Posted by Elizabeth on April 11, 2002, at 12:00:32
In reply to Elizabeth: Clonazepam is the most potent benzo, posted by Jaynee on April 8, 2002, at 11:58:59
There is some disagreement about whether alprazolam (Xanax) and clonazepam are equally potent or whether alprazolam is more potent. They've never been compared head-to-head, but clonazepam isn't more potent than alprazolam. It's possible Burns is simply mistaken (that book is a self-help manual, not a drug book, isn't it?). It's also possible that you misread or misunderstood him. Regardless, clonazepam is *not* more potent than alprazolam. I don't feel like digging through books right now, but check a pharmacology text if you're interested in confirming this. Popular self-help books generally aren't a very good place to look for medical or scientific data.
I'm not familiar with the terminology you quoted or how you derived your conclusions. Maybe the quote was just unclear. Can you explain what is meant by "potency (clonazepam dose equivalents) is that xanax is 1/2" ?
Anxiety is not a common side effect of clonazepam or any benzodiazepine -- you're the only person I've ever heard of who reported it. Most people would experience mild *relief* of anxiety, and perhaps a bit of sedation, on 0.25 mg of clonazepam. Some wouldn't feel anything because it's simply too small a dose.
I take it that you've never taken alprazolam. I have tried both drugs, and alprazolam clearly produces a greater effect than clonazepam at the same dose. The total daily dose of alprazolam may be higher because alprazolam needs to be taken 3 or 4 times a day, while many people can get away with taking clonazepam just twice daily.
-elizabeth
poster:Elizabeth
thread:101975
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020408/msgs/102761.html