Benzos Klonopin not working anymore???

[LonE1]

Me and clonazapam have had an odd relationship. I get chronic panic attacks, and even trying the fastest route to administer (under the tounge), it still take a long time for relief. Lately I have noticed I have not been getting the relief I usually get. I take 2.5 a day, but am perscribed up to 3mg, and even that has not been helping me. It has also been not helping with sleep, and I feel like my anxiety is at an all time high.

I used to be on xanax and ativan, but I cant lie they are just way too addictive. I would pop a xanax and wait 2 hours thinking it was wearing off and pop another, until my tolerance was up to 12mg, and I had to go to detox to properly get off them (serious hell).

My doctor perscribed me ativan, but I noticed the same thing, I would pop them so frequently...the short acting benzos really have ahold of me.

My question is should I talk to my doctor about valium?? Or temezepam?? (A benzo ive never actually taken before)

I have not been able to get sleep and fear im going to keep taking more, until my tolerance in too high....and it just doesn't give me the relief I want anymore. I realize benzos are no magic pill, but I feel sometimes my anxiety gets worse at times on klonopin....not most of the time, just some of the time. Plus I cant sleep....not a wink last night (ohh and ambien does NOT work for me as well), and am just worried about tolerance.

Thanks as always

 

[bunge]

Ive seen quite a few people describe this problem of loss of effects or paradoxical effects with clonazepam but unfortunately I dont have the experience with it to comment on why this happens. However, I can say that diazepam could be a good alternative. Infact in the uk where I live its prescribed for severe anxiety in much the same way as clonazepam is in the US. Its got a long halflife and a good profile for controlling panic and anxiety. Temazepam is the better option for sleep but id personally aviod it if your using it regularly as it super addictive, even for a benzo and tolerance skyrockets quickly. Its also got a history of being extremely dangerous in WD and quite toxic in high doses. I personally found zopiclone (lunesta) to be the best for sleep as it doesnt affect REM sleep like the true benzos do. Leading to a well rested, quality sleep. In my my case tolerance built alot slower then with benzos but in the longrun its as addictive as all the proper benzos.
Have you discussed this with your doctor yet? Do they have any preferences?

 

[kwhat]

i jus got prescribed 2mg extended release xanax for panic attacks n axienty, i find it alot more helpful than any of the instant release benzos cuz id havev to pop those every cpl hours but with the xr i take it when i wake up(i parachute em cuz there anti abuse n that helps em kick in faster n still has the same halflife as to taking em) and the 2mg xr def last throughout the day and you dont get as much as a europhic feeling as the IRs but u still feel more sedated n stabilizes your aniexty. id ask your doc about xr xanax they come in 1mg, 2mg, n 3mg so if ur taking 2,5 a day of kpinsi couldnt see why ur doc woulnt put u on 3mg xr

 

[shreddedlettuce]

I personally found zopiclone (lunesta)

Lunesta is Eszopiclone.
bunge, What are you taking for sleep? Eszopiclone or Zopiclone?



EDIT: LonE1, in your situation it isn't a good idea to use the same drug for day time anxiety and for hypnotic purposes.
This could be the reason why your meds aren't working anymore due to tolerance.
When did you need the meds more?(think back to when the meds were working and not at this point in time)......(anxiety or insomnia - day or night - or both).

I can help further once you've responded to the above.

 

[Znegative]

Diazepam (Valium) might work out okay.. It reaches peak plasma concentration very quickly like Xanax but it has a super long half life. Temazepam (if I'm correct) is more for insomnia I believe than anxiety.

 

[shreddedlettuce]

Temazepam (if I'm correct) is more for insomnia I believe than anxiety.

Quite correct, but it's sooo addictive, especially in the OP's case.
Still waiting for his reply so I can try help him as I'm pretty sure it will go downhill if he doesn't address this very soon.
That's what we are here for...........
Lone1 where are you?
I have ideas we need to bounce off each other that will be of benefit.

 

[bunge]

@shreddedlettuce, sorry to clarify i was taking zopiclone and thought the brandname for that was lunesta. I thought it might be easier for the OP if I used a name they might be more familiar with. Again, I apologize for any confusion I inadvertantly caused.

 

[laCster]

try out 2mg lorazepam three times a day (6mg), OR 20mg diazepam twice a day. i think valium would be a better choice for you because it is quite sedative. to me 15mg valium feels like 1mg xanax or klonopin, but better in every way. that 15mg feels more sedative and euphoric (IMO diazepam and temaz are the only euphoric benzos, especially diazepam with opiates ) than 1mg of xanax or 1mg kpin would feel.

40mgs would be like take ing 4-6mgs klonopin a day, but again 40mg will feel more sedative and have better anxiolysis IMO/IME

i have taken alprazolam, lorazepam, diazepam, temazepam, clonazepam, zaleplon, zolpidem, eszopiclone, and etizolam; i have had scripts for klonopin, temazepam, and valium. out of all of the benzos i have tried, i liked valium and temazepam the best.

 

[shreddedlettuce]

@shreddedlettuce, sorry to clarify i was taking zopiclone and thought the brandname for that was lunesta. I thought it might be easier for the OP if I used a name they might be more familiar with. Again, I apologize for any confusion I inadvertantly caused.

No need to apologize.

 

[shreddedlettuce]

i liked valium and temazepam the best.

For most benzo users this starts the problem of using too often.

 

[scottd420]

Good call man! One huge advantage that diazepam has over clonazepam is it's ability to control panic since it sets in quickly. I also find I am losing the effects from clonazepam after being on it for 7 years. I had a substitute doc while mine was out on mat leave and she tried me with diazepam for muscle relaxation and it didn't work well so I switched back, but I found it controlled my anxiety far better. My old regular doc was against it because it's more euphoric, I guess, but I'm getting a new GP so I'm hoping they will switch me over to diazepam. Yeah, diazepam is nice because it has the long half-life, and the duration of action is similar, but it starts working a lot more quickly. Diazepam FTW!

 

[hatrix]

I too am prescribed Clonazepam, switched over form Alprazolam. I honestly don't find it nearly as effective for anxiolytic purposes. I'm going to talk to my doctor about possible trying Valium/Diazepam, one because of the longer half life and not needed to redose and two to replace my prescription for occasional insomnia and knock out two birds with one stone.

I just don't feel Klonopin/Clonazepam has good relief for anxiety like Xanax does, and it's also unfortunate Xanax/Alprazolam is so short acting.