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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by male34 on March 4, 2003, at 22:00:38
could benzos actually cause depression?if so how much and or how long would this have to occur?
Posted by KrissyP on March 5, 2003, at 0:19:57
In reply to Benzos can cause depression????true?, posted by male34 on March 4, 2003, at 22:00:38
All I can say is that when I took Ativan-Lorazepam-I got more depressed where as Klonopin doesn't have that effect on me anyway.
I wish I could help you out more here-just my experience.
Kristen
> could benzos actually cause depression?if so how much and or how long would this have to occur?
Posted by ace on March 5, 2003, at 2:20:52
In reply to Re: Benzos can cause depression????true? » male34, posted by KrissyP on March 5, 2003, at 0:19:57
> All I can say is that when I took Ativan-Lorazepam-I got more depressed where as Klonopin doesn't have that effect on me anyway.
> I wish I could help you out more here-just my experience.
> Kristen
>
>
> > could benzos actually cause depression?if so how much and or how long would this have to occur?
>
>
I'm not sure about this. When I take Valium (and I usually take a lot in a single dose) I feel extra happy and confident the next day. BUT I don not takt them long term...yet.Ace
Posted by SBOATRN on March 5, 2003, at 8:26:16
In reply to Benzos can cause depression????true?, posted by male34 on March 4, 2003, at 22:00:38
It is real easy to get caught up in the negative stuff that is out there about any of the Benzos. I got caught up in it and believed every negative thing I heard for a long time. Messed me up on a treatment that was working well for me !!! When you research, it's difficult to find positive stuff. However, in the *real world*, I have found I'm not depressed when I have my anxiety under control. THAT is what depressed me... the anxiety. I have alot of phyical manifestations when my anxiety is high and just feel awful. That is the depression producer. When I'm controlled, everything looks OK once more !! Some will argue the what comes first question, but I know my experience !!! Klonopin is the ONLY drug I take. I dose for my symptoms at .125 - .375 mg per day, divided doses as I need them. You have to figure out with your doc what is right for you to use and the dosing. I've posted to you several times and I still wish you luck in your quest. Read the positive stuff on benzo's for anxiety... they're here and can be found !!
Posted by viridis on March 5, 2003, at 11:08:00
In reply to Re: Benzos can cause depression????true? » male34, posted by SBOATRN on March 5, 2003, at 8:26:16
I agree with SBOATRN -- most of the depression that I experience is anxiety-based, so daily Klonopin (plus occasional Xanax) has a strong antidepressant effect. There have been several messages here recently citing research papers that demonstrate that benzos can act as antidepressants, and Xanax (alprazolam) seems to be especially useful in this respect. I often find myself in a cheerful mood the day after taking Xanax (strangely enough, while I'm on it, it just alleviates anxiety; I only notice this the next day).
However, as always, it depends on your brain chemistry. Some people here have reported that Klonopin worsens their depression, so that's something to watch out for. But I wouldn't assume that it will have this effect, especially if your problems are rooted in anxiety. I guess you'll just have to try it and see -- you might be pleasantly surprised.
Posted by Jack Smith on March 5, 2003, at 13:34:48
In reply to Re: Benzos can cause depression????true? » male34, posted by SBOATRN on March 5, 2003, at 8:26:16
VERY CURIOUS. I also get weird physical symptoms from my anxiety, which precipitated my first major depressive episode. What are yours like? very interested to hear. I get weird tightnesses in my chest and lumps in my throats that are sort of ALWAYS there. I first controlled it OK with xanax but felt that xanax was making me depressed and I did not want to keep upping my dose. Finally found relief with celexa, but it pooped out a while ago. I wonder if Klonopin monotherapy would be an option?? Please respond/reply.
JACK
Posted by Jack Smith on March 5, 2003, at 13:45:26
In reply to Re: Benzos can cause depression????true? » SBOATRN, posted by viridis on March 5, 2003, at 11:08:00
What else are you on viridis? I have to say that I notice the EXACT same effect from xanax. I use it occasionally, usually at night and I tend to notice a slight mood lift the next day. What are your anxiety symptoms?
> I agree with SBOATRN -- most of the depression that I experience is anxiety-based, so daily Klonopin (plus occasional Xanax) has a strong antidepressant effect. There have been several messages here recently citing research papers that demonstrate that benzos can act as antidepressants, and Xanax (alprazolam) seems to be especially useful in this respect. I often find myself in a cheerful mood the day after taking Xanax (strangely enough, while I'm on it, it just alleviates anxiety; I only notice this the next day).
