what happens when benzos don't kick in?? Anyone else had this experience?

I have taken xanax occasionally for many years, only in case of emergency panic situations or when flying or other high stress situations.  Usually a .25 works to ease things out, sometimes I have to go to .5, never any more. this has always worked for me, it is my security blanket, I don't go anywhere without taking my pill bottle....but I only take them between 1-2/wk to 1/a mo. and if I'm doing really well, even less. Recently a doc switched me to klonopin 1mg as needed, but I had many xanax left over in my old script, and since I was comfortable with the effects, I stuck with the xanax.  I tried the klonopin as a preventative before a stressful situation a few times and I didn't have any probs with symptoms, so I figured that worked too.  Then one day before an event I took the kpin and it had no effect. I had an attack in the middle of an event...it was like I hadn't taken anything.  I know that it actually works best taken regularly, so I started to take the klonopin daily in .5 doses twice as day, but then I backed off it, as I kind of got scared of taking a daily med, even though my anxiety has been high lately.  So I took the .5 2x a day for 3-4 days, then cut it in half for a few, then 1/2 that (which may have been an uneccessary taper given the short duration, I don't know) I guess i don't really know if it would have worked as a daily, since I backed out...I do know that10 years ago, I took a daily benzo(tranxene) and it worked beautifully. But a doc took me off of that and onto  effexor, which I discontinued 2 years ago. But anyway, after no kpin for 5 days, i had a panic attack at work and took .25 xanax...I was still losing my mind 45 min later, so I took another.  Again, it was like I hadn't taken anything at all.....no effect! How can this be?? If benzos don't work anymore, my life will be severely limited:( Has anyone else ever had this happen? How can the effect change so drastically...sometimes a 1 mg kpin has made me so sleepy, It practically knocked me out..Any ideas?? I appreciate any thoughts you good people may have.  thanks!

[Salford66]

Hi,

That just happened to me! I feel so sorry for you. It is bad enough having to rely on these pills but at least you have a safety net. I started getting attacks regularly January and the doctor presrcibed xanax to take when needed. This worked for me as I am opposed to other antidepressants and if I felt a bit iffy I would take half. Some days I was okay.

I have been getting attacks when I run so I take half of a .25mg so I can do it as I do love to run. However, the other night  I got a massive attack eventhough I had taken half, luckily I had an extra one stuffed in my bra top and took that also. It didn't kick in it seems until hours later. It was horrible I had to walk back like 2 miles, thought I was gonna black out, was going to ask somebody to walk with me.......try and get a ride to my car, just the worse.

I used to LOVE running at night now as soon as it turns dark I get panicky. It's so weird this 'illness' seems to attack all the things you love to do. It doesn't happen when I am washing the dishes!  I would love to find out if there was a liquid form of these pills that could act right away as depending on your mood etc. these pills take too much time.

[juliesculpt]

Thanks so much for responding...You are right , it DOES seem to attack all the things we love doing and being, that is what makes it so particularly cruel.  I am determined to reclaim my self and my life though, no matter what it takes...I really do think that doctors and mental health professionals have a very hard time relating to our conditions, which puts us on a pretty remote path, so it is good to meet others along the way:)

[Salford66]

Yes, doctors just want to put you on pills and I have read so much about these antidepressants it's scary. The main ingredient in Prozac is flouride which is also in rat poison! I don't mind taking the Xanax 'when I need it' but I don't need it all the time.

I was prescribed Lexapro but have not taken it yet, I heard you gain weight and I don't want that. I figure that these attacks don't happen when you are happy so you have to find out what is making you unhappy or what would make you happy.
I think the problem is.........when you are unhappy or a bit down your brain sends this message and you deal with the problem or at least recognise it. A movie, long bath, see a friend.....etc.
However, if you are depressed/panicky you can't recognise the messages being sent. So you try even harder to do the things you normally do or do more things when really you should be doing something to nurture yourself.

I have been working out everyday and not getting that 'tired' message which I used to now I start running and I guess I am so tired I get the 'panic' message instead. I'm hungry and I get the panic message, It's loud and noisy I get the panic message, it's hot.......etc etc. So, I am trying to figure it all out.

[Red931]

Your problem may be that you mixed the medications. I don't mean at the same time, but within too close of a time period after increasing the dosage of the Xanax. Both medications are benzodiazipines but work a little differently. Their half life is very different.

I think it would be best to speak with your doctor and be honest with him about what you did so he can come up with the best plan of action to get you back on track.

Good Luck.

[Red931]

By the way there is  Xanax that comes in a tablet form but disolves quickly under your tounge so it works right away similar to Nitroglycerin.


I hope this helps.

[juliesculpt]

well, I have wondered if it is a good idea to go back and forth between klonopin and xanax or not, even using them just occasionally.  I have heard that there is a faster dissolving form of klonopin available now, is that what you are referring to? I haven't heard of the dissolving xanax, but Faster acting is definately a plus.  What scared me the most though, is neither  drug seemed to EVER kick in.  I have been seeing a naturopath and she would prefer not to prescribe the benzos at all, so I probably need to find another doc to work with. It can be hard to get in without health insurance, so I tend to just hoard medication when I can get it prescribed. Thanks for your thoughts, I should definately find out about using both meds intermittently..they may affect one another, I guess..

