Alprazolam n Clonazepam
The first time I was prescribed Xanax was in 1993.
It works for Panic,anxiety and mild depression even on half a tab. ( At that time, the strongest is 1mg, purple tab), under the tongue. Again, this works until later on in 1998 where I find the effect is slightly un enjoyable( different effect). Welll its relative when I say un enjoyable,as to others, it could be a positive outcome for them.
Eversince there was a Xanax 2mg bar, the effect, I noticed, was different.
So I had to try generic, Kalma, at that time. I did feel the difference.
Nowadays, I've tried various generic, the "most negative" effect to me is the generic Alprax. I don't know why. It sorts of making me feel more depressed and very dysphoric sedation.
Unlike, prior to 1998, when the Upjohn is still manufacturing Xanax.
I guess, manufacturers play at least important roles too.
Benzos acts on Benzo receptors, with many subtypes. I tried Frisium( clobazam), as the molecule is located at position "1,5-" instead of "1,4-" as most benzos are, it's less sedating.
I feel frisium effect is pretty much the same like Xanax, except it's not as potent.
I consider Diazepam is the weakest.
I always sweat and have a hand tremor/trembling when eating in public places, being looked at by many people. Diazepam, even 30mg ( equivalent to xanax 3mg) didn't help. Xanax stops the trembling, as does Oxazepam and Bromazepam, Frisium doesn't.
Bromazepam, (lexotan), in low dose is non sedating,but it has a strong muscle relaxant , while, Diazepam is only quarter the effect.
Every benzo is unique, that affects different receptor subtypes.
Oxazepam, in low dose, is useless to me. All benzos are lipophilic,but,food,hinders Oxazepam's bioavailability. The tablet is designed, that when crushed, isn't soluble in water. So I guess it makes our stomach lining and buccal mucosa hard to absorb oxazepam when taken sublingually. The brand Serepax, I notice, doesn't work as good as the brand Murelax or Alepam. Alepam when crushed, is soluble in water, making it useful for quick fix to relieve anxiety,taken sublingually.
As with all Benzos, taking on "prn" basis, would give me end up taking much more than prescribed.
Now my GP prescribes me Clonazepam, where it's supposedly good for panic.
In the States, only Alprazolam and Clonazepam, approved by FDA to treat Panic.
But in my experience, Clonazepam doesn't work as good as Xanax.
It doesn't have a strong anxiolytic effect. Except it's good to relieve heart palpilation, ? trembling.
Nitrazepam,(mogadon), a hypnotic, is metabolised into clonazepam.
Diazepam is metabolised into temazepam and oxazepam.
The only advantage of clonazepam, that I'm still taking regularly , 2mg daily, is that, it has a very long half life. So I notice, it's good as a prophylactic agent to suppress panic and anxiety in long term treatment. As for benzos addiction treatment, I think it's a good drug. It has a smoother effect in the blood system,unlike xanax which has a bi phasic half life of 6 hrs and 12 hrs. Clonazepam has no active metabolites, with half life around max 39 hrs.
Lorazepam (ativan) also has no active metabolites,but it has a very short half life.
Each benzo has different effects, on anxiolytic (our bodies will not develop tolerance to all benzos' anxiolytic effect), on muscle relaxant( diazepam has the highest effect of this) , amnestic effect( Xanax has the most, you will forget thing you did the nxt day, if you are first timer), anticonvulsant effect(Clonazepam, that's why MIMS categorised it under anticonvulsant) , sedative effect, etc.
I'm just curious, has anyone tried Clonazepam, does it work better for your anxiety compared to other benzos you have tried.
As for me, strangely, clonazepam is only good as a maintenance benzo, it doesn't work as good as xanax to alleviate panic and anxiety. ( Xanax, is the only benzo, that has antidepressant effect. ).