>
> However, as always, it depends on your brain chemistry. Some people here have reported that Klonopin worsens their depression, so that's something to watch out for. But I wouldn't assume that it will have this effect, especially if your problems are rooted in anxiety. I guess you'll just have to try it and see -- you might be pleasantly surprised.
Posted by KrissyP on March 5, 2003, at 13:54:34
In reply to Re: Benzos can cause depression????true? » SBOATRN, posted by viridis on March 5, 2003, at 11:08:00
Hi, example: KLONOPIN does just that for me. if I get anxious I take 1mg, lay down and if I fall asleep, I wake up less depressed what's up with that??? I'm not complaining, just trying to figure that out. Just sharing....
Kristen
-------------------------------------------------I agree with SBOATRN -- most of the depression that I experience is anxiety-based, so daily Klonopin (plus occasional Xanax) has a strong antidepressant effect. There have been several messages here recently citing research papers that demonstrate that benzos can act as antidepressants, and Xanax (alprazolam) seems to be especially useful in this respect. I often find myself in a cheerful mood the day after taking Xanax (strangely enough, while I'm on it, it just alleviates anxiety; I only notice this the next day).
However, as always, it depends on your brain chemistry. Some people here have reported that Klonopin worsens their depression, so that's something to watch out for. But I wouldn't assume that it will have this effect, especially if your problems are rooted in anxiety. I guess you'll just have to try it and see -- you might be pleasantly surprised.
Posted by male34 on March 5, 2003, at 15:43:20
In reply to Re: Benzos can cause depression????true? » male34, posted by SBOATRN on March 5, 2003, at 8:26:16
thanks im doing lex and a little diazapam am &pm, and without the diazapm im not well but with daizpam im fine ,i agree with you ,its working im staying with it my doc said stay on diazapm for a while and lets see about coming off diazapam and only lex for long term , ill go with it for now thanks alot!
Posted by SBOATRN on March 5, 2003, at 16:21:11
In reply to Re: Benzos can cause depression????true? » SBOATRN, posted by Jack Smith on March 5, 2003, at 13:34:48
Posted by viridis on March 6, 2003, at 1:06:43
In reply to Re: Benzos can cause depression????true? » viridis, posted by Jack Smith on March 5, 2003, at 13:45:26
Hi Jack,
Well, my "official" diagnosis is panic disorder, ADD, and major depressive disorder. Without meds, I have periods of feeling pretty normal, but then anxiety always escalates, I start to focus on problems (always real, but not necessarily all that serious), I start to become nervous about everything (as in GAD) and then I have clusters of panic attacks. Typically, this bottoms out into severe depression (typically involving a near-complete inability to sleep or eat), which can be almost incapacitating. It eventually gets better, but then the pattern starts again -- though not in a predictable way, like bipolar disorder often is, but it always comes back. I've been this way for as long as I can remember, back to about 5 or 6 years old, even though I have a stable, supportive family and no early traumas etc.
I tried SSRIs, Wellbutrin etc. for years, and these just made things worse. Then I had a few short-term prescriptions for Xanax from a GP, and it was extremely helpful. But of course, it's supposedly "addictive" blah blah blah, so I wasn't able to stay on it for long.
Finally, I found my current psychiatrist, who prescribed Klonopin and Xanax (I was in the midst of an episode of intense panic attacks). This was tremendously helpful and shut down the whole pattern, so he's kept me on Klonopin, plus Xanax whenever needed, which is rarely.
We experimented with a few other things, and settled on the addition of low-dose Adderall (10 mg/day) for ADD, which I clearly have (fairly mild, but real; several therapists and my pdoc independently diagnosed this). It cleared up most of the "residual" depression and helps with focus.
I also take 1200 mg Neurontin/day. I don't think it does anything, but it has no side effects, and my pdoc suspects that it adds subtle "background" stability (he initially suggested a bit of Depakote, but I refused that and suggested the Neurontin instead, which he was quite comfortable with).
This combo works well, although I am going to try Strattera cautiously pretty soon, mainly because of the inconvenience of Adderall (Schedule II). Klonopin and Adderall seem to have a special synergy, which others have mentioned numerous times on this board.
I'm pretty happy with my current regimen, and am lucky to have a supportive pdoc who listens to what I say, after many bad experiences with other pdocs and especially GPs, who (in my experience, although I'm sure there are some good ones) just want to dole out the latest AD regardless of side effects, or effectiveness at all.
This is the end of the thread.
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