Your anti-anxiety meds experiences?

April 2, 2009 9:05 AM

YouAreNotMyDoctorFilter: More Xanax or maybe a switch to Klonopin?

I have an almost-lifelong history of depression (from major with hospitalization through garden-variety dysthymia) plus anxiety--the depression 30+ yrs, the anxiety diagnosed only within the past few years. Been taking a low dose of Xanax for a few years that has helped a lot. I also take Lamictal and Zoloft. However, numerous, um, less-than-ideal life events have ratcheted up the anxiety level lately. I could up that Xanax dosage (with doc's permission, natch), but I know this will make me very sleepy and generally drag-assy. Doc has suggested switching to Klonopin. So (to get to the point already) I'm looking for personal experiences of people who've figured out a way to deal with Xanax sleepiness and I also want to hear from anyone who's tried Klonopin instead and what you think of one vs. the other.

Disclaimers: I know the warning signs of benzo dependency and I do not have an addictive personality. Current Xanax dose is only 1 mg prn. When I say "up the dosage" I mean minimally and gradually. Also, IMO "drink more coffee/Pepsi/Red Bull" is not the answer--caffeine doesn't help anxiety. Finally, I know about the benefits of exercise and yoga. I'm only asking for personal anecdotes of these two drugs, thanks.

posted by scratch to health & fitness (9 comments total)

In my opinion, a roughly equivalent dose of Klonopin makes me a lot groggier than Xanax does. For me, Valium has the best anxiolysis : sleepiness ratio, though it seems to be prescribed a lot less frequently these days.
posted by solipsophistocracy at 9:32 AM on April 2

Klonopin also makes me far more drowsy than Xanax does. If I take even half a dose of Klonopin before bed, I am "hung over" well into the next day. YMMV, I am not on the other medications you are on, etc.
posted by bedhead at 9:41 AM on April 2

I'm thirding the "Klonopin made me much, much sleepier than Xanax" group. Of course, everyone's response to medications is going to be different.

I know people who say that splitting the Xanax .5 mg tablets in two and using them sublingually, rather than swallowing, gives them a much more precise control over the anxiety-relieving function without making them sleepy. The idea here is that you have 1.5 mg of Xanax, say, split into six half-tabs, and you pop one under your tongue when you're feeling anxiety rather than taking them prophylactically.

I don't do this myself, but I see the potential logic in it.
posted by Sidhedevil at 10:35 AM on April 2 [1 favorite has favorites]

fwiw, stevie nicks says klonopin basically ate her 40s.
posted by lia at 10:39 AM on April 2

Personal ancedote: I have twice seen a very lovely person go into a scary violent "I don't know who snatched his body and ate his brain" rage. It didn't happen a third time only because he figured out that it was being induced by the Klonopin his doctor had prescribed (because Klonopin is "safer" than Xanax, not being so addictive and all).

Both of these times, alcohol was involved, which is obviously NOT advised to anyone on such meds. But it wasn't as though he was swilling the booze and popping the pill at the same time. He'd taken a Klonopin at mid-morning and that evening, say 8 or 9PM, he'd sat down and had a glass of wine or beer. A glass, mind you.

Klonopin has a looong half-life. Another reason doctors like to prescribe it.

Anyway, this lovely person found the experiences very unnerving, and when he needs to take something now, he takes Xanax.
posted by artemisia at 11:11 AM on April 2

Klonopin has a much longer half-life than Xanax; in other words, it basically wears off much more slowly (I'm sure there's a more precise description than "it's half as strong more slowly" but I'm not even related to a doctor.) My experience with Xanax has been negative, because it both made me immediately sleepy and also wore off rather abruptly, leaving me with horrible rebound anxiety, including when I took it to sleep.

I've taken Klonopin both as-needed and on a maintenance dose (at night) and found it to be more effective precisely because it wore off more slowly. But my anxiety was at a point where I was much more functional sleepy than unmedicated. Your anxiolytics may vary.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 11:11 AM on April 2

Wow, I am on your exact proposed mixture - Klonopin + Lamictal + Zoloft. I have never been on Xanax, so I can't compare the two. Also, my diagnosis is panic disorder + depression.

Klonopin is great for anxiety. Once I got used to it, it did not make me sleepy unless I took it on an empty stomach. I have been taking it for 3 years and I don't feel addicted to it (and I do have somewhat of an addictive personality, although not to drugs). I can take it on an as-needed basis for anxiety, and I often go a few days without taking it. I have to take the Lamictal and Zoloft every day or I start to go through withdrawals. I have started taking the 3 in the morning instead of before bed, to reduce the hangover effect. If you have breathing problems, or sleep apnea, check with your doctor because K and L are respiratory depressants. Also, I do balance myself out in the morning with some caffeine, but nothing abnormal (1-2 cups/coffee).

I highly recommend giving up alcohol. The combination will knock you out and I've gotten blackouts from only 2 or 3 drinks. Also, it's just not that much fun. I don't get buzzed, but I do get a hangover.
posted by desjardins at 11:50 AM on April 2

Thanks, everyone.

Desjardins--figure the odds! I feel the same way I did when I met someone born in the same hospital during the same week I was.

Sidhedevil--sublingual sounds bitter as hell, but I might try it anyway.

Lia: IANSN, but thanks. :-)
posted by scratch at 2:03 PM on April 2

First let me say that I can only speak to the anxiety side of things: Sublingual xanax tastes nasty as all get out, but some sweet tea afters will help a lot. I generally cut my 1mg xanax in half when I feel an attack coming, and take one half sublingually, and the other half only if the attack really starts to manifest anyway.

I tried Klonopin, and didn't care for it at all. Plus I read all the medical data on both and realized that for me, a random application of a benzo was a significantly better option than something that was regularly administered.

That said: a bottle of 30 1mg xanax will last me for a year almost, and I don't have any experience with any of the other drugs you're taking.

I know from seeing other people that xanax can be both physically and mentally addictive and that if it's regularly used, it's difficult to quit using. I understand that the dependence on Klono is equally or more difficult.
posted by dejah420 at 7:14 PM on April 2