Posted by Elizabeth on June 8, 2001, at 15:47:38
In reply to Xanax vs. Klonopin, posted by Greg on June 6, 2001, at 17:39:42
> Can I expext the same effect from the same dose? I take .5mgs of the Xanax now, usually no more than once a day.
I would say that Klonopin is slightly less potent than Xanax -- i.e., a slightly higher dose may be required. I would expect your total daily effective dose (ED) of Klonopin to be somewhere between the ED of Xanax and twice the ED of Xanax. So for example, if you take 0.5 mg of Xanax four times a day (total 2 mg/day) then you would probably need somewhere between 2 and 4 mg of Klonopin daily -- maybe 1 or 1.5 mg twice a day, maybe 1 mg three times a day, etc.
Remember that the dose is divided up differently: Klonopin is typically taken at most three times daily, whereas most people who take Xanax need to take it at *least* three times a day. A consequence is that Klonopin is less likely to cause a "roller coaster" of anxiety/not-anxiety, but rather, smooth, normal-feeling relief.
Klonopin is certainly not *more* potent than Xanax. Also, YMMV -- you're not guaranteed to get the same effects from both drugs. In particular, some people report depression as a side effect of Klonopin, whereas that is very rare with Xanax. This is especially important if you have anxiety and depression.
Some people find Klonopin more sedating than Xanax at effective doses.
I find that 1 mg of Klonopin in the morning, 1 in the afternoon, and 2 at bedtime is about right for me. I've never used Xanax on an around-the-clock basis, but when I need it (this is usually for psychomotor agitation or panic attacks, and I've also used it for antidepressant withdrawal symptoms), it's usually in the 1.5-2 mg range, with 2 mg being more appropriate for panic attacks. If I were taking it around the clock I would expect to be taking about 4 mg/day (1 mg four times a day), but I would want to be able to take an extra 1 mg for breakthrough anxiety if needed.
I've thought about trying to use Xanax as an antidepressant; the dose requirement here is much higher, though -- probably at least 2 mg four times a day.
> Can I expect some withdrawals from stopping the Xanax, or will the Klonopin keep that from happening?
Klonopin -- provided you're taking a dose that is equivalent for you -- should block the benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome that you would ordinarily get from discontinuing Xanax.
-elizabeth
poster:Elizabeth
thread:65576
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010605/msgs/65807.html