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Mental Health (Expert Forum)

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Switching from Alprazolam to Klonopin

Answered by

Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness

Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.

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MedHelp Member's Question

Switching from Alprazolam to Klonopin

by Rotty, May 11, 2006 12:00AM

Tags: alprazolam, mental, Health, Mental Health, xanax, years

yesteray my psych switched me from taking alprazolam .25mg 3x daily to klonoin .5mg 3x daily as needed to help me deal with switching from an ssri to wellbutrin. i was the one who brought it up to him because in all the research i've done alprazolam (xanax) is one of the worst benzo's to get off of. i may need to be on something for awhile as i go through this process and so we discussed it and decided that klonopin was a better choice. my question is this. i've been on the xanax for one month. at this point am i in danger of having already developed a physical dependence to it? i've gone from xanax yesterday straight to klonopin today. so far feel a little off. klonopin definately doesn't have that quick "kick" that xanax has. maybe that's why it's easy to get addicted to. anyway, of course my goal is to not have to take any of these except occassionally. i asked about buspar and my psych said it would work in my situation. any thoughts, comments on any of this?? thx!

Doctor's Answer

by Roger Gould, M.D.

, May 12, 2006 12:00AM

Klonopin is the perfect answer, and yes it does not have the quick fix and that is why it is smooother and easier to get off, and while on it, you will not have any xanax withdrawals, they share the same chemical base.

Member Comments (8)

by tamrz, May 11, 2006 12:00AM

I too was taking xanax and switched to Klonopin. I was on xanax for over 3 years. .50 at bedtime and .25 whenever I needed it for anxiety. Klonopin definately does not have the fast kick like the xanax and I miss that. I find I really don't feel even a .50 for about an hour or 2 and then it is a real groggy feeling. Not as relaxing as xanax. But it's the better choice for long term use and easier to get off of. Most every advice I have read from the physicians say the better choice is Klonopin and don't stress about it. Don't worry too much about the dependancy of this..............get through the days and nights and feel better. There will come a time when you can taper slowly. Good Luck...

by tmangeles, May 12, 2006 12:00AM

I have been on xanax for 5 years...Never thought I could be addicted to anything...I am seriously addicted to xanax..I tried getting off a couple times with no success..I read articles where people have gotten off this terrible drug..The withdrawal is so bad and physically taxing..Ya,I would get off them if I could..

by stuportrouper, May 12, 2006 12:00AM

From what I've gathered from the messages here, I seem to be taking a very high dosage of clonazepam(klonopin)at 2.5 -3.0mg/day, but have not yet felt any need to increase the dosage and have no trouble with med-free days if I'm feeling strong. I also take Zyprexa 7.5mg and that seems to be causing more problems(blunted emotions,apathy). Clonazepam is marketed almost everywhere(outside the US) only as an anti-epileptic and therefore isn't intended to give a "kick". It is off-label that the med is used as an anxiolytic and for alcohol withdrawal here in Germany, but many studies that I have read consider it more effective than Xanax in the mid to long term and not as troublesome during withdrawal.

by stuportrouper, May 12, 2006 12:00AM

to rotty. I tried buspar and it made me manic rather than relaxed. I know this is a subjective view, but buspar also takes 2 weeks before you feel any effects, positive or negative.

by jzzlvr13, May 13, 2006 12:00AM

I have been on xanax, usually three mg a day, for about a year. I tried to switch to klonopin but I got some very significant heart beat skips all through the day and started to feel depressed. Back to xanax. I'm trying Zoloft, my first AD, for my anxiety and what I would call funky feelings. I am hoping it will kick in and I can start to reduce the xanax. I usually just take it in the morning, my bad time, and don't seem to have any problems for the rest of the day if I don't take any more(if it's a good day.) I'm not very reactive to meds though, and have had very minor side effects from the Zoloft. I think it will help me lose weight, though, as my appetite is lessened. I can definitely use that.

by marksman, May 14, 2006 12:00AM

tmangeles,

You should talk to your doctor about crossing you over to Valium if you seriously want to get off the Xanax. Dr. Ashton in the Uk is very successful in getting people addicted to high potency Benzo's off by switching them over to Valium. She ran a Benzo addiction clinic for 10 years in the Uk where Xanax was approved years before here in the USA.

Just remember Xanax is 20 times more potentiating on the Gabba receptors in your bain. This means when your doctor crosses you over he will have to multiply by a factor of 20, for example if your taking 2mgs of Xanax you will have to start taking 40mgs of Valium a day then begin the weaning off scedule.

Valium has a much longer half life then Xanax anywhere from 1.5 to many days. It provides a very gradual tapering off and much less withdrawl symptoms then Xanax, Ativan, or Klonopin.

by Lajuden, Aug 05, 2007 08:50AM

To: M.D.-RG

I too have been told to switch from alprazolam to Klonopin after 6 years of taking alprazolam. Tomorrow will be my first day off alprazolam. I would love to know the best way to taper, as my doctor is not very knowledgable in this area. Thanks!!

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