Posted by mattw84 on November 14, 2004, at 20:31:52
In reply to Re: Xanax-XR reviews.... » jacot, posted by theo on November 14, 2004, at 17:31:02
I have trialed Xanax, Xanax XR, and Klonopin; each for about a month in duration. Everyone responds differently to any given medication -- but often there are numerous similar reactions to varying degrees...
Xanax (Alprazolam immediate release) .5 mg 4x Daily
- Almost immediate onset of action, making it great for those who will take it prn (as needed) for panic attacks.
- Compared with other benzodiazepines, my objective opinion is that this form of Xanax has the highest potential for abuse/addiction.
- Most will develop a tolerance rather quickly to it, even though it loses it "euphoric" effect it still retains the anxiolytic.Klonopin (Clonazepam generic) -- .75 mg 2x Daily
- Long acting, and can be heavily sedating. Most say the sedative effect wears of after a couple weeks of continuous use.
- Highly effective for social anxiety at lower doses; panic disorders may require higher dosing, thusly increasing the likelihood of sedation.
- Cognitive side effects not present for me (memory impairment, motor skill functionality, etc...)Xanax XR 4mg 1x Daily
- Much slower onset of action than the IR version (1 to 2 hours)
- Claims to last 24+ hours, my guess would be somewhere between 8 and 10 hours of effective coverage.
- Similar sedation to Klonopin, occasional short-term memory anomalies.
- Overall quite similar to klonopin with once daily dosing, though some may require twice daily.Any of the above are viable options for anyone with anxiety disorders. I had to go through the SSRI/SRNI loop for a while before finally getting to these effective treatments. So.. Xanax IR great "as needed" -- XR great if insurance will cover it and sure beats the ups and downs of taking the IR and having to tote your pillbox around with you. Klonopin is probably the best alternative to Xanax XR IMO. Good luck!
Matt
poster:mattw84
thread:399779
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041113/msgs/416008.html