How do I switch from klonopin to valium

[Southie]

Ive been on klonopin for 3 months.  the 1st month and a half i was on .25mg every 12 hours.  The last month and a half Ive been on .5mg every 12 hours.  It hasnt really helped with my generalized anxiety.  My doc is allowing me to switch from klonopin to valium.  he is willing to let me take 5 mg of valium every 8 hours.  I realize that this is a little lower in comparison to the klonopin i was taking but it is all he is willing to do at this point.  he might allow me to take more valium but wants to start at 5 mg every 8 hours first.  How do i make this transition from klonopin to valium?  
Thanks to anyone that can help!

[MrGreen]

Any good at maths?  1 mg of Klonopin =  20 mg of Valium. So .25mg Klonopin = 5mg Valium. ( I think ) From what I can work out the dosage is about the same. Valium just peeks quicker and seems to wear off quicker. But you will taken the Valium ever 8 hours. The Klonopin was every 12 hours. So I don't really see any real issues. Seems you will be getting more of the Valium than you were of the Klonopin. Ryan will no correct any errors in this post when he arises once more.

[Ryan7591]

MrGreen summed it up for you. 0.25 mg of Klonopin is equal in potency to 5 mg of Valium. The duration of action for Klonopin is about 12 hours, and the duration of action for Valium ranges from 6-8 hours. You can get away with taking the Klonopin twice daily, but not the Valium (which should be dosed four times daily).

Klonopin is usually worthless for generalized anxiety and "tension" anxiety. If you're not having panic attacks, Valium is the better choice. The standard dosage for moderate cases is 5 milligrams four times daily, and 10 milligrams four times daily for moderate-to-severe cases.

The only bad thing about Valium, as MrGreen has pointed out, is that is peaks and troughs very rapidly. It's a "rollercoaster" type of drug in the beginning. The duration of effects in the average person last for about 6 hours, after which point you can feel the drug wearing off (interdose). After one month of chronic use, the level in your blood will even out and prevent the interdose - provided you take it three or four times daily.

As far as making a direct transition from Klonopin to Valium at your dosage, it's not a problem. If you took 0.5 milligrams of Klonopin for the last month and a half, you'd want to replace that with 20 mg of Valium (5 mg, every six hours). You were shorted one tablet/day. While you would be VERY unlikely to notice any withdrawal from this slight reduction, you may notice some rebound anxiety between doses. If you do, be sure and call the doctor. Give the Valium a good two weeks before you draw any conclusions. This drug must build up in your system to become fully effective.

Let us know how it works out for you.

Ryan

[Ryan7591]

If you took 0.5 milligrams of Klonopin for the last month and a half

^typo

Should read:

If you took 0.5 milligrams of Klonopin TWICE DAILY (which you did) for the last month and a half, you'd want to replace that with 20 mg of Valium.

[Southie]

Thanks for the guidance on how to switch from klonopin to valium.  Are both of these drugs ok for long term use.  My doc said some people have to take these drugs forever.  Is it ok to take these drugs for a lifetime.  FYI....I dont plan on taking them at the same time.  I will either be on klonopin or valium.  Also, would it be ok to switch back to the klonopin after a month or so if i thought the klonopin was more effective?  Hopefully this want be the case but i guess you never know until you try.  Or is it bad to switch back and forth between these two.  Last, is it still ok to take xanax if i am having severe anxiety.  This might be the case once a week.  

[Ryan7591]

Yes, both Klonopin and Valium are indicated for long-term use. The other two are Librium and Tranxene. Avoid the long-term use of Ativan, Serax and Xanax, as their short half-lives preclude their use over the long-term due to the development of tolerance.

It is OK to take Klonopin or Valium for the remainder of your life. Those with certain forms of epilepsy do. However, I wouldn't recommend it. There are usually some cognitive effects over the long-term.

Never take Klonopin and Valium together (unless the Valium is used only as-needed), but it is completely acceptable to take a dose of Xanax infrequently when absolutely needed (once/week in fine). Just as the asthmatic has a rescue inhaler for sudden attacks, you should have a rescue drug for your anxiety attacks. That's what Xanax is indicated for. Just be certain that you have consent from the doctor to use the Xanax in conjunction with either the Klonopin or Valium.

There are no serious problems switching back and forth between Klonopin and Valium; although ideally, you'd want to find the one that works best and stick with it.

Ryan

[Southie]

Thanks for that helpful info.  You say you wouldnt recommend taking them for a lifetime b/c there are usually some cognitive effects over the long-term.  What exactly are you talking about.  If you dont suggest this what do you suggest for someone who might face a lifetime of anxiety and need to be on klonopin or valium forever.  Is there a better alternative?  I know one thing, i dont want to feel the constant anxiety i feel and cant imagine not being able to use them to help alleviate anxiety forever.

[deano198]

My doctor is using Librium to wean me off of Klonopin. I was taking 10 mg of Klonopin twice a day for ten years. He has me on equal mgs of Librium the first week, then tapering from three capsules to two the second two weeks. How effective is using Librium to wean off Klonopin? I am in a mental funk right now, but hoping to work through it, as I have tried to wean off Klonopin many times with no success.