Xanax versus Klonopin

[Darius5691]

I just switched from Xanax .5 mg (2x/day) to Klonopin .5 (2x/day), for anxiety. Are they 1:1 or is Klonopin 2x stronger? I started Xanax on June 2, went from .5mg total/day to 1mg/day.

After 4 days on Klonopin, I still have some underlying anxiety and slight tremor in my arms/hands. Just below the surface, not like when on Xanax. Is this normal? I heard it takes 3 days for K to reach steady state; 2 weeks before it evens out. I'm on Trazodone (75mg) for sleep. I understand that could even be causing some of my anxiety?

The heightened anxiety and insomnia came on all of a sudden. Nothing abnormal going on in my life. Too coincidental that it all started when I began SSRIs (my GP gave me Rx for Zoloft May 17, and on May 30 I had a whopper of panic attack. Heightened anxiety ever since. I came off Zoloft, tried Lexapro for a week, which made things worse - now off all SSRIs).

Menopause screen is normal. In remission from Grave's disease. Thyroid levels checked last month several times. Free T4 high 1.18 (interval from lab .61 - 1.12). TSH, while in normal range, is now lower - from .76, .654, .58 ... in the past it's been 1.35, 1.146. Could it be that I need a second opinion on my thyroid? I also have hashimotos thyroiditis.
Thank you very much. -Anne

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

Klonopin is almost the same as xanax but longer acting...those are comparable doses, so give it some time.  Re thyroid, a second opinion might be valuable, but increased anxiety and tremor usually comes with increase in thyroid, rather than decrease.  Don't forget to consider talk therapy for the sudden onset of anxiety.

[flyingonempty]

just thinking i went from 3.75mg at night for sleep to .5mg xanax and it still stings when i think about it ...i did this over 2 weeks and that is why i am sill at .5 mg 4 months later...but...i did not go back that is the worst thing to do redo it all over again!!! I need to find a way to sleep and get off the last .5mg OH i tried the klonopin as a sub it was so much harder to deal with/ no memory i mean gone what was your name again.. oh, your my wife what was your name LOL i mean really that bad, no kidding . then the can not see in the am till 11 am and then only a little...i am sure you all know the drill, I just wanted to say that there must be a better way to control the whatever is bothering us without the horrid benzo side effects. I pray for a non addictive way to sleep.
Gods Love and Blessing
JK

[Darius5691]

Flying,
I'm not sure I follow the meaning of your message. I'm guessing your last sentence, re: finding other ways to deal with anxiety without the need for benzo drugs, is your main point? If that's the case, while I appreciate your opinion, it does not help with my current question(s) to the doctor. I'm certainly not happy to be on this (or any) medication, by all means, but it is helping to even out my anxiety to where I can actually work on cognitive behavioral therapy and the like. Without it, I donot believe I'd be able to do that. I'm no doctor, but I believe this is the main reason people are put on benzos in the first place - to "get over the hump," so to speak. Some stay on them long-term, and I've got no judgment against that. For my own situation, I hope to be off Klonopin in another few months, or sooner, perhaps to a different anti-anxiety drug, or off meds completely. Which is why I switched to Klonopin from Xanax in the first place ... so that when the time comes to wean off, I will be in a better place. I hear that weaning off Xanax is more difficult because it's short-acting.

[azzouz]

is klonipin more helpful than xanax?? my anxiety is still bad with klonipin, im hoping that i can switch. which is better. klonipin has a longer half life..12 hours..but xanax is half life. but which is  better for relieving anxiety?
plz write back to
c_azzouz***@****
im desperate

[Louisastrm]

From personal experience, I have tried Valium, Xanax, and Klonopin, all three drugs being in the same family. Klonopin, for me, works differently than Valium (hated Xanax, made me sleepy with out relieving anxiety). Valium kicks the anxiety, but has the high possibility of putting me to sleep. Klonopin is slower and gentler, though less effective in the short term. I hope to try Atavan soon, as an alternative to Valium, but those are my experiences, which do in fact differ from my mothers experiences with the same drugs.

