![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by tensor on November 3, 2009, at 15:20:13
Hello, I'm again thinking of quitting clon. because of my depression. Since also I could use a mood stabilizer because of the recurring nature of my depression, would Lamictal make it easier to come off clon. I'm not talking about 2weeks but say in two months? Given the fact that e.g. Trileptal can be used for that. Thanks.
Posted by Phillipa on November 3, 2009, at 15:25:08
In reply to Clonazepam discontinuation, posted by tensor on November 3, 2009, at 15:20:13
Tensor can you switch to another benzo as clonazapam made me very depressed. The others don't Phillipa
Posted by Maxime on November 3, 2009, at 17:21:54
In reply to Clonazepam discontinuation, posted by tensor on November 3, 2009, at 15:20:13
Good for you for getting off Clonazepam. Most benzos will make you depressed. I guess it's worth a shot to try the Lamictal. I did it using Seroquel and quit 4 mg of clonazepam cold turkey. It wasn't my idea, it was done in the hospital. But it worked and I am so glad to be off the stuff!
Posted by zana on November 3, 2009, at 17:57:58
In reply to Re: Clonazepam discontinuation » tensor, posted by Maxime on November 3, 2009, at 17:21:54
Jeez, Maxine,
I'm taking 3mgs a day and would love to get off of it but every time I have tried to decrease it I get terrible rebound anxiety. How on earth did you go cold turkey? Even when I have gone down a quarter of a tab I can feel it. The last time I got off it completely the last leg of the discontinuation I got the sensation of bugs crawling on my arms. It was horrible. But I am encouraged by your story.
Zana
Posted by ColoradoSnowflake on November 3, 2009, at 21:40:27
In reply to Re: Clonazepam discontinuation, posted by zana on November 3, 2009, at 17:57:58
Posted by Cecilia on November 3, 2009, at 23:33:18
In reply to Re: Clonazepam discontinuation » tensor, posted by Maxime on November 3, 2009, at 17:21:54
The hospital had you go off 4 mg of clonazepam cold turkey? Scary, that is extreme malpractice, could have caused seizures. Seroquel (or lamictal either) won't do anything for benzo withdrawal, they are totally different categories of drugs. Cecilia
Posted by tensor on November 4, 2009, at 0:10:30
In reply to Re: Clonazepam discontinuation » Maxime, posted by Cecilia on November 3, 2009, at 23:33:18
> Seroquel (or lamictal either) won't do anything for benzo withdrawal, they are totally different categories of drugs. Cecilia
That is not true. Why are you even saying so?
Posted by delna on November 4, 2009, at 8:54:17
In reply to Clonazepam discontinuation, posted by tensor on November 3, 2009, at 15:20:13
> Hello, I'm again thinking of quitting clon. because of my depression. Since also I could use a mood stabilizer because of the recurring nature of my depression, would Lamictal make it easier to come off clon. I'm not talking about 2weeks but say in two months? Given the fact that e.g. Trileptal can be used for that. Thanks.
I brought my clonazepam dose done from 20mg to 2mg in a month or so, at home. Stupid, I know. I was on Lamictal but I don't think that it helped much with rebound anxiety.. I'm sure it stopped me from getting seizures though. But I was also on Neurontin (for pain not anxiety.) I think it was the Neurontin that possibly helped the anxiety.I have been withdrawn from Xanax 3 mg in hospital with Trileptal but that didn't help rebound anxiety at all. It just stops you from getting seizures. You just have to suffer it out. No one gave me any cover for the anxiety.(cruel pdocs)
Personally, if I had to place a bet, I would say that Neurontin helped me to not feel the withdrawal. I don't think the Lamictal did, though. Sorry if that is not what you want to hear.
From my experience, the only time you feel no rebound whilst withdrawing cold-turkey is if you go to hospital and they cover you with phenobarbital. Then you are just knocked out for 10 days while they stop the benzo cold-turkey. But you feel the rebound anxiety later.
I would not pin much hope on the Lamictal if its the rebound anxiety you are worried about. If you are starting that anyway then go ahead because IMHO Lamictal is a great mood-stabilizer. But when you are reducing your clonazepam dose, add something like Neurontin (which is given for anxiety anyway) and titrate that up to a decent dose before you commence withdrawal. That's just my suggestion. I think its what helped me. Withdrawal from Neurontin was not hard at all (for me anyway, I can't say about other people.)
Also there are other things you can substitute for Neuontin whilst you slow taper like Zyprexia, Seroquil etc.
Good luck
Take care (Taper slowly)
Love
D
Posted by tensor on November 4, 2009, at 9:47:39
In reply to Re: Clonazepam discontinuation » tensor, posted by delna on November 4, 2009, at 8:54:17
> I brought my clonazepam dose done from 20mg to 2mg in a month or so, at home. Stupid, I know. I was on Lamictal but I don't think that it helped much with rebound anxiety.. I'm sure it stopped me from getting seizures though. But I was also on Neurontin (for pain not anxiety.) I think it was the Neurontin that possibly helped the anxiety.
