Klonopin, Ativan, and nothing gained

[HowlingWolf]

I have severe anxiety. I have been in the hospital for it. At times I cannot eat for days because of it. I break out into hives over it. I get panic attacks with a heart rate so high the doctors didn't think it was a panic attack until they could come up with no other answers. The burning chest, the panicked mind, etc. It hinders my everyday life more than my BPD, but no psychologist, therapists, or psychiatrists believe how severe it is. 

I have been prescribed Buspar which gave me bad muscles spasms and ticks that I could not control. Hydroxozine only puts me to sleep and only at the highest dose. Celexa and other antidepressents that are supposed to help anxiety as well only made it worse. I am pretty sure I was prescribed one other lower strength anti-anxiety medication, but it was a joke. Did absolutely nothing. When I was in the hospital, I was given Ativan, and it was the best thing in the world. It was fast, and it worked! It was only 1mg, but for some reason, it worked splendidly! The doctor wrote me a small prescription of Xanax only a 0.5mg which is supposed to be equivalent to 1mg of Ativan, however it did absolutely nothing and I threw the rest away with great disappointment. 

I have asked a few different psychs to prescribe me Ativan, even a small prescription for the worst of days at the lowest dose. They refused every single time because they said they would never prescribe me anything with addictive properties. I assume it is because of my daignosis or because I asked and are afraid of an addiction developing. I don't blame them for that, but that leaves me SOL considering nothing else has worked, and my life is suffering because of my anxiety.

Someone recommended I ask a doctor about Klonopin. I am however, reluctant to see a doctor about it because I think I will probably just be rejected. I can only go see a general practitioner for it right now, and it is probably highly unlikely I will get it from her. I don't know that I want to waste my time just to be disappointed again. Has anyone had similar experiences where nothing else worked? Does Klonopin help any of you, and how does it compare to Ativan? 

[San]

I take Klonopin, 3x's a day (0.5mg). It's not easy to abuse. It's long acting, and takes a little longer to work. Ativan is fast acting and kicks in FAST. With klonopin, it sort of has a level in your body (not like lithium, I can't figure out how to explain it) so you're just taking the pills and keeping the same amount of klonopin in your body all the time. A steady amount, where with Ativan, its in and out quick. Klonopin, in my experience, is better for just general anxiety, its more of a prophylactic, where ativan or xanax are used when you feel it coming on.

People do take ativan and xanax on a regular basis, though. I used to take 0.5mg Xanax 4 times a day. Short half life. The klonopin, IMO, is better, because its longer acting.

Klonopin is great for me. Ativan, if I take it once in a while, can help me out of a panic attack. Same with Xanax. But klonopin isn't generally PRN. Yes, I have 1mg, PRN in my sig, which means I take 1mg daily, with room for extra doses. I switched from 2mg of Xanax to 1mg (usually 1.5mg) of klonopin with no problem, no cross tapering, one to the other.

I'm sorry they won't prescribe based off old addictions. Technically, abuse brings on addiction. Tolerance/dependence are other stories.