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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 GypsySoul on September 3, 2013, at 4:46:45
Hi,
I was wondering, is it common to be prescribed both Klonopin and Xanax at the same time?
Currently, I am prescribed K-pin 2mg twice a day, and .5mg Xanax as needed up to 3 times a day (and I usually need all three, however, if I forget because I am not feeling anxious it is fine.)I have been pretty much housebound for quite a few years. I have taken a few different SSRI's and none seemed to help much if at all. Was always on Xanax with them, which helps a little if I take at least .5 to 1mg as needed.
Have always had a high tolerance for these types of meds - even when I was going in for surgery, the anesthesiologist was surprised at how high a dose I needed to calm me down and knock me out.
Valium, even a 10mg, does nothing for anxiety for me, though it does make my muscles useless and I feel like an octopus out of water.
Recently, I asked my doc if I could try Klonopin (she really wants to find an SSRI that will help, although none have yet and getting off them - Zoloft this last time - was pretty bad and I really don't want to go through that again. I've tried Buspar, Paxil, Lexapro, Zoloft, Viibryd. I also have severe IBS and all the SSRIs seem to aggravate it.
Anyway, started on Klonopin 2mg 2x day about 2 months ago, along with three .5mg of Xanax spaced out through out the day (if needed), and for the first time in YEARS I rode in car, went out with my family, and just felt...normal. It was great. Not high, or spacey, or euphoric or anything like that. Just *normal*.
Then I googled.
I found story after story about how mixing Benzo's is a deadly combination.
Since meds are always a major trigger (it took years before I would try meds at all) I am now afraid to take Kpin & Xanax together. Been taking Kpin daily 10am & 10pm, with a .5 Xanax if needed around 3 pm. Sometimes another .25 Xanax if really anxious or IBS gets really bad. Back to being pretty much housebound (after a glorious few weeks of going outside, going to the store, riding in the car and not freaking that I was in a car, etc...) Kpin alone doesn't *really* seem to be doing much *at all*. Xanax was never enough by itself (at least not at 4mg a day). It seems to be the combination of the two that made a difference.
*Is* it uncommon to get two Benzo's like this?
Or is it likely that just increasing Xanax alone have made the same kind of difference?
Also, last refill of Kpin was with a different generic - and I developed a weird cough. DH checked side effects and saw that cough was on there (I do not read PI sheets from Pharmacy, as if it is listed I am sure I will have that side effect...but DH does so he knows what to look for....). I really didn't think there would be a big deal between generics, now I don't know, didn't have the cough before the switch (and the previous brand was the one I finally felt normal on...this one just seems like it is not helping, no anxiety relief, or at least not much...)Even being on a dose as high as I was, I am not sleepy or dizzy or lightheaded or anything. But I will still get breakthrough attacks, that I often will not take anything for if I feel like I have already taken "too much".
Is it better to just use one Benzo, even if it would have to be a pretty high dose to get any real help?
I want to be able to go out, ride in the car, go on vacation with my family....Years ago I drove across the country by myself...now I can barely ride around the block. When I was feeling so good, we even booked a trip to Disney, and it didn't freak me out at all. After Googling...and now not taking the Xanax so I don't "mix benzos", I have no idea how I would do the trip - but I am loathe to let down my kids one more time.
I'm frustrated. Sorry, this got longer than I wanted. Hope I made sense.
Oh - can only go to GP Docs here. Insurance won't cover pdocs. My GP has Anxiety Disorder herself, and will pretty much work with me wrt meds.
Right now I just want to stop taking the Kpin and just take Xanax, but don't even know if I could do a straight switch or would have to taper. Terrified of seizures. Any info, advice, etc, very much appreciated.
~GypsySoul
Posted by Phillipa on September 3, 2013, at 10:12:25
In reply to Xanax and Klonopin together?, posted by GypsySoul on September 3, 2013, at 4:46:45
Oh how I wish I also had know about google. Before I found the internet I did fine on meds. But that's another story.
