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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Violet4EVR on October 17, 2004, at 23:08:46
Hello all,
I am considering trying Klonopin (clonazepam) instead of taking Xanax.
I typically take Xanax .75 mg once a day to control anxiety.
I was curious as to the different effects of Xanax and Klonopin??? I work full time and am in Graduate school full time, so I get very anxious alot of times at work and and at school..... I take Xanax espeically before class, due to social anxiety.....
Can anyone shed some light on this topic?
Thank you so very much
Most Grateful,
Violet
Posted by Kon on October 18, 2004, at 0:08:04
In reply to XANAX To KLONOPIN????, posted by Violet4EVR on October 17, 2004, at 23:08:46
Adv's of Xanax:
1. faster acting but also leaves your system faster. If your anxiety is situational and predictable, xanax may be the better choice for as-needed use. While Klonopin can be used as-needed,(this is how I use it)it also stays in your system longer (along with prolonged sedation) perhaps when you don't need or want it.
2. Some evidence for xanax anti-depressant properties. Klonopin also has some evidence for this but there is also evidence that in roughly 9% of klonopin users it can cause depression.
Adv's of Klonopin:
1. Less evidence of cognitive impairment in comparison to xanax/ativan/valium.
2. On average, Klonopin has a lower dependency potential and withdrawal symtoms tend to be milder than xanax (if they occur).
3. More research studies supporting the efficacy of klonopin for social anxiety disorder than xanax.
4. Generally, easier to get a Rx of klonopin than xanax.
Posted by awatts on October 18, 2004, at 6:37:25
In reply to Re: XANAX To KLONOPIN????, posted by Kon on October 18, 2004, at 0:08:04
> Adv's of Xanax:
>
> 1. faster acting but also leaves your system faster. If your anxiety is situational and predictable, xanax may be the better choice for as-needed use. While Klonopin can be used as-needed,(this is how I use it)it also stays in your system longer (along with prolonged sedation) perhaps when you don't need or want it.
>
> 2. Some evidence for xanax anti-depressant properties. Klonopin also has some evidence for this but there is also evidence that in roughly 9% of klonopin users it can cause depression.
>
> Adv's of Klonopin:
>
> 1. Less evidence of cognitive impairment in comparison to xanax/ativan/valium.
>
> 2. On average, Klonopin has a lower dependency potential and withdrawal symtoms tend to be milder than xanax (if they occur).
>
> 3. More research studies supporting the efficacy of klonopin for social anxiety disorder than xanax.
>
> 4. Generally, easier to get a Rx of klonopin than xanax.
>
>
I agree with everything above, but would add that any sedation caused by Klonopin or Xanax almost always goes away after a few weeks of regular use.I take Klonopin, but also carry Xanax for use only when I have a panic attack.
Posted by Snowie on October 18, 2004, at 8:52:47
In reply to Re: XANAX To KLONOPIN????, posted by Kon on October 18, 2004, at 0:08:04
Hi,
As for my situation, I agree that Klonopin worked better on social anxiety than Xanax did, and it also caused depression where none had existed previously, but I disagree that Klonopin causes less cognitive impairment than Xanax. In fact, for me I felt as though my brain was in a fog for much of the time I was taking Klonopin, which may be why I was more social - I didn't care what people thought of me! I also disagree that withdrawal symptoms are milder than from Xanax since I've gotten off both. If you've been on either long enough to become dependent, the withdrawals will eventually come with both. With Xanax they just start sooner rather than later. However, if you ever decide you want to get off them, you can as long as you maintain a very slowly taper schedule. It took 9 mos. for me to get off 3-4 mgs. of Xanax a day, and while I had some withdrawal especially toward the end, it was manageable. However, the quality of my life was much better while I was on benzos.
Snowie
> Adv's of Xanax:
>
> 1. faster acting but also leaves your system faster. If your anxiety is situational and predictable, xanax may be the better choice for as-needed use. While Klonopin can be used as-needed,(this is how I use it)it also stays in your system longer (along with prolonged sedation) perhaps when you don't need or want it.
>
> 2. Some evidence for xanax anti-depressant properties. Klonopin also has some evidence for this but there is also evidence that in roughly 9% of klonopin users it can cause depression.
>
> Adv's of Klonopin:
>
> 1. Less evidence of cognitive impairment in comparison to xanax/ativan/valium.
>
> 2. On average, Klonopin has a lower dependency potential and withdrawal symtoms tend to be milder than xanax (if they occur).
>
> 3. More research studies supporting the efficacy of klonopin for social anxiety disorder than xanax.
>
> 4. Generally, easier to get a Rx of klonopin than xanax.
Posted by Violet4EVR on October 18, 2004, at 9:28:39
In reply to Re: XANAX To KLONOPIN???? » Kon, posted by Snowie on October 18, 2004, at 8:52:47
Thank you so much for all of your input.
I appreciate it so very much.Best Wishes all :)
Violet
Posted by woolav on October 18, 2004, at 10:18:23
In reply to Re: XANAX To KLONOPIN????, posted by awatts on October 18, 2004, at 6:37:25
Hi, One more thing. I took xanax for years and my pdoc switched me to klonopin. I dont like the fact that it can cause depression, but I take prozac and lamictal to offset that. But, boy did i have bad withdrawl symptoms from the xanax. I think thats something to consider because like some others have posted the withdrawls arent as bad with klonopin. And I had a horrible few weeks after getting off xanax.....
Good Luck.
