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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Vitalsign0 on July 24, 2004, at 1:26:26
Hi,
I have been taking 1mg of Xanax (2x .5) a day and Luvox 50mgs a day for the past 8 years. Recently I wanted to try Klonopin to see how it would affect my anxiety. My doctor gave me the same dosage, 1mg (2x .5) a day. I have been taking it for 4 days now and I feel HORRIBLE! All my anxiety is back and I am getting no relief at all from Klonopin.
I am overweight, I am 6'4", 260lbs so I was wondering if metabolism had anything to do with it.
My doctor said I have liberty with the Klonopin. As in can take more if I need to, but I'm worried that the Klonopin isn't working at all. I mean does it take awhile to kick in? Is a week enough time to know? Should I take 1mg at night and .5 in the morning?
I really need some advice from my peers, you, on this. Have I taken Xanax for so long that switching isn't an option?
That gloomy feeling of persistent 24 hour anxiety has returned and damn I didn't miss it. But I also don't want to give up on Klonopin has I tried to give up on Luvox and Xanax in the past if it is going to work. My doctor doesn't want to put back on Xanax just yet has I have a habit of wanting to change my medications all the time.
Thank you very much.
Posted by becksA on July 24, 2004, at 4:29:37
In reply to Switching from Xanax to Klonopin, advice please!, posted by Vitalsign0 on July 24, 2004, at 1:26:26
THis may be no help, but I also switched from Xanax XR to Klonopin, thru advice from my pdoc....it seemed to do absoultely NOTHING for me...maybe SLIGHT anxiety relief if any, and I felt like I was going to fall asleep all day.
Posted by BrittPark on July 24, 2004, at 9:58:52
In reply to Re: Switching from Xanax to Klonopin, advice please!, posted by becksA on July 24, 2004, at 4:29:37
My understanding is that usually Xanax -> Klonopin works fairly smoothly and effectively. Your mileage is obviously varying. Did you go directly from 1mg xanax to 1mg klonopin? In general I think that when switching drugs an overlap period should be used, even for a benzo to benzo switch. Also, however much the doctors may say that one benzo can substitute for another benzo more or less arbitrarily, many people have found that pariticular benzos work better than others. Perhaps you might consider switching back to Xanax. Klonopin may just not work for you. I know I have a definite preferernce for Xanax; it just seems to work better for me.
Be well,
Britt
Posted by theo on July 24, 2004, at 11:03:58
In reply to Re: Switching from Xanax to Klonopin, advice please!, posted by BrittPark on July 24, 2004, at 9:58:52
I don't currently take a benzo but when I did I took Xanax XR and my doc preferred it because he said Klonopin makes people sluggish and tired all day.
Posted by chemist on July 24, 2004, at 14:05:23
In reply to Switching from Xanax to Klonopin, advice please!, posted by Vitalsign0 on July 24, 2004, at 1:26:26
hello there, chemist here....i have read the other posts on this thread and wanted to append. one cannot swap-out a 1,4- or 1,5-benzodiazepine (examples of the former are klonopin, valium, and ativan; for the latter, clobazam comes to mind) for a 1,4-triazolobenzodiazepine - such as xanax - smoothly. in my opinion - and, from the perspective of a person who takes 100 mg luvox bid and 1 mg xanax qid - a cross-over is called for during the switch and an upping of the klonopin after tapering from xanax should be made. as always, consult with your doctor. 50 mg qd luvox is not the source of your discomfort, in my opinion. switching from a long-term dose of xanax to a relatively low dose of klonopin in an abrupt fashion is. in my opinion, i would increase klonopin to 1mg bid while tapering from xanax over a time period that will likely be several weeks, given the 8 year duration of your xanax treatment. please keep us informed, and all the best, chemist
> Hi,
>
> I have been taking 1mg of Xanax (2x .5) a day and Luvox 50mgs a day for the past 8 years. Recently I wanted to try Klonopin to see how it would affect my anxiety. My doctor gave me the same dosage, 1mg (2x .5) a day. I have been taking it for 4 days now and I feel HORRIBLE! All my anxiety is back and I am getting no relief at all from Klonopin.
>
> I am overweight, I am 6'4", 260lbs so I was wondering if metabolism had anything to do with it.
>
> My doctor said I have liberty with the Klonopin. As in can take more if I need to, but I'm worried that the Klonopin isn't working at all. I mean does it take awhile to kick in? Is a week enough time to know? Should I take 1mg at night and .5 in the morning?
>
> I really need some advice from my peers, you, on this. Have I taken Xanax for so long that switching isn't an option?
>
> That gloomy feeling of persistent 24 hour anxiety has returned and damn I didn't miss it. But I also don't want to give up on Klonopin has I tried to give up on Luvox and Xanax in the past if it is going to work. My doctor doesn't want to put back on Xanax just yet has I have a habit of wanting to change my medications all the time.
>
> Thank you very much.
Posted by jlbl2l on July 24, 2004, at 15:33:21
In reply to Switching from Xanax to Klonopin, advice please!, posted by Vitalsign0 on July 24, 2004, at 1:26:26
Also out of curiosity you might want to see if you are using a generic brand and identify it. Some generics (and even the brand name by Roche) can vary between people. If one doesn't work try a different.. purepac is good, roche is obviously pretty good.