As for you I say did your doctor prescribe the meds? Didn't you say your doc also have an anxiety disorder? I also take two benzos together. Have for years and years valium & Xanax. And I found like you that yes different brands do make a difference. If I could afford namebrand valium I would buy this as it seems to do nothing for me and have yes not a typo been on it for over 44 years. Different doses at different times First time was 5mg three times a day with yes again no typeo miltown 400mg as this was in the 70's and perfectly acceptable. I felt well pretty soon. If my memory serves me correctly just cold turkeyed the miltown after a year or so and no side effects not a one who shocked the doc was seeing. The Xanax came later as then was a new release and bye bye valium just straight cross over. Then Ativan, then back to vaium, and then Xanax again. I once took klonopin and for me I couldn't take it but you can. So I say take the klonopin and Xanax and try to stay away from google. At age 67 now I'm pretty tolerant to them. But also the ad's just haven't worked for me. Nothing bad will happen on the two benzos and stay away from Heather Ashton of the UK. Anti benzo. Good luck and hope you make that trip to Disney with your family!!! Phillipa
Posted by Christ_empowered on September 3, 2013, at 19:10:28
In reply to Re: Xanax and Klonopin together? » GypsySoul, posted by Phillipa on September 3, 2013, at 10:12:25
I hope you find relief :-)
Anyway, I don't see the big deal, personally. You could just try a higher Klonopin dose, I guess...maybe 3+2, 2+1+2, 3+3, something like that. I'm not a doc.
My only concern would be long term xanax use. Not a huge problem for a lot of people, but for some people...not so great. Maybe Ativan?
Klonopin can cause depression. Most (all?) benzos can, but they're quite useful, anyway. Xanax helps some cases of depression.
I wouldn't stress. If you stay within your prescribed dosage and try to resolve whatever is causing your intense panic/anxiety and then work out a taper plan when you're ready and able, I think you'll be OK.
I found that taking high dose niacinamide (with high dose c and a b-100 complex) helped tremendously, with or without a benzo (in my case, Klonopin day time and Ambien @ night). I take 3+ grams daily, in 2 doses.
Good luck!
Posted by joef on September 3, 2013, at 22:03:07
In reply to Re: Xanax and Klonopin together?, posted by Christ_empowered on September 3, 2013, at 19:10:28
have you tried Ativan?
Posted by GypsySoul on September 5, 2013, at 14:57:05
In reply to Re: Xanax and Klonopin together? » GypsySoul, posted by Phillipa on September 3, 2013, at 10:12:25
> Nothing bad will happen on the two benzos and >stay away from Heather Ashton of the UK. Anti >benzo. Good luck and hope you make that trip to >Disney with your family!!! Phillipa
Oh, Thank you so much. I have been really scared to take both the Xanax and Klonopin, but neither one only really brings any true relief. Everyday is a fight to see who will win, me or the panic. It is exhausting.
~Gypsy
Posted by GypsySoul on September 5, 2013, at 15:19:04
In reply to Re: Xanax and Klonopin together?, posted by joef on September 3, 2013, at 22:03:07
> have you tried Ativan?
Hi. No I haven not.
But - another suggestion for Ativan...it has me curious.What would the benefits be, so you think, of Ativan?
Do you mean Ativan by itself, or replacing either the Klonopin or the Xanax?
Thanks for any insight,
~Gypsy
Posted by soberwithbenzos on September 29, 2014, at 22:00:06
In reply to Re: Xanax and Klonopin together?, posted by GypsySoul on September 5, 2013, at 15:19:04
I have been alternating between both fairly successfully, but on occasion have taken both together...other than once in a while feeling a slight bit dizzy I've not experienced any ill side effects...I've been on benzos for almost 3 years now and it has helped tremendously in keeping me from crying all the time dealing with recent grief that has triggered these crying jags from the death of my mother in 2008. I have 24 years of sobriety from alcohol and have questioned the wisdom of a diet of benzo's but so far I have not reverted to any bad behavior, any desire to drink or any desire to "get high" per se...some will differ on that, especially the fundamentalist OGs in AA but I do what I need to do at this point. I'm on 3mg X and 3mg K but don't take them at the same time (K in the morning, X in the evening or visa versa depending on how I feel when I get up)...as I said I have taken 1+1 at the same time, with little difference that I could notice...
This is the end of the thread.
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