Aa
klonopin
i have some klonopin that i got from a dr last year to help with anxiety. i never found it to be very helpful but i still have some. will this help with the withdrawal from the hydro in some way. i think i saw on here where some folks had mentioned it. please share if you have any suggestions on how to use this medicine to help with w/d symptoms.i would have no idea how much or when to take it. thanks so much
Paige
Paige
truthfully....i have a very nasty attitude again this afternoon. started last night and i cant seem to get myself out of it. i dont care about anything....being crabby to the kids and even the cat lol i hate days like this but this is just how it is i guess.
maybe tonight i will feel a bit better. i dont eat well and have not tried much today so maybe if i focus on getting and keeping something down i will feel better. thanks so much for checking up on me i appreciate it!
Paige
maybe tonight i will feel a bit better. i dont eat well and have not tried much today so maybe if i focus on getting and keeping something down i will feel better. thanks so much for checking up on me i appreciate it!
Paige
COMMUNITY LEADER
Taking a look at ourselves is very hard to do but it is also necessary. It allows us growth. None of us started out thinking hey i think i will become an addict today. It is very hard to talk with our doctor as those feelings you mentioned do come into play. Most of us have found our doctors to be very understanding. For those who didnt they moved onto a doctor who did understand. The goal here is for you to be safe during the wd period and having your doctor aware of what is going on is the best. You have come a long way from your first post so that is a really good thing!! Just know i am your biggest fan and i want nothing but the best for you~
Just wanted to give you some info on Klonopin.
Actually, Klonopin is a LONG acting benzo compared to it's shorter-acting counterparts, like Xanax and Ativan. Time to peak plasma level for Xanax is 1-2 hrs, and for Klonopin it is 1-4 hrs. Half life of Klonopin is also MUCH longer, 9-20 hrs for Xanax, versus 10-60 hrs for the Klonopin. The onset of action (the amount of time it takes for a person to feel the effects of the medication) is considerably quicker among the short acting benzos as well. Klonopin is slower in that regard, which is why the shorter-acting benzos are best used as rescue meds ("as needed") in the event of acute anxiety or a panic attack when treating anxiety disorders.
As far as which is "stronger", it's not so easy to say one is stronger than another. They all affect people differently, but per the approximate dosage equivalency, 0.25mg of Klonopin equals 0.5mg of Xanax, so dose-wise, it is about double in potency, compared to the Xanax.
Klonopin really isn't an optimal "prn" or "as needed" medication. Because of its long half life, it's actually much more effective when used regularly, usually 2-3 times daily, as it builds in the blood plasma, causing a more steady state of calm, versus the quicker acting benzos like Xanax, which work fast, and tend to wear off fast. The shorter acting benzos would be much more appropriate for something acute where a person needed fairly quick relief, and didn't have to take the pill regularly. While it may help you some a little if you take it here and there, you won't get the same level of effectiveness you would if you took it on a regular basis.
I personally would advise steering clear of it, as it's also habit forming. If you decide to try it, I would use the VERY minimum needed to a little relief. Like sarah said, you have to look at how it was prescribed too. I agree completely that it would be far better if you could talk with your doctor, there are some good, non-narcotic options that could help you with w/d.
Blaming the doctor is a common thing to do, hon. While no doubt some doctors aren't so great at warning of all the risks and dangers, the responsibility STILL is always going to lie with the patient.
That's why in the US EVERY Rx med comes with a detailed educational monograph. Many people toss them in the trash, and take whatever the doc Rx'ed, then want to be upset later when they become dependent, or discover there were some long-term risks. Don't spend time on the blame game, you already know you have accountability, and you're trying hard to move in the right direction, which is the important thing. But yes, your doc can be an ally in this. It would be great if you could ask for some help!
Hang in there!!! Hope the info helped, I know there is a LOT of confusion surrounding benzos.
Actually, Klonopin is a LONG acting benzo compared to it's shorter-acting counterparts, like Xanax and Ativan. Time to peak plasma level for Xanax is 1-2 hrs, and for Klonopin it is 1-4 hrs. Half life of Klonopin is also MUCH longer, 9-20 hrs for Xanax, versus 10-60 hrs for the Klonopin. The onset of action (the amount of time it takes for a person to feel the effects of the medication) is considerably quicker among the short acting benzos as well. Klonopin is slower in that regard, which is why the shorter-acting benzos are best used as rescue meds ("as needed") in the event of acute anxiety or a panic attack when treating anxiety disorders.
