Xanax PRN with Klonopin(Ryan)

I take 1.625mgs of Klonopin daily for Panic Disorder/GAD.  I have reduced down from 2.0 mgs since about February 2008. I was hoping to taper by 0.125mgs monthly until I am off next year.

However, the nature of my work is very stressful at times and I have a day or two each week when I struggle with my anxiety due to a combination of withdrawal symptoms and my work.  My psychiatrist has given me Xanax for this on a PRN basis.  I take the Xanax no more than once or twice a week at a dose of about 0.5mgs.  This seems to work well.

In the past, when I was not taking Klonopin, I used Xanax once or twice a week at most when stress was to great.  This worked well and I could often take only 0.25mgs to do the trick.  Many times I skipped weeks at a time.  This is where I want to be again if possible unless I am just better off taking Klonopin long term.  I'm 52 years old and have struggled with PD/GAD for over 12 years.  One of my reasons for wanting to get off of Klonopin was the fear of tolerance to the anti-anxiety effects that I have read about on so many other sites.  My regular psychiatrist (Who is very kind and like a friend to me these last 12 years) and an anxiety disorder psychiatrist who lectures on this told me that he does not see tolerance with Klonopin in his Panic Disorder patients.

My question to Ryan is does using Xanax PRN hurt my tapering process too much.  I sure hope not because it is my safety net at times.  I just don't know if there is any psychopharmacological reason this would prevent me from continuing my taper of Klonopin.

Also,  I usually take Ambien CR 12.5 mgs most nignts or I will awaken in the middle of the night.  I don't need it to get to sleep but I awaken much more rested and feel better when I take it.

Toothartist