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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by nmk on January 8, 2005, at 18:01:42
I started taking 2 mg of Klonopin at night for sleep about three weeks ago. I was working great until two days ago when I noticed depression setting in. If the depression was caused by the Klonopin, would it have taken three weeks to manifest? Should I try lowering my dose or try going off it together? I will talk with my pdoc on Monday but I wanted to know if any of you had experiences with Klonopin induced depression and if so, did you lower your dose or switch to another benzo? Also, what would be a safe dose that most likely won't cause depression?
Thanks for your help.
Nicole
Posted by Phillipa on January 8, 2005, at 18:08:32
In reply to klonopin induced depression, posted by nmk on January 8, 2005, at 18:01:42
I am going through the same thing. I've been on l.5mg for about 6 months. AD's didn't work on my depression so I weaned off them. Depression still there. I used to suffer from extreme panic attacks and GAD. I was on first Valium 5mg, 3 times a day, Ativan, back to Valium, then Xanax, which worked until last spring when it just caused me to feel tired. I have a new pdoc, which is not good, because he will only use Klonopin. I'm thinking of cutting back to lmg to see if it makes a difference. The problem is inside I feel like I could scream because I have so many phobias and fears. I don't know what the answer is. Phillipa
Posted by Dan Perkins on January 8, 2005, at 19:41:43
In reply to klonopin induced depression, posted by nmk on January 8, 2005, at 18:01:42
Have a look at some of the posts already on this page. I started a thread a few days ago about Klonopin induced depression.
I didn't notice depression the first few times I took klonopin (which is not to say that it wasn't there, I just didn't link it to the klon), but every time I take klonopin now (even in doses as small as .5mg) I ALWAYS sink into a miserable depression that lasts a few days.
As far as other benzos, I've only ever tried Ativan. While I didn't notice any depression from the Ativan, I also didn't notice and help with my anxiety.
> I started taking 2 mg of Klonopin at night for sleep about three weeks ago. I was working great until two days ago when I noticed depression setting in. If the depression was caused by the Klonopin, would it have taken three weeks to manifest? Should I try lowering my dose or try going off it together? I will talk with my pdoc on Monday but I wanted to know if any of you had experiences with Klonopin induced depression and if so, did you lower your dose or switch to another benzo? Also, what would be a safe dose that most likely won't cause depression?
>
> Thanks for your help.
>
> Nicole
Posted by awatts on January 9, 2005, at 6:25:15
In reply to klonopin induced depression, posted by nmk on January 8, 2005, at 18:01:42
> I started taking 2 mg of Klonopin at night for sleep about three weeks ago. I was working great until two days ago when I noticed depression setting in. If the depression was caused by the Klonopin, would it have taken three weeks to manifest? Should I try lowering my dose or try going off it together? I will talk with my pdoc on Monday but I wanted to know if any of you had experiences with Klonopin induced depression and if so, did you lower your dose or switch to another benzo? Also, what would be a safe dose that most likely won't cause depression?
>
> Thanks for your help.
>
> NicoleYes, Klonopin depression can take a while to manifest. I'd cut back very slowly. Try 1.5 mgs for a while. Then 1.0 mg if that's still too much. I take 0.25 mgs twice a day.
Posted by nmk on January 10, 2005, at 9:26:26
In reply to Re: klonopin induced depression » nmk, posted by Phillipa on January 8, 2005, at 18:08:32
> I am going through the same thing. I've been on l.5mg for about 6 months. AD's didn't work on my depression so I weaned off them. Depression still there. I used to suffer from extreme panic attacks and GAD. I was on first Valium 5mg, 3 times a day, Ativan, back to Valium, then Xanax, which worked until last spring when it just caused me to feel tired. I have a new pdoc, which is not good, because he will only use Klonopin. I'm thinking of cutting back to lmg to see if it makes a difference. The problem is inside I feel like I could scream because I have so many phobias and fears. I don't know what the answer is. Phillipa
Phillip,
Thanks for your response. I cut back last night to 1.5 mg and still feel the depression, yet not as bad. I am going to put a call in to my pdoc and see what he suggests. I am just afraid that if I go any lower with the klonopin, I will have difficulty sleeping.
NMK
Posted by nmk on January 10, 2005, at 9:47:57
In reply to Re: klonopin induced depression, posted by Dan Perkins on January 8, 2005, at 19:41:43
>
> I didn't notice depression the first few times I took klonopin (which is not to say that it wasn't there, I just didn't link it to the klon), but every time I take klonopin now (even in doses as small as .5mg) I ALWAYS sink into a miserable depression that lasts a few days.
>
Dan,Are you still taking Klonopin? If so, at what dose? You stated that the depression lasts only a few days.... do you know if this is typical or do most have ongoing depression as a result of the klonopin? If it only lasts a few days, I can muddle through but if it is ongoing, I will need to either lower my dose or switch to another benzo for sleep. Thanks for your response!
NMK
Posted by nmk on January 10, 2005, at 9:50:37
In reply to Re: klonopin induced depression, posted by awatts on January 9, 2005, at 6:25:15
> >
> > Nicole
>
> Yes, Klonopin depression can take a while to manifest. I'd cut back very slowly. Try 1.5 mgs for a while. Then 1.0 mg if that's still too much. I take 0.25 mgs twice a day.
>
>Thanks for the reply. I did cut back to 1.5 mg last night and am still feeling down. Should I stay at1.5mg for a few days before going down to 1.0 mg or should I try 1.0mg tonight and see what happens? Does the .25mg that you take cause any depression?