>
> I have been withdrawn from Xanax 3 mg in hospital with Trileptal but that didn't help rebound anxiety at all. It just stops you from getting seizures. You just have to suffer it out. No one gave me any cover for the anxiety.(cruel pdocs)
>
> Personally, if I had to place a bet, I would say that Neurontin helped me to not feel the withdrawal. I don't think the Lamictal did, though. Sorry if that is not what you want to hear.
>
> From my experience, the only time you feel no rebound whilst withdrawing cold-turkey is if you go to hospital and they cover you with phenobarbital. Then you are just knocked out for 10 days while they stop the benzo cold-turkey. But you feel the rebound anxiety later.
>
> I would not pin much hope on the Lamictal if its the rebound anxiety you are worried about. If you are starting that anyway then go ahead because IMHO Lamictal is a great mood-stabilizer. But when you are reducing your clonazepam dose, add something like Neurontin (which is given for anxiety anyway) and titrate that up to a decent dose before you commence withdrawal. That's just my suggestion. I think its what helped me. Withdrawal from Neurontin was not hard at all (for me anyway, I can't say about other people.)
>
> Also there are other things you can substitute for Neuontin whilst you slow taper like Zyprexia, Seroquil etc.
>
> Good luck
> Take care (Taper slowly)
> Love
> DWow, thanks! I actually gonna ask my pdoc for neurontin, but yes I would like to try Lamictal anyway. Last time I tried it I also took clonazepam and that's probably why I got so tired and had to discontinue Lamictal. So this time I would like to try Lamictal without clon. and see if it can help my mood, it had if I recall correctly, pretty benign s/e profile, as long as you don't get the rash. But I didn't get it then so I think the risk is pretty small.
Sure rebound anxiety is what has kept me from successful discontinuation before, but I'm more "afraid" of the physical symptoms, I hate the feeling of ground movement. And I know if I'm gonna succeed it has to be done rather quickly, say over a month. I'm taking 2mg a day, but it's the last part that's the toughest, right?Thanks.
Posted by tensor on November 4, 2009, at 9:53:56
In reply to Clonazepam discontinuation, posted by tensor on November 3, 2009, at 15:20:13
Hi Scott,
I remember you posted some links a while ago about benzo withdrawal and anticonvulsants, I just can't seem to find them, can you post them again if you have them? That would be great. Also, it would be nice to hear your opinion about Lamictal vs. Trileptal in managing withdrawal symptoms, on paper they seem to do the same thing. I would not hesitate using Trileptal instead.
Many thanks to you!
Posted by maxime on November 4, 2009, at 11:49:07
In reply to Re: Clonazepam discontinuation » Maxime, posted by Cecilia on November 3, 2009, at 23:33:18
> The hospital had you go off 4 mg of clonazepam cold turkey? Scary, that is extreme malpractice, could have caused seizures. Seroquel (or lamictal either) won't do anything for benzo withdrawal, they are totally different categories of drugs. Cecilia
My pdoc in the hospital was a Nazi and I didn't have a choice. She wouldn't listen to me.
Posted by SLS on November 4, 2009, at 12:07:27
In reply to Clonazepam discontinuation - SLS, posted by tensor on November 4, 2009, at 9:53:56
Hi Tensor.
I don't know which posts you are referring to, but I do recommend Trileptal as being perhaps the best candidate anticonvulsant to mitigate benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms. I have never seen Lamictal suggested for this purpose. Topamax might be effective also.
- Scott
Posted by tensor on November 4, 2009, at 12:16:22
In reply to Re: Clonazepam discontinuation - SLS » tensor, posted by SLS on November 4, 2009, at 12:07:27
> Hi Tensor.
>
> I don't know which posts you are referring to, but I do recommend Trileptal as being perhaps the best candidate anticonvulsant to mitigate benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms. I have never seen Lamictal suggested for this purpose. Topamax might be effective also.
>
>
> - ScottIt was brought up a while ago, never mind. This article mentions the use of Lamictal:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15510234/Tensor
Posted by SLS on November 4, 2009, at 14:21:30
In reply to Re: Clonazepam discontinuation - SLS » SLS, posted by tensor on November 4, 2009, at 12:16:22
Here's one that studied Trileptal:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18821451
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on November 4, 2009, at 18:11:09
In reply to Re: Clonazepam discontinuation - SLS » tensor, posted by SLS on November 4, 2009, at 14:21:30
Well I'll be darned trileptal for benzo withdrawal? Phillipa
Posted by floatingbridge on November 4, 2009, at 18:48:26
In reply to Re: Clonazepam discontinuation, posted by zana on November 3, 2009, at 17:57:58
> Jeez, Maxine,
> I'm taking 3mgs a day and would love to get off of it but every time I have tried to decrease it I get terrible rebound anxiety. How on earth did you go cold turkey? Even when I have gone down a quarter of a tab I can feel it. The last time I got off it completely the last leg of the discontinuation I got the sensation of bugs crawling on my arms. It was horrible. But I am encouraged by your story.
> ZanaHey Zana,
you could switch to a different benzo and taper that. Klonipin does give a terribel rebound anxiety. I'm doing xanax xr right now. It isn't as 'deep' as klonopin. It is easier to taper though. Just a thought.
nice to see your post,
fb
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.