
I was hoping the switch from Caraco generic to Teva would help, but I can't tell a difference.
I have to "conserve" for now, in any event. Insurance gap.
When I am covered again, I'll talk to the new doc about it. I'm not even sure he'll prescribe a refill, honestly, and all the primary docs I can use are 200 miles away so it'll be really difficult to "shop around". Crazy insurance plan. It's a non-profit HMO through a hospital. I'm part of my company's group and the HQ is in that town. Big pain in the ***. It's a great hospital, at least.
I may have asked you this before, but if I have I've forgotten the answer.
What If someone (like me) were on .5 mg Klonopin bid but it wasn't quite enough to knock out their anxiety and, more importantly, the physical manifestations of the anxiety? Would supplemental treatment with Xanax to be taken only as needed be a good option? Or would Klonopin .5 mg tid be a better option?
Or should I just figure out a way to deal with it (I've tried with varying success).
I'm more or less curious. I don't think I could bring myself to ask for Xanax, and I'm more afraid of Klonopin tolerance than just about anything else I can think of.
Thanks,
D
What If someone (like me) were on .5 mg Klonopin bid but it wasn't quite enough to knock out their anxiety and, more importantly, the physical manifestations of the anxiety? Would supplemental treatment with Xanax to be taken only as needed be a good option? Or would Klonopin .5 mg tid be a better option?
Or should I just figure out a way to deal with it (I've tried with varying success).
I'm more or less curious. I don't think I could bring myself to ask for Xanax, and I'm more afraid of Klonopin tolerance than just about anything else I can think of.
Thanks,
D
I'm sorry I don't understand a lot... what did you mean when you said "the opposite usually occurs?" Have you heard that Ativan has many side effects? I haven't started either medicine because I am afraid of the side effects. What would your advice be???
franceslee
franceslee
What do you think about the medicine Paxil for anxiety? Does it help? What about Ativan, I've heard lots of bad things about it.
Franceslee
Franceslee
Hi Barbara - thank you for the post. I am trying to survive for now - till some of this anxiety goes and I can function again. It is hell to go through this - I never knew how much the mind could mess you up until now. I have some prozac the doc gave me - also some lunesta - I don't want to take them together the side effects are a real pain for me - I have COPD so I really have to watch what I take. Most of the 'nerve' medicine and sleeping meds make it hard to breathe- it slows my breathing down so much I have to really remember to breathe. That's scary for me. It wasn't to long ago that I was over medicated and had a real hard time of things. I'm kinda scared to take meds.
hi just, am so sorry you are going through this, i understand how it feels to be ok and than next 3 months your not yourself, i went through bad health with my mom and my cardio dr changing my heart meds 3 times in two weeks so i went through lots stress myself, surgery will put you init i know my mom just had two surgerys 6 weeks a part and she lives with me so , i see the nerves shes going through i just got where i can help her because i was in the same shape as her . my dr told me it was post tramitic stress to from her and than health stress from me. its not been easy . i was like you so scared to take meds but after 7 weeks i gave in am taking klonopin twice a day and it has really helped me , it makes me a little tired but as far as side affects it has none , ask your dr about it and you can take it for long term anxiety. i plan on staying on it until i see where my body has gotton back to me , been on it 4 days and what a difference it has made. if you put klonopin in the search froum on this site you will see many links about it and how it has helped so many people. try and relax which i know is easy said , but it helped me to know its just anxiety and that it will get beeter , sometimes we need a little help and its ok to take meds, i tried to do it by myself with no meds and talking to a dr but it didnt work , just could not get my mind off of the passed so the meds have helped me do that . today was the first day i did not get up really sick at my stomack in 8 weeks i was a little sick but got over it . i also have the tingling of the face/ears not sure if you have that , but its still here a little on and off all day but hope that goes away to. sounds like you need some help with yours so dont give up on all meds am scared of them i will not take ssri but the klonopin is a great med and no side affects but makes you tired until it gets in your system. i wish you the best let us know how you are doing thats what we are here for . Barbara
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