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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by polly on October 5, 2001, at 20:25:46
Pdoc wants me off Xanax (I'm cuuently on 6 mg/day) and on Klonopin. Do I need to slowly taper the Xanax or is it ok to take an equivalent dose of Klonopin and abruptly stop the Xanax?
Posted by Squiggles on October 5, 2001, at 20:54:06
In reply to Switching from Xanax to Klonopin, posted by polly on October 5, 2001, at 20:25:46
> Pdoc wants me off Xanax (I'm cuuently on 6 mg/day) and on Klonopin. Do I need to slowly taper the Xanax or is it ok to take an equivalent dose of Klonopin and abruptly stop the Xanax?
Hi Polly,I was on Xanax for a long time, as well as
Klonopin. My doctor was happy to see me withdraw
from Xanax (and I had my own reasons for doing so);I never took more than 1.0 mg Xanax, and usually
only 0.25 once or twice a day - it was prescribed
as needed, but in the course of the years it became
needed every day. It is addictive, in the sense
that you build tolerance, and have inter-dose withdrawal,
which comes in the form of panic attacks.I was able to get off in 4 months with relative
ease. I withdrew 0.25 every month. I had anxiety,
insomnia, vertigo, hypersensitivity to sensory
stimulii, and some gastro difficulty. But it is
relatively easy to do.As for the clonazepam, it has a longer life and
will not give you the panic attacks. However,
it is a beast to get off of if you get on. So,
you may plan to stay on that one indefinitely.Squiggles
Posted by polly on October 5, 2001, at 21:26:49
In reply to Re: Switching from Xanax to Klonopin, posted by Squiggles on October 5, 2001, at 20:54:06
> > Pdoc wants me off Xanax (I'm cuuently on 6 mg/day) and on Klonopin. Do I need to slowly taper the Xanax or is it ok to take an equivalent dose of Klonopin and abruptly stop the Xanax?
>
>
> Hi Polly,
>
> I was on Xanax for a long time, as well as
> Klonopin. My doctor was happy to see me withdraw
> from Xanax (and I had my own reasons for doing so);
>
> I never took more than 1.0 mg Xanax, and usually
> only 0.25 once or twice a day - it was prescribed
> as needed, but in the course of the years it became
> needed every day. It is addictive, in the sense
> that you build tolerance, and have inter-dose withdrawal,
> which comes in the form of panic attacks.
>
> I was able to get off in 4 months with relative
> ease. I withdrew 0.25 every month. I had anxiety,
> insomnia, vertigo, hypersensitivity to sensory
> stimulii, and some gastro difficulty. But it is
> relatively easy to do.
>
> As for the clonazepam, it has a longer life and
> will not give you the panic attacks. However,
> it is a beast to get off of if you get on. So,
> you may plan to stay on that one indefinitely.
>
> SquigglesThanks for the info Squiggles,
Do you think that I can cold turkey from the Xanax by substituting Klonopin?
Also, is Klonopin as efective as Xanax for PD?
Posted by Squiggles on October 6, 2001, at 10:51:50
In reply to Re: Switching from Xanax to Klonopin, posted by polly on October 5, 2001, at 21:26:49
> > > Pdoc wants me off Xanax (I'm cuuently on 6 mg/day) and on Klonopin. Do I need to slowly taper the Xanax or is it ok to take an equivalent dose of Klonopin and abruptly stop the Xanax?
> >
> >
> > Hi Polly,
> >
> > I was on Xanax for a long time, as well as
> > Klonopin. My doctor was happy to see me withdraw
> > from Xanax (and I had my own reasons for doing so);
> >
> > I never took more than 1.0 mg Xanax, and usually
> > only 0.25 once or twice a day - it was prescribed
> > as needed, but in the course of the years it became
> > needed every day. It is addictive, in the sense
> > that you build tolerance, and have inter-dose withdrawal,
> > which comes in the form of panic attacks.
> >
> > I was able to get off in 4 months with relative
> > ease. I withdrew 0.25 every month. I had anxiety,
> > insomnia, vertigo, hypersensitivity to sensory
> > stimulii, and some gastro difficulty. But it is
> > relatively easy to do.
> >
> > As for the clonazepam, it has a longer life and
> > will not give you the panic attacks. However,
> > it is a beast to get off of if you get on. So,
> > you may plan to stay on that one indefinitely.
> >
> > Squiggles
>
> Thanks for the info Squiggles,
> Do you think that I can cold turkey from the Xanax by substituting Klonopin?
> Also, is Klonopin as efective as Xanax for PD?I think you can.
Regarding PD - Xanax is good for acute, unexpected
panic attacks - whereas Klonopin is prescribed at
least to protect for longer period of generalized
anxiety disorder. Had I to do it again, I would
have asked for something other than clonazepam
for GAD or any kind of anxiety. I found its
anticonvulsant nature not the best Anti-anxiety
agent. They are all benzos, and I suppose it
depends on your doctor which one you get.Squiggles
This is the end of the thread.
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