Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 261296

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Klonopin vs. Xanax XR - Info wanted

Posted by jparsell82 on September 18, 2003, at 6:56:22

Hey, my doctors appt. is coming up and I wanted to know which I should try for my social anxiety & ocd. I've tried Klonopin before for about a week but it made me too sedated and really effected my memory. This time though I'm going to try to take a dopamine antagonist along with it. Has anyone tried Xanax Xr, I'd like to get a comparison between the two.

 

Re: Klonopin vs. Xanax XR - Info wanted

Posted by jparsell82 on September 18, 2003, at 6:58:00

In reply to Klonopin vs. Xanax XR - Info wanted, posted by jparsell82 on September 18, 2003, at 6:56:22

Another thing I wanted to ask... for those with experience. Have any of you developed a tolerance to Klonopin or Xanax?? Thanks.

 

Re: Klonopin vs. Xanax XR - Info wanted

Posted by irishcatholic on September 18, 2003, at 9:07:10

In reply to Klonopin vs. Xanax XR - Info wanted, posted by jparsell82 on September 18, 2003, at 6:56:22

I've never been on Klono so can't compare.
Loved regular Xanax & Ativan but PDoc was concerned about tolerance so have been on Xanax XR for a month.
I would say it's pretty good. (but expensive because no generic competition).
No sedation on 1.0 once per day but as they say your results may vary.

 

Re: Klonopin vs. Xanax XR - Info wanted

Posted by Viridis on September 19, 2003, at 0:59:33

In reply to Re: Klonopin vs. Xanax XR - Info wanted, posted by jparsell82 on September 18, 2003, at 6:58:00

I take both Klonopin and Xanax (regular, not XR). I take Klonopin daily and Xanax occasionally, just for really stressful situations.

The Klonopin has remained effective at the same dose (1 mg/day) for about 2 1/2 years. Strangely, I seem to be developing tolerance to Xanax, even though I only take it once every week or two. Initially, as little as 0.25 mg was enough to calm me and anything over 0.5 mg made me very sleepy; now it takes about 4X as much to achieve the same effect. This happened pretty suddenly, after occasional use of Xanax at low doses for a couple of years.

I spoke with my pdoc about this, and he said that Xanax is unusual among benzos in inducing tolerance (for some individuals) even with intermittent use. He's very cautious with Xanax, but did tell me to take as much as I need (within reason) when I really need it. However, he emphasized that if I started to increase the frequency of dosing (combined with the increase in dose itself), that would be a major cause for concern, and he likely would stop prescribing it.

He remarked that Klonopin is tremendously effective for anxiety, and he feels much more comfortable prescribing it since so many of his patients (like me) are able to stay at the same dose for years and get the same anti-anxiety effects.

I have no experience with Xanax XR, but given my recent experiences and the advice of my pdoc, I plan to stick with Klonopin as my main anti-anxiety med and limit use of Xanax to special situations. Xanax is a wonderful med, and I want to continue to have it available and experience its benefits. For me, that seems to mean using it only when really essential, which is fine -- the Klonopin does a great job for all but the worst anxiety, and has yet to induce tolerance for me.

 

V, Re: Klonopin vs. Xanax XR - Info wanted

Posted by McPac on September 19, 2003, at 13:17:55

In reply to Re: Klonopin vs. Xanax XR - Info wanted, posted by Viridis on September 19, 2003, at 0:59:33

"the Klonopin does a great job for all but the worst anxiety"

>>>>>>>>> Why doesn't Klonopin work well enough, like Xanax, for the worst anxiety? Could you just increase the Klonopin more for those specific times...would that work?

 

Re: V, Re: Klonopin vs. Xanax XR - Info wanted

Posted by jparsell82 on September 20, 2003, at 0:48:37

In reply to V, Re: Klonopin vs. Xanax XR - Info wanted, posted by McPac on September 19, 2003, at 13:17:55

If anyone has any info on Ativan that would be great too.

 

Re: V, Re: Klonopin vs. Xanax XR - Info wanted ยป McPac

Posted by Viridis on September 20, 2003, at 16:58:04

In reply to V, Re: Klonopin vs. Xanax XR - Info wanted, posted by McPac on September 19, 2003, at 13:17:55

Hi McPac,

Just recently, I have tried taking an extra 0.5 -1 mg of Klonopin very occasionally later in the day (I take my usual dose in the morning). It does seem to help if I've been under unusually high stress. I guess what I like about Xanax is the rapidity of relief, the fact that it's different from Klonopin, and that I've only needed to use it sporadically.

I worried quite a bit about tolerance/dependency when I first started benzos 2 1/2 years ago, yet tolerance (at least that's what I think it is) didn't materialize until recently with the Xanax. I'm certainly not dependent on it, given that I may go as much as two weeks between doses.

I expect that I am dependent on Klonopin, but have never had to increase the daily dose. So, taking more, even occasionally, just makes me a bit uneasy. This probably is unfounded; my pdoc told me initially that he considered the dose very low and offered to raise it if necessary, so I'm sure he'd prescribe a few extra pills per month. I don't want to do anything that could lead to a regular need for more, though, if I can avoid it, and having an alternative anti-anxiety med for infrequent use has worked well until now.

One thing we did discuss was that perhaps my perception of "tolerance" to Xanax has more to do with feeling the onset. With Klonopin, I don't even notice it, whereas with Xanax I could always feel it taking effect, even at very low doses. He asked if Xanax caused initial euphoria, and I said (quite honestly) no, just a rapid, detectable sense of anxiety relief. We discussed the possibility that this in itself might magnify my perception of its effectiveness -- in other words, maybe I've gotten accustomed to it enough that the onset isn't so noticeable, which sets me up to think it isn't working, and in turn causes me to stress over that.

Who knows? At this point, I'm not having serious anxiety problems, the Klonopin still works well, and it's not a big deal for me to limit use of Xanax to very rare occasions. I am a little puzzled by the fairly sudden tolerance (or whatever it is) to Xanax, though, so want to be cautious with it.

 

Re: Klonopin vs. Xanax XR - Info wanted

Posted by Maverick Mitchell on October 8, 2003, at 22:14:23

In reply to Re: Klonopin vs. Xanax XR - Info wanted, posted by Viridis on September 19, 2003, at 0:59:33

I'm off Prozac after several years on it, & am now starting on benzodiazepines only. Before Prozac w/ a benzo was too sedating. I don't get spontaneous panic attacks anymore; im dealing w/ anticipatory anxiety. I will use either Xanax or Klonopin. For now chipping the tablet seems to work. I am a very low-dose person. I've chipped Xanax for about 1 week. It felt fine. Right now i'm trying that w/ Klonopin.

Does anyone know if Xanax has any anti-depressant properties also?

Also, about Xanax XR, I feel i'd rather be more in control & stay w/ the old short-acting Xanax. I don't like using a long-acting benzo. I am curious though.

Thank you


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