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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jparsell82 on April 30, 2003, at 17:23:30
Hi, I just was wondering for those who are taking Klonopin what their dosage is? Also, what is the typical starting dosage? Do you have to work your way up or just start at the dose you will be taking? Also, do the effects last all day long or do you have to take divided doses. Thanks a lot!
Posted by Janelle on April 30, 2003, at 20:24:43
In reply to What's the typical dosage for Klonopin??, posted by jparsell82 on April 30, 2003, at 17:23:30
I can only speak from my experience with Klonpin (which is extensive!)
My current dosage is 1mg twice a day (one in the morning, one at bedtime). I had been on just 1 mg in the morning for many years, and that had been my starting dosage. I did not have to work my way up from some tiny dose up to the 1mg.
I am GUESSING that 1mg/day would be the starting dosage, but everyone is different - Klonopin has NEVER sedated me in the least (just anti-anxiety effect), yet others report quite a bit of sedation from it and even take it for sleep.
Klonopin is the longest acting of the benzos (I think; or else it is among the longer lasting and therefore among the least addictive), so the effects theoretically should last all day. Unlike Xanax or Ativan which go into the body, reach a peak in a few hours, then go out and a person would probably need to take several over the course of a day and into the night I suppose.
Hope this helps.
Posted by Viridis on May 1, 2003, at 4:56:53
In reply to What's the typical dosage for Klonopin??, posted by jparsell82 on April 30, 2003, at 17:23:30
"Typical" doses for anxiety/panic disorder vary widely. I take 1 mg/day and this is enough for me. My pdoc considers this the low end and says that many panic patients require "several times this much" (he's surprised that such a low dose is effective for me and has offered to raise the dose, although I've declined). For seizure disorders, doses can go as high as 20 mg/day.
K lasts about 12 hrs for me. I have absolutely no side effects, although I did for the first 1-2 weeks -- sedation, clumsiness, etc. During that time I divided the dose through the day, but now I just take it all in the AM.
My pdoc says there are three main dosing strategies:
1) Before bed. Doesn't work for me, because it wears off by the middle of the next day. (despite the supposedly long half-life).
2) "Eastcoast": pdocs in the east apparently prefer 1 dose in the morning -- this is what works for me now.
3) "Westcoast": CA pdocs apparently like divided small doses through the day -- good for me initially; decreases side effects; not necessary after the first week or two (for me).
He let me choose according to my response, and now I'm "eastcoast". 1 mg/day has worked well for almost 2 years (with occasional Xanax), but again, this is low-end; many take considerably more.
This is the end of the thread.
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