Aa
Desperately need advice
I have been taking Xanax on a routine daily basis,
My Dr has retired and the new one will not refill. He has given me clonazepam. What if any side affects will I have switching to the clonazepam and abruptly discontinuing the Xanax .
My Dr has retired and the new one will not refill. He has given me clonazepam. What if any side affects will I have switching to the clonazepam and abruptly discontinuing the Xanax .
Best Answer
Agree. It's hard to find a drug that works, and nursegirl is right on, klonopin is no picnic either. Just as she does, I get so angry whenever somebody posts on here that a new doctor arbitrarily takes someone off a medication that is working and doubly angry when they do it in an way that might cause problems. Good for you for standing your ground.
Thank you so much! I am gonna have to make a stand on this! I don't know why I didn't in the first place. I know so much about my meds and how they affect my brain and body. Really hard to have to find a new Dr after 10 or more years. The Drs out there now seem so cold !
You've got a good head on your shoulders! I agree with finding a new doc. While there may be some pluses to the proposed switch, I get so angry when I hear that a doctor is making a decision FOR a patient without even entering into a discussion with the patient about it. Sadly, too many docs have developed a strong opinion about one drug or another, most times, with a subpar reason for their opinion. It;s actually funny, one doc will be dead set against EVER Rx'ing Xanax, some feel the same way about Ativan, some about Klonopin, yet they will Rx a different benzo, when they all share the same risks to a degree.
I hope you find a doc willing to listen to you, and hear your concerns. It may be that the switch to Klonopin is actually a good idea, but you need a doctor who will work WITH you, not just dictate to you what you're GOING to do, and help you make the switch in a way YOU are comfortable with.
Let us know!
I hope you find a doc willing to listen to you, and hear your concerns. It may be that the switch to Klonopin is actually a good idea, but you need a doctor who will work WITH you, not just dictate to you what you're GOING to do, and help you make the switch in a way YOU are comfortable with.
Let us know!
Whoops I absolutely hit wrong on my I pad. Sorry, wanted to reply that I'm so glad for you replying. The doc is an arrogant person, whom I will not see again Had I known he did not agree with my previous Dr on keeping me on it Xanax I would not have chosen him. Now I am going to have to search very carefully. If I am to go off Xanax I would want to be weaned off. I have done this before with my a Dr.s help when I was pregnant 27 years ago!
Also, what is the doc's rationale for the switch? Why is he insisting on the Klonopin over the Xanax? Is it due to tolerance issues? It actually isn't a bad idea if you're taking the Xanax regularly to switch to the loner acting Klonopin, to cut down on the ups and downs, but there are more optimal ways to do that IMO.
I do believe the Dr is wrong and I should taper off the Xanax. Really needed justification that I was right and he is wrong. Thank you
You can't quit a benzo abruptly, and switching from one to another, because all drugs work differently, isn't the recommended way of doing this. You should first taper slowly off the Xanax before starting the new medication. These two work differently -- Xanax is fast-acting, while Klonopin takes longer to set in and lasts longer in effect. But that's theoretical, because how well a drug works is so individual to the person. That's why you'll often see people on here advise against doing these drugs with GPs and recommend seeing an experienced and knowledgeable psychiatrist. Now, you could be absolutely fine with this, as the poster above apparently is, but why would any doctor play with the possibility you won't be? Before I did this I'd question the new doctor about possible consequences, and if you don't like the answers, find a psychiatrist you trust.
You shouldn't have any. Both are benzodiazepines, clonazepam takes a bit longer to kick in and it's a lot longer lasting than alprazolam (Xanax).
I switch between the two pretty frequently, anywhere from every few months to a couple of times a year. I usually switch back to clonazepam because alprazolam loses it's efficacy for me quickly since I have a significant tolerance to benzodiazepines after being on them for years.
I switch between the two pretty frequently, anywhere from every few months to a couple of times a year. I usually switch back to clonazepam because alprazolam loses it's efficacy for me quickly since I have a significant tolerance to benzodiazepines after being on them for years.
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Optimally, you really should be tapered off the Xanax, then started on the Klonopin. That's the most common (and recommended) way of transitioning.
Also, one has to consider approximate dosage equivalencies. It's not an exact science, it's impossible to say that x mg equals y mg, but there are comparable doses. What are the doses of each med you're talking about? If your doc refuses to taper you off, especially if the dose of Klonopin is not sufficient, you may run into some problems.
Is your doc a psychiatrist? If not, ask for a referral to one to manage these meds.