Which ones are stronger & would help with my severe anxiety and panic attacks? Also are the 2mg xanax the same as the 2mg kpins? Please respond as soon as you can.
Thank you
Haley
1mg Xanax vs 2mg Klonopin which is stronger?
Question posted by Anonymous on 17 July 2014
Last updated on 24 April 2025
This question has also been asked and answered here: Klonopin vs Xanax - How are they different?
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33 Answers Page 3
As per psychologist, I was diagnosed with PTSD due to combat in Iraq. I was prescribed by my primary who was told by my psych 2mg Xanax 2x a day after I wasn't getting the relief from them I was switched to 1mg klonopins 3x a day. My opinion is the kpins keep the anxiety, panic attacks and pulse rate down. I still get the nightmares,tremors,and sweating spells but to answer your ? the Xanax are stronger, but for a shorter amount of time.I did see a lot of action in the mid-east and probably will never forget what I did and saw.God Bless and be safe with all benzos which could turn into another problem (addiction) for you.
First of all Rubicon05, I want to personally thank you for your service to our country. I suffer from Generalized Anxiety Disorder and have been taking medication for the last 10 years. I too, take Klonopin, mostly at night to settle down and for sleep. Klonopin is the best medication I have taken. I am taking 2.0 mg per day. My psych just made sure to tell me that I shouldn't abruptly stop this medication due to the possibility of seizures. Like any psych med, it is important to slowly taper off when you are ready. Again, God Bless You for your service and my prayers are for peace in your life.
I suffer from ptsd also Ask your doc about minipress it has worked wonders on my night terrors.
I also suffer from ptsd from tragically losing my fiance so I've been going back and forth from xanax to klonopin and so forth. Also staying very active, eating well and taking better care of myself now that I'm able to again. Xanax has a shorter half life so They work better for sudden panic attacks where klonopin is a longer lasting anxiety med that helps subside anxiety over longer periods of time. Does this make sense?
I am an ER Physian. I like to answer the question to the person who started this post. I would recommend Klonopin. Good Luck !
I am also have PTSD, non combat related, tho I am familiar with that as my bf is infantry. I've been on klonopin for some time and find it has some relief but just not enough. My bf has the Xanax. I've tried it once or twice and was impressed with how it stopped my anxiety. As with you, night terrors still exist and the light is always on. I'm torn between asking my dr to switch me to Xanax or staying with klonopin
Hey brother I know your pain. I was a runner and gunner in Iraq myself. The VA has had me on klonopin 1mg 3x daily for years. I still have nightmares, wake up soaking wet, and am service connected for PTSD. For some reason , I have never gotten them to give me xanax, and its a struggle to get the klonopin. I have a lot of chronic pain as well, which I get pain meds for. I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO FEEL OK BROTHER!
Hey brother I know your pain. I was a runner and gunner in Iraq myself. The VA has had me on klonopin 1mg 3x daily for years. I still have nightmares, wake up soaking wet, and am service connected for PTSD. For some reason , I have never gotten them to give me xanax, and its a struggle to get the klonopin. I have a lot of chronic pain as well, which I get pain meds for. I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO FEEL OK BROTHER!
I just wanted to tell you thank you for your MILITARY SERVICE AS so often you are all TAKEN FOR GRANTED. There are many that sincerely care and appreciate the sacrifices you have made in your military service. And I empathize with all suffering from PTSD. and the sacrifices you made which continue to cause quality of life issues. Thank you for your contribution here and in service also and I hope your PTSD flashbacks and dreams decrease over time.TP. Grateful for a peace filled life and best wishes to all dealing with the many different demons that can plague us all. And thanks to all suggestions for solutions to the mental and physical anguish and suffering for trying to help us all.