As far as which is "stronger", it's not so easy to say one is stronger than another. They all affect people differently, but per the approximate dosage equivalency, 0.25mg of Klonopin equals 0.5mg of Xanax, so dose-wise, it is about double in potency, compared to the Xanax.
Klonopin really isn't an optimal "prn" or "as needed" medication. Because of its long half life, it's actually much more effective when used regularly, usually 2-3 times daily, as it builds in the blood plasma, causing a more steady state of calm, versus the quicker acting benzos like Xanax, which work fast, and tend to wear off fast. The shorter acting benzos would be much more appropriate for something acute where a person needed fairly quick relief, and didn't have to take the pill regularly. While it may help you some a little if you take it here and there, you won't get the same level of effectiveness you would if you took it on a regular basis.
I personally would advise steering clear of it, as it's also habit forming. If you decide to try it, I would use the VERY minimum needed to a little relief. Like sarah said, you have to look at how it was prescribed too. I agree completely that it would be far better if you could talk with your doctor, there are some good, non-narcotic options that could help you with w/d.
Blaming the doctor is a common thing to do, hon. While no doubt some doctors aren't so great at warning of all the risks and dangers, the responsibility STILL is always going to lie with the patient.
That's why in the US EVERY Rx med comes with a detailed educational monograph. Many people toss them in the trash, and take whatever the doc Rx'ed, then want to be upset later when they become dependent, or discover there were some long-term risks. Don't spend time on the blame game, you already know you have accountability, and you're trying hard to move in the right direction, which is the important thing. But yes, your doc can be an ally in this. It would be great if you could ask for some help!
Hang in there!!! Hope the info helped, I know there is a LOT of confusion surrounding benzos.
you know guys....im not sure why im so dead set against talking to the doc. but by the time i actually get down to doing this...i might be ready to come clean with him and let him help me through this. it sure seems to be a pretty consistent piece of advice on here. i guess i dont want him to think less of me or something and yet at the same time im starting to get a little pissed off that he allowed me to get involved with this drug in the first place! i realize he does not hold a gun to my head and tell me to abuse my medication but he did not have to put me on something that could ruin my life in the first place. idk...just trying to place blame somewhere else maybe because im so freakin tired of blaming myself?
take 1/2 to 1 tablet twice a day for anxiety. and i had not thought about talking to my pharmacist...that might be a good idea since i dont want to discuss it with my dr. thanks!
I really hope you talk to your dr...
That being said...
The Klonopin will help with the anxiety. If you do decide to take it take it when it is necessary because it acts pretty fast. I would still recommend the Clonidine over the Klonopin because the Clonidine lasts for a pretty long time and it isn't a narcotic.
That being said...
The Klonopin will help with the anxiety. If you do decide to take it take it when it is necessary because it acts pretty fast. I would still recommend the Clonidine over the Klonopin because the Clonidine lasts for a pretty long time and it isn't a narcotic.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi Paige~
What does the script say? Can you talk with your pharmacist?
What does the script say? Can you talk with your pharmacist?
Preparing for this is good but sometimes you can over prepare! You have to treat the symptoms as they come. Everyone's withdrawal is different and everytime you withdrawal is different. As I said in another post, I compare it to labor. You ate scared to have the child and you play it over and over in your head. Yet once labor starts, then you get thru it and you have an awesome new life! Don't let your mind put symptoms that aren't there!
im not sure why i am being such a hard *** about this....but i just am not planning on talking to my dr about any of this. i want to do it without him knowing i ever had a problem to begin with. i was just wondering if this medicine would help me when the time comes. im trying to prepare as i prepare if that makes any sense lol
Paige
Paige
Klonopin is given a lot in some treatment centers and by some docs as a way to ease with the w/ds. It is not as strong as a xanax and is less addictive but it is still a narcotic and is addictive. Like Vic said talk to your dr about Clonidine. It will help keep your blood pressure in check and it is a very helpful med that is pretty much a standard for easing w/d symptoms.
Paige it will help but it is very addictive too..I went c/t from that one and two other meds..Can you talk to the DR about some clonidine? It is late and it will be slow..Just hang and they will be back..OK
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