Thanks for the additional space! I'm not sure why he has made this decision, only to say (without planting a "seed of expectation" - he works this way) that i would be pleasantly surprised. I would GREATLY appreciate someone enlightening me who has perhaps walked this path. I'm a little nervous about the outcome..and what he expects will happen. Thanks!
My doctor has switched me to Klonopin from Xanax, which I've been taking for 20 years-replies?
Question posted by JohnFGee on 12 Dec 2013
Last updated on 4 July 2019
This question has also been asked and answered here: Klonopin vs Xanax - How are they different?
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12 Answers
jwginfo
4 Feb 2018
I am really surprised at all these answers because if you look up benzo and the dosing instructions they are not to be taken longer than 2-3 weeks as it affects the GABA neurotransmitters in our brains (calming effects) diminishing our own capacity to relieve stress. Many Drs have prescribed them long term. Problem is you will hit tolerance requiring you to up dose your meds or with the original poster switch to a longer lasting benzo. Took me 1 yr to taper from Clonazepam with terrible withdrawal symptoms as my brain is healing to it normal functioning. Benzo disable your CNS central nervous system as well. I have been in many support groups for tapering + coming off these meds. Please educate yourselves on the dangers here. Knowledge is power. Please Google your benzo.+ good luck to all. I still have anxiety, stress, panic, insomnia but prefer to learn techniques to calm myself instead of feeling like I have alzheimers.
1963
23 March 2018
I totally agree. I have weaned off Xanax. I can't on Klonopin. When I did get off Xanax I literally felt my brain had to heal. Once it did I felt so so great!
Tammy Moulton
11 Nov 2018
Not everyone takes more than they should as you suggest! I lowered my dose myself and because my script lasted 2mths my Dr lowered it to 2mgs twice daily. Which I did fine on for years. It's because of the Ppl who don't follow the the rules and take more than prescribed that we have such a hard time getting a Dr to prescribe it! And yes I have tried everything else they have given me! None have helped me! I was willing to try.
Tammy Moulton
11 Nov 2018
Not everyone takes more than they should as you suggest! I lowered my dose myself and because my script lasted 2mths my Dr lowered it to 2mgs twice daily. Which I did fine on for years. It's because of the Ppl who don't follow the the rules and take more than prescribed that we have such a hard time getting a Dr to prescribe it! And yes I have tried everything else they have given me! None have helped me! I was willing to try.
Tracy 64
3 Feb 2018
Klonopin after 25 plus years on Xanax a ticket for three and a half weeks that did nothing for me I went back to my Xanax they added a Pristiq to my Xanax and it does wonders working together but I'm also Norco so I have to be careful of what I take the Klonopin is supposed to work all day it did not work all day for me I prefer something like the Xanax that I could take what I need it or don't take when I don't need it and I'm on too many mg so I can break it in half if I'm not having a bad panic attack and if anybody out there has never had a bad panic attack you can never explain the feeling that you're going through I say this is an older post but I would like to know if you went on the Klonopin and how it work for you or if you stayed on the Xanax thanks hope this out
Mommy1986
2 Jan 2018
I have been wondering the same question. So any input will help me as well. I do know that Xanax does have a short life within the body, I wake up in the middle of the night with withdraws, and wake up in the mornings with the same. My body keeps asking for more amd more. But do not have a tolerance to more than a usual dose at a time.
Sick of meds
13 June 2017
Yes i have been on xanax 4 mg a day for 25 years. Xanax has a short shelf life in your body causing me to take more and more. I am going to request my pcp to put me on ativan because i desperately want to get off all meds. Maybe your dr is thinking.same way. .good health to you
Celeaste Adrienne
16 Feb 2017
Don't sweat it @ all Cause I've been on benzos. Most my life Klonopin actually last alot longer and you don't build a tolerance to those unless your overdoing the meds/ i am currently coming off of em badly / so if anyone knows a Dr that does provide benzos @ All / but I'm sure everyone has been in my shoes understand some the The hell that is coming ofrom benzos.can't talk eat can only pace sensory means nothing / Needing a doc in Chicago
Ynomel
15 Jan 2017
Those is kind of a delayed response but hope it helps..
Everyone is different..
