Hi Abbie... well, the total daily dose of Xanax is not excessive but you definitely could be getting peaks and troughs... that is what makes Xanax so addictive. i totally do not get the logic of switching you from Klonopin to Xanax.

Another thing i can suspect at this point is that you might actually be getting some withdrawal from the Klonopin, which the Xanax probably doesn't "cover." Your vulnerability to withdrawal would partly depend how much Klonopin you were taking, but it takes a couple weeks for the stuff to clear, so i could see more pronounced symptoms emerging about now, Xanax or not.

How do you actually feel? Were things better or worse when you were on Klonopin? Have you noticed any differences in general?

What would have made more sense to me if he had kept you on Klonopin in regular dosing, and let you take Xanax ONLY for actual panic attacks. I mean, for crying out loud, Xanax is NOT a sleep med, but if used as one, it should only be taken 1ce daily - before bed. that still risks premature awakening if part of your problem is light sleep and general anxiety. I really would love to know what this guy was thinking.

aww heck... i still haven't checked interactions either... let me do that right now.

~ waves ~

cross-checked Seroquel, Xanax, and amitriptyline and they do not have drug-drug interactions as best i can see.

if you also take other medicines, try the following online checker:

http://www.drugdigest.org/wps/portal/ddigest

(click on check interactions on the bar at the top, or this live link directly to the interactions page)

it is always safer to verify with the pharmacist though.

i also did some reading on Xanax... it does peak real fast (1-2 hours) but the half life is 11 hours. I don't know how heavy you are but weight plays into it too: half life can vary more in heavy persons - usually longer, but sometimes shorter. with the dosing schedule you have, you shouldn't be too bad off... but there is definitely still room for peaks and troughs, due to the rapid peak.

well... that's about it for my pharmacology input.

i wish i could give you a magic pill for sleep.

i am wondering about something much more long-acting too... like Valium. not sure if it is more sedating than Klonopin - it is also used as an anxiolytic more than a hypnotic but it does get used for sleep. It may have stronger muscle relaxant properties than Klonopin or Xanax. It also has a verrrrrrry long half life (several days) and so is much less addictive and is much SMOOTHER in action.

Just "dreaming up" alternatives here...

anyway, toss me a cookie... let me know what, if anything you noticed, improvement, worsening, or just any differences, between when you were on Klonopin and now with Xanax.

for now... (((((( HUGS ))))))



~ waves ~

I wish I could say that I feel a difference between the Klonopin and Xanax... I DON'T!!

I'm still very panicky feeling both before and after sleep... plus having pretty major anxiety attacks in between... Xanax does seem to help keep me from going from major anxiety to full blown panic attacks... at best...it keeps the edge off...

I had to go to the grocery today... 1st time out of the house in a couple weeks.... My mom was with me... and my best friend and her daughter came into the store while we were there... I hugged her daughter but for the life of me... I couldn't tell you what my friend was wearing... I was in a protective mode... I don't look at anyone when I am out of the house... I have a tunnel vision mode and as long as I am with a family member or my friend then I have no idea who else is there...

If I have to go somewhere by myself... like the doc... I somehow manage it but can't tell you much of anything about the trip there and back or what the doc was wearing or anything like that...

I have to go to the Pdoc tomorrow afternoon.... I hopefully will be able to remember to tell him that my meds don't seem to be working... I find myself either at the bottom of the canyon or on top of the mountain looking for place to jump off....

Sorry this is so wordy and rambling... I could go on and on but will spare the details as I'm sure by now that I am not making much sense....


Abbie

Dear Abbie,
Print out what you wrote here and bring it with you and hand it to the pdoc.
That's what I would do.
That solves the problem of worrying about remembering what to say.

OR

Write down a short list of three or 4 important things.
You can even bring 2 lists -- one for him and one for you.


OR

Call ahead of time and leave a message for the pdoc that you are doing horribly. I've done that.
This way, when you walk in for your appt, he already knows your condition and can start figuring out ways to help you.


M.

Dear Abbie,
never worry about the lenght of your post we are just happy that you trust us enough to share what is going on, I agree with mari about printing this out and calling ahead to let them know ahead of time that you are not doing well.
great suggestions.
beth

Mari and Bizi

I really like the idea of calling ahead to let him or her know. Because in
my case even if I have a list I don't always remember I have it.

Donna

I'm fairly new here, but I can so relate to not wanting to go to bed/sleep... I have battled insomnia since I was 19, so it's been nearly 40 years. It's just gotten worse over the years. I take Ambien, Lorazepam, Hydrochodone and a muscle relaxer to get to sleep. Once I'm asleep, I'm fine, and then I hate getting up again. I've stayed awake as long as three days and slept for more than 30 hours. Long hours of being awake and then sleeping has become my routine.

WElcome and I am sorrry that you too have sleep issues.
I think it is more common these days than I realized. so many folks not being able to sleep well.
beth

I'll be leaving here in about 30 minutes.... off to Pdoc...

I was able to talk a little with doc's office... was assured that doc would talk with me as long as necessary....

I have a bunch of post-it's with notes about what has been going on since last appointment....



I'll buzz in this eve and let everyone know what happened....


Abbie

I'm back...

Pdoc believes everything going on is related to increased anxiety due to circumstances beyond my control!!!

Kept all meds the same but wants me to come back in two weeks and to call him before if things swing into the "dark canyon" or if I feel stepping off the edge....

Right now, I'm just tired and very frustrated...


Abbie