question about medications

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-12-2003
question about medications
8
Fri, 05-20-2005 - 7:58pm

so i went to the psychiatriast today in an attempt to regain some control over my life. anyway, she prescribed two things: Kloponin and Lexapro. I'm interested to hear what other people's experience have been with these two medications, in terms of side effects, and their positive effects. Also, im wondering whether its normal to be prescribed two medications at once that are both benzodiazapines simuatanouesly?

thanks,
Mia

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Fri, 05-20-2005 - 11:53pm
Hi, Mia! Those meds are two different families of drugs. The lexapro is an SSRI, commonly called an antidepressant. The klonopin is in the benzodiazepine family. I think there are others on the board that have taken that exact combination. I have taken the klonopin successfully with effexor. The klonopin made me a little sleepy the first week or so, but didn't put me *out* & really did take the edge off the anxiety. It sure helps with that *unreality* feeling. I hope it gives you good effect. The lexapro can take up to 6 weeks to get going into your system. It takes patience to get you where you want to be. Sort of par for the course in folks like us. We always wish we were better, yesterday. Good luck & keep us posted. (((hugs))) jan



 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 01-17-2001
Sat, 05-21-2005 - 9:31am
Hi Mia,
I am on lexapro and klonopin. I have had no problems at all..
I have to run right now to my best friends bridal shower but I will post more detail later.
Heather
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 05-21-2005 - 9:35am

Hi Mia,


I used to take that same combination, The only side effect I had from the lexapro was intestinal upset and that only lasted for the first few days I was on it and then it went away.


Hugs & Prayers,



Danielle


Hysterectomy & Alternatives


Host of Tuesday Night Anxiety, Panic & Phobia's Chat 7 - 9 pm MST


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Hugs & Positive Thoughts Always,

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-17-2001
Sat, 05-21-2005 - 6:22pm

Hi Mia,
I was recently diagnosed with adjustment disorder with severe anxiety.
I asked people what thay thought about meds they were on, a lot of people said that they had good results with lexapro.
When I went to my PCP she was talking about meds and she said that if she were to take any one of them it would be lexapro.
I was started on 5mg. I was supposed to increase in 7 days.
My 1st day I took it in the morning and I was so tired that I felt like I could fall asleep standing up. I also had some bad nausea. I bought some peppermints and that helped.
The next dose I took was at 7pm and now that the time I take it every day. The Dr. said that usually it makes you really tired of totally wired.

I went up to 10mg just a few days later since my anxiety was seeming to get worse.

I was on the 10mg and the nausea seemed to stop after about a week or so, I have had no other side effects. I am now on 20mg and doing great on the meds. I have really tolerated it well and I have heard lots of good things about it.

At my initial visit when I was given the lexapro my Dr asked if I wanted something else to help until the lexapro started to work.
I went for 3 weeks with severe anxiety because I refused anything else. I was scared..

I should say that the worst symptom of my anxiety is the unreal, disconnected feeling.

Last Saturday I woke up my usual shaking anxious self, I decided to try the klonopin. (my Dr had given it to me just in case)

I took 1/2 a .5 pill. I take it between 9-10am and again at 5pm

I shook for a while and was so scared but it was the best thing that I did for myself. It has helped so much and has really made me feel as though I am on my way to getting past this episode. I have never had any anxiety symptoms up until this time so my fear was just taking over so much, the knonopin relaxed me just enough to take the edge off.

When I take it I feel a little more tired but other then that nothing else. I feel calm and like I am back to myself.

I am going to post some links to a few post that I had posted about this.. it may help to hear what other people say.

http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-bhpanic&msg=16447.1&ctx=128

http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-bhpanic&msg=16542.1&ctx=128

http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-bhpanic&msg=16545.1&ctx=128

http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-bhpanic&msg=16552.1&ctx=128r

I hope I helped answer some of you questions..
let us know how you are...

Heather

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-12-2003
Sat, 05-21-2005 - 6:36pm
thanks for the feedback. I took the klonopin last night for the first time, my dr recommended taking .5 mg every night before I go to bed. for some reason I woke up at 4am feeling anxious, but managed to fall back asleep. anyway, the good news is that today i was able to leave the house, although recultantly, and spend the entire day outdoors and eating at a restaurant without having a single panic attack!! it made me so happy. I know the anxious feeling won't go away for a while, but its nice to know the panic attacks don't have to be as bad anymore. Im still worried about possible side effects though :(
im also a little confused about using Klonopin...it sounds like you can just take it whenever you feel like it?? my dr said i can take it either once or a twice a day, and it sounds like some people on this board don't necessary take it on a daily basis. i felt really sleepy all day today, so maybe its not a good idea to take it more than once?

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-17-2001
Sat, 05-21-2005 - 6:50pm

Mia,
Just curious what your diagnosis is?

I makes me sleepy too but from what other people have said that passes within a week or so.
I take 1/2 of a .5 pill 2x a day. Maybe that will help a bit, keep it in your system but not as much a one time.

Yes, its not something that you have to take every day. I know of people who will start taking it a week before a big event, something that could be a trigger.

I am still scared that it will all come back full force and I somehow think that adds to the anxiety. Every day that goes by I know that I am getting better and better.People keep telling that these horrific few weeks are just a small part of my life. When I go out I keep wondering if it'll creep in but my tdoc said that the constant worry will fade with time.
I am taking it daily now until I feel comfortable not taking it.
Like I said before, I am so new to this and have never dealt with panic/anxiety until I woke up in the middle of the night with my 1st panic attack.

It is highly addictive and my pdoc says that its a major street drug. He said that as long as it is taken as prescribed then its fine.

Good luck and let me know if you have any more questions...

Heather

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-12-2003
Sat, 05-21-2005 - 7:31pm
Heather, thanks for your answers :) my diagnosis is panic disorder. I've actually experienced it before, and have had flare ups since I was a child. a couple of weeks ago at the end of the semester i came home one night unable to breathe. as soon as that happened I got a really bad panic attack, and it got gradually worse since then. this past week and half have been the worst, because ive been too afraid to leave the house because of my breathing problems. btw, i went to the doctor and they took chest xrays and drew blood and concluded that it's nothing medical. so even though i've had panic my entire life, this is the worst its ever been..it's never controlled my life the way it does right now.
so im totally in the same boat as you are in terms of the klonopin, I feel like I have to take it every day for the time being, I can't bare having panic attacks multiple times a day especially when I have class and research work to do.
btw, i can totally understand how this medication is addicting, it's fast acting and really helps one relax.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-26-2005
Sat, 05-21-2005 - 9:29pm

WWOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWW, Heather, you are really doing great! Did you feel okay at the shower? That can be a bit of stress. I'm so happy to hear you're feeling better. I hadn't been reading too many posts, so didn't know.

Renee