OT What is wrong with Klonopin?

[FatiguedMe]

Hi All,
I was reading another thread and some people got really upset that Klonopin was prescribed for a person. I am just curious, because I have been taking it for a long while for panic attacks. Xanax is too addicting for me. I have had panic attacks for most of my life.
I am really wanting to know what is so bad about this medication?
Thank you for your help,
Susan

[billbolton]

I am really wanting to know what is so bad about this medication?

See Klonopin warnings and precautions

[snuginarug]

I responded to that thread, and my reasons for objection were not based on the drug itself being inherently bad.... It is a powerful drug, though, not to be prescribed without exploring other options and certainly not by a sleep doctor. It is used to treat epilepsy and psychiatric problems. A sleep doctor specializes in neither of these things. Prescribing Klonopin in this particular case is what sounds crazy to me. And personally, it would take a lot of convincing to get me to take it. I would have to feel like I and my doctor had explored all other options first. So I wasn't knocking Klonopin itself, just this particular application of it.

[mreewh]

Hi All,
I was reading another thread and some people got really upset that Klonopin was prescribed for a person. I am just curious, because I have been taking it for a long while for panic attacks. Xanax is too addicting for me. I have had panic attacks for most of my life.
I am really wanting to know what is so bad about this medication?

My fiance also takes Klonopin, but only "as needed", so for him, that averages a few times a month. He's also taken Xanax in the past, and he much prefers that as it's not so sedating, but as you know, it's highly addictive and his docs prefer he avoid it.

Panic attacks and anxiety are really tough to treat, because all the current meds have significant safety or addiction issues. I think each person's situation needs to be considered individually.

My fiance has found that EMDR has really helped with his panic / anxiety and he needs Klonopin far less often than he used to.

I've found that my anxiety has almost completely gone away since I've been on CPAP.

[Breathe Jimbo]

Klonopin is like a strong Valium. I take it only "as needed" for occasional agitation at work, e.g. when I am on the verge of telling a boss that he is a fucking idiot and getting myself fired for doing so. Sometimes just knowing I have it available if needed is enough to do the trick. Let's not get all Southern Baptist and freak out just because it is a "psychiatric mediation." Ooooooh!

[M.D.Hosehead]

Your brain has only one set of benzodiazepine receptors and all BZ drugs (Valium, Xanax, Klonopin) work the same way.

Some BZ are more potent, which means it takes fewer mg to do the same job, but if you take the equivalent dose of any BZ, you will get about the same effect.

The BZ drugs also differ in absorption speed and duration of action. BZ with short durations, like Xanax, have a greater tendency to produce dependence, because some people can feel the drug quit working and may then feel a need to take another dose. That said, the great majority of people who use BZ do not get addicted.

People have different opinions about whether they want to use meds that modify their mental state, but that's a matter of personal belief, not pharmacology.

[FatiguedMe]

Hi Guys and Gals,
Thank you so much for the replies. I completely understand where the sleep Dr trying to prescribe is TOTALLY wrong. I agree these medications should only be prescribed by Drs. who are trained in said areas. Thank you snug for clarifying for me.
mree, I WISH something else would help with my panic attacks! I agree they have greatly decreased with CPAP. My Mom passed away this year and they have reared thier ugly head again!
Bill, I get my printout every time I get a refill so I am aware of warnings and precautions. Thank you though.
Jimbo, You crack me up! Just to set the record straight here though, I am BAPTIST and southern, but NOT SOUTHERN BAPTIST! They are too extreme, but that is another post in and of itself for sure!
MD, I know firsthand the Xanax nightmare. I started it and within a month it was wearing off in less than 4 hours. I was a sweaty, shaking mess! I don't get that way with my current medication at all. I appreciate your input. Thank you.
Susan

[adksleepygal]

Hi All,
I was reading another thread and some people got really upset that Klonopin was prescribed for a person. I am just curious, because I have been taking it for a long while for panic attacks. Xanax is too addicting for me. I have had panic attacks for most of my life.
I am really wanting to know what is so bad about this medication?
Thank you for your help,
Susan