Thanks,
Nicole
Posted by Dan Perkins on January 10, 2005, at 10:17:52
In reply to Re: klonopin induced depression » Dan Perkins, posted by nmk on January 10, 2005, at 9:47:57
I never took Klonopin on an ongoing basis, just as needed. The few days of depression that I would get resulted from a single dose (sometimes as low as .5mg). So, it was not a very good bargain for me getting 3 days of depression for half a day (at most) of anxiety relief.
I suppose that the depression was likely a result of klonopin withdrawal, so if you take pills continuously, then perhaps you could stave off depression until you run out of pills (just a theory).
Not everyone gets depression from Klonopin, but I have been surprised to read just how many people do get it (I thought I was the only one till I posted on this message board and heard from a lot of people with similar responses).
Only way to find out is to try. There have been some recent posts to this message board suggesting that valium and xanax do not cause depression like klonopin does.
> Are you still taking Klonopin? If so, at what dose? You stated that the depression lasts only a few days.... do you know if this is typical or do most have ongoing depression as a result of the klonopin? If it only lasts a few days, I can muddle through but if it is ongoing, I will need to either lower my dose or switch to another benzo for sleep. Thanks for your response!
>
> NMK
Posted by ed_uk on January 10, 2005, at 12:20:19
In reply to Re: klonopin induced depression, posted by Dan Perkins on January 10, 2005, at 10:17:52
Dan, are you thinking of asking for Xanax (As needed) for your anxiety?
Ed.
Posted by nmk on January 10, 2005, at 12:53:07
In reply to klonopin induced depression, posted by nmk on January 8, 2005, at 18:01:42
I have been depression-free for over 5 months and am positive that this bout with depression that started a few days ago is due to the klonopin (I started taking 2 mg at night approx. 3 weeks ago). Here is why I am panicked and need some reassurance: is my depression temporary and will subside once the klonopin is out of my system or could I have a longer bout of depression that could last much longer?
If anyone out there has ever had klonopin induced anxiety, please tell me if it subsided upon discontinuation or if you cycled into a bout of full-blown depression that persisted.
I am really frightened now and have a call in to my pdoc.Thanks,
Nicole
Posted by Dan Perkins on January 10, 2005, at 12:58:19
In reply to PLEASE HELP...I am starting to panic, posted by nmk on January 10, 2005, at 12:53:07
When I was taking Klonopin on an as needed basis (maybe only once a month), the resulting depression would last for a few days after each klonopin dose.
The one time when I took klonopin on an ongoing basis (about 2mg/day for 2-3 weeks), the depression and rebound anxiety that resulted lasted for weeks.
So, while it may take some time for you to get out of your klonopin-induced depression, it does go away eventually.
> I have been depression-free for over 5 months and am positive that this bout with depression that started a few days ago is due to the klonopin (I started taking 2 mg at night approx. 3 weeks ago). Here is why I am panicked and need some reassurance: is my depression temporary and will subside once the klonopin is out of my system or could I have a longer bout of depression that could last much longer?
>
Posted by Dan Perkins on January 10, 2005, at 13:05:04
In reply to Re: klonopin induced depression » Dan Perkins, posted by ed_uk on January 10, 2005, at 12:20:19
I have been completely med free for the past 6-7 months. I just started seeing a new pdoc about a week ago and he has me starting back up on Parnate. Priority #1 is to deal with the depression. I'm not going to push him on the benzo topic, but if he does eventually suggest this, I will specifically ask for Xanax.
As depressed as I have been since coming off of meds, I am really reluctant to go back on them. I have never given therapy a fair shot, so I am going to make clear to this pdoc that while I am willing to go back on Parnate temporarily to help jump start my recovery, the main reason I am seeing him is for talk therapy. With proper therapy, proper diet (which is going to take some work), exercise, supplements (vitamin-B, etc.) and sun-light, I'm hoping that I won't need to be on meds permanently.
> Dan, are you thinking of asking for Xanax (As needed) for your anxiety?
>
> Ed.
Posted by darkhorse on January 11, 2005, at 5:02:11
In reply to PLEASE HELP...I am starting to panic, posted by nmk on January 10, 2005, at 12:53:07
> I have been depression-free for over 5 months and am positive that this bout with depression that started a few days ago is due to the klonopin (I started taking 2 mg at night approx. 3 weeks ago). Here is why I am panicked and need some reassurance: is my depression temporary and will subside once the klonopin is out of my system or could I have a longer bout of depression that could last much longer?
>
> If anyone out there has ever had klonopin induced anxiety, please tell me if it subsided upon discontinuation or if you cycled into a bout of full-blown depression that persisted.
> I am really frightened now and have a call in to my pdoc.
>
> Thanks,
>
> NicoleHello Nicole,
I tried clonazepam several times at different doses,and everytime : immediate depression.
However,with me, the depression would go away within one to few days at most,so do not worry..it is just a medication-induced depression.Best wishes and good luck,
Dark Horse.
Posted by nmk on January 11, 2005, at 9:59:23
In reply to Re: PLEASE HELP...I am starting to panic, posted by darkhorse on January 11, 2005, at 5:02:11
>
> Hello Nicole,
>
> I tried clonazepam several times at different doses,and everytime : immediate depression.
> However,with me, the depression would go away within one to few days at most,so do not worry..it is just a medication-induced depression.
>
> Best wishes and good luck,
>
> Dark Horse.
>
Dark Horse,Thanks for the reply. What I can't figure out is why the depression didn't hit me until 3 weeks of being on 2 mg per day. Maybe for some it manifests immediately and for others it takes awhile. Thanks for the reassurance. I lowered the dose again last night to 1 mg and feel a bit better. I will continue to lower until I can shake the depression.
Thanks again,
Nicole
This is the end of the thread.
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