Benzos Clonazepam ROA & BA (brand name v. generic)

[Crankinit]

I used to take clonazepam I got off a friend occasionally (2mg tablets divided into 4 sections), always took it sublingually, they dissolved almost instantly, then I'd hold them in my mouth for 10 -15 minutes and I would start feeling it within 20 minutes, it would kick in over the next hour or so. Never had a problem.

Lately I've started using them again, from a different source, the same dose, pills are the same size, shape, color and division, except I believe they're a different brand (they have markings on the back, which the old pills didn't, are shinier and harder, have a much weaker minty taste and I was told they were ''roche brand'' - which leaves me thinking the old pills were generics).

Problem is that they take longer to dissolve under the tongue, longer to kick in, don't seem to work as well - especially if I have a full stomach. To compare, I took 6mg yesterday at lunch about 20 minutes after eating, and the effects were weaker than the 3mg I took this morning an hour before breakfast.

I'm wondering if I'm wasting my time using these pillls sublingually, and wouldn't be better off just eating them on an empty stomach. Whether maybe this particular brand for whatever reason doesn't work well sublingually and the effect I'm getting is from swallowing them after they've been under my tongue a while (accounting for the difference between dosing on full v. empty stomach).

Does anyone have any info on the BA and speed of onset for clonazepam sublingual v. oral? Or any thoughts/anecdotes on the comparison, especially taking into account generic v. brand name? Literally everyone I know takes them sublingually, so it's not something that's ever come up. I assume they have the same 90% + oral BA as most benzos.

 

[Lorne???]

Oral is more effective.

I can't remember the numbers off hand, but with every other benzo in existence, sublingual administration has a slower onset, longer Tmax, and lower Cmax. However, sublingual does have a slightly longer T1/2-duration of action.

But with clonazepam, I believe it is about the same. I do think the BA of oral is a bit higher, though.

If administered sublingually, however, you pretty much have to use either a tablet that dissolved quickly, or an ethanol ic solution, as it is simply not water soluble enough to administer it any other way.

 

[Lorne???]

Well sublingual is definitely not slower. I imagine it is like methadone, in being an exception to the rule. I still doubt it is much faster, but the Tmax of rectal is actually 30-90 minutes, vs. 1.5-4h for oral(mean 2-3) and generally rectal and sublingual are almost identical.

However, rectal BA is lower than oral.

Note that I used to administer clonazepam sublingual, years ago, but I can't remember how effective it was exactly. Honestly, I don't remember their being much of a difference, as opposed to alprazolam, which took much longer to kick in, but lasted longer.

So I still say they are pretty similar. Personally, I'd stick with oral, unless you get a hold of tfe Klonopin wafers(which are intended for sublingual use) but either way, I'll check around tommorow, though it's properties lend it to sublingual use, if nothing else(even if anecdotal tells me otherwise...)

 

[neurotic]

i too have had both kinds of clonazepam, regular ones and sublingual ones that you simply put under your tongue and they dissolve really quick.

the solution i found when taking the regular ones is just, as you said, down them on an empty stomach, or may be just chew them. i never noticed any difference between my sublingual vs. oral doses though, always feel the same for me

 

[Crankinit]

Well that seemed to work fine. Been about an hour and I can feel it coming on. Just wish it kicked in quickly like ativan. Thanks for the input guys.

Now if only someone would synth a benzo with the anxiolytic effect and speed of onset of ativan, the muscle relaxation of xanax, the slight sedation of valium, the duration of clonazepam and absolutely no memory issues. A man can dream right

 

[Too many doses]

Most benzos are so effective orally it just doesn't make sense to take them any other way. Clonazepam won't kick in faster if you put it under your tongue.
Alsò the name brand name are really no different than any other generic except that they cost a shitload more at the pharmacy and they look cooler.