I want to say from the bottom of my heart "Thankyou for your service"My father is a Vietnam veteran and he still has ptsd.I feel so bad for those that have gone through this.So many people do not understand the severity of the emotions. Keep fighting the good fight!My prayers are with you.God bless♡
I just took 6mgs of klon and it does not help me for no reason
Rubicon05. I feel the klonopin works better for my ptsd for longer periods also. Some gave all and all gave some. We may never get back what we lost but we are here to continue the fight. Ooh rah
Thank you BOTH SO very MUCH for the sacrifices you made for our country. Karma is real. You somehow someday will get something wonderful in return. May you someday achieve the peace you both so much deserve. Much love and admiration.
WOW You need to understand that a lot of us have been in your shoes. We know how you feel! I wouldn't depend on either one of them. There are much better meds. It takes 4-6 weeks for them to kick in but worth the wait.
It's not easy, we know it, I KNOW IT. Now talk to your doctor preferably a psych. and ask them for their suggestions. You're not going to get anything unless they give you a prescription. Don't depend entirely on meds. Get out and walk, exercise, comedy helps, read if you can. Find a counselor. Doesn't happen over night but it all starts with your first step.
In can happen overnight with the right meds. Walk in ng or not.
Both Klonopin and Xanax DO NOT take 4-6 weeks to kick in. Both are usually given to you WHILE you you wait for your Lexapro, Effexor, etc etc kick in after 4-6 weeks. These drugs almost intantansiouly to help soothe your problems until the long lasting ones come in to play. Hence the reason you will walk about with both and are usually told to use your benzo until you start feeling the effects of the other, then the doctor will help you ween off when you seem to be doing better. Been there before. But saying it takes 4-6 weeks for benzos to work is completely false.
I just went to the psychitrist for the first time 3 weeks ago (another appointment next week), she prescribed me Lexapro and BuSpar along with Kilnonpin until the SSRI and BuSpar kicks in. But the BuSpar is making me sick, so now I'm just taking the Lexapro and Kilnonpin, do you think she will let me just take the Kilnonpin and Lexapro together instead of the BuSpar if its making me sick? Thank you.
I agree that it does not take that long for a benzodiazepine to work. However, I would caution how much you take of the benzodiazepines because when you reach a certain level, they don't work anymore and you're not going to get a doctor to prescribe you the high milligrams. That's when you realize you have to stop taking it.
I've been taking the same dosage of xanax for 30 years and have had no need to increase the dosage. The drug is habit forming, but it doesn't require higher dosages to work.
Klonopin and Xanax do not take 4 to 6 weeks to work they work within 10 minutes of taking them I have been on them for over 10 years and I'm also a nurse practitioner
I don't think kitty meant that these benzos are what takes 4-6 weeks to kick in.. She said she wouldn't depend on either klonopins or Xanax and that there are much better meds out there, meaning other meds besides benzos.
@jay13 she's saying there are better meds BESIDES the fast acting benzos that take 4-6 weeks to work=psych meds! Read the post and pay attention before you go correcting someone and end up looking like the one who doesn't know what's going on or what their talking about. Because you obviously don't know what the post said!! Disengage brain b4 engaging mouth next time-kindergarten education stuff!✌
She's saying specifically that she's not talking about benzos like xanax and clonnipin taking 4-6 weeks to kick in!!! Read her post before you going try to correct her and then make yourself look dumb because your so bent on trying to be right you end up looking stupid because you can't take the time to read her post." I wouldn't try either one of them, there are better meds but they take 4-6weeks to work"!! Read it through smart guy b4 you post your response and end up looking very uneducated to say the least. I had no problems understanding everything she said!!
@anonymous- read her post she specifically said there are other meds out there (not benzos) that are more beneficial that take 4-6 weeks to work. Read the post b4 you respond with what you think is knowledge but without understanding what she's saying your post makes you look stupid. Obviously benzos don't take 4-6 weeks to kick in! She said she's talking about a different class of meds. Read the WHOLE POST... MAYBE 3 TIMES UNTIL YOU GET WHAT SHE SAID to save yourself from looking like a know it all who obviously knows very little to none!!