I found it best to taper down from Xanax before asking my Doc to switch me to Klonopin..
I was taking 2mg of Xanax a day (a quarter of a bar R039's every 4-6 hours) for 3 years until I decided to switch because I'm trying to remove benzos from my life, and go strictly CBD since it's legal in all 50 states as well as medicinal Marijuana in my state.
Anyway, after requesting 1mg tablets to use to taper down, you just keep giving yourself enough so you don't feel like you're going to have a seizure i.e. break a 1mg blue tablet into 4 pieces.
Once I was down to 1mg a day, I switched to 2mg Klonopin, and other was such an easier transition to go from taking pieces of 1mg tablets feeling like I was going to have a seizure every few hours, I didn't feel the need to take any pieces of klonopin, or did I have to take anymore than 1 a day.
Now I'm down to 1mg Klonopin a day. I take the actual "Roche Klonopin" name brand made by Genentech. It's a lot better than the generic version.
Try asking your doctor to taper you to a lower dose of Xanax before you switch. It'll make the transition so much easier..
Hope this helps.
Bless.
shark213
29 July 2015
Dear johnFGEE,
Count yourself blessed that your doctor made this decision for you. I also have been on xanax for many years and have suffered countless granmal seizures due to over use and tolerance to alprazalam... I now have nuro brain damage due to these seizures... My last one was 37 minutes long and I died, luckely I was brought back by EMT on route to ER HOSPITAL. Praise GOD... Here is your probable answer to why your doctor changed you're meds... Clazapam has an 18-50 hour half-life , alprazalam has only " if your lucky" 8-12 hours half-life... The clazapam is a blessing to you and you DONT realize it yet... One thing... Kiss those Euphoria days over for a little while.. Clazapam comes on smooth and last many hours. Leaving you not having to reach out for your xanax bottle as soon as the euphoria effects wear off... Ease into it and one thing you MUST... KEEP IN MIND... " STAY OUT OF YOU'RE HEAD...
you've been on benzos long enough to know what that means... Your gonna be greatful my friend.. Trust me... :-).. PS..ATTENTION... I AM NOT A DOCTOR, NOR CAN I GIVE OUT ANY MEDICAL ADVICE , ALL THAT I HAVE STATED HAS BEEN FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE ONLY... thankyou my friends.. And good luck!
DrSpine
14 Jan 2014
As a heatlhcare professional and a a person who has taken xanax for the same amount of time and dosage, you have received a little to much "ahppy" thoughts about the switch. There seems to be no real person who talks about your direct question. So, as a person who was switched 2 months ago, strangely right through the holidays, which in the medical field is a big RED FLAG, depression and a time that can be a stressful time for many was a shock.
As for me this is what I experienced. It is not that great if you want to hear the "all is well" talk. I have had a very uneasy feeling for these past two months. My moods have shifted and I have had some nervousness that I have not felt in decades. I am easy nauseated. Xanax would always take care of that and now I wake up with nausea on many mornings. Klonopin does nothing for this. This has a lot to do with our dosage we were on as well as the bio chemistry that has been changed in our CNS.
As a Ortho/Neuro surgeon it is very disheartening to have to deal with this. I am a doctor who is being treated as though my colleagues DES fears are more important than my well being. Xanax was prescribed to me and I can really say that it got me through medical school for I know I would not have been able to without it.
So to answer your question with a remedy is this. Unless you are also taking a prescription narcotic, there is no reason you cannot find another physician who understands your needs if you feel as though Klonopin is not for you. One thing I could tell you is that you can always use the very reason that I did and was put back on Xanax, it creates ED. You may look that one up This is only if switching physicians is not an option.
Remember this though, only you know what is working for you and what is not. If Klonopin is working for you it is a great switch. The lasting longer is purely metaphysical and partial psychological. If it were not than we would not be having this conversation. Xanax is stronger and lasts about the same with a half life of about 7.2 hours. So what I am saying is if you are uneasy and feel any symptoms from the pass, very hard to misidentify, do not hesitate to find the relief you deserve and you should never feel any guilt for doing so. If you are a better you on he Xanax vs.the Klonopin demand that you be allowed the relief you obviously managed well for 20 years.
