Is there a better prescription med for anxiety that may work better than Klonopin 2mg 1x/day?

Question

I have been having an increase in stress as of late and was wondering if anyone has been using Klonopin (Clonazepam) and has found that a different anti-anxiety benzodiazepine class medication works better? I would of course speak to my Psychiatrist first, but I feel that this medication is not working as well as I need it to right now and I'm simply asking for advise on what has worked for others in the past. Here is my current medication profile.

Wellbutrin XL 150mg 1x/day
Effexor XR 300mg 1x/day
Klonopin 2mg 1x/day

Again I am going to speak to my Psychiatrist shortly about this possible change in Klonopin, but was looking for personal experiences with other meds along this line that may work better for me right now.

Thanks and God Bless.

Answer 1

All benzodiazepines are interchangeable and provide similar results. Klonopin has the longest elimination half life (time it takes for your body to eliminate it from your system) and is therefore the least addictive. Xanax, being the strongest, will work faster, with more prolific results, but has the shortest half life and is very addictive.

I'm not Dr, but it appears that you're doc is using Effexor as a primary antidepressant and a small dose of Wellbutrin to offset some of the harsh side effects that come with Effexor, as Wellbutrin is often used in that manner.

Both Wellbutrin and Effexor work on modulating the reuptake of norepinephrine, which combined with noradrenaline, activates your fight-or-flight response (natural stress reaction to danger) in your sympathetic nervous system. Having both reuptake inhibitors working on your norepinephrine may be making you a bit edgey. You may want to seek alternatives in your antidepressant treatment.

As per managing anxiety, the meds can do a great deal of good in providing some stability, however, if the anxiety disorder is intruding on your life and making living with it uncomfortable, I would recommend talk therapy in addition to the meds. Axiety disorder results from a pattern of learned behavior that is programmed into your brain. The origin of the disorder comes from genetic predisposition, emotional health and social enviornment. Through psychotherapy, you can analyze how the behaviors leading to anxiety response became programmed in your brain and possibly rewire the process and make adjustments in your behaviors to offset the excess anxiety.

I hope all goes well.

I hope all goes well with your doc.

Answer 2

Hi there.
I was on the exact same (Well and Klon) combo three years ago only taking the Klon when needed. That seemed to work well. When I was off of the Klon I saw an amazing change. I was LESS stressed. It was as if knowing I had an anxiety prob increased my prob. I have been anti-depressant free for 2 years now and am a new person! My depression was situational (divorce) and not clinical or seasonal. I took myself off of the Klon by weaning...your shrink can help with that. I was taken off the wel because it is a weight gaining pill. I ended up just on the effexor alone for the last year....that was perfect.

One of the biggest biggest probs with todays over medication of the population begins with shrinks. I firmly believe that there should be a new drug out there for you that will serve as the anti-depressant and anti-anxiety that you need.

I understand the stress thing too. Sounds goofy but try meditation. It helped my hubby when he was over seas ALOT. Meditation, chanting or go for a good run-walk everytime that stress hit's you. If it's a person...Kill them with kindness....you'll get a kick out of seeing them in shock with your "new attitude" when you're really sticking it to them. :) A stress ball. There are so many ways to relieve stress without medication if it is not needed.

Good luck and take care.

Answer 3

Hi I have taken anti-depressants several times be for and the ones I took were Zoloft that they maxed me out on and didn't do a thing for me buspare I think that's spelled wrong but again nothing happened wellbutrin also and nothing then they put me on paxcil Cr and that has done wonders. I take it for anxiety also and this has done good for me. Talk to your doctor about Paxcil CR it seems to be good. Good Luck

Answer 4

Clonopin is an effective drug. Maybe when you talk to your Dr. he can increase your dosage to 2xs a day or increase the strengh of the drug,You don't say how long you have been on it but sometimes after a while you need to increase the dosage to get the full affect of the drug.Good luck.

Answer 5

Well sorry Im not that well informed of the meds I take, to know which class it is in. But I have been taking xanax & lexapro. I like it & it has definitely calmed my nerves.

Good luck!

Answer 6

xanax is good for anxiety also