Hi Susan,

Klonopin is really only prescribed for such as you describe, panic, PTSD, etc.... You have to tell your sleep Dr what meds you take and he would know of any potential problems with it in your individual case. I have taken Klonopin for years, I appreciate Bill's concern and that of others - I truly do. However, I apparently have had undiagnosed sleep apnea for years from my symptoms and a few weeks ago started C-Pap. very rough for me - increased my panic, claustrophobia, etc... Some people can not relate to any problems such as this but you have to realize that if they do not know what they are talking about - how can they make judgements? I would not stop your Klonopin based on anything anyone here tells you - do what your sleep professional advises and if he is ok with you still using it as mine is - go with that. It has done nothing to me but help (no adverse affects even with undiagnosed OSA), and I am not addicted as I use it less than prescribed and increase it only prn.
This week I returned all my Cpap stuff as its causing me so much sleep deprivation and stress, etc... No one is happy with me - calling me on the carpet, warnings on this forum, some rather crude statements to me IMHO but mostly my Dr is not happy.
In light of all this I may have to reconsider it all and use some form of other tx to help me adjust to Cpap - just amazing to me. Someone mentioned EMDR and that is one of the options given as a way to help with all this for me. Has anyone used this before to help with Cpap adjustment? I would be happy to hear from anyone who has had any kind of experience with this. Thank you all so much. Just consider me a newbie with many fears and do not judge please as you do not know my history ok? Lets just say - its not pretty. Thanks for any advice.

[torontoCPAPguy]

Tried them Klonopin suppositories and didn't care much for them. Taste awful.

[jules]

Klonopin is a highly addictive benzo. You might want to read the Ashton Manual which can be found here. It discusses the effects of benzos and z-drugs (ambien, lunestra, sonata)

http://lonelylinks.com/ashton.htm

[Breathe Jimbo]

My sleep doc is part of a group of pulmonologists and critical care specialists. As such, although he is not the one who prescribed my Klonopin, he is most definitely qualified to do so if he considers it appropriate to deal with any anxiety and panic attacks associated with CPAP treatment. Remember that critical care specialists typically deal with very sick or badly injured people, many of whom are in extreme pain and emotional wrecks in the hospital, and often on full-blown venitilators. Knowing how to address their anxiety and panic attacks, etc. (imagine waking up in a hospital on a ventilator) with meds like Klonopin would seem to be a natural part of their training and knowledge. At least for my sleep doc, I would reject the notion that he is unqualified to prescribe Klonopin if I were having trouble adjusting to CPAP because of anxiety, panic attacks, claustrophobia, or whatever. Also, I seem to recall a published study about the use of Klonopin in OSA patients (or, possibly, about its effects on OSA), so its use may be widely known in sleep medicine.

[brain_cloud]

Klonopin may also be used for PLMD as well as insomnia or as an aid to help in adjusting to CPAP in some circumstances. It is definitely in a sleep doctor's bag of tricks.

[Spirit]

Prior to using Klonopin, my life was normal, I was perfectly healthy. I used Klonopin for 8 months off/on, .5mg for sleep after I quit smoking. That's when all my nightmares began. Since, I stopped using the med, I developed multiple health issues, including sleep apnea. My sleep doctor shared, Klonopin and various medications is like giving poison to an apena patient, they are muscle relaxers (Tranq's), which relaxed my throat, causing me to stop breathing, Klonopin was the reason my thyroid swelled, and made matters worse.

I was sleep tested a year before taking Klonopin, I stopped breathing 7 times per hour, 3 years later, I was tested again in Aug 09, I stopped breathing 33 times per hour, and 55 times per hour during REM. I have documents to prove this. So my sleep doctor was right on !!! So, yes ! Klonopin can cause apnea symptoms to increase at a fast rate, making apnea worse. I may have been developing apnea, but know for a fact, Klonopin sped up the process. Thanks goodness for cpap, getting my life back on track for me

I was one of the unfortunate one's, severly damaged by the medication. So, be very cautious using medication for sleep, especially sedatives. Make sure to get sleep tested, after taking any sedatives, to ensure medication is not worsening your apnea.

[Robespierre]

When I was having problems with panic disorder, I found Klonopin to be the most effective drug for it. I found Xanax to be addictive and didn't like it (gave me the jitters when I tried to come off the stuff). My experience with Klonopin was that, in the proper dosage, it was very mild and not the least bit addictive - I could take it PRN and never have a twinge when I stopped it.

[jonquiljo]

The biggest problem with Klonopin is to stop taking it after a few months or more of use. It is not easy. Don't let anyone tell you it is easy - it is not!