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Suggest Ways To Wean Off Clonazepam
Question: I am 53 year old married with 2 children.
I have been on SSRI's (Paxil, Cipralex, Cymbalta, Pristiq & Zoloft since 1998.
The only rewason my family doctor changed the meds was because of sexual side effects.
I had been on Zoloft since January of 2016. In the first week of April, this year, I came home with an overwhelming case of GAD and then depression. Usually work related. My doctor double the dose of zoloft and after a week I still felt the same. Then he prescribed 15mg of mirtazapine. Within that 2nd week he said I could increase the dose to 30mg if I felt I needed it. When I came to see him in the third week I was a little better but still feeling anxiety. He increased the dose to 45mg. From that time on I noticed that when I went to bed I would start having breathing panic attacks. When I was awake it was OK. I went to see him on the 3rd week and he precribed 50mg of trazodone. I found it made me drowsy but the panic attacks in bed continued. I took clonazepam and it allowed me to go to sleep. I never had these panic attacks before. Never in 18 years I was on ssri's. I am very nervous with anxiety before I sleep now becuase I do not want to rely on clonazepam.
Can you please help me?
I have been on SSRI's (Paxil, Cipralex, Cymbalta, Pristiq & Zoloft since 1998.
The only rewason my family doctor changed the meds was because of sexual side effects.
I had been on Zoloft since January of 2016. In the first week of April, this year, I came home with an overwhelming case of GAD and then depression. Usually work related. My doctor double the dose of zoloft and after a week I still felt the same. Then he prescribed 15mg of mirtazapine. Within that 2nd week he said I could increase the dose to 30mg if I felt I needed it. When I came to see him in the third week I was a little better but still feeling anxiety. He increased the dose to 45mg. From that time on I noticed that when I went to bed I would start having breathing panic attacks. When I was awake it was OK. I went to see him on the 3rd week and he precribed 50mg of trazodone. I found it made me drowsy but the panic attacks in bed continued. I took clonazepam and it allowed me to go to sleep. I never had these panic attacks before. Never in 18 years I was on ssri's. I am very nervous with anxiety before I sleep now becuase I do not want to rely on clonazepam.
Can you please help me?
Brief Answer:
Consultation
Detailed Answer:
Hello, and thanks for your question.
Your panic attacks are most likely a side effect reaction to the higher dose of mirtazapine. This anxiety reaction which is paradoxical can sometimes occur when the antidepressant dose is increased or when a new antidepressant is started. It usually only lasts 3-14 days. If this persists, I would cross-titrate from mirtazapine to a different antidepressant such as fluoxetine. This would solve the problem and avoid having to use clonazepam, which can be addictive.
Please remember to rate and close this answer thread when you are finished and satisfied.
Consultation
Detailed Answer:
Hello, and thanks for your question.
Your panic attacks are most likely a side effect reaction to the higher dose of mirtazapine. This anxiety reaction which is paradoxical can sometimes occur when the antidepressant dose is increased or when a new antidepressant is started. It usually only lasts 3-14 days. If this persists, I would cross-titrate from mirtazapine to a different antidepressant such as fluoxetine. This would solve the problem and avoid having to use clonazepam, which can be addictive.
Please remember to rate and close this answer thread when you are finished and satisfied.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
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