Hey everyone please respond please please...

[Chris81653]

I have a question is anyone just on klonopin for panic?  I feel it's a wonder medication.  I was on celexa and klonopin a little over a year now.  I stopped the celexa I felt it wasn't doing much.  The withdrawals from that were out of control!  Something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.  So I decided just to got o my primary care doctor for desperate help he was the only 1 around that day.  He put me on Cymbalta I took it for a week 30mg's and for 2 days I took 60mg's.  I felt so jittery from it and spacy along with nightmares,  but it helped me with the withdrawl from the celexa.  So today I stopped the Cymbalta and went back to taking 1 mg in the morning of klonopin and going to take 1 at night.  It really does help I must say.  I was just wondering does anyone just take klonopin only as a daily medication for their panic attacks?  I have an appointment wednesday with my psych doctor and see what he says to do.  I am 26 now when I was 20 I had this problem and he put me on zoloft I became a new person did normal things again and after 2 years I took myself off and was fine for all these years up until now.

[Chris81653]

Thanks so much I feel a lot better knowing this.  I never realized it is prescribed to be used as a daily med.  It really is a life saver though!!!  

:)

[Pa1965]

I just wanted to let you know that I take Klonopin only for panic disorder, and it has been a life saver for me.  I am on 2.5 mgs per day (1.25 mgs twice per day).  I couldn't handle the SSRIs as they made my panic worse.  I've been solely on Klonopin for 11 or 12 years now and it is the only med that has helped me tremendously.

[Chris81653]

Thanks so much for your support and advice!  It seems you know what you are talking about as I read in your posts.  I actually didn't do it on my own I went to my PC doctor which I shouldn't have in this circumstance because they really don't have the full knowledge that a psychiatrist does.  He is the one who told me to completely stop everything.  My psychiatrist orginally told me to take 2 klonopins a day which I used to only take 1.  Well this is my second day of not taking the cymbalta after taking it a week and 2 days.  I been taking the klonopin now twice a day and actually have so much relief I thank God for that.  I am still going to my appointment tomorrow to let him know what I am doing.  I will keep you guys updated on what he tells me.
PS-It definately was stupid of me to stop everything at one time I was just listening to my Primary Care doctor because my psych wasn't around!  To those doing that DO NOT!  Make sure you do it under supervision!

[nursegirl6572]

LOL

regiment=REGIMEN

Darn fat fingers!!!  :0)

[nursegirl6572]

ABSOLUTELY Klonopin is commonly prescribed for panic attacks by itself, without any other medication, and it has been very successful for a lot of people when taken this way.  It is appropriate for long term use....it isn't like shorter acting benzos where tolerance (needing increasingly higher doses for the same effect) becomes an issue.

THAT being said...PLEASE do not make these types of medication changes without first speaking with your doctor.  It appears you have been doing a lot of "adjusting" on your own, which is quite possibly why you suffered pretty badly after d/c-ing the Celexa.  If you were not properly tapered off the Celexa...you would have been in misery for sure.

NONE of these types of meds (benzos, SSRI AD's) should be stopped abruptly.  Talk to your doc about re-starting the Klonopin and trying JUST that to see if it is effective for you.  I know you have an appt with your p-doc on Wed....so personally....I strongly feel you shouldn't make ANY changes until after your appt.

If ANYTHING, do not just abruptly stop taking the Cymbalta, or you will likely be in the same boat as you were after the Celexa.  Also....the doc may want to start you out at a lower dose of the Klonopin, and work up to a higher amount if needed.

It is just best NEVER to try to manage these things by yourself.  Let us know how the appt goes!  It is only two days away.....just stick with your current medication regiment until then!  Good luck!