Why comedy ? I'm just curious I exercise and it does help a lot because my brain goes 1000 miles per hour. My counselor even said to me I wouldn't want to be in your brain. We hav stayed off the Benzos but I am still having trouble but with my history on narcotics I have tried to stay away. Thanks for your response !
Well said Kitty, I have a Doctorate of Divinity, as well as a Masters Degree in Behavioral Psychology, What I would recommend would depend completely upon your symptoms and diagnoses. If you had occasional anxiety 1-3 times a week, followed by other deeper feelings of anger, sorrow, hatred, fear, depression and thoughts of suicide and or hurting yourself or others I would recommend Kitty's way of treating this. Find a good psychologist or psychiatrist, try out a few, don't just accept the first name in the phone book. Many psychologists have different methods and backgrounds That may create a better patient psychologist relationship. (For example I am a former addict, long story but, I have chronic daily headaches, my Drs prescribed me oxycontin, 80mgs 3x daily and 2 Percocet every 4 to 6 hours. I became addicted to my medications, Finally I got off them and found other treatments.
My past makes me make better decisions.) If you have the ibove symptoms id suggest a medication for depression that would take 3 to 6 weeks to work, however I would prescribe something like xanax for the first few weeks until the other meds picks up.
If you had multiple severe panic attacks a week, anywhere from 1 to 4 or more a day then I'd prescribe clonazepam, 0.5 mgs 3 times daily or .25 to .5 mgs of alprazolam 3 times a day followed by .5 to 1mg of clonazepam at bedtime (again depending on severity, lifestyle, triggers etc... ), followed by another med that takes 3-6 weeks to work, such as Effexor or Effexor XR, Prozac, Paxil etc... again depending on lifestyle...
Take a walk, or a bath, meditate, find someone to talk too, and any good psychologist is always there for his patients especially those experiencing really tough life problems such as severe anxiety and depression, or panic disorders. A 20 minute talk to your psychologist nay be the difference between life or death, or serious injury or overdose...
If you wish to talk... you may reply.
Thanks again Kitty, great advice.
Here's the thing. Its not up to you what you take, a dr has to prescribe it and he's going to prescribe what he thinks is best. Klonopin is better for chronic anxiety.
1/2 mg of klonopin is equal to 1 mg of ativan. The klonopin and xanax are equal, but again, the klonopin is better for chronic anxiety.
It is up to me! i dont want ur opinion damn i just need the facts
Good you tell the Dr what you want and see how far it gets you.
No, you're are totally wrong. I take Xanax and Prozac. Today, I asked him for Klonopin because I have seizures, can't sleep and am in pain. Xanax doesn't cover ANY of those symptoms so please don't listen to her. So, you Kaismama might not want to speak when you know just what your doctor does. EVERY Doc is different. Don't judge someone until you walk a mile in their shoes, know their medical conditions and know anything about them. What an awful comment to make!
To anonymous you can be on
both. I am. I have a brain tumor and many other health issues.
All Benzo's are different and all people respond differently to the same medication. .5mg of Klonopin is not "=" to 1mg of Ativan... They may work similarly but there is no "they are the same" if they were all the same they wouldn't bother making multiple medications all with different chemical make ups and half-lifes.. And you PAY your doctor for his services. He HAS to atleast listen to what you want, and my doctor's have never denied me of anything I've asked for. Maybe try a new Dr???
It is up to you . I can tell my DR.what I want and what works better. Remember it's going into your body not the doctors.
She CAN tell her Dr what she thinks is best for her,but who are you to dictate her thoughts. Ppl like you are why these blogs are so trivial. I'm prescribed klonipin 1mg ev month... but I'm going to my Dr tomorrow and I'm asking for 2mg ativan because I believe that it's better suited for me. And I'm self pay,meaning the purpose for a Dr is to sincerely help his patients. Plain and simple & if you've been going to same Dr for say over a year,like I have,yes they WILL listen and prescribe you what you ask for, as long as its not some outlandish medicine that isn't close to what you take. So next time if someone ask a question, someone w a brain should answer. Thanks
I was give Xanax and the long term use led to friends commenting on my memory loss & repeating myself. Upon decrease I experienced high anxiety, rapid pulse, aggoraphobia and believe it or not 2 convulsions. This was the worst detox I had ever experienced an ongoing for 2 weeks..not like even previous illicit drug experiences. K. is much easier on the system and xanax for me required valium to detox as well... short term good. Long term... no no no...
