7 replies to this topic

[faith_tx]

I take 15mg of Citalopram (yes I do some creative cutting) and 1/2 of a .5 Clonazepam a day. For a week before my cycle I've been taking an extra 1/4 or 1/2 of a Clonazepam. It seems to help, but then I seem to get tired and sort of in a "blue" mood.

I have taken Citalopram for about 2 years and a few months ago I did a trial on Lexapro and then Luvox, and then went back to Citalopram. I seem more tired on it than the others, but the Lexapro made me angry, and the Luvox made my obsessive thoughts worse.

So, my PNurse now has suggested instead of just increasing the Clonazepam during that week, instead I should try going up on the Citalopram for a week a month.

Lately I get tired, so then I have a Dr Pepper, which after a few days builds up to more anxiety, then I crash for a couple days after and have to wean off the caffeine (only drink one a day). My system is so incredibly sensitive.

Anyway I guess the question is, is it likely to make me more tired compared to the Clonazepam? Anyone have experience with going up and down on it like that? I know I'm on a very low dose. In fact, my PNurse seems to think that if I tried counseling (again) with the "right" therapist, I could possibly get off my medication.

Thanks in advance,

Edited by faith_tx, 19 March 2012 - 03:14 PM.

[VirginiaWolf]

I can't directly answer your question about citalopram versus clonazepam, but I can contribute. I'm on escitalopram 10mg am/5mg pm and recently added Temazepam 10mg pm to that.

Escitalopram has made me feel more like myself and much less drowsy than I have on any other meds. It stops me from falling down the black hole, which is the important thing, and yeah, I'm angry, but I was angry off it too. I address the issues/anger via social/behavioral therapy rather than the drugs.

When I started going on escitalopram, it took me a while to get over the initial drowsiness and headaches. I eliminated the side effects by taking it at exactly the same time every day, and by splitting up the dosage by taking 10mg in the am and 5mg in the pm. Too much at night made me feel drowsy during the day. Too much in the morning did the same thing.

Relating to clonazepam. I find that any of the azepams make me drowsy, but I've just started taking 10 mg of the good old Temazepam at night. It wears off fast and I don't feel as drowsy when I wake up (compared to some other azepams).

Drinking high caffeine drinks to stay alert drained me so much that I crashed, got drowsy and got the blues. Not worth it.

Shrinks are important. I've learned that meds can only do so much, and sometimes switching them can make things worse. Social therapy really helps, but I have to be compliant or it doesn't work.

Am still looking for ways to address PMS. I've recently been looking into light therapy and sleep routines to improve my mood alongside the drugs.

I hope some part of this helps.

Edited by VirginiaWolf, 20 March 2012 - 05:42 PM.

[faith_tx]

Thanks. That helps a lot. This month I didn't go up on Klonopin or Celexa and I did pretty well. I still feel like I worry all the time about stupid stuff. My 12 year old mentioned it yesterday. I don't know if that just means I need more counseling or medication. I want to be a better role model and be more at peace.

[dolly]

Hi faith, my Dr. put me on the pill for PMS (Yasmin). It really helped even out my mood swings. On PMS week all I would do is cry at my desk and hate on everyone, it was terrible. I've been on it since 2006.

hugs, dolly

[faith_tx]

I tried the pill. I'm 45 so maybe it's different. But, I gained 20 lbs and was so lethargic I could hardly get up off the couch. And I'm normally thin. (5'6" 127). It also made me have heartburn. I took it for years before babies. Just doesn't any more.

[hammer of dusk]

I get a lot of anxiety that week of the month, too. My gyno prescribed 20mg prozac to take on top of my other meds just for that week. I've only done it one month so far but it was a notable improvement. I can see how upping the celexa for a week could be similar.

[betty_box]

Celexa and Lexapro are GREAT for hormonally induced anxiety and depression. I'm not exactly sure why it's better than other SSRIs, but it definitely is. Maybe it acts faster? That said, if you're already tired upping the dose might make you feel sedated (although I was on it for 4 years and never had that problem--but them again I can take 10mgs of Ativan or 40mgs valium in one sitting and feel aces (don't do either of those things, btw). That said, if you're already tired from such a low dose of the clonazepam (Klonopin--you're my girl), the Celexa is probably preferable.

I'm surprised you still get drowsiness from the benzos after being on them regularly though, and at such a low dose. Have you thought about switching your benzo? Clonazepam is definitely more sedating than, for example, Ativan or Xanax. Xanax is particularly mild, in my experience.

-Betty

[faith_tx]

I've been on Xanax in the past but it made me feel too much up and down like a roller coaster. I could try ativan I guess. It might not even be the meds. My thoughts racing sometimes make me tired too! It's hard to tell sometimes what causes what.