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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sl on February 25, 2004, at 21:06:14
My mom's doc prescribed it for her and it sounds like it'll help her probs. But she and I are both worried she'll end up addicted, and she's got plenty of health probs now she doesn't need more.
How often can she take it without becoming addicted?
sl
Posted by ace on February 25, 2004, at 21:31:28
In reply to How often is too often to take Klonopin?, posted by sl on February 25, 2004, at 21:06:14
> My mom's doc prescribed it for her and it sounds like it'll help her probs. But she and I are both worried she'll end up addicted, and she's got plenty of health probs now she doesn't need more.
There is very rarely long term health problems from Klonopin or ANY OTHER benzo. You might see a little memory problems at worst.
Klonopin is an excellant medication, and, as with all the other benzos, shows very little evidence of tolerance or abuse.
>
> How often can she take it without becoming addicted?It has a very long half life which means it leaves the body slowely and smoothly. I would prefer "medically dependent" not "addicted". She could take it for a at least a week straight without becoming medically dependant on it.
However, it is better to become medically dependant on Klonopin, than be suffering from extreme anxiety...
>
> sl
Posted by sl on February 25, 2004, at 21:38:06
In reply to Re: How often is too often to take Klonopin? » sl, posted by ace on February 25, 2004, at 21:31:28
Her "extreme anxiety" is a result of her bad marriage to a man and his family that make the strangest folk on here seem positively average.
So this should hopefully be temporary measures until he's finally gone. "soon" she says...soon....meanwhile I watch her fall apart.
*sigh* Maybe _I_ should be taking the klonopin too. :/
Posted by cubbybear on February 26, 2004, at 0:50:59
In reply to Re: How often is too often to take Klonopin?, posted by sl on February 25, 2004, at 21:38:06
There's always a misconception about "addiction" to benzo drugs, but tolerance and dependence can develop with long term use. It varies enormously with the individual, the type of drug, and the dose. It's not just a simple matter of how long it would take a person to be become dependent. Klonopin is regarded as being very safe and effective but you do have to keep in mind the drawback of possible dependency in some people.
Posted by sl on February 26, 2004, at 7:30:24
In reply to Re: How often is too often to take Klonopin?, posted by cubbybear on February 26, 2004, at 0:50:59
It's not a "misconception" per se, it's that we see them as the same thing.
Dependence on a chemical for your daily wellbeing, and needing more to get the same effect...isn't that the definition of "addiction"???
Posted by KellyD on February 26, 2004, at 8:32:19
In reply to Re: How often is too often to take Klonopin?, posted by sl on February 26, 2004, at 7:30:24
It is a misconception.
Addiction:
1)pyschosocial disruption
2)Accelerated use
3)Inapproiate use
4)Drug seeking behaviorTaking medication for physical is not part of the defination. If that were true all medications could fall under the "addiction" catagory.
Being termed addicted when one is medically dependent is insulting and not true. It is a question of word usage, but it's important to some of us to avoid additional stigma when we already deal with the stigma of mental illness or a mood disorder.
Posted by cubbybear on February 27, 2004, at 0:02:02
In reply to Re: How often is too often to take Klonopin?, posted by KellyD on February 26, 2004, at 8:26:32
Posted by cubbybear on February 27, 2004, at 0:14:34
In reply to Re: How often is too often to take Klonopin?, posted by sl on February 26, 2004, at 7:30:24
> It's not a "misconception" per se, it's that we see them as the same thing.
> Dependence on a chemical for your daily wellbeing, and needing more to get the same effect...isn't that the definition of "addiction"???Much of this never-ending debate gets down to semantics and improper word usage. Dependence on a chemical for daily well being is absolutely not addiction. If so, we'd have to say that diabetics are addicted to insulin and people with hypertension who take BP medication are addicted. They are simply dependent on these medications to survive.
I've long known that if I stop taking my anti-depressant, within a couple of months perhaps, my depression will return sure as the day dawns, following a constellation of stressful circumstances or situations. So I have to take my AD, Parnate, every day of my life to avoid such relapses. If anyone tried to tell me I was a pill popper or addict, they'd find themselves in a terrific verbal duel since that term has become perjorative and a reflection of ignorance on the subject.In another instance, if you need a particular medication such as a benzo type drug to counter anxiety, panic, or insomnia but find that after a while you need to increase the dose to attain the same effect, you would have developed a "tolerance". That's something different, and that's where benzophobes get their ammunition that these drugs are "addicting." They CAN produce tolerance, but more often than not, they don't. I'm pretty sure I know what I'm talking about here.
Posted by Viridis on February 27, 2004, at 3:53:11
In reply to Re: How often is too often to take Klonopin?, posted by sl on February 26, 2004, at 7:30:24
So, people who use insulin for diabetes, or those who take blood pressure meds are also "addicts"? I don't think so.
Posted by cubbybear on February 28, 2004, at 5:07:24
In reply to Re: How often is too often to take Klonopin?, posted by Viridis on February 27, 2004, at 3:53:11
> So, people who use insulin for diabetes, or those who take blood pressure meds are also "addicts"? I don't think so.
Hi Viridis,
Did you see my post in reply to sls? Sounds like we're thinking exactly the same thoughts in rebuttal. Are you my alter-ego?!?I've seen your posts here for a long time. I wish you'd post more often. Our viewpoints are always the same. Hope you're doing well.
cubbybear
This is the end of the thread.
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