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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dinah on December 9, 2002, at 18:17:31
Originally posted by Mary Leffingwell 12/9/02
> Hi, I want to know if anyone has quit taking xanax and switched to klonzapin, i have been taking xanax for about 1 1/2 years and i am up to 4 1/2 MGs a day, my doctor told me just to stop taking them and to start the other. I just dont want to trade one addiction for another, also has anyone weaned off of xanax without the doctors help and been successful? Any advice would be helpful.
> Thanks
Posted by gheld on December 9, 2002, at 19:20:29
In reply to Re: Xanax Addiction » Mary Leffingwell, posted by Dinah on December 9, 2002, at 18:17:31
Yes, I changed from Xanax to Klonopin about 3 years ago and there was no symptoms other than there is no "whoosh" of the benzo going into and out of your system with Klonopin.
Remember that 0.5 mg of Klonopin is roughly equal to 1 mg of Xanax.
Klonopin may be a bit more sedating than Xanax at first so I'd take the biggest portion of my daily intake at bed time. The half life of Klonopin is almost a whole day so you may only have to take it once a day.
I far prefer Klonopin to Xanax.
Posted by judy1 on December 10, 2002, at 10:11:49
In reply to Re: Xanax Addiction, posted by gheld on December 9, 2002, at 19:20:29
I also went from xanax to klonopin with no ill effects, although occasionally I take xanax sub-ling if I'm in an extreme anxiety state and want quick relief. Klonopin has kept me really even though, so maybe I use xanax once a week. Take care, judy
Posted by utopizen on December 10, 2002, at 20:37:38
In reply to Re: Xanax Addiction, posted by judy1 on December 10, 2002, at 10:11:49
> I also went from xanax to klonopin with no ill effects, although occasionally I take xanax sub-ling if I'm in an extreme anxiety state and want quick relief. Klonopin has kept me really even though, so maybe I use xanax once a week. Take care, judy
>I don't know about Xanax, but Milton "miltown" Berle once said "you're only addicted to Valium if you take more than your doctor." So unless you take more than your doctor, I suppose you're fine. Addiction is such an extreme word- I mean, I'm addicted to Sour Patch Kids so much I continue eating them after my tongue begins to bleed. Is that so bad? Well, it is, but bad example...
Posted by HIBA on December 10, 2002, at 22:58:14
In reply to Re: Xanax Addiction, posted by gheld on December 9, 2002, at 19:20:29
Dear Gheld,
I am doubtful over your rating. <<0.5 mg of Klonopin is roughly equal to 1 mg of Xanax>>
Xanax is much potent than klonopin in anxiolysis. Klonopin is more sedating but the rate sedation doesn't necessarily be an indicative of potency. In the process of anxiolysis, klonopin is only half potent than xanax. (0.5 mg of klonopin is roughly equivalent to 0.25 mg of xanax)
HIBA
Posted by cubbybear on December 11, 2002, at 9:34:28
In reply to Re: Xanax Addiction » gheld, posted by HIBA on December 10, 2002, at 22:58:14
I came across a fascinating chart called "Benzodiazepine Comparison Chart" at www.sdh.sk.ca/RxFiles (although it's very difficult to download) that shows 0.5 mg. Xanax is equivalent to.
.25mg. Klonopin (Clonazepam). That would seem to support Gheld's original rating, wouldn't it?
Posted by judy1 on December 11, 2002, at 9:43:53
In reply to Re: Xanax Addiction, posted by cubbybear on December 11, 2002, at 9:34:28
I'm sure according to individual responses. For me, it was a straight 1 to 1 exchange- 2mg xanax to 2mg klonopin. The anxiolytic properties remained the same without the peaks and valleys that xanax with it's short half-life forced me to endure. A secondary use of klonopin was as a mood stabilizer for my bipolar disorder. take care, judy
Posted by ro6 on December 12, 2002, at 3:35:47
In reply to Re: Xanax Addiction, posted by judy1 on December 10, 2002, at 10:11:49
Judy… First off, addiction is not a strong word when describing “Benzo” dependency. As for switching from Xanax to Klonopin, you are will continue to be addicted to a benzo. From my personal experience I would not recommend trying to “wean” yourself off Xanax, Klonopin, Valium or and other benzo without the help of a doctor who has experience with benzo withdrawal. My first withdrawal attempt was under the supervision of a physician in a so-called drug treatment center in Houston, Texas. After three days of inpatient detox I was released. After three days of insomnia I suffered a Grand Mal seizure, which left me with a lacerated forehead that required plastic surgery and hospitalization. After being released from that hospital I soon began to experience severe anxiety and other withdrawal associated symptoms, which were only relieved by once again taking Xanax.
