klonopin-Ryan

[wmac]

So do you really think if I tried the klonopin and reached a steady state you think I wouldnt have the anxiety over my heart issues?? Klonopin is pretty close to sri right? Remember I tried to doses of klonopin over the 4th of july. I took .25mg in the am and .25mg in late pm and I had bad stomach pain and nauseua. But I really want something to help me with my anxiety I do take 0.5mg ativan am and then in the pm. Then was suggested to do it three times instsead of two daily. But if klonopin can really truely take my anxiety away about my heart I think I may start to have a life again. What do you think??
wmac

[wmac]

also the next day after taking it I felt like I was ran over by a freight train.

[RCA7591]

I think that if you gave the Klonopin a chance to help you, that you'd notice a considerable improvement in your symptoms, and that the fixation on your heart would be much less prominent. Nothing works 100%, ever, but you can regain the quality of your life back.

Ativan escalates from 1 mg daily, to 2 mg, 4 mg, and ultimately to 6 mg daily. Tolerance is the issue. At this point, you are merely taking Ativan to prevent withdrawal symptoms. It isn't benefiting you, and that isn't good. Increasing the dose of Ativan would temporarily re-establish efficacy, but only temporarily. Ultimately, the dosage would need to be increased every four months or so, and it would simply lose its effectiveness. Over the long term, you would be screwed. Read some of the postings on this forum, and you will see that this is a fact.

Withdrawal explains the stomach pain and nausea. Temporary withdrawal symptoms are to be expected when switching from Ativan to Klonopin. The withdrawal symptoms range from 3 days, to a maximum of 14 days. Klonopin reaches steady-state in two weeks. As your plasma level of Ativan declines, you will go through withdrawal. Each day that you take the Klonopin, it will accumulate towards steady-state, and each day will get better. Ultimately, once you approach two weeks, your symptoms will be under good control. In one month, Klonopin will accumulate to 1.5 times that of the steady-state level, maintaining your anxiety by mimimizing or preventing it from recurring.

Keep in mind that Klonopin is NOT a treatment for NSVT, it may recur at any time (although it will likely be reduced). The NSVT itself isn't the problem, it is your emotional reaction to the NSVT that requires treatment.

Starting tomorrow morning, I would begin taking Klonopin, 0.25 mg twice daily in place of the Ativan. Don't give up (no matter how bad you feel). Even if you encounter an episode of NSVT, you should continue. After one month, I would see the doctor, and have him/her increase the dosage to the target of 0.5 mg, twice daily. You WILL feel better, but not instantaneously. This process will require some patience on your part.

Once you make the transition over to Klonopin, you should not take another dose of Ativan for any reason. Keep the Klonopin doses spaced 12 hours apart.

Ryan