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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by GypsySoul on October 25, 2013, at 22:35:09
Hi,
More of an "adjustment" than an actual full on "switch." Just wasn't sure how else to title it.
Currently - On Kpin 1.5mg x 2 a day, with .25mg to .5mg Niravam (Xanax) as needed (up to 4x a day). Don't like to take too much tho, read too many scary stories.
For 3 years or so had been on just Xanax, up to 1mg x 4 a day + extra up to 1mg if needed.
Thought Kpin would be better, easier. Had heard good things. Liked the idea of not needing to take a pill every 4-5 hours, etc.
While the Kpin does seem to help general anxiety level somewhat in a "steadier" way ( not sure how else to describe it), AND (and this is a BIGGIE) lets me beat back the agoraphobia, I still have to take a little Xanax many days, sometimes multiple times a day (but many days not at all, AND I get relief at much smaller doses. Unless I am going out. If I am going out, I almost always need at least .75mg Xanax. But the Kpin gets me out the door, the Xanax lets me stay out. This is MUCH better than my almost 7 years of being basically housebound.)
My problem is, and this is embarrassing, the Kpin does NOT seem to be nearly as helpful for my severe IBS. In fact, it seems to aggravate it. A lot. A whole lot.
So, even if the agoraphobia alone is not keeping me as tied to the house, the actual IBS is. (It used to be fear of the IBS that kept me in and often brought on an attack of IBS, now, it is getting to be an actual daily thing again, like it was before I would try meds at all. Ouch! When I was on JUST Xanax, it was almost completely gone...unless I had to go out.)
I mean, give me a break, already.
Xanax DID help with the IBS a LOT more.
I want to reduce my Kpin to .5mg x 2 day, and up my Xanax dose. I would like to keep that ability to fight the agoraphobia, but dang it, my tummy & intestines need a break, already.
How quickly can I cut back the Kpin, if I am replacing it with Xanax? I know I will have to go back to taking it more often. My body says that is just fine. >.<
Just don't know how quickly or how to go about dropping the Kpin from 1.5mg morning and night to just .5mg morning and night - even if I am replacing with Xanax.
Can't see pdocs here. My regular doc will work with me however I want, pretty much, I usually tell her what I would like to do and she signs off on it. She wasn't as well-versed in Kpin to begin with, but let me try it as that is what I wanted to do.
And Kpin has helped the agoraphobia better than anything else.
But I need less of it.
I am just terrified of having a seizure.
Googling just keeps leading me to taper schedules -- and that is not what I want.
Any suggestions on how to adjust them? (the faster the better, my body is sore from the IBS.) O.o
Any help/advice appreciated. =)
And sorry about the TMI.
Mortified,
~Gypsy
Posted by Christ_empowered on October 26, 2013, at 7:55:12
In reply to How quickly modified 'switch' - Klonopin to Xanax?, posted by GypsySoul on October 25, 2013, at 22:35:09
Maybe swtich to Xanax xr @ 6mgs or so per day and take something (Xanax, Ativan, klonopin) at night to prevent anxiety when you wake up in the AM? Just a thought...
Posted by Phillipa on October 26, 2013, at 10:52:38
In reply to Re: How quickly modified 'switch' - Klonopin to Xanax?, posted by Christ_empowered on October 26, 2013, at 7:55:12
CE pretty good idea. I also could not take klonopin was trying to wean down on the Xanax and felt suicidal and wasn't. The pdoc I immediatedly called said to stop the klonopin and just keep taking the Xanax. I was immediately fine. Phillipa
Posted by GypsySoul on October 26, 2013, at 12:38:46
In reply to Re: How quickly modified 'switch' - Klonopin to Xanax?, posted by Phillipa on October 26, 2013, at 10:52:38
Hi,
The only things are that Xanax, even up at 6mg a day, didn't help the agoraphobia. Out of everything I have tried, only Kpin has helped that, and I really, really don't want to be completely housebound again. Thus me thinking maybe just take Kpin .5mg/twice a day - just enough to keep the agoraphobia at bay.
But Xanax worked wonders for the panic attacks and the IBS, which the Kpin doesn't seem to help, and in the case of the IBS, aggravates it.I don't wake with much morning anxiety. It is all afternoon and evening. Between 2pm and 10pm are the worst.
Just don't know how slowly I would need to taper the Kpin from 1.5mg to .5mg/twice a day, and how much Xanax to introduce in its place.
Can I do a straight switch or would I need to slowly taper the Kpin down?
I've been on Kpin since July...
This is the end of the thread.
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