jazee
Newbie
Reged: 09/16/04
Posts: 47
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Anyone gone from Ativan/Valium/Xanax to Klonopin? If so, please describe your dosage regimen before and what dosage regimen you needed to go on using the Klonopin to get the same effects as the previous med you were taking.
Thanks
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Lablady2
Member
Reged: 05/05/04
Posts: 174
Loc: New York City
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A few years back I had an MD - since retired - that first put me on lowest dosage of Ativan - developed rash when went out into sun. Then put me on lowest dosage of Xanax - same deal only worse - arms swelled up like goodyear blimp just from walking around outside in sun. Acute photosensitivity it's called. Will only take Valium - works great - although I hear Klonopin seems to be the benzo of choice today. I think lowest dose Klonopin probably equals 5mg of Valium - or even 10 - took one one time and almost fell asleep - not for me.........
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Listvoer
Board Addict
Reged: 01/14/04
Posts: 384
Loc: New America
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I've done it, and just substuting the same dosage of xanax with klonipin was pretty painless. If it's an issue with you, you could do as the experts recommend and take half your dose of xanax, half of klonipin for a week or so, then go completely to klonipin. I'm on Valium right now and would much prefer to be on klonipin. Actually, i'm almost out of valium and have (hopefully!) klonipin successfully on it's way here. I take 30 - 40 mg of valium daily, usually 30 but every few days it seems I need an extra one at night for sleep (yeah.... tolerance. I know). When I switch, i'll probably easily go from 30 mg a day to 2-4 mg of klonipin, then slowly move the klonipin dosage down to 2 mg per day. I find that klonipin has less side effects (and the desire to take just one more) than most benzos i've been on, except maybe nitrazepam. One thing I discovered that works great for me for sleep & keeping the tolerance more in check is to take 1 melatonin pill (OTC) with my benzo at bedtime, and within 30-45 minutes my insomnia has gone away and i'm yawning, which is a Very Good Thing. Usually melatonin by itself does next to nothing for me, but combined they seem to have a bit of a 1+1=3 kind of thing.... synergy? My vocab is in rehab today it seems. Anyway, don't worry too much about it because truly, if you think it's going to be difficult, it will be, and it also works the other way around in this case, IME.
L
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Due to PM spam I rarely check mine so if you send me one, make sure to let me know...
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woolius
Member
Reged: 02/08/02
Posts: 159
Loc: US
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I think the biggest thing to remember with Klonopin is that is has a longer onset period than ativan/valium/xanax, which are all fast-acting drugs. Seems like the medical community views Klonopin as a drug with a lower addiction potential than the others. As far as dosage, I've found that 0.5mg Ativan or 5mg valium or 0.25 xanax = 0.5mg of Klonopin.
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astrophel2
Enthusiast
Reged: 03/11/03
Posts: 216
Loc: Georgia
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It's true, the medical community does view klonopin as being less addictive than the other benzo's. My doctor mentioned that to me, adding that "it just doesn't give you a buzz" - which is true. Consequently, he doesn't mind prescribing it for me given the intensity of my anxiety d/o. I can take as much as 4 mg of klonopin without every "feeling" anything, but one xanax bar led me to drive off of the road once (and onto a curb which cut my two right tires ). For anyone with long-term anxiety, I would say that k-pin is the way to go because of its long half-life.
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-Melissa
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Listvoer
Board Addict
Reged: 01/14/04
Posts: 384
Loc: New America
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I wouldn't say that clonazepam "doesn't give you a buzz", as I know some folks who are prescribed it that get downright goofy when they take their dosage. For me, it doesn't do that but I have witnessed MANY times the insane antics of people that took 1 too many thinking it'd be no big deal. I agree that xanax has more of a feeling to it, which IMO is why it's so darn popular, but IME all benzos are basically quite similar besides the length of half-life and quickness of onset. I have to agree that clonazepam is less likely to be abused than xanax, but still it's a very powerful med that seems quite innocent.. until you decide to quit. FWIW I talked to my pharmacist about this issue, and he agreed that they're all quite addictive and shouldn't be used long-term unless there's just nothing else that works, and even then to be ultra-careful not to run out and have to stop cold-turkey. IMO it makes sense that the pharmacist should know more about the drugs and their good & bad points, as they studied meds while doctors studied the human body & often get their advice from medical reps who ply them with free samples of the latest/greatest drug currently being pushed. I prefer the european model, where the doc writes out what's wrong with you and the pharmacist decides what is best to give you. Call me crazy, but to me that just makes more sense...
Good luck to all!
L
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Due to PM spam I rarely check mine so if you send me one, make sure to let me know...
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