I have a really nice pdoc, but an evil therapist. I OD'd on my Xanax about 6 months ago (I had totally freaked out - doctor called it dysmorphic mania) Every day I have anxiety and severe agitation. This week I cut my wrist because I wanted the feelings to go away.

I'm prescribed .5 Klonopin three times a day for anxiety. But it takes an hour to take effect, and by that time, I'm fully freaked out.

My bipolar meds are working, because I'm not having mania or depression. I just think I have GAD on top of things. Pdoc doesn't believe me.

What can I take that will work? I need something or I fear I will go back to the hospital again.

Gizmo

klonopin has a long half-life (as opposed to xanax which requires more doses in a day to get continual coverage). taking it three times a day should give you preventative coverage of anxiety, and many people prefer to use it that way so that they are not waiting for it to take effect after anxiety has started, but instead prevent the anxiety from starting in the first place.

I totally agree. not that i always practice what I preach, mind you.


I sometimes find myself in very similar situations as you, gizmo. you said that the klonopin takes an hour to work, but by then you are already "fully freaked out." Do you know for sure that the klonopin is, in fact, working for you? Does it provide you with *some* relief after youhave taken it? Also, just curious, do you take brand name Klonopin or do you take one of the generics? I have never been lucky enough to be able to take brand name Klonopin, but there is controversy over the effectiveness of the real thing versus the generics. Also, in my experience, I have found a difference in the generics as well. The pharmacy I use at home carries a different generic brand of clonazepam than the pharmacy I have to use to fill my perscriptions when I am at school. I can almost swear that I feel a pretty significant difference... and it does *not* make me happy.... Sorry, I guess I went off on a tangent there.

I'm sorry that you are feeling the way you are and hope that you can find a way to alleviate the pressure you are going through. have you spoken to your tdoc about how you feel your pdoc is evil? have you even possibly considered changing doctors or at least getting a second opinion or something? talk to you tdoc. be truthful and honest and see if together you two can come up with some coping skills at least so you do not feel so trapped that you feel the urge to cut yourself. I know what it is like... you are *not* alone...

So Xanax worked really well?

For me Klonopin doesn't do much for anxiety, and that's at 4 mg. It just makes me a bit more mellow and it's easier to sleep.

Maybe trying out different times a day to take it would help. I've also heard taking it sublingually makes it work faster.

and you can chew it too, but i think it tastes gross.

if you're not getting relief from 4mg klonopin, then there's something up. do you take it spread through the day? you might be someone who metabolizes it fast. maybe you need to take it a little more frequently than they say. i have a friend who just rips through all meds, even surgery sedatives! his body just metabolizes things much faster than other people's.

i'd ask your pdoc if maybe you're just a fast metabolizer and if you should take it on a different schedule, or maybe switch meds. who knows?

also, i like the idea of talking to your tdoc about your pdoc. maybe you can get some ideas, or maybe you can switch docs. you're the customer.

loon

Maybe you need to go on a higher dose. I'm on 6mg per day. It doesn't do much for anxiety but it does prevent freak-outs. And also why don't you get another reccomendation for a tdoc from your pdoc. It doesn't help having a bad therapist.

Tom

I love my klonopin (or generic equivalent thereof). I take .5 3 X day to help keep anxiety in check, then another 1.5 at bedtime to help me sleep. My pharmacy keeps changing generics based on what they get at the best price. It totally freaked me out when they changed from pink to yellow. I still have a few of the name-brand self-disintegrating wafers in my desk for emergencies; they only take about 15 minutes to kick in.

Tommy

edited to add:
The same pharmacy that didn't warn me about the color change in a psych med, was very careful to point out a shape change in a diabetes med I take. Just seems weird.

some pills and Klonopin wafers can be taken sublingually which can help make it more rapid onset. i have these yellow 0.5's that work fine that way (though I split em and take 0.25's). don't even notice any taste.


EDITED TO ADD: i used to get the pink ones too, they didnt work as well with this...

FYI Valium is faster acting than klonopin and works in a similar way. Its not quite as strong at an equivalent dose, but it really kicks in after about 30 minutes.