• Select Your Topic Then Scroll Down
    Alcohol Bupe Benzos
    Cocaine Heroin Opioids
    RCs Stimulants Misc
    Harm Reduction All Topics Gabapentinoids
    Tired of your habit? Struggling to cope?
    Want to regain control or get sober?
    Visit our Recovery Support Forums

Benzos Clonzepam for panic attacks- public speaking

OnCloud9

Bluelighter
Joined
Aug 26, 2010
Messages
183
Location
Ontario
My psych. prescribed me .5 clonzepam for anxiety associated with public speaking, because I have a presentation coming up and get real nervous.

To make my anxiety worse I also have a speech impediment which means I have to practice my speech many, many times before I'm somewhat fluent for the presentation.

My question is should I take one sublingually so its faster onset because sometimes I get panic attacks? Would that be similar to Xanax? Also should I take .5 or 1 mg because I have a feeling .5 mg wont cut my anxiety much but I also don't wanna look doped up you know.
 
I would sublingual 1-2mg. Best way. They taste kinda like mints too (:
Also, they are similar to Xanax but I think they are more intense. Just my opinion
 
They aren't more "intense" than xanax.

I find it interesting he prescribed you clonazepam for panic attacks... Sure it will help reduce the chances of having panic attacks if taken regularly. But it is not ideal for offsetting an oncoming panic attack.

Sublingual will best the best ROA in this instance as it is the fastest way of getting it into your system. You wont feel that "oomph" of an anxiolytic hit like you do with xanax, as clonazepam has an extremely long half-life and a slow onset of action.
 
They aren't more "intense" than xanax.

I find it interesting he prescribed you clonazepam for panic attacks... Sure it will help reduce the chances of having panic attacks if taken regularly. But it is not ideal for offsetting an oncoming panic attack.

Sublingual will best the best ROA in this instance as it is the fastest way of getting it into your system. You wont feel that "oomph" of an anxiolytic hit like you do with xanax, as clonazepam has an extremely long half-life and a slow onset of action.


Well I didn't tell him i had full blown panic attacks, just extreme nervousness with presentations, and he probably knows Xanax is highly addictive ect. I'm aware of its long half life and its slow onset, thats why I asked if I should use it sublingually. My doc said take it 1-2 hours before the presentation and I should do fine. I should tell you guys I'm also on Vyvanse and Dexedrine if needed, although I might not take vyvanse the day of my presentation because it might counter the effects of the benzo.

What route of administration and dosage would you guys recommend to help me be smooth for my presentation? I have taken benzos in the past but my tolerance has gone pretty low since I haven't used them in a while.
 
Clonazepam is as highly addictive as xanax.

Like I said sublingual is the way you want to go for this. As long as you dose a few hours before you should be fine. I would recommend being careful with your dosage though. As it's one thing to be anxiety free for a speech, and another entirely to be intoxicated.
 
Clonazepam is as highly addictive as xanax.

Like I said sublingual is the way you want to go for this. As long as you dose a few hours before you should be fine. I would recommend being careful with your dosage though. As it's one thing to be anxiety free for a speech, and another entirely to be intoxicated.

Note taken, although I thought Xanax was more addictive because of its quicker onset and shorter half-life? my doc said clonzepam takes effect in as little as 20 minutes.

Anyways Sublingual hits you faster, so how long prior to my speech should I take them so the peak effects are hitting me?
 
You could say it is more addictive but to be honest, you will become equally addicted to clonazepam in the same time frame if taken as directed. You'd just be more likely to abuse the xanax.


The time to the peak effects of clonazepam is a range from 1-4 hours, so i'd recommend dosing 2 hours before hand.
 
ok, is that the peak effects for oral and sublingual use? Because if it is, I'm thinking of just taking them like my doctor prescribed if theres no benefit of sublingual administration in my situation.

My doc also told me to practice with the clonz a few time before hand, any reason why he would say this?
 
thet are diff not as strong a xanax i was on xanax for yaers an do switched me to 2mg and i had to take two to feel anything
 
He would say this because you might learn your speech sober and then take the clonazepam and it cause you to forget parts or slur. It's always worth checking out that you can do something under the influence in a trial run before you go for gold.

If you sublingual then you could happily take it 1/2-1 hour before hand.
 
FYI as a teacher, I used to have often take lorazepam @ 0.5mg to give those more significant presentations (e.g. I have to present my proposal for a research grant, without the stipend for I wouldn't have an income) or teach those more rambunctious/unprepared students and classes. After taking it, probably averaging once a week, for about a year, I started figuring out ways to deal with the anxiety and stress without my medication. Since then, I not only don't have to take the meds, but I do a much better job communicating ideas to the audience. Sometimes, it might sound silly, it truly is just as easy as practicing in front of the mirror and well prepared.
 
if you're new to benzos, don't take 1-2mg.

before tolerance, i found 0.75 to calm my anxiety,

1.25 to eliminate it but with a few side effects.

use it while practicing, so you know how much to take and how it effects you. ideally, practice with a small audience, so you get feedback and you know how it effects your speech.
 
They aren't more "intense" than xanax.

I find it interesting he prescribed you clonazepam for panic attacks... Sure it will help reduce the chances of having panic attacks if taken regularly. But it is not ideal for offsetting an oncoming panic attack.

Sublingual will best the best ROA in this instance as it is the fastest way of getting it into your system. You wont feel that "oomph" of an anxiolytic hit like you do with xanax, as clonazepam has an extremely long half-life and a slow onset of action.
In my opinion they are. Hence why I said just my opinion. Everyone's different.
 
Thanks everyone for your feedback.

I'm going to take 1-2 mg before my presentation, and if it doesn't work well I'll ask my doc about Xanax.

Hope everything goes well for me.
 
On the day of my presentation should I skip my vyvanse dose? My presentation is in the afternoon and I usually take vyvanse in the am.

The reason why I ask is I think it might interfere with the relaxing qualities of clonzepam.
 
I would maybe take Vyvanse depending on how it makes you feel. If anything, Vyvanse made me alot more Anxious and jittery. If you feel like that on Vyvanse then I wouldn't take it but if you feel that you are more productive then it could help combined with Kpins
 
ok, is that the peak effects for oral and sublingual use? Because if it is, I'm thinking of just taking them like my doctor prescribed if theres no benefit of sublingual administration in my situation.

My doc also told me to practice with the clonz a few time before hand, any reason why he would say this?

To make sure that you don't fall flat on your face.

Just take it as directed by your physician.
 
well ive read all the posts on this thread ,and being a long time user of clonazepam,i would recomend ,(seeing as you admited to being a low tollerance user) to take 1mg in the am to keep you steady all day and to see how you react in daily tasks etc,,then i would take another 1 mg a couple hours before your speech assuming that the speech will be around 6 pm or later .
This should keep you calm and relaxed throughout the day and good for your speech ,,
Again as people tend to say this is only my opinion..
Good luck..
 
Just wanted to say I also have access to morphine and percocets. (low to moderate doses)

Would this be better for public speaking given my situation, and would it be better than taking clonz's? Did anyone else have a good experience with this?
 
What are you a chemist?:)..lol....I found opiates gave me confidence...Ive not taken the others you mention..But i seriously would NOT take an opiate for a speech...CAn you do a trial at all...I think is going to be of the ut-most importance OP...You need a trial run so as you can test the drugs, starting at low doses and slowly working up...Remembering some of them take a LONG time to come on, so to speak...
Trial run= important!
no trial= fuckup on stage!

Good luck..
 
Top