Posted by mattdds on December 3, 2002, at 13:17:14
In reply to Ahh... last try- experimemtal drug for anxiety??, posted by utopizen on December 3, 2002, at 7:08:43
> Okay, okay I know I should probably run to a different benzo-friendly doctor, but I'm still trying to work with him on this- is there anything experimental left to avoid a benzo? I've tried Neurontin, Gabitril, Celexa, Paxil, Buspar (alone), Propananol. Neurontin works I guess, if by working you mean dulling me like it's some antiphsychotic (not that I've tried one).
>
> I'm on Effexor 300 a day and it doesn't work at all.Utopizen,
Why all this work to avoid benzos?? They work extremely well for anxiety, and as you mentioned, untreated anxiety can definitely lead to a deep depression (it sure did for me).
I, like Viridis, Alan and dozens of others on this board, have taken clonazepam for a year and a half, without having to "gobble handfuls", as someone else suggested. The same low dose of 0.5 mg b.i.d. still works wonders.
I believe this dose escalation you are so worried about is by far the exception rather than the rule. Considering the very real potential harm of not treating anxiety (i.e. depression), worrying about the extremely rare possibility of rapid tolerance and dependence seems silly.
I think you should consider using clonazepam (or another benzo) as an integral part of your treatment, especially being in an acute phase, as you seem to be (you mentioned you thought you would get depressed if your anxiety continued to go untreated).
Best of luck,
Matt
poster:mattdds
thread:130363
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021203/msgs/130404.html