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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Anna Hasty on August 5, 2003, at 12:52:50
I was curious if anyone has tried the new Klonopin Wafers? Do they work any differently than regular Klonopin? I noticed they had two lower doses - .25mg and .125mg.
Posted by mattdds on August 5, 2003, at 19:01:54
In reply to Klonopin Wafers?, posted by Anna Hasty on August 5, 2003, at 12:52:50
Hi,
I take Klonopin wafers (0.5 mg wafers 2-3 times daily). To be honest, they are really no different than chewing up regular Klonopin tablets (or crushing them, and placing them sublingually).
On the other hand, they can be used without water, and they are easy to put in your pocket (they come in cute little blister packs), so this can help a bit if you need some discretion in taking pills.
If I did not have good insurance, I would never pay out of pocket for the price difference, though!
Best,
Matt
Posted by cubbybear on August 5, 2003, at 21:46:53
In reply to Re: Klonopin Wafers? » Anna Hasty, posted by mattdds on August 5, 2003, at 19:01:54
> If I did not have good insurance, I would never pay out of pocket for the price difference, though!
>
>Hi Matt,
I asked this question once before on this board, but could not get a reply. Do you happen to know exactly what the price difference (per tablet) is between the Roche regular tab and the Roche wafer? Or between the generic and the wafer?There's a chance that I will need to get the .125 size in the future and am curious about this. I will surely be paying out of pocket.
(I'm presently living overseas and can't readily get price info. Will be returning to the U.S. around early 2004.) Would appreciate any help you can give.
Posted by Viridis on August 6, 2003, at 2:48:57
In reply to Re: Klonopin Wafers? » mattdds, posted by cubbybear on August 5, 2003, at 21:46:53
I haven't tried the wafers (just take the generic -- Teva only; the others aren't as effective). But really, couldn't you just cut the pills and get the same dosages? As for discretion, if you subtly take a pill, who knows whether you're taking an aspirin, antihistamine, etc., even if they do happen to notice?
I always seem to have Klonopin, Adderall, Xanax, etc. in my shirt pocket, and it never occurred to me that someone might question what I'm taking if I pop one during a meeting etc. Certainly, no one ever has.
Posted by cubbybear on August 6, 2003, at 3:54:11
In reply to Re: Klonopin Wafers? » mattdds » cubbybear, posted by Viridis on August 6, 2003, at 2:48:57
As for the issue of discretion and privacy, I think the whole thing is pretty dumb marketing; it feeds into some people's belief that being seen popping a pill is shameful. When I have to take any kind of medication, I couldn't care less who sees me doing it.
The more important issue is price. Since many people are in the process of tapering their dosage, and I, for one, must decrease in increments of .125 mg., the pill cutter is only partially helpful. I usually wind up with a few crumbs or powder. A ready-made pill or so-called wafer of this size would be the solution, but not if it's a rip-off.
Posted by Viridis on August 6, 2003, at 5:11:47
In reply to Re: Klonopin Wafers? » Viridis, posted by cubbybear on August 6, 2003, at 3:54:11
I think the smallest-dose pills are 0.5 mg, which aren't too hard to cut into quarters. What about compounding -- crushing the pills and dissolving in liquid? Then you could achieve whatever dose you want. Some pharmacies can do this for you. Or maybe just powder it and pack it into gelatin capsules at the desired doses.
Just a few ideas -- good luck!
Posted by mattdds on August 6, 2003, at 21:08:53
In reply to Re: Klonopin Wafers? » mattdds » cubbybear, posted by Viridis on August 6, 2003, at 2:48:57
Viridis,
I agree with you. You could very easily cut up the generic pills, and get the same dosages. You could actually make the argument that the wafers allow *less* flexibility, because you can't cut them like you can the regular pills. Once they're out of the blister packs, they cannot be stored (humidity will mess them up).
So, hypothetically, if you are taking a dose of 0.75 mg daily, you would have to take one 0.5 mg wafer, and one 0.25 mg wafer (requiring 2 prescriptions). It would be actually easier to just to take one 0.5 mg *tablet*, and cut the other in half. They are scored, which facilitates this. You can even cut the half in half and make 0.125 mg.
So, like I said, I would not pay out of pocket for these, but my pdoc offered them, and basically I was just curious.
The discretion thing depends on the individual. For me, the blister pack is easy to carry around (I just put a couple in my pocket for the day), and I can take it without water. Again, not worth the extra money, if it's out of pocket, but since the copay is the same, and I was curious, I figured what the heck. Also, it's true as you said that nobody really knows what you're taking (or cares, for that matter).
As far as effectiveness, I personally have noticed absolutely no difference between any of the 3 brands I have tried, including the wafers. I've tried Teva, Purepac, and Klonopin Wafers.
Best,
Matt
Posted by mattdds on August 6, 2003, at 21:21:50
In reply to Re: Klonopin Wafers? » Viridis, posted by cubbybear on August 6, 2003, at 3:54:11
>>>>>>I think the whole thing is pretty dumb marketing; it feeds into some people's belief that being seen popping a pill is shameful. When I have to take any kind of medication, I couldn't care less who sees me doing it.
You make a good point here. The marketing about more discretion panders to the silly belief that taking medication is shameful. I used to feel like some sort of crack-head junkie in a dark alley when I would take my meds. I really don't care anymore.
However, silly or not, some people really are ashamed to take meds, and I think this was Solvay / Roche's "response" to the "market" for this, however inadequate it is. (OK, who am I kidding, it was an attempt to re-market a drug that is off patent, and make lots of money).
Take care,
Matt
Posted by Viridis on August 7, 2003, at 1:27:16
In reply to Re: Klonopin Wafers?, posted by mattdds on August 6, 2003, at 21:08:53
I don't usually buy the arguments about generics being inferior, but one month I went to a different pharmacy than usual (now I just do mail order) and got pink clonazepam tabs (0.5 mg). I can't recall the manufacturer, but it wasn't Teva. And they really were noticeably weaker for me. It could be some idiosyncratic thing, but it was my only experience of a particular generic being inferior, and I certainly had no advance expectation of this. So, now I stick with Teva, which I get for next to nothing through the mail on my insurance plan.
Re: medication and discretion: I agree -- who knows what you're taking anyway? And if anyone asked, I'd simply tell them the truth. But no one ever does -- the idea that someone would is in itself a symptom of an anxiety disorder. No one in this thread seems especially concerned, but others here have agonized over the idea that someone might actually see them taking their medications.
Even my pdoc has admonished me for being so casual, since technically, you're supposed to carry your prescription with you at all times. He said something silly like, "well if you were ever stopped by the police...". I had to laugh, and responded that this seems highly unlikely, and if it were to happen I could easily produce the documentation on request. He pretty much gave in at that point, and agreed that the risk was very small, but emphasized that it was his responsibility to inform me of such things (which I guess is true).
He's a careful guy (which is good) but I suggested that maybe he was being paranoid. He agreed -- one of the reasons I like him so much.
This is the end of the thread.
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