March 6, 2007 - 11:10am
i was just prescribed klonipin from my doctor for anxiety, and a friend of mine takes zanax. i was just curious what the difference is, if any? what's stronger, side effects, etc... any comments would be appreciated.
March 6, 2007 - 2:09pm
#2
They have me on 2mg xanax
They have me on 2mg xanax pillsfor a total of 4g...this is working much better then the kolopin.
March 6, 2007 - 2:38pm
#3
question
so 2mg klonipin would be equal to ? mg of xanax?
March 6, 2007 - 6:23pm
#4
They are different medicines
They are different medicines so they act in different ways. Benzodiazepines are not necessarily like pain medications. Some Benzodiazepines are anxiolytics while others are anti-epileptics that are used off label for anxiety.
So, 2mg of Clonazepam isn't necessarily as comparable to Alprazolam in strength as it is to half-life. The chart that Phisher referred you to was a comparison of the various Benzo medications in relation to their half-lives. It would stand to reason that a drug with a shorter half life may initially reduce anxiety a lot quicker than a drug with a long half life, but that doesn't really mean much in terms of how strong either of the drugs are.
Personally, I've found that Clonazepam is most like Alpraolam ER (Xanax XR). A regular Xanax may provide relief very quickly, but for a short amount of time. While Klonopin, on the other hand, produces a steady rate of relief spread out over a longer period of time.
I'm not a doctor, pharmacist, etc.... However, I was on Klonopin before being switched to the Alprazolam ER and it works much better, in my opinion, than the Klonopin or regular Xanax. The XR does not cause sedation the way the regular Xanax, and to some degree Klonopin, did.
I hope this helps, but it is difficult to answer a question where there is no clear cut answer.
Gtrplayer
March 6, 2007 - 8:45pm
#5
well thank you
i understand that they are different medications but are used for the same symptoms. that's the only reason i was asking. but thank you for clearing it up for me. i appreciate the information.
August 8, 2009 - 4:12pm
#6
Klonapin
I'm on 2 mg of Clonazepam (Klonopin) and it has really messed up my memory. I forget conversations, places I've been. I work temp jobs right now and I can't even remember where I worked last week. It has really messed up sense of time. Its like whole months never happened. I was on heavy pain pills about 3 years ago and had the same thing happen. I had no idea that Klonopin would do that too. I don't know what to do, I get anxiety attacks but don't want to live forgetting my whole life. I should add that it takes about 6 mgs at a time to even calm me down the way Ativan use to. I had the same problem with that. Any ideas out there?
August 8, 2009 - 5:35pm
#7
I think thats just the nature
I think thats just the nature of benzo drugs. Not sure theres much you can do besides find an alternative medication
August 8, 2009 - 8:42pm
#8
Yup
Thanks. Thats pretty much what I figured.
August 8, 2009 - 11:39pm
#9
Maybe it depends on the person
I used to be prescribed 1mg Xanax; I'm now on 1mg Klonopin (Clonazepam). The 1mg Xanax always worked fine for me, but I usually have to take 2 of the Klonopin. But, I think the half-life of Klonopin is well over 12 hours, and Xanax's is much shorter. I've also -HEARD- that Xanax is more addictive and that the withdrawals when getting off of them are worse. But, I quit taking the Xanax when my insurance was cancelled, and I don't remember having any withdrawals -just the normal anxiety problems. And, Valium is fairly useless on me. I had to take 30-50mg before I could feel any effect at all. Yes, I got off topic. I tend to do that. Sorry.
August 11, 2009 - 12:21pm
#10
Klonopin vs Xanax
I've been on both of these and found that the Klonopin did nothing for me (in my case, i need instant anxiety relief and controlling mania) I don't understand how all of these Benzo charts may these two drugs equopotent.. I say this because I was on the same amount of Klonopin as I am on Xanax now (4mg) and the Klonopin left me freakin out just as bad... I guess its the rapid onset of alprazolam vs the klonopin... Klonopin is like an XR med in its IR form, whereas Xanax is definately IR unless you get the extended release
August 11, 2009 - 3:41pm
#11
Interesting to see all the
Interesting to see all the different views on these two. I prefer Klonopin, it has been quite a life saver for me as someone who suffered with anxiety my whole life. My Dr. changed my life with one little pill. I love that Klonopin does not wear off quick, and that I can let it melt under my tongue if I need it to work faster. I like that, to me, its way less sedating than xanax. The taste of xanax hitting my tongue makes me gag, and I feel really depressed as it wears off. I did have to adjust to klonopin. When I first started taking it, and whenever my dosage is adjusted acording to additional stress or anxiety, it tends to knock me out. The 1st time I took it, I took 1/4 of a 0.5mg tab and woke up the next morning not knowing I had even fell asleep. Some people say they have to go up and up on their dose but I have never taken or needed more than 3mgs a day. My range is 0.5-3mgs a day. I agree that valium is way over rated. It takes a truck load of it to do anything for me and is not that great, also as far as relaxing the muscles, give me Soma ANY day over valium. My Dr thought was amazed at me when I asked for increased meds for additional stress, he gave me a script for xanax and valium. I asked for more klonopin instead and said I would prefer not to have the others. He was happy with my honesty and told me that many of his patients would love to have valium and he wont rx it to them, and one of the few patients he trusts to give it to doesnt want it. Your relationship with your dr is everything! I am the only patient he will rx fentanyl to when I rotate meds, and he lets me have a lot of input on my treatment, but I digress......
August 17, 2009 - 9:24am
#12
wings all way
believe you right, I take 3 mgs of xanax a day, they were not showing on UA s, Dr. told me that xanax was a extreme detoxer, comes out so fast that its either a hit or miss whether it there or not, that she was nt concerned with the xanax showing as long as my pain meds showed.
Woodstock
August 17, 2009 - 6:52pm
#13
Chrisb are you sure it is the
Chrisb are you sure it is the meds as opposed to an underlying condition? Take care, htmom
check out this post from gtrplayer, it should answer all your questions.
as far as a quick answer... xanax is stronger mg for mg, additionally, xanax is short acting, klonopin is long acting.
all thoughts and opinions expressed are those of my own and should not be mistaken for medical advice. i am not a doctor nor a pharmacist. all medical questions should be answered by a licensed pharmacist, doctor, or primary care manager.