You can't say 1/2 a klonopin is 1mg of ativan, they are in the same family but different meds with different half-lifes and drug chemistry. And by the way, I pay my doctor, He works for me. I've told my Dr.'s what I wanted for the past 10 years and have never been denied a reasonable medication for the condition. If you have Panic Disorder, some people respond better to Clonazepam, others to Alprazolam, some people need both. Alprazolam for "break through anxiety" and Clonazepam as a preventative medication. And it is my body, it is up to everyone what they take, and no Klonopin is not 'better' for chronic anxiety. It just has a longer half life. It all depends what works on a patient to patient basis.
Kaismama, with all due respect have you been on any of these medications fo any length of time or at all? I see you answer questions all over the place about a wide variety of medications, suggestions and judgements. Are you getting any or all your info on the internet or through experience. You are often rude and judgemental. just saying
Kaismama has no clue. Doctors are always open to feedback on medication. Patients are the ones who know what side effects they are experiencing. Patients also have the right to other medications that are in the same family that may treat their symptoms and not cause the same harmful side effects. Doctors are there to simply take in all the information and evaluate it then offer a solution. Now that solution may be different for each individual but it is up to that individual to inform the doctor .
Yes, while it is best to get the info from your doctor. In my experience, (and I have a lot of it when it comes to these meds) ultimately, it should be up to you. But only if you are familiar with the drug you're going to take. 2mg Xanax is great but no longer effective in my case so I'm looking to switch to 2mg Klonopin. Yes, it is a benzo, just like Xanax. It is longer acting though. That's the only difference.
We pay our dr.'s to work for US. That being said I know a perfectly healthy person cannot walk in and just say "Give me hydro-morphone now!". However if the symptoms of an anxiety problem exist they WILL listen to what you're telling them, and MANY are willing to try new things at the request of the patient. It's not just a dictatorship where the patient has no say.
First off I believe XANAX is faster worker but it will also make you forget things, depending on your tolerance, I take klonopins and they are time released and I also remember everything I've done the day before they just take about an hour or two to kick in as XANAX takes about 20 to a half hour, you decide which is best ,XANAX as I have read other comments will give you a feeling of being high and if you are in the public it is not a good look and can be dangerous if you live in City, if people see you like that you will become an easy target to get robbed, GOOD LUCK.
Kaismama is knowledgeable on many issues here on this forum. I believe she was referring to the action of the pill not it being the same medication. I have taken both, and I believe, for me, Klonopin was the better choice. There's no need to be insulting when someone is trying to help you.
Horseshit. Klonopin is totally useless for any situation. There is no comparing it with xanax.
Here's the thing, just because you engage in heard animal mentality doesn't mean you should try and infect others with that "don't think for yourself" ideology. Doctors are not gods and are not omniscient, especially some of the inept excuses for psychiatrists and psychopharmacologist that are out there. You are entitled to your own opinion, no matter how erroneous, but you needn't ram it down others throats.
It is absolutely up to you what you take. Deciding medications and dosage is a cooperative effort between you and your doctor. I have seen the same doctor for nearly 9 years. I trust him to listen to me, understand what I need, and respect that I know myself better than he does. If I think I need to increase a dosage of Xanax, decrease a dosage of anti-depressants, or try something new entirely, he listens and discusses it with me and we come to a decision together.
