IcePrincess88 Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 I seen my new pain doctor today and he gave me a paper to give my pdoc saying I can not be on pain medicine and Xanax. Ah, my beloved Xanax. How well you treated me over the years. But its been SO many years that I'm having anxiety just thinking about stopping Xanax. The new pain doctor said I'd have to either get on Xanax XR or Klonopin. My pdoc will LOVE this! Shes been trying to get my to switch to Klonopin since I started seeing her. Looks like she's finally get her way. How does Xanax and Klonopin dosage correlate? I, for example, am on 3 mgs of Xanax a day. So what would this equal in Klonopin? I need to know about this Klonopin so I have stop having anxiety about having anxiety! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wooster Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 I was really reluctant to switch from lorazepam to clonazepam (Klonopin) because I had seen a lot of people abuse clonazepam. However, I was REALLY glad when I did because the longer acting coverage was really helpful. I can't speak to Xanax because I've not had that one, but I went from 6mg lorazepam scheduled + 1 prn to 2 mg of clonazepam and had a small stash of prn lorazepam for a safety net for a couple of months. Also, this is pinned at the top of the board. May be of some use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissaw72 Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 Quote am on 3 mgs of Xanax a day. So what would this equal in Klonopin? I don't know what equals what, but FWIW, xanax is short-acting and klonopin is long-lasting. So if you take klonopin, it should last through the day. I take it in divided doses, in the AM and in the PM, to cover me the whole day. I only use xanax for breakthrough anxiety. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
San Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 I went from 2mg of Xanax a day to 1.5mg of clonazepam (klonopin) a day. No difference. I now take more, but its mostly PRN. So my daily dose isn't 3mg, its generally 1.5mg. I've had no problems switching benzos. The klonopin lasts longer, and I didn't have any breakthrough anxiety switching. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IcePrincess88 Posted February 23, 2016 Author Share Posted February 23, 2016 18 hours ago, Wooster said: I was really reluctant to switch from lorazepam to clonazepam (Klonopin) because I had seen a lot of people abuse clonazepam. However, I was REALLY glad when I did because the longer acting coverage was really helpful. I can't speak to Xanax because I've not had that one, but I went from 6mg lorazepam scheduled + 1 prn to 2 mg of clonazepam and had a small stash of prn lorazepam for a safety net for a couple of months. Also, this is pinned at the top of the board. May be of some use. Thank you. My pain doctor did say I needed to be on a longer acting benzo. Apparently there is a correlation with short acting benzos(Xanax) and pain medication resulting in deaths. 14 hours ago, melissaw72 said: I don't know what equals what, but FWIW, xanax is short-acting and klonopin is long-lasting. So if you take klonopin, it should last through the day. I take it in divided doses, in the AM and in the PM, to cover me the whole day. I only use xanax for breakthrough anxiety. If you dont mind me asking, how much do you take and how often? 1 hour ago, San said: I went from 2mg of Xanax a day to 1.5mg of clonazepam (klonopin) a day. No difference. I now take more, but its mostly PRN. So my daily dose isn't 3mg, its generally 1.5mg. I've had no problems switching benzos. The klonopin lasts longer, and I didn't have any breakthrough anxiety switching. How long were you on Xanax before switching? And how would you describe the difference bewteen Xanax and Klonopin? Besides one being longer acting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
San Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 I was on Xanax for 2-3 years before switching. I found that Xanax kicked in faster if I needed it PRN. The first klonopin dose did knock me out a bit, but that was about it. As in dosage, it's about the same. I didn't notice much of a difference, except I take it less now. I was taking the Xanax 3-4 times a day and take the Klonopin 2, at most. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissaw72 Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 1 hour ago, IcePrincess88 said: Thank you. My pain doctor did say I needed to be on a longer acting benzo. Apparently there is a correlation with short acting benzos(Xanax) and pain medication resulting in deaths. If you dont mind me asking, how much do you take and how often? How long were you on Xanax before switching? And how would you describe the difference bewteen Xanax and Klonopin? Besides one being longer acting. Right now I am on Klonopin 0.5 mg in AM and 0.5 mg in PM to cover me. I don't use it as needed, doesn't work for me like that. For xanax, I am on 0.5 mg at a time, up to 3.0 mg/day for breakthrough anxiety. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IcePrincess88 Posted February 25, 2016 Author Share Posted February 25, 2016 **UPDATE** I seen my pdoc today. I had to turn over the 1 Ambien I had left. I'm going tomorrow to turn in the rest of my Xanax(of course I had to take some out for emergency). On to the Kolonipin... She suggested 1mg twice a day, and once at bedtime. She's a Psych NP, so she went to consult with the higher MD at the practice, then came back. He said 1mg 3 times a day and 1 at night for the first month, then down to 3 a day after the first month. I just took one at about 2:30, but I don't feel anything. Does anyone know how long is takes to kick in? She also warned me that without the Ambien I've had for the past 2 weeks, that I'm going to be sleeping horribly for the first few days with just Trazadone and Klonopin. So I'm really worried about that, and REALLY worried about going into withdrawal from Xanax. She assured me that I should be ok with the high doses of Klonopin. I guess we'll see how it goes. Time to update the meds in the signature. But I'd really like to know how long these things take to kick on/work? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt07 Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 In my experience, there's no sudden BAM! with Klonopin. It gradually comes on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissaw72 Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 45 minutes ago, jt07 said: In my experience, there's no sudden BAM! with Klonopin. It gradually comes on. ^^ I agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IcePrincess88 Posted February 25, 2016 Author Share Posted February 25, 2016 8 minutes ago, melissaw72 said: ^^ I agree. I can feel it now. It's like a less intense Xanax. Maybe I'll like Klonopin better than Xanax. Is it just me or because of my high Xanax dose, but isn't four 1mg a day of Klonopin pretty high? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissaw72 Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 12 minutes ago, IcePrincess88 said: I can feel it now. It's like a less intense Xanax. Maybe I'll like Klonopin better than Xanax. Is it just me or because of my high Xanax dose, but isn't four 1mg a day of Klonopin pretty high? I think it depends on the person. The most klonopin I was on (from what I remember) was 2 mg/day (1 mg in AM, 1 mg in PM). I've always taken klonopin and xanax together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt07 Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 It's on the high end of normal. I took 1 mg three times a day. You are taking just 1 more mg than I took, and you have a tolerance built up to Xanax so, no, I don't think it is too unusual. I think your doctor is being responsible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psychomike Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 I have taken both Meds. If I had to choose between them Klonipin would be my choice. Smooooooooth once it starts working and I find it to be really helpful for sleep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wooster Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 4x 1mg of clonazepam isn't ridiculously high. I'm glad you're getting a good replacement and can then start to taper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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