![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by cache-monkey on January 9, 2005, at 7:23:31
So, yeah, there's a lot of talk about Klonopin-induced depression on this board. My p-doc is generally not the most knowledgeable of individuals, so he's never heard of this.
I'm wondering: how common is it for Klonopin to cause depression? I have lots of anxiety, and recurrent dysthymia. Does the latter make it more likely for K to depress me?
Or, are there lots of people out there who've done fine on Klonopin and don't feel like depression's been a big thing?
Thanks for the info,
cache-monkey
Posted by Glydin on January 9, 2005, at 9:06:06
In reply to Is depression guaranteed with Klonopin?, posted by cache-monkey on January 9, 2005, at 7:23:31
> So, yeah, there's a lot of talk about Klonopin-induced depression on this board. My p-doc is generally not the most knowledgeable of individuals, so he's never heard of this.
~~~Most docs, I believe, will hold the attitude ANY benzo is capable of causing depressive symptoms due to overall CNS depression. I have yet to have anyone give me a good specific explanation as to why Klonopin is more likely to cause this. Empirical evidence here does declare that and I would never discredit the experiences of others.
> Or, are there lots of people out there who've done fine on Klonopin and don't feel like depression's been a big thing?
~~~I'm not sure if "lots" is true but I am among the few who post here who are successful on Klonopin and have found it to be a great med. I have been on this board long enough to see attitudes and findings cycle - it's great, it's awful.... etc...I can say, my depressive symptoms are a result of ill controlled anxiety - the anxiety, panic and agoraphobia come first and depression can follow. So, Klonopin controlling my toxic anxiety, keeps my depression at bay. That's my truth.
As I've said, I do not discredit others negative findings and experiences with Klonopin, but they have not been mine. I have been monotherapy with Klonopin for 3 years.
Posted by Dan Perkins on January 9, 2005, at 10:33:10
In reply to Re: Is depression guaranteed with Klonopin? » cache-monkey, posted by Glydin on January 9, 2005, at 9:06:06
>
> As I've said, I do not discredit others negative findings and experiences with Klonopin, but they have not been mine.And as somebody who has had a big problem with klonopin-induced depression, I do not discredit others positive findings and experiences with klonopin.
If I could keep all the positive effects that Klonopin has on me (total relief of my social anxiety), and not have the depression that follows, then I would be back on it in a heartbeat.
I would certainly give klonopin a try to see how you react to it. Apparently there are people who take it and don't have a problem with depression. The worst that can happen is you do slip into a depression, and as miserable a depression as it can be, it still only lasts a few days.
Posted by johnrussell72 on January 9, 2005, at 11:27:32
In reply to Is depression guaranteed with Klonopin?, posted by cache-monkey on January 9, 2005, at 7:23:31
The depression is probably more attributable to you're anxiety than the med. It is very common to experience secondary depression and insomnia with GAD or panic attacks.
Posted by Dan Perkins on January 9, 2005, at 11:33:13
In reply to Re: Is depression guaranteed with Klonopin?, posted by johnrussell72 on January 9, 2005, at 11:27:32
Whatever the cause of the depression, it clearly comes on as a result of the Klonopin.
> The depression is probably more attributable to you're anxiety than the med. It is very common to experience secondary depression and insomnia with GAD or panic attacks.
Posted by zeugma on January 9, 2005, at 12:07:03
In reply to Re: Is depression guaranteed with Klonopin?, posted by Dan Perkins on January 9, 2005, at 11:33:13
The PI sheet says that 7 % of individuals taking K during trials for panic disorder experienced depression.
Klonopin can indeed induce depression. It's hardly guaranteed, though. I take 1 mg a day, and while some depressive effect can be discerned (I think), I have so many side effects from other meds that I can deal with the K, since it keeps a lid on my extreme anxiety, and also mitigates anxiety-related IBS. Since I have never taken a med that combined robust efficacy with a total lack of side effects, I am willing to make some tradeoffs if the balance sheet is sufficiently positive. The risk/benefit ratio is different for every person, needless to say.
-z
Posted by Glydin on January 9, 2005, at 12:47:41
In reply to Re: Is depression guaranteed with Klonopin?, posted by Dan Perkins on January 9, 2005, at 10:33:10
> >
> > As I've said, I do not discredit others negative findings and experiences with Klonopin, but they have not been mine.~~~I thank you for that comment. Some folks with negative experiences aren't as willing to see a flip side.
I'm sorry K doesn't work out for you and I hope you can find something that is a good treatment without difficulties that make the benefits not worth it.
Posted by zmg on January 9, 2005, at 13:56:25
In reply to Re: Is depression guaranteed with Klonopin?, posted by Dan Perkins on January 9, 2005, at 11:33:13
If your comfortable with benzodiazepines for treatment have you already tried Xanax or Valium and what were your results? I've taken Valium in the past for social anxiety with pretty good results (and Xanax with less, but still good results).
Posted by Phillipa on January 9, 2005, at 16:43:12
In reply to Re: Is depression guaranteed with Klonopin? » Dan Perkins, posted by zmg on January 9, 2005, at 13:56:25
Same here. Valium, Xanax, and Ativan all helped me at one time. I don't like the Klonopin. Phillipa
Posted by Dan Perkins on January 9, 2005, at 18:47:05
In reply to Re: Is depression guaranteed with Klonopin? » Dan Perkins, posted by zmg on January 9, 2005, at 13:56:25
I have not tried Xanax or Valium and I would be willing to do so. Only other benzo I've tried is Ativan. While it didn't give me any noticable side effects, it also didn't do anything for my depression.