It's comments like yours that are accusatory of drug-seeking, judgemental, and make people afraid to be open and honest with their doctor.
i agree
1 milligram of Klonopin is not equal to 1 milligram of Xanax. Xanax is the strongest then Klonopin then Ativan and Valium. If you have major anxiety one milligram of Xanax is going to help out way more than one milligram of clonazepam
I'm sorry but that's not true Klonopin lasts twice as long as Xanax because the half life lasts twice as long as long and it is much stronger I don't care what anybody says I'm a nurse practitioner and I have been on Klonopin and Xanax for over 10 years
kaismama, I went to my doctor and told her I'd taken klonopin without a doctors prescription before and how it helped with my anxiety. Left there with a script of my own. Be honest with your doctors, you know how you react to different meds better than anyone.
Klonopin (Clonazapam) is half the potency of Xanax (Alprazolam). The half life of klonopin is much longer than Alprazolam.
Uuuuuh LOL other ways to get besides doctor !
Xanax will work faster but wear off faster. Klonnipin will work longer so for a quicker solution Xanax but 2mg is strong enough to either knock you out or make you forget what you did. This from my own experience. So yea Xanax is much stronger but wears off a lot quicker. I take Klonnipin which lasts all day long. Who wants to keep taking more Xanax because the last dose already wore off and your anxious again. Try strenuous exercise and eating alot of proteins with a good multi vitamin and a super b complex plus magnesium and fish oil with dhea in it. Not a Dr. But I take these daily to keep my mind from being anxious. Takes knowledge, practice an open mind and lots of good nutrition. Don't expect a magic pill alone to work when you don't EAT ANYTHING especially a balanced diet!!
What do you mean it's not up to you? I get what ever I want when ever I want and I'm 100 percent sure the people I buy from are not doctors
You have input and its not as simple as "I want this, give it to me, I feel my body responds better to me than it does to your standard operating procedure. I think we can come to a common understanding on what's going to work for me and what you're willing to help me with. Some doctors legit think theynare operating in your best interest snd until orveb otherwise will continue to do so. Their goal should be you getting better with as little red tape on their end. Any insight you can give on histories of your attempts/failure go to show you aren't just pretentious enough to dictate your therapy, snd are honestly eiminf dornrhe best solution for all involved. Its a dangerous slope they traverse and your input make all the difference. Cures are Universal and make it easier to determine the best course of action. Some work in instances where people adhere to the guidelines but others tend to take that upon themselves and usually leads to tragedy.
I fully think it's your body ingesting these "remedies" and say should be yours and yours alone. If your MD disgrees, have him sight instances where these types failed and make mrie.look like failures. They are true hearted with the intention of improving defense snd with magic being a a building block of natural and Supernatural remedies should not be shunned simply because they don't align with the Empire goals
I have severe panik attacks.I've lived a very hard life and many things set off my anxiety.Now I know a pill is only gonna do so much for me and I'm responsable to pick myself up out of it.The best anxiety meds that I know of are the round blue 2mg xanax or 2mg of klonopin.Thats not for lightweights or people without anxiety as I know many people are good with .5s of either one.Just giving my opinion
The aren't as strong to me but they do help my anxiety... but it is true what he said the doctor is going to give you what they think is best..for the simple fact of you go on asking for Xanax they are going to think you either selling,hooked,or abusing them since they are so popular these days.unless you have a doctor that just hands out pretty much what you ask for if you want the Xanax the best advice I could give you is say that you don't like one of the side effects that the kolodpin is giving you and ask if you can try the Xanax because they seemed to work better for you without the side effects
I go to the VA hospital in La Jolla, CA. I'm in their veterans choice program to be able to see a doctor outside the VA due to their practices inside the VA hospital. Today I had a situation where they would not give me the .5mg klonopin that I had a prescription for from my doctor signed a week ago. Previously I was prescribed xanax .5mg and I stopped having panic attacks and just had a new baseline anxiety. It was a great idea but, the issue was that my choice program expired and my psychiatrist was supposed to renew me in their system. After I was told I would not be getting my med filled I told her I was going to mental health emergency. While up there the nurse said "I know this isn't from a doctor here because they tell us not to prescribe xanax or klonopin." They would rather you stay on your 200mg of zoloft daily and 50mg hydroxizine not even offering meds that actually work.
