resuming anxiety after tapering klonopin

[Sue357]

Hi.  I am diagnosed with GAD/Depressive Disorder.  I had a horrible episode that started right before the holidays of anxiety. I am on 80 mg of celexa, 100 mg of wellbutrin, 50 mg of lamicatal 50 mg of seraquel ( at night ) and 2 mg. of klonopin tid ( upped from .5 tid before episode , also the lamictal and seraquel were added and wellbutrin dropped from 300 mg a day to 100).  My question is this:  I started feeling better and my pdoc and I decided to drop the klonopin to 1 mg in the am, 1/2 mg. in the afternoon, and 1 mg. in the evening.  Essentially cutting the klonipin in half in the afternoon.  Now, I am starting to feel some anxiety creeping back, especially in the am.  Do you think it could be related to the slight decrease of klonopin?  thanks.

[Sue357]

Hi. Well, I saw my pdoc this week and told him about the latest episode of anxiety/depression.  He lowered my Celexa to 60 mg ( probably will be taking me off soon as well as the 100 mg. Wellbutrin).  He upped my lamictral to 150 mg a day, increasing to 200 in a week,  and seraquel 100 at night.  My diagnosis is GAD but he has talked in the past about Bipolar 2/Mood disorder.  Really, I like and trust him so don't want to switch.  I asked about switching from celexa and wellbutrin and they don't seem to be working at all.  He said he doesn't want to make too many changes at once.  He also said that my lamictal and seraquel were minimum doses which is why he wanted to up them.  The thing that confuses me is that I am not sure what I am? He says I have an anxiety disorder.  I will say that I have suffered from depression, off and on, since I was nine. Thanks.

[RockyMD]

Dang, you are a walking pharmacy lol. KPins are GTG in my book. What a lifesaver, but admittingly I think they work best when taken on a regular basis w/ proper dosing.

[Sue357]

Hi.  I was on Celexa and Wellbutrin, plus 1/2 mg. Klopin tid before this latest episode. Also, I goofed in my post.  I was on 1 mg of Klonopin tid, not 2 mg. I had been on Zoloft that pooped out over a year ago, that's when we went to Celexa.  During the last episode of anxiety/depression he started to think that it could possibly be bipolar 2 or a mood disorder .  That is why he started me on the lamictal and seraquel.  Like I said in my post, I started to feel much much better which is why he wanted to start tapering off drugs.  I was very sedated all the time so we cut the Klonopin first.  He mentioned talking about Wellbutrin next and then possibly celexa.  I feel that it is a lot of drugs too and that concerns me.  My thinking is that he felt it was just temporary until we got this under control.  I am thinking about increasing the klonopin back to 1 mg in the afternoon and see if that helps.  Thanks for your response.

[nursegirl6572]

First, can I ask WHY so many different meds?  Were they added on as you were battling depression?  Or, as part of this anxiety episode?  Do you have any other conditions, like bi-polar disorder, or OCD?  The reason I ask is that is one heck of a combo of meds!

Also, the doc really made a big jump with the Klonopin when he increased it...typically it is increased in smaller increments.  Bottom line is, yes, you most definitely could be having rebound anxiety as a result of the decrease in the Klonopin.

If I were you, I would ask to discuss your regimen thoroughly with your doctor...to see if it is the best thing, for both your management NOW, and also long term.  You may be able to decrease the amount of meds, or even possibly eliminate one or more of them...if the right regimen can be determined.

These are simply suggestions...and my opinion...but with meds, as a rule..."less is better", for so many reasons.  Just something to think about when you go to see your doc again.

Best of luck...let us know how you're doing!  Take Care!