[rosetoes]

I have taken xanax before and it was a life saver for me.  It took my anxiety away within  minutes of taking a tablet.  I learned to deal with my anxiety and I weened myself off of them over a period of a couple of months.  I had no idea how addictive xanax was, I might had taken them as needed and not three times a day as instructed.

Good luck

[azzouz]

i have been on klonipin for 2 years along with trying many other ssris and bipolar meds. klonipin seems to work okay, and is safe to take for life. but since i stopped the paxil cuz of sexual dysfunction. (by the way, paxil was the verrrrrrrrrrrrry best ssri i have ever tried on 30 mgs) no depression no anxiety, side effects eventually go away. but the sexual dysfunction was ruining my marriage)  so my anxiety has spiked since i stopped taking it.  so i just wonder if xanax is one of those drugs u can stay on for longgggggggggggggggg periods of time. only on a as needed basis. just when anxiety spikes...not like every day. does anyone know how that would actually work
P.S MY DIAGNOSIS IS/PANIC DISORDER/GENERAL ANXIETY DISORDER/SEVERE DEPRESSION/ADULT ADD...MOOD DISORDER NOT OTHERWISE SPECIFIED, TO SHORTEN THAT UP. DOCS ARE CALLING THIS UNIPOLAR DISORDER.  JUST A LIL FYI.  I GUESS I CAN DISCUSS  THIS ALL WITH MY DOCTOR BUT I LIKE OTHER PEOPLES OPPINIONS AS WELL.

[Raine9]

You can get many opinions regarding this in the anxiety forum.  You can post a question or just browse the archives.  

I don't know about taking Xanax for long periods of time even on an as needed basis.  Xanax as you know is VERY addictive.

Good luck to you!

[Raine9]

If you want to ask Dr. Gould a question, you'll have to start a new thread.

However, as I said to azzouz, you can also post your question in the Anxiety Forum.  There's actually a thread on there right now about someone trying to get off Ativan, it's called "Took Klonopin last night, woke up badly", posted by mary m.  From what I read on the Anxiety Forum, Ativan is not that much different from Xanax. It is addictive and for short term, as needed, use only.  However, my knowledge regarding these drugs are very limitied.  Try posting your question in the Anxiety Forum if you can't get it in here.  There's a guy, named Ryan, there that knows a lot about these drugs.  However, remember to do your own research and talk to a doctor.

Good luck to you and your sister!

[TaDiDi]

My sister has beene experiencing some problems lately regarding her relationship. This has caused some depression and her not being able to sleep. Her doctor has prescribed her Atavan (sorry, i don't know the dose). He was initally going to prescribe Klonopin, however, my sister informed him that she had a problem with abusing pills in the past (xanax, ecstacy). Therefore, he thought it may be better for her to take Avatan. My question is can someone explain to me the level of ptoency between Xanax, Avatan, and Klonopin? I one more ddictive than the other? And does anyone feel that her taking Avatan and previously having a drug problem may put her at risk for becoming dependent again? Thanx for any information.

[azzouz]

has anyone tried vitamins b1 and b6 for anxiety and depression? i hear that they work for some people. let me know if ya have.

[pppp]

I took B6 No it dont do anything for eaither, but id rather take B6 or B1 over xanax any day!!!!

[pppp]

Dont take eaither quit now before its too late!!!  I took xanax  for 6 years for panic attacks. I got up to taking 20 or more a day. finally i came to and relized they was going to kill me if i didnt kill myself first. i tryed detox for about 4 months, but i couldnt do it. to me taking any that wasnt my normal amount did not work, so i only found myself buying them off the street (they were prescribed untill detox cut them shorter and shorter every week) and taking more then before. finally, i quit cold turkey. I puked almost constantly for almost 4 days, then i just got drunk which took a whole lot of shots of crown. i cryed for about 3 weeks, i hated myself and everybody around me. I could not eat for the first week and lost almost 20 lbs and i still cannot sleep without taking sleeping pills and it has been almost 3 months. also, i still want them so bad at times i find myself asking for them. Please don't risk it, talk about your problem....dont take xanax please or the other. their both horrable

[Sheralyn]

I've been given Vitamin B-12 shots for depression many times and they did NOTHING.  Waste of time for me.