A year later, I checked into the Herman Memorial Prevention & Recovery Center, at the recommendation of a friend who was detoxing from Klonopin in the Betty Ford Clinic. I was in Detox for 4 days, inpatient for 25 days and outpatient for 30 days. Six months have passed and I am still experiencing withdrawal symptoms (Anxiety, Short Term Memory Loss, Confusion…) all of which is normal for Benzo withdrawal. Overall Xanax has caused far more problems in my life then the symptoms the drug was to treat!
My dose was 4mg daily, which I took for 3 years. I had no idea how addictive the drug is, and it was a physician who addicted me to the drug.
Good Luck
Posted by judy1 on December 12, 2002, at 10:36:25
In reply to Re: Xanax Addiction » judy1, posted by ro6 on December 12, 2002, at 3:35:47
From my perspective, most drugs (including psychotropics) are physically addicting. I, too, suffered a seizure stopping a benzo cold and now know a lot better. If you feel your symptoms will be under control w/o the use of medications then by all means tapering the way you did was an excellent idea. I'm sorry it was so difficult- I've tapered out-patient with the help of my shrink and therapist when I was pregnant and except for some anxiety (which I expected) it went smoothly- I did go VERY slowly. From years of reading these and other boards I have to say that some ADs seem to provoke more side-effects when discontinuuing, so I really don't like to give benzos a bad name. They do their job with a minimum of side-effects and I accept that I will probably be on them long term. take care, judy
Posted by HIBA on December 14, 2002, at 23:23:45
In reply to Re: Xanax Addiction, posted by cubbybear on December 11, 2002, at 9:34:28
You can see more confusing charts on the net if you surf more. The point is what we are discussing is anxiolytic potency. Klonopin is much stronger in it's anti-convulsant and sedative effects and perhaps those who made the chart you mention will have focused on these properties of klonopin. Yes it is right. Klonopin is much stronger than xanax in it's anti-convulsant and sedative properties. But the process of anxiolysis is not the same. It takes 0.5 mg of xanax to tranquilize an agitated patient, while you will have to use double amount of klonopin to get the same result. Xanax has a unique anxiolytic action without causing much sedation. A sedative shouldn't necessarily be an anxiolytic. Periactin is an extremely sedating antihistamine without having any anxiolytic properties.
HIBA
Posted by comftnumb on December 17, 2002, at 2:54:40
In reply to Re: Xanax Addiction » gheld, posted by HIBA on December 10, 2002, at 22:58:14
> Xanax is much potent than klonopin in anxiolysis. Klonopin is more sedating but the rate sedation doesn't necessarily be an indicative of potency. In the process of anxiolysis, klonopin is only half potent than xanax. (0.5 mg of klonopin is roughly equivalent to 0.25 mg of xanax)
> HIBANot for me it wasn't. I tried 2mg of Xanax and it did absolutely ZERO for my anxiety. Went on 2mg Klonopin and it has proven extremely effective. I am a lot less anxious than I used to be.
Klonopin is very sedating, and this side effect has been extremely annoying at times. It has gotten to the point where I take Klonopin only before going to bed. Luckily Klonopin's half-life is 30-50hours, and I'm anxiety free round the clock. Sedation generally occurs about an hour after taking it and can last up to 12hours. My doc described me as looking like I just came out of a bar when I saw him 2hours after taking my dose.
Posted by HIBA on December 17, 2002, at 22:39:14
In reply to Re: Xanax Addiction Hiba, posted by comftnumb on December 17, 2002, at 2:54:40
Action of drugs varies from person to person, situation to situation.... This is why some like you respond well to klonopin. For me valium is only a dummy pill, even though I take it in huge amounts. But for some a little bit of valium is enough to tranquillize them.
Perhaps this could be the reason why there are different equivalence tables of benzodiazepines.
HIBA
Posted by Mary Leffingwell on January 13, 2003, at 22:21:39
In reply to Re: Xanax Addiction » Mary Leffingwell, posted by Dinah on December 9, 2002, at 18:17:31
Hi everyone thanks for the info, I started taking the klonzapins 4 times a day just like i was with my xanax, this is what the doctor prescribed, i feel 100 percent better than what i have since i was taking the xanax, i have i guess and opposite effect because i have so much more energy now and i am able to think alot more clearly, the other thing i did notice is loss of appetite, i can go all day without eating and it doesnt bother me. But i do drink alot more water now. My doctor wants me to get started on lexapro so i can eventually get down to 2 pills a day verses the 4.
I am just so glad to be off the xanax i thought i was going to die at times taking that crap, it just got to the point where it was not even working anymore and my anxiety was getting worse even while i was on it. Thanks for everyones advice. Mary
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