Posted by chemist on May 2, 2004, at 2:28:06
In reply to For Chemist.....xanax, posted by snapper on May 2, 2004, at 1:00:06
> Hi Chemist, I made the switch from Klonopin to xanax a couple of weeks ago.... rec to my pdoc....cuz I remember you saying in a previous post that it was a better benzo for GAD...anyhow I have made the transition smoothly it seems, however I don't know if it is as effective for general social phobia and agoraphobia or just my worsening depression....I keep seeing you post that 'at least you're not on xanax.....' and I realize that the withdrawls may be difficult but why? Is it cuz of its' shorter half life or what-?
> I take 2 or 3 mg per day and it does seem to make my 'internal - I am going to lose my mind type of anxiety better' but I am terrified of future withdrawls can you elaborate?
> thanks
> snapperhi snapper....the problem with xanax is that on the one hand, it is extremely effective for panic/GAD. on the other, due to the short half-life of elimination, you have to dose frequently - and i mean during the day - to avoid ups and downs. which brings us to the heart of the matter: are you willing and able to take xanax at regular or semi-regular intervals during the day, and, most importantly, are you willing to stick it out with a med that can lead to increased dosing over time? this last bit is key, and is a matter that mostly pertains to your addictive tendancies and/or reluctance to take a med that will likely be a long-term therapeutic that will ultimately prove to be effictive for you. i will share my valium/klonopin/xanax history with you (and of course all others who read this post). i was in the care of a d.o. (osteopath who was a shrink) who was predisposed to xanax vs. valium in that valium has a long half-life of elimination, not to mention the perfusion from fatty tissues into which it partitions in our bodies. valium is indicated for anxiety in addition to relief of muscle spasms, and i have found that valium (20 to 30 mg qd, usually on the lower dose) does the job, yet makes me physically sluggish; xanax does not. klonopin is indicated for anxiety but is also indicated as an antiseizure med: disregard any posts that suggest that you will develop seizures unless you are seizure-prone (i.e., epileptic). klonopin is titratable to an effective dose in short time. xanax is immediate, and valium - depending if you are taking it prn vs. chronic - is a toss-up. i personally prefer xanax on a steady schedule. my posts that assert ``avoid xanax'' are, in general, aimed at posters who appear to be playing russian roulette with meds and/or additional add-ons (alcohol, herbal supplements, and the like). xanax is ``clean'' but is in the top three most abused benzos (well, xanax is a benzo derivative, but no matter) along with ativan and valium. i currently take 4 mg xanax in divided doses throughout the ay, and i suffer little to no impairment, and i have, over 10+ years, come to realize that i will be medicated for the rest of my life. this is acceptable to me, and i toe the line in terms of abuse/dose escalation. because of my background in things psychopharmaceutical, i can easily obtain more than my 4 mg qd: but i do not, and frequently take less than the requisite dose. i am not superman, i just watch where it is going.....hope this helps, please let me know, all the best, chemist
poster:chemist
thread:342366
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040429/msgs/342390.html