![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Liz Wolf on May 1, 2002, at 5:58:05
Greetings, I am new here.
Started Effexor EX (starter kit) yesterday for fairly severe depression, have been on Klonopin .5 mg, which my doc now upped to 1 mg.I read somewhere here that you should take Effexor EX at night. I take Klonopin at night. Is it okay to combine the two before bedtime? I figured it would be better to take them in 12 hour intervals (or thereabouts).
I would not be able to tell if cronic fatigue was a side effect, since I am exhausted and could sleep all the time anyway.
BTW... the registration process to post here was a definite negative, since I had an important question (to me at least important), and by the time I got done registering, I had forgotten the question.
Posted by Liz Wolf on May 1, 2002, at 6:15:43
In reply to Newbie ? about Effexor EX and Klonopin, posted by Liz Wolf on May 1, 2002, at 5:58:05
I swear this pill is making me loopy! LOL
Posted by n0matter on May 1, 2002, at 13:38:49
In reply to Re: Newbie ? about Effexor XR and Klonopin, posted by Liz Wolf on May 1, 2002, at 6:15:43
The effexor is what's making you loopy. :-p My effexor/klonopin combination lasted about one week before the effexor side effects(WAY increased energy levels, to the point where control was a problem, headaches, appetite loss) became an issue. I was also on the starter kid, taking only half of the minimum dosage. I've always been hyper sensitive to new medications, though. Anyway, I always take SSRIs before bed. That way, if there's any "rush" or panic-inspiring results, I've slept through them by morning. I'm surprised your doc didn't prescribe your klop in .5mg, twice/day increments, as the medication is meant to build up in your system and maintain itself steadily at the same level. I'm pretty sure the half-life is somewhere in the 12-24 hour area. Post again after your first week of the starter kit or email me. I'm interested to see what sort of results you get. And good luck! :-)
Posted by Liz Wolf on May 1, 2002, at 13:44:41
In reply to Re: Newbie ? about Effexor XR and Klonopin, posted by n0matter on May 1, 2002, at 13:38:49
I have been on the Klonopin for about 9 months already. I take it at night only, because I fall asleep within 15 minutes of taking Klono. As you, I am very sensitive to medications, and the way I see it, I'll never need to go past the 37.5 mg dosage on the Effexor. LOL ... I have lost my appetite already, my outlook has improved and aside from occasional nausea and feeling loopy... and a tremendously increased sex drive, I am fine - almost... it's good enough to concentrate on working on my real issues. And this is only the second day!
Thank you for your comments! I hope there are more out there.
Posted by Wade on May 1, 2002, at 13:48:15
In reply to Newbie ? about Effexor EX and Klonopin, posted by Liz Wolf on May 1, 2002, at 5:58:05
Hi, I'm new too!
Effexor and Klonopin are fine to take together. Klonopin is a benzodiezapine (hope I spelled that right) and mainly for anxiety relief. Effexor is supposed to help anxiety and depression.
I was told to take Effexor in the morning. I don't really like the idea though, because I am pretty sensitive to feeling a sudden change in my mental faculties.
I am not taking the EX, I'm taking the regular.
With the increase in Klonopin you will probably feel more sedated for a little while, but it is less adictive than Xanax, Valium, or Ativan. If it keeps the anxiety down, that's great.
Wade
Posted by n0matter on May 1, 2002, at 13:59:12
In reply to Re: Newbie ? about Effexor EX and Klonopin, posted by Wade on May 1, 2002, at 13:48:15
Technically, it's just as addictive as the other benzos you listed...probably a 5 on a scale of 1-10. Doctors tend to prefer prescribing it over valium, ativan, etc. because klop builds up in your system slowly and consequently is flushed from your system slowly as well. It effectively allows for less intense, but longer lasting, withdrawals. I've attempted to wean myself off both ativan and klonopin with equal degrees of non-success and almost identical withdrawals: sweats, inability to sleep or eat, severe depression and hopelessness and a strong feeling of imminent death...if I were still in my pre-medication days I'd describe it as a fair representation of what hell might be like. I always strongly advise against starting or continuing benzos unless absolutely necessary.
Posted by Liz Wolf on May 1, 2002, at 15:09:42
In reply to Re: Newbie ? about Effexor EX and Klonopin, posted by n0matter on May 1, 2002, at 13:59:12
I know exactly what you mean about imminent death. And Hell on earth. In these two days of Effexor RX and 1 mg of Klonopin instead of .5, I have come up from unexplainable hateful outbursts, feelings of death, doom and total uncaring, to a couple of smiles and total disdain for the same people I hated or could not have cared less about a day ago. :) Isn't it weird/sad how little it takes to make a person content once they have seen hell?
Posted by Golf4 on October 6, 2002, at 13:00:45
In reply to Re: Newbie ? about Effexor EX and Klonopin, posted by Wade on May 1, 2002, at 13:48:15
1-what is the DX you are treated for with this combo?(in my case : I am BP2 with mainly frequent recurrent anxious depr.)
2-what is the Effexor dose you are already on?(I have been taking 100mg for a month and since 4 days I am already on 150mg)
3-knowing that when starting an AD(Effexor as well)one should wait at least 3 weeks for STARTING to feel better,
what is the necessary time for feeling further improvement while increasing further on the dose?
Paul
> Hi, I'm new too!
> Effexor and Klonopin are fine to take together. Klonopin is a benzodiezapine (hope I spelled that right) and mainly for anxiety relief. Effexor is supposed to help anxiety and depression.
> I was told to take Effexor in the morning. I don't really like the idea though, because I am pretty sensitive to feeling a sudden change in my mental faculties.
> I am not taking the EX, I'm taking the regular.
> With the increase in Klonopin you will probably feel more sedated for a little while, but it is less adictive than Xanax, Valium, or Ativan. If it keeps the anxiety down, that's great.
> Wade
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.