AGORAPHOPIC AND XANAX

HI  , I  WAS  TAKING  20MGS OF  PAXIL FOR THE  LAST 7YRS,  THEN  I   WEANED  MYSELF  OFF( IT  TOOK ABOUT  8 MONTHS)
I HAVE  ALSO  BEEN  ON KLONOPIN (.5 MG TO  1MG  DAILY)  FOR  ABOUT 3 MONTHS,  THEN  I RAN OUT  AND  ONLY  HAD  XANAX  LEFT!
I HAVE  2  QUESTIONS
1.  CAN YOU  REPLACE  KLONOPIN  WITH  XANAX AS  A PREVENTIVE MED???
2.  I HAVE ALSO  BECOME  VERY  AGORAPHOBIC!   UNABLE  TO LEAVE THE HOUSE, GO  TO  STORE, ANYWHERE!  EVEN  WHEN  I WAS ON PAXIL!  ANY  ANSWERS?????

[xanweaner]

You may get some good info. here on the site by doing a search using "Klonopin and Ryan". Ryan is an incredibly knowledgeable young man who has provided pharmacological info. to members here, and he has posted quite a bit about these 2 drugs.

If you have a problem finding anything, post again, and you may get some additional help in doing your search from other forum folks.

Did your agoraphobia begin after your discontinuation of Klonopin? I don't know much about this drug, but I do believe that it's not advisable to stop taking it abruptly. You should contact a pharmacist to ask for their guidance on this subject if you can't get help from your prescribing physician.

You should do this right away...
Good luck, and I hope that you can get some answers and direction so you can feel better soon.

[Summer123]

Hi.  Paxil never helped my panic attacks or agoraphobia and I stayed on it for years (it did help with depression though).  Klonopin and xanex are supposed to be equivalent in dosage except for klonopin is longer acting than the xanex (the xanex can wear off in as little as 4 hours).

Think most people will agree that cognitive behavior therapy is the best overall treatment for agoraphobia and panic.  If you stopped taking your klonopin abruptly, you could have an increase in anxiety, panic and agoraphobia.  I think you should call your doctor and get a refill of the klonopin and then if you want to go off it, taper it.

As xanweaner suggested, Ryan is a good source of info on meds.  Good luck.

[catisme]

Hello, can you call the pharmacist? Are you able to go see your dr.? I have been on an anti depressant and it didn't do anything for the panic attacks or help with the agoraphobia, but did help with PTSD and GAD. My dr. won't prescribe anything like xanax or klonopin because of the whole habit forming thing. So, I agree with summer123 above that CBT would be the best overall treatment, it's a lot of work but worth it.

Good luck and let us know how you are coming along.