[remar]

What is the date on your Xanax? I'm wondering if it's too old. You said that you don't take it very often so a presciption would last you a long time. Check the date and if it's old then call your pharmacy and ask them about it. You may just need to get a fresh presciption. Klonopin, from what I've read does take longer to work.

[Red931]

The Xanax is manufactured in a fast acting dissolvable tablet. I have them and they work well.

You should feel the effects of Xanax within 20 to 30 minutes after taking a regular dose. The fast acting tablet works right away as it dissolves under your tounge and is relaesed directly into your blood stream. That is the plus side to Xanax. On the other hand it only works for about four hours and even less once you build a tolerance to it. It also takes a very long time to come off of as the taper can take up to a year after long term use.

While I have never been prescribed Klonopin, people that I know that have prefer it because it has a longer lasting effect but should be taken everyday and does take some time to start to yeild a steady theraputic effect. Just like Xanax it will require a realtively long taper after continued use.

I was precribed my medication due to Mitral Valve Prolapse and Hypertension. When my doctor first prescribed it to me it was as needed. He later changed the prescription to .5 mg. once a day and after several years to .5 mg twice a day.

I was concerned with my dosage being increased as some of you are but my doctor explained that this is what has to be done over time if the medication is working for my particular condition. He also explained the taper method to me should I be able to stop the medication over time. Once all of this was explained to me I was comfortable with it.

I would suggest you talk with your doctor and see if you can't find what is best for you. You may need a daily dosage at this point.

I also wanted to ask you if you take any herbal suppliments? Some herbal suppliments will block the effects of benzodiazipines because they can alter enzymes in your liver that metabolize the drug.

[juliesculpt]

Hi Red,
Thanks so much for  taking the time to answer. Yes, in my previous experience with xanax( over the last 8 years or so) it has always kicked in within 30 minutes, that's why it scared me when it did not.   I definately want to know about the immediate dissolving form...is it much more expensive that way?  
I do take some herbs and vitamins, including something called liv support, that helps detoxify the liver...I wonder if that could have an effect?? It is a blend of herbs...I used to take milk thistle and recently switched to this blend...hmmm...what do you think? Do you know which herbs specifically interfere with benzos?

[juliesculpt]

Does anyone know if  there is an immediate/dissolving form of klonopin, as well as xanax?

[bosnianworrier]

I doubt there is such klonopin or xanax.

Benzos dont work for me either. When I take really high doze then I just get dizzy.

Perhaps antidepressants are our best choice.

[juliesculpt]

I've gone the anti-depressant route and they just had too many side effects for me....benzos have always been a life saver for me, so I am hoping there is some other explanation :)  But anti deppressants do help many, many people, so they might be just what you need.

[lynn57]

Klonopin wafers are more expensive because they are not generic, but they do exist.  I used them when I first started having panic attacks.

[Red931]

Milk Thistle is one of the herbs that does inhibit the absorbtion of Xanax. I take Milk Thistle as well as Dandelion Root and Turmeric to detoxify my liver as I have to take pain medication everyday for chronic pain.

I make sure that I take the Milk Thistle hours after the Xanax so that the Xanax has already metabolized in my system. This works well and avoids any side effects.

Check the label on the suppliment you are taking and see if it has Milk Thistle in it. If so, you might want to stop taking it or do what I do and make sure that you don't take it anytime close to when you will be taking your Xanax.

I hope this helps.

[juliesculpt]

Thanks Red, that's really helpful info, I am going to look into it some more..the weird thing is that I've taken milk thistle for many years and never noticed any problem with the xanax before now, so I was thinking it was the new herbal blend(which does not have milk thistle) ....Do  you happen to know if any of these herbs inhibit benzos..Capers, Chicory, Black nightshade, Arjuna, Negro coffee, Yarrow, Tamarisk...Also I am curious as to what kind of pain meds are best to take when one is taking benzos..I have a lot of back and neck pain, and am not sure which pain meds are ok to take..

[Red931]

There are alot of herbs out there that don't have any documentation to prove that they can interact with other medications. Milk Thistle has only recently been found to counteract benzodizipines. The labels on my bottles don't indicate any side effects or interactions. That is why it is best to space the dosage of the benzo and the herbs by at least three hours to avoid any conflict.

You would have to speak with your doctor about what pain medication would be best for you as some people can not tolerate any of them. I have not known any prescription pain meds you can't take while taking benzo's because I have been given all of them at one time or another. Again, unless administered by an Anesthesiologist, I never take them at the same time. I space the dosages hours apart even though the doctor or pharmacist has not told me that I have to do that.

It is always better to be safe.

[Ariom63]

There is also an extended relrease xanax...Xanax XR..alot of doctors prefer prescribing that then you standard xanax.  I have not tried it, but another patient where I go does.

[Red931]

Yes, I am aware of the Extended Release Tablets but I have found the opposite in my home state. The doctors here are reluctant to prescribe it and would rather write  take as needed on the prescription as long as they can. They are affraid of getting sued around here all the time.

I can't blame them when you have people order hot coffee and then burn themselves because they are too impatient to wait two minutes to put it to their mouth suing the mom and pop store that didn't give them stale cold coffee for nonsense.

There are too many people that make the conscious choice to become addicted to drugs these days and then want to blame their doctor for trying to help them.

This discussion is for another forum. I am getting off-topic.