Posted by Vitalsign0 on July 24, 2004, at 20:08:53
In reply to Re: Switching from Xanax to Klonopin, advice please! » Vitalsign0, posted by chemist on July 24, 2004, at 14:05:23
Thanks for your reply.
I took 1mg last night and it seemed better today. Not 100%, but the anxiety wasn't as bad. I only took .5 in the morning and about 8 hours later, I feel the effects have worned off, but it isn't as bad as the past week. Feel kinda weird though. Like my perception is different and everyday things look somehow different.
My doctor will not prescribe Xanax with Klonopin so I don't think crossover is an option unless I see another doctor. I don't have insurance though and it is about $300 for a first time visit to a new one.
> hello there, chemist here....i have read the other posts on this thread and wanted to append. one cannot swap-out a 1,4- or 1,5-benzodiazepine (examples of the former are klonopin, valium, and ativan; for the latter, clobazam comes to mind) for a 1,4-triazolobenzodiazepine - such as xanax - smoothly. in my opinion - and, from the perspective of a person who takes 100 mg luvox bid and 1 mg xanax qid - a cross-over is called for during the switch and an upping of the klonopin after tapering from xanax should be made. as always, consult with your doctor. 50 mg qd luvox is not the source of your discomfort, in my opinion. switching from a long-term dose of xanax to a relatively low dose of klonopin in an abrupt fashion is. in my opinion, i would increase klonopin to 1mg bid while tapering from xanax over a time period that will likely be several weeks, given the 8 year duration of your xanax treatment. please keep us informed, and all the best, chemist
>
Posted by chemist on July 24, 2004, at 22:54:21
In reply to Re: Switching from Xanax to Klonopin, advice please! » chemist, posted by Vitalsign0 on July 24, 2004, at 20:08:53
hello there, chemist here....it sounds to me as if you have weathered a tough taper quite well. your change in perception, strange feelings, etc. are very likely due to the switch from X to K. do not be afraid to take your doctor's advice to use the klonopin liberally (perhaps 0.5 mg qid), especially now, and then back down to the 0.5 mg bid when you level off. i suspect from your post that this will be in the near future.....all the best, chemist
> Thanks for your reply.
>
> I took 1mg last night and it seemed better today. Not 100%, but the anxiety wasn't as bad. I only took .5 in the morning and about 8 hours later, I feel the effects have worned off, but it isn't as bad as the past week. Feel kinda weird though. Like my perception is different and everyday things look somehow different.
>
> My doctor will not prescribe Xanax with Klonopin so I don't think crossover is an option unless I see another doctor. I don't have insurance though and it is about $300 for a first time visit to a new one.
>
> > hello there, chemist here....i have read the other posts on this thread and wanted to append. one cannot swap-out a 1,4- or 1,5-benzodiazepine (examples of the former are klonopin, valium, and ativan; for the latter, clobazam comes to mind) for a 1,4-triazolobenzodiazepine - such as xanax - smoothly. in my opinion - and, from the perspective of a person who takes 100 mg luvox bid and 1 mg xanax qid - a cross-over is called for during the switch and an upping of the klonopin after tapering from xanax should be made. as always, consult with your doctor. 50 mg qd luvox is not the source of your discomfort, in my opinion. switching from a long-term dose of xanax to a relatively low dose of klonopin in an abrupt fashion is. in my opinion, i would increase klonopin to 1mg bid while tapering from xanax over a time period that will likely be several weeks, given the 8 year duration of your xanax treatment. please keep us informed, and all the best, chemist
> >
>
>
Posted by WAKI on July 28, 2004, at 11:49:47
In reply to Switching from Xanax to Klonopin, advice please!, posted by Vitalsign0 on July 24, 2004, at 1:26:26
I was switched from Xanax to Klonopin and it was a disaster for me.
I noticed a clear difference that supported what my p-doc said. I was advised that Xanax had a short half life and Klonopin had a longer half life.
When ever I take Klonopin I slip in to a deep depression for about 24 hours strong then ramp out of depression over the next 24 hours. I have tried it about 10 times and until I charted my meds I was taking and results it generated I did not know what my problem was.
I broke up the smallest Klonopin in a 1/4 piece and I still had negitive results.
When i take xanax it lasts about 4 hours strong for me and I ramp and recover fully out of it in another 4 hours.
My point is for me it was a disaster but for you, simply test it. Your best armed tool going into it in my opinion is that it has a longer half life and monitor the cause and effects of it.
Let me know if your results change from your original opinion and good luck!
PS: This is a fantastic message board. I am in a federal test program for some universtities regarding my depression and adhd and treating it with med. I learn more from this message board then I learn from anywhere else!
Dr. Bob my hats off to ya my friend!
Posted by Dr. Bob on July 28, 2004, at 14:29:07
In reply to Re:Switching frm Xanax to Klonopin (Disaster 4 me), posted by WAKI on July 28, 2004, at 11:49:47
This is the end of the thread.
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