> If your comfortable with benzodiazepines for treatment have you already tried Xanax or Valium and what were your results? I've taken Valium in the past for social anxiety with pretty good results (and Xanax with less, but still good results).
Posted by zmg on January 9, 2005, at 21:32:45
In reply to Re: Is depression guaranteed with Klonopin?, posted by Dan Perkins on January 9, 2005, at 18:47:05
That might do it then. It seems like doctors are possibly more comfortable prescribing Xanax (IMO) then Valium (songs written about it, etc). From what I've read some people seem to react better to one or the other, so maybe ask your doctor to try Xanax first and tell him if that doesn't work you'd like to try Valium. Valium for me was pretty amazing, constant low-level anxiety one day then just gone.
I don't know how it ranks with the rest in terms of habit forming (I took it as needed for a few months).
Posted by Dan Perkins on January 9, 2005, at 23:03:15
In reply to Re: Is depression guaranteed with Klonopin? » Dan Perkins, posted by zmg on January 9, 2005, at 21:32:45
Do you know how well they work for social phobia?
> That might do it then. It seems like doctors are possibly more comfortable prescribing Xanax (IMO) then Valium (songs written about it, etc). From what I've read some people seem to react better to one or the other, so maybe ask your doctor to try Xanax first and tell him if that doesn't work you'd like to try Valium. Valium for me was pretty amazing, constant low-level anxiety one day then just gone.
>
> I don't know how it ranks with the rest in terms of habit forming (I took it as needed for a few months).
Posted by zmg on January 10, 2005, at 0:41:09
In reply to Re: Is depression guaranteed with Klonopin?, posted by Dan Perkins on January 9, 2005, at 23:03:15
Well, for me, Valium worked great. Really, it was amazing being able to sit comfortably and talk to people without all that...wanting run away. Xanax didn't impress me as much (but it did help on a recent trip) but what does impress me is some of the other peoples responses I've read on it. YMMV.
Of course these are benzo's so we are talking about habit forming drugs. I didn't catch a habit, but my step mother had one for years (which she now treats with Benadryl).
Zach
Posted by Bill LL on January 10, 2005, at 9:06:03
In reply to Re: Is depression guaranteed with Klonopin? » cache-monkey, posted by Glydin on January 9, 2005, at 9:06:06
Glydin wrote:
"I can say, my depressive symptoms are a result of ill controlled anxiety - the anxiety, panic and agoraphobia come first and depression can follow. So, Klonopin controlling my toxic anxiety, keeps my depression at bay. That's my truth."
I think that this is the case with many people. Anxiety can definitely cause depression. But everyone is different and trial and error is often the only way to discover what works.
I know someone with severe depression who went through several AD's with no luck . Then the doc tried Atavan and that has been working great for this person (without an AD).
Posted by jasmineneroli on January 10, 2005, at 23:20:57
In reply to Re: Is depression guaranteed with Klonopin?, posted by Bill LL on January 10, 2005, at 9:06:03
I've never experienced any depression with Klonopin.
I have also tried Ativan, and found it helped panic (short term) but didn't seem to maintain an overall, general anti-anxiety effect. I didn't take it for long, however. So I can't say if it would have caused depression for me.(It was originally prescribed by my GP whilst waiting for my first trial of Celexa to "kick-in").
I also feel that depression can be co-morbid with anxiety, due to the continual stress state experienced.
It's so hard to know which comes first, when you're taking a variety of drugs and suffering a variety of symptoms.
If, like Dan, you keep a careful notation of feelings after taking drugs, you will probably be able to tell fairly reliably, if Klonopin causes you depression.
I wish there was ONE drug for anxiety that worked for EVERYONE and took away this awful guessing game!
Good luck to you.
Jas
Posted by cache-monkey on January 11, 2005, at 2:42:19
In reply to Re: Is depression guaranteed with Klonopin?, posted by jasmineneroli on January 10, 2005, at 23:20:57
Thanks all for the the responses.
So, since my full-blown panic attack last week (which was precluded by building anxiety), I've been on Xanax 1.25 mg/day the last 7 days and feeling pretty decent. And this, despite a very stressful set of job interviews. I did, however, notice pretty acutely the gaps in coverage. Basically about 3 1/2 hours after dosing, I'd start to feel edgy again. (Along with slight heart palpatations, chest tightness, etc.)
I'm starting Klonopin, well generic (mfg=TEVA) tonight. Just took my first 0.5 mg tab and we'll see how things go. It will be nice to have longer-acting relief.
I'm crossing my fingers that depression won't develop (or that my dysthymia won't devolve). According to the PI, it's only a likelihood of about 6% over the placebo. If it does happen, I might try adding on something like low-dose selegiline or wellbutrin, both of which could address a cluster of my psychological symptoms that are not necessarily going to go away with my reduction in anxiety.
I guess that Klonopin at 0.5 mg is about comparable to Xanax at 1 mg, so I might not need to go much higher than 0.75 mg of Klonopin per day. (The 1.25 mg of Xanax spread out over the day was just about doing the trick.)
I'm wondering if I need to slowly reduce off of the Xanax or can I just drop off completely? (Before the last 7 days at 1.25 mg, I'd been pretty steadily at 0.25 mg every night and then maybe an extra 0.25 three to four times a week, depending on what trigger events I was facing.)
Thanks,
cache-monkey
Posted by darkhorse on January 11, 2005, at 5:17:42
In reply to Re: Is depression guaranteed with Klonopin?, posted by Phillipa on January 9, 2005, at 16:43:12
> Same here. Valium, Xanax, and Ativan all helped me at one time. I don't like the Klonopin. Phillipa
Same here too !
Dark Horse.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.