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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by tensor on October 30, 2003, at 17:36:33
Hi,
can you instantly swtich from klonopin to xanax without any withdrawal?
/tensor
Posted by craig allen on October 30, 2003, at 20:31:39
In reply to A question about benzo switch, posted by tensor on October 30, 2003, at 17:36:33
i don't know for sure, but i'd be very surprised if you have any withdrawal going from one benzo to another. good luck.
Posted by ratgrrl on October 30, 2003, at 23:04:45
In reply to A question about benzo switch, posted by tensor on October 30, 2003, at 17:36:33
I switched from xanax to klonopin with no withdrawal whatsoever.
Posted by tensor on October 30, 2003, at 23:23:36
In reply to Re: A question about benzo switch, posted by ratgrrl on October 30, 2003, at 23:04:45
Hi,
why did you switch from xanax to klonopin? I'm just curious because I was thinking of going from klonopin to xanax because I suspect klonopin is depressing me.
/tensor
Posted by ratgrrl on October 31, 2003, at 8:19:46
In reply to Re: A question about benzo switch » ratgrrl, posted by tensor on October 30, 2003, at 23:23:36
Everyone has different reasons for going from one med to another, so if Klonopin is depressing you, by all means try the switch to xanax, but for what its worth, I did the xanax to klonopin switch twice for the following two reasons.
1) several years ago I was on a constant low dose of xanax for anxiety and we wanted to wean me off of that to try an AD more effective against anxiety and see if I could come all the way off of benzos. Xanax is very fast acting, so (according to my dr at the time, and I think it makes sense) it's easier to wean off with a slower acting drug such as klonopin. It worked. I was only on the klonopin at that point for 2 weeks. Eventually I did go back on a low dose of xanax as needed, usually for sleep, but I really didn't take it that often.
2) I recently made a more complicated switch to klonopin. I had gone off of zyprexa which led to really horrible withdrawal. The main problems were EXTREME anxiety/panic attacks and insomnia. I already occassionally took xanax on a very infrequent as needed basis, so we had me start taking the xanax daily am and pm to see if that would help combat the problems I was having. Xanax was too fast acting to help much, so we then switched to Klonopin which gave more steady help for the withdrawal symptoms. It helped (not 100%, but it helped). My withdrawal has since passed, but the milder anxiety symptoms the zyprexa was helping to treat remain, so I'm continuing on a low dose of klonopin that is helping. I, personally, feel safer on a benzo for anxiety than an antipsychotic (though opinions might differ on that).
--ratgrrl
Posted by cubbybear on November 2, 2003, at 1:36:58
In reply to A question about benzo switch, posted by tensor on October 30, 2003, at 17:36:33
> Hi,
>
> can you instantly swtich from klonopin to xanax without any withdrawal?
>
> /tensorHi tensor,
The only thing I'd add to the other posts is that if you do make the switch, make sure you switch to the corresponding dosage. There are charts at various websites that indicate the equivalent dosages and maybe someone can post it here for you. I'm almost sure that .5 mg. Xanax=25 mg. Klonopin, but you should check this out so you don't wind up going way off your existing dosage.
Posted by ratgrrl on November 2, 2003, at 18:17:58
In reply to Re: A question about benzo switch » tensor, posted by cubbybear on November 2, 2003, at 1:36:58
According to my doctor xanax and klonopin are milligram for milligram on dosage (i.e. if you took 1 mg xanax, you'd probably take 1 mg klonopin). I haven't looked this up independently, but I'd say my recent switch confirms it at least anectdotally (I was on 1.5 mg Xanax, now I'm on 1.5 mg Klonopin...things seem to be working out)
--ratgrrl
Posted by cubbybear on November 2, 2003, at 23:07:09
In reply to Re: A question about benzo switch » tensor, posted by ratgrrl on November 2, 2003, at 18:17:58
> According to my doctor xanax and klonopin are milligram for milligram on dosage (i.e. if you took 1 mg xanax, you'd probably take 1 mg klonopin). I haven't looked this up independently, but I'd say my recent switch confirms it at least anectdotally (I was on 1.5 mg Xanax, now I'm on 1.5 mg Klonopin...things seem to be working out)
>
> --ratgrrlI'm glad you feel OK, but on the basis of all the charts I've seen, I wonder where your doctor got his info from. (Of course, different patients react differently to different drugs and different dosages, anyway.)
Posted by ratgrrl on November 3, 2003, at 22:44:53
In reply to Re: A question about benzo switch, posted by cubbybear on November 2, 2003, at 23:07:09
Cubbybear--could you please point me to the dose comparison charts you speak of? The dose equality info that I mentioned was presented to me independently by two different drs (which I realize doesn't automatically mean they're right, but does make me more inclined to believe them). Also, the people I know on Klonopin (myself included) seem to be taking it in the .5 to 3 mg range, certainly not 25 mg.
--ratgrrl
Posted by cubbybear on November 4, 2003, at 1:37:55
In reply to Re: A question about benzo switch, posted by ratgrrl on November 3, 2003, at 22:44:53
> Cubbybear--could you please point me to the dose comparison charts you speak of? The dose equality info that I mentioned was presented to me independently by two different drs (which I realize doesn't automatically mean they're right, but does make me more inclined to believe them). Also, the people I know on Klonopin (myself included) seem to be taking it in the .5 to 3 mg range, certainly not 25 mg.
>
> --ratgrrlMy apologies on the numbers-- I meant to put a decimal point before the 25, meaning .5 mg. Xanax= .25 mg. of Klonopin (half of the .50 mg tablet).
I don't have the dose conversion tables in front of me and even if I did, I don't think that the website address was printed out. You can do one of two things to try and get the equivalency charts: do an archives search through Psychobabble or search the web to find an appropriate site. I caution you though, not to use the chart from the the anti-benzo group in England(benzo.org.uk) since that chart seems to be different from the others, perhaps reflecting the biases of the organization. The group is headed up by Heather Ashton, who seems to be a real benzophobe.
Posted by tensor on November 4, 2003, at 2:41:34
In reply to Re: A question about benzo switch » ratgrrl, posted by cubbybear on November 4, 2003, at 1:37:55
Posted by ratgrrl on November 4, 2003, at 9:56:36
In reply to Re: A question about benzo switch » ratgrrl, posted by cubbybear on November 4, 2003, at 1:37:55
With the decimal pt it makes so much more sense! I hate it when that happens :) The .5 vs .25 seems to make sense with the dosages I know people are on.
--ratgrrl
Posted by Snowie on November 4, 2003, at 20:17:33
In reply to A question about benzo switch, posted by tensor on October 30, 2003, at 17:36:33
I doubt you'll have a problem as long as the doses are equal or equivalent.
Good luck.
Snowie
> Hi,
>
> can you instantly swtich from klonopin to xanax without any withdrawal?
>
> /tensor
This is the end of the thread.
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