That is through the VA health system I've read comments saying that you can tell your doctor what you would like to do. For the veterans at this hospital and I'm sure its happening all over the country we are being completely denied xanax and klonopin for generalized anxiety disorder. Yes our care is free so you cant expect so much, but we earned the right to go into that hospital. Sorry to rant and the story does have a happy ending I spoke with the nurse practitioner in the mental health emergency and she went ahead and honored my prescription.
it may not Be up to me but I want to tell you right now doctor should not play with your life in any way shape or form and by that doctor just jerking me off of Xanax for no reason it wouldn't have mattered what an event for anxiety he threw my lungs into a state now that I can't get them cleared out you don't just go off of a medication like that and every doctor knows it every doctor knows that you could suffocate in your lungs because they fill up with fluid and I'm paying the price for it and as far as that stupid Klonopin or it hasn't done a damn thing for me except make me in a worse mood than I've ever been in my life I am in such a deep funk I don't even know if anything will help me now and don't tell me to go to I just had minor depression I was taking a very low dose of Xanax now I'm taking a higher dose of the colonoscopy in or whatever you want to call it and it's not working they have tried me on everything I have been ...
a guinea pig and I have suffered because of it and I'm suffering now so I'm changing doctors already got an appointment with another doctor he deals with people elderly people and I'm going to be very honest with him as I am all the doctors but it doesn't get me anywhere he didn't even look at my chart he didn't look at anything I had a radical hysterectomy everything's gone the chances of me getting cancer is less than 2% according to Physicians
it may not Be up to me but I want to tell you right now doctor should not play with your life in any way shape or form and by that doctor just jerking me off of Xanax for no reason it wouldn't have mattered what an event for anxiety he threw my lungs into a state now that I can't get them cleared out you don't just go off of a medication like that and every doctor knows it every doctor knows that you could suffocate in your lungs because they fill up with fluid and I'm paying the price for it and as far as that stupid Klonopin or it hasn't done a damn thing for me except make me in a worse mood than I've ever been in my life I am in such a deep funk I don't even know if anything will help me now and don't tell me to go to I just had minor depression I was taking a very low dose of Xanax now I'm taking a higher dose of the colonoscopy in or whatever you want to call it and it's not working they have tried me on everything I have been ...
a guinea pig and I have suffered because of it and I'm suffering now so I'm changing doctors already got an appointment with another doctor he deals with people elderly people and I'm going to be very honest with him as I am all the doctors but it doesn't get me anywhere he didn't even look at my chart he didn't look at anything I had a radical hysterectomy everything's gone the chances of me getting cancer is less than 2% according to Physicians
Here's the thing fellas if you look up the Klonopin's purpose you will be luck to see Anxiety as what it's used for Seizures, muscle spasms and high blood pressure. If you read deeper you find out anxiety is a symptom that I'm it helps with. Xanax is Anxiety's worst enemy. It is faster acting and more Directed toward panic and straight anxiousness. It doesn't last as long as clonazepam but xanax is easier to control if you want to. Both are Benzos so getting off either one isn't easy at all. I stopped my Klonopin on my own in 2012 .5 days later I had a seizure and spent 2 days in the hospital. I've been on Klonopin for years but tomorrow I see my Doctor and I'm getting switc
To Xanax because my anxiety is to triggered by certain things that leads to a severe panic attack. He will listen to me because I know my body and my level of stress. Not every Doctor will listen to his ok patient because the Drug seekers have screwed it up for everything everyone. Ativan, Diazepam and Lorazepam are pretty much the same and they're only as strong as their milligram
Klonopin is WAY BETTER for me than anything else and they keep me calm alot longer than Xanax.
Don't shoot the messenger. Kaismama was absolutely correct from the very beginning.
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