Posted by rvanson on October 28, 2007, at 3:11:52
In reply to Need help - ASAP, posted by ellanicole on October 27, 2007, at 19:36:27
> I have recently moved to a new town and my new doctor is making a change in my medicine.
> I have been taking xanax 1 milligram 3 times per day. The new doctor is changing me to Klonopin 1 milligram 3 times per day. I have been on the xanax for 5 years now. I did take Klonopin a long time ago and it worked fine for me but it was several years before having to use the xanax for acute anxiety. Will I have any problems stopping xanax one night and beginning the Klonopin the very next day after taking xanax for 5 years? I am scared that I will experience withdrawl. Should I have a smooth transition? I would appreciate any and all help. I start this is 5 days and my anxiety over changing is causing so much panic that I cannot even calm down enough for my xanax to work. The new doctor is changing me because he feels Klonopin works longer.
>
> Thank you so much
Its true that Klonopin is "longer lasting" then Xanax (its' half-life in the body is longer), but my hunch is that your new doctor is using the Klonopin switch to wean you off of Xanax and any of the benzodiazepines completely, without coming out and telling you that to your face.Those of us on benzo's for many years call such P-docs, "Benzo-Phobics", and if you are doing well with the Xanax, you might try another finding another doctor, IMO.
Too, Klonopin has a higher rate of causing or increasing Depression then Xanax, which has anti-depressant properties, unlike Klonopin which does not.
poster:rvanson
thread:791842
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20071027/msgs/791903.html