![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by JohnM on April 6, 2001, at 20:14:15
I am developing a love/hate relationship with Klonopin. I love the long-acting effect and it does keep breakthough anxiety at bay, but I don't like the loss in cognitive ability and the somewhat flattening of my emotions. I have been taking smaller and smaller doses to offset this effect. Believe it or not, I'm down to an EIGHTH of a .5 tablet 3 times a day and still am displeased with the side effects! But I am still getting adequate anti-anxiety effects. I'm getting ready to go to SIXTEENTHS, but it will be quite difficult to break the tablet that small.
It seems to me that the manufacturer of Klonopin might consider a smaller dose tablet, seeing that Xanax is offered in .25 mg and Xanax is half as potent as Klonopin! That makes me think that it would be sensible to offer Klonopin even in a .125 dose tablet!
Dr. Bob (or anyone!), do you have any insights/comments here??
Posted by Daveman on April 7, 2001, at 17:34:17
In reply to I wish Klonopin was offered in a .25 dose tablet, posted by JohnM on April 6, 2001, at 20:14:15
John:
I asked my doc about this when he changed me from Xanax to Klonopin. He told me that Klonopin was not originally marketed as an antianxiety med, but rather as an anticonvulsant. The effective doses for that purpose are much higher- in fact, the manufacturer indicates that up to 20 mgs. per day can be taken for this purpose! Compare that to the 10 mg. per day max for Xanax. Since Klonopin is now generic, I seriously doubt a new doseage would be marketed, especially since the only anxiety-related illness for which Klonopin gained FDA approval is panic disorder.
Incidentally, I went to the Roche website and read the testing information by which Klonopin gained FDA approval for panic disorder. In these tests, it was determined that 1 mg. per day is the optimal dose. Higher doses only marginally increased Klonopin's anti-panic response but greatly increased the side effects, especially somnolence. Obviously, Klonopin has been given for other purposes and in greater amounts over the years, but the initial testing data is interesting nonetheless.
Dave
> I am developing a love/hate relationship with Klonopin. I love the long-acting effect and it does keep breakthough anxiety at bay, but I don't like the loss in cognitive ability and the somewhat flattening of my emotions. I have been taking smaller and smaller doses to offset this effect. Believe it or not, I'm down to an EIGHTH of a .5 tablet 3 times a day and still am displeased with the side effects! But I am still getting adequate anti-anxiety effects. I'm getting ready to go to SIXTEENTHS, but it will be quite difficult to break the tablet that small.
>
> It seems to me that the manufacturer of Klonopin might consider a smaller dose tablet, seeing that Xanax is offered in .25 mg and Xanax is half as potent as Klonopin! That makes me think that it would be sensible to offer Klonopin even in a .125 dose tablet!
>
> Dr. Bob (or anyone!), do you have any insights/comments here??
Posted by stjames on April 7, 2001, at 19:23:54
In reply to Re: I wish Klonopin was offered in a .25 dose tablet » JohnM, posted by Daveman on April 7, 2001, at 17:34:17
You need to compound. A pill can be ground down and added to a liquid, thus giving you more volume per dose. Makes it ez'er to divide. As your
Rx man if he can compound this for you.james
Posted by Gordon on April 8, 2001, at 14:27:45
In reply to I wish Klonopin was offered in a .25 dose tablet, posted by JohnM on April 6, 2001, at 20:14:15
You can buy a pill slicer in any pharmacy for about $2. Klonopin pills cut pretty cleanly.
Posted by JohnM on April 14, 2001, at 8:34:11
In reply to Re: I wish Klonopin was offered in a .25 dose tablet, posted by stjames on April 7, 2001, at 19:23:54
Thanks James. I may do just that. John
Posted by Cece on April 14, 2001, at 23:57:30
In reply to Re: I wish Klonopin was offered in a .25 dose tablet, posted by JohnM on April 14, 2001, at 8:34:11
> Thanks James. I may do just that. John
Well, I didn't find that they cut very cleanly with a pill splitter- but I was on a generic, perhaps not as tightly packed as the brand?
I was down to an eighth myself, so I know what you are going through. I felt like a drug dealer sitting in my kitchen chopping those pills up.
I was on clonazepam for about 8 years- only a quarter of a .5mg tablet/day. If I took more, I felt quite depressed and sedated for about 48 hours. But the tiny dose seemed to add a good tweak to my complex of meds.
But I've been battling the over v. under sedated battle, losing on the over side, and decided a couple of months ago to off the clon. and see how I did. To taper off I did the chopping into eighths routine. I seem to be fine without it, and slightly less sedated. I will still keep it as a PRN back-up med however.
Good luck,
Cece
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.