Posted by Snowie on October 18, 2004, at 11:30:19
In reply to Re: XANAX To KLONOPIN????, posted by woolav on October 18, 2004, at 10:18:23
Hi,
I had the same reaction with both meds, i.e., I had withdrawal from Klonopin when I went back to Xanax, and I later had withdrawal from Xanax when I started taking Klonopin again. You'll be less likely to have those withdrawal problems if you match the equivalent potency of what you were taking to the drug you are taking. For instance, when I went back to Xanax after taking 2 mg. of Klonopin, I thought 2 mg. of Xanax would be equivalent or enough, but it wasn't, and I had huge withdrawal from Klonopin. Same thing happened when I went from Klonopin to Xanax, and so many pdocs don't understand this or they disagree as to the equivalencies of benzos. Here's a chart that is supposedly accurate as to what the equivalencies of benzos are, that is posted on Dr. Bob's website. Best of luck!
http://www.dr-bob.org/tips/bzd.html
Snowie
> Hi, One more thing. I took xanax for years and my pdoc switched me to klonopin. I dont like the fact that it can cause depression, but I take prozac and lamictal to offset that. But, boy did i have bad withdrawl symptoms from the xanax. I think thats something to consider because like some others have posted the withdrawls arent as bad with klonopin. And I had a horrible few weeks after getting off xanax.....
> Good Luck.
Posted by Snowie on October 18, 2004, at 11:37:02
In reply to Re: XANAX To KLONOPIN???? » woolav, posted by Snowie on October 18, 2004, at 11:30:19
Oops...I made a mistake. I meant in the 3rd to last sentence:
"Same thing happened when I went from XANAX to KLONOPIN, and so many pdocs don't understand this or they disagree as to the equivalencies of benzos."
Snowie
> Hi,
>
> I had the same reaction with both meds, i.e., I had withdrawal from Klonopin when I went back to Xanax, and I later had withdrawal from Xanax when I started taking Klonopin again. You'll be less likely to have those withdrawal problems if you match the equivalent potency of what you were taking to the drug you are taking. For instance, when I went back to Xanax after taking 2 mg. of Klonopin, I thought 2 mg. of Xanax would be equivalent or enough, but it wasn't, and I had huge withdrawal from Klonopin. Same thing happened when I went from Klonopin to Xanax, and so many pdocs don't understand this or they disagree as to the equivalencies of benzos. Here's a chart that is supposedly accurate as to what the equivalencies of benzos are, that is posted on Dr. Bob's website. Best of luck!
>
> http://www.dr-bob.org/tips/bzd.html
>
> Snowie
Posted by Snowie on October 18, 2004, at 11:45:06
In reply to Re: XANAX To KLONOPIN????, posted by Snowie on October 18, 2004, at 11:37:02
Yikes! Now I know why Tranxene hasn't been working well for me. At 15 mg. once a day, that's only equivalent to about .75 mg. of Xanax. I definitely need to talk to my pdoc.
Snowie
> Oops...I made a mistake. I meant in the 3rd to last sentence:
>
> "Same thing happened when I went from XANAX to KLONOPIN, and so many pdocs don't understand this or they disagree as to the equivalencies of benzos."
>
> Snowie
>
> > Hi,
> >
> > I had the same reaction with both meds, i.e., I had withdrawal from Klonopin when I went back to Xanax, and I later had withdrawal from Xanax when I started taking Klonopin again. You'll be less likely to have those withdrawal problems if you match the equivalent potency of what you were taking to the drug you are taking. For instance, when I went back to Xanax after taking 2 mg. of Klonopin, I thought 2 mg. of Xanax would be equivalent or enough, but it wasn't, and I had huge withdrawal from Klonopin. Same thing happened when I went from Klonopin to Xanax, and so many pdocs don't understand this or they disagree as to the equivalencies of benzos. Here's a chart that is supposedly accurate as to what the equivalencies of benzos are, that is posted on Dr. Bob's website. Best of luck!
> >
> > http://www.dr-bob.org/tips/bzd.html
> >
> > Snowie
Posted by woolav on October 19, 2004, at 7:42:41
In reply to Equivalency, posted by Snowie on October 18, 2004, at 11:45:06
Posted by Cecilia on October 24, 2004, at 1:19:10
In reply to Equivalency, posted by Snowie on October 18, 2004, at 11:45:06
I`ve found three different charts on the internet Dr. Bob`s says that 0.5 mg alprazolam is equal to 0.25 mg clonazepam, another that they were equal in potency and a third said that it would take 2 mg clonazepam to equal 0.5 mg alprazolam! I guess it doesn`t make much difference which one you believe, your doctor is going to prescribe according to what he or she believes and that`s that. Cecilia
Posted by Snowie on October 25, 2004, at 11:20:48
In reply to Re: Equivalency, posted by Cecilia on October 24, 2004, at 1:19:10
Cecilia,
I know what you mean! Why can't they agree on a definitive equivalency? For me, I found Klonopin slightly more potent than what I had been taking, which was 15 mg. of Tranxene in the morning, and occasionally 15 mg. in the evenings. I always had rebound anxiety before lunchtime with Tranxene and just toughed it out, but with .5 mg. of Klonopin this morning I feel great and it's already lunchtime.
Snowie
> I`ve found three different charts on the internet Dr. Bob`s says that 0.5 mg alprazolam is equal to 0.25 mg clonazepam, another that they were equal in potency and a third said that it would take 2 mg clonazepam to equal 0.5 mg alprazolam! I guess it doesn`t make much difference which one you believe, your doctor is going to prescribe according to what he or she believes and that`s that. Cecilia
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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