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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by saturn on December 12, 2006, at 18:01:16
OK I hate to kinda re-ask a question I'd recently posted, and I definitely recognize how different everyone's responses are, BUT....
I am currently interviewing for jobs and using a benzo/beta blocker combo for them. This is only prn use say once a week and hopefully in a month or two my "prn" will be much less frequent--or practically nonexistent.
Xanax even .25-.5 just makes me depressed.
Ativan .5 barely noticeable but 1 mg at its peak is a bit too sedating. I do like it's slightly longer duration than Xanax but I do have difficulty maintaining a level effect over the course of a day. I'd prefer something that can *steadily* cover a solid 8 hours, which Ativan doesn't seem to do for me.
I realize Klonopin has quite a longer half life, but I wonder if it would really provide any significant benefit for me over Ativan. I've gotten the impression that many people find Klonopin particularly depressing or sedating compared to other benzos. I am not looking for the perfect drug--I realize there will be drawbacks either way. Also, I don't have Klonopin just lying around so it would take some effort and money to get a prescription, but I could.
Could anyone please comment as to whether it might be worthwhile give Klonopin a shot (and if so, dosages please) or just try to manage with the Ativan?
BTW I am constantly working on making my posts more concise. Perhaps I should have just asked how Klonopin compares to Ativan. Anyhow...
Thanks...Peace...Saturn.
Posted by Quintal on December 12, 2006, at 19:26:57
In reply to Ativan vs Klonopin, posted by saturn on December 12, 2006, at 18:01:16
I've taken all three at various times - it's hard to tell because they've affected me differently at different times and in different circumstances. Personally I would say stick with the Ativan if you already have some as Klonopin probably won't be much better - as you say many people find it depressing though I didn't notice that much myself.
The excess sedation from 1mg Ativan will probably trouble you less after a week or two as you develop tolerance. How about trying 0.75mg in the meantime?
Q
Posted by Phillipa on December 12, 2006, at 20:53:48
In reply to Re: Ativan vs Klonopin » saturn, posted by Quintal on December 12, 2006, at 19:26:57
I took ativan up to 6mg at a time when I was starting luvox and I liked it. Klonopin depressed me. Love Phillipa
Posted by saturn on December 12, 2006, at 21:13:02
In reply to Re: Ativan vs Klonopin, posted by Phillipa on December 12, 2006, at 20:53:48
> I took ativan up to 6mg at a time when I was starting luvox and I liked it. Klonopin depressed me. Love Phillipa
Thanks Phillipa. May I ask if you still take Luvox, if so what for and how it works? Thanks...Peace...Saturn.
Posted by saturn on December 12, 2006, at 21:19:13
In reply to Re: Ativan vs Klonopin » saturn, posted by Quintal on December 12, 2006, at 19:26:57
> >Personally I would say stick with the Ativan if you already have some as Klonopin probably won't be much better
That's what I kinda thought--thanks.
>
> How about trying 0.75mg in the meantime?The generic Ativans I have are rather small, nonscored pills. Now I consider myself an expert pill splitter, but unfortunately these just can't be split evenly--and I have really tried. I can handle the 1 mg, so I think I'll just take that in the morning and .5 several hours later if needed.
Also, I should check out whether brand Ativan is double scored, which as you suggest would be very helpful.
Thanks Q. Peace...Saturn.
Posted by Quintal on December 12, 2006, at 21:44:18
In reply to Re: Ativan vs Klonopin » Quintal, posted by saturn on December 12, 2006, at 21:19:13
This is the problem Heather Ashton talks about with Ativan (lorazepam). It is supplied in such tiny, thin little oblong tablets that are very hard to split accurately, and with lorazepam being such a potent drug this is where problems start during withdrawal.
My ex psychiatric nurse once told me a story of a man who found a way around this problem while trying to withdraw from lorazepam (he had refused a Valium taper). The guy used to crush a whole tablet into powder then divide the powder into four equal piles then pick up one pile (0.25mg) with a moistened finger (and lick it) as required to build up his daily dose. You could use this method to get 0.75mg if you have a tablet crusher/grinder?
Q
Posted by Phillipa on December 12, 2006, at 22:00:41
In reply to Re: Ativan vs Klonopin » Phillipa, posted by saturn on December 12, 2006, at 21:13:02
Saturn just went off it. It wasn't that I didn't like it as it's the most sedating of the SSRI's but I was only on 25mg. I don't like ad's. But if you're anxious it's good. May go back to it. Didn't go high enough as I have fixed feeling about the antidepressants. Love Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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