Best Regards,
Dr. Spine
Inactive
14 Jan 2014
DrSpine, I do agree with what you're saying about the xanax being better for you as everyone is different. My mother had a seizure when swiched from xanax to klonopin. I started using benzos approximately 28 yrs ago and tried most all benzos and know a lot about benzos and do know klonopin is not good for everyone, especially if you need a fast acting benzo. I found this to be true with several people, but then again like we also know it works wonders for some. And yes xanax does help with nausea. I hope all is well with you. Good luck
DrSpine
16 Jan 2014
Thank You for your response. Just as a note, and it was good one, seizures are very serious when switching. That is why I tell my patients, and as I did here in this forum, nobody knows yourself like you do. Speak out about the feelings you are having if indeed they are there. For this reason I also take an anti-seizure medication on days I do surgery. I work around the spine, so it is no place to get twitches.
Thank you for your comment and I send the best onto you as well.
Dr. K
Inactive
7 Jan 2016
I have been on xanax for 20 years. And it has worked very well for me. All of the sudden my doctor switched me to klonopin, it is not working out at all. Don't know what I'm going to do very upset about it. The Klonopin is not helping me with anxiety sleep , nausea. it's horrible
Creedence
16 Feb 2017
Dr. Spine,
I am currently prescribed .5mg alprazolam for severe panic attacks. I am also on lithium and lamictal for bipolar, both of which I take at particular times of the day and need to be with me in the incident I get caught in traffic and cannot make it home in time to get my medication. I have a little medication case that has my lithium, lamictal, and alprazolam needed for the day (I keep the stickers from the script. bottles in this medicine case to prove that they are mine). However, I often feel that I cannot tell how many alprazolam I will need in a day, considering panic attacks are unpredictable. My friend suggested I talk to my Dr. about 2mg alprazolam, where the pill can be split manually into 4 .5mg pieces. She said she had the same issue as me and her doctor switched her to the 2mg pills. This sounds ideal for my situation. What do you think? And how should I talk to my doctor about this?
JMD149
17 Dec 2013
Klonopin is more "stable", and stays in your system much longer than Xanax. I also switched from Xanax to Klonopin mainly because as the Xanax would "wear off", I would reach for an "extra dose" which was always making me come up short near refill time. And also because the "withdrawls" from Xanax are both brutal AND dangerous. I had 2 seizures from Xanax withdrawls, even if only 1 or 2 days going without. I am now "VERY FUNCTIONAL" on the Klonopin, and will "never switch back to Xanax". I went from Xanax 2Mg. 3 times a day to Klonopin 2Mg. "twice a day". It's a very easy transition, so don't be alarmed. Good Luck.
1963
23 March 2018
Yes Xanax wears off faster but if you want to try to wean off Klonopin it's hell! I'm going to be asking my doctor to put me back on Xanax because I was able to get off of it.
Gsparks6701
5 July 2019
For you it might have been an easy transition but Xanax strength is equivalent to Klonopin. Your Doctor decreased your dose 2 mg. I'm sure you have felt that by now.
Gsparks6701
5 July 2019
1963, xanax is harder to taper from , that is why most providers will switch you to Klonopin.
Klonopin after taking it for awhile will also lose its efficacy and not last 12 hours. My name brand by Roche covets me for 6 hour max.
Gsparks6701
5 July 2019
1963, xanax is harder to taper from , that is why most providers will switch you to Klonopin.
Klonopin after taking it for awhile will also lose its efficacy and not last 12 hours. My name brand by Roche covets me for 6 hour max.
Dumpster Diver
13 Dec 2013
Hi John; " Without planting a seed of expectation " I believe that you, John,
will be pleasantly surprised and delighted. I have been taking Klonopin
for many years and it works very well. Best Wishes and let us know how
you are feeling. "No need to be nervous" at all.~~DD~~
kaismama
12 Dec 2013
Lasting longer it controls anxiety better. Don't get nervous, its a good thing.
Inactive
12 Dec 2013
Hello JohnFGee and welcome to the site.
Xanax is a short acting benzo whereas Klonopin last longer. What is the milligrams of your xanax and klonopin?
I hope this has helped?
pamee
Inactive
12 Dec 2013
P.S.. You probably will not need to take the klonopin as often as you took the xanax.
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