What is the difference between klonopin and clonazepam

Xanax is also available in generic and brand-name tablets. The overall cost of your medication will vary based on your preferred pharmacy and how many tablets you are getting. The most common side effects of Klonopin and Xanax include drowsiness and depression. Those who take Klonopin or Xanax can also experience fatigue, dizziness or lightheadedness, loss of coordination, and memory impairment.

Dry mouth is also a common side effect associated with Klonopin and Xanax. Serious side effects of benzodiazepines can include severe drowsiness, confusion, seizures, weakness, and trouble breathing. Serious side effects are more likely to occur in an overdose or when the drug is not taken as prescribed.

This may not be a complete list. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for possible side effects. CYP3A4 inhibitors can increase blood levels of these benzodiazepines, which can result in increased adverse effects. CYP3A4 inhibitors include antifungals like ketoconazole as well as antibiotics like erythromycin. CYP3A4 inducers can speed up the metabolism of Klonopin or Xanax and, ultimately, decrease their effectiveness.

CYP3A4 inducers include anticonvulsant drugs like phenytoin and carbamazepine, among others. Because Klonopin and Xanax have CNS depressant effects, they can interact with other drugs that have similar effects.

Taking benzodiazepines with drugs such as opioids and tricyclic antidepressants can increase the risk of severe drowsiness, respiratory depression, and even death, especially in large doses.

This may not be a complete list of all possible drug interactions. Consult a doctor with all the medications you may be taking. Both Klonopin and Xanax have warnings on their drug labels about using benzodiazepines with opioids.

The combination of benzodiazepines and opioids can lead to sedation, very shallow breathing, coma, and death. For this reason, these drugs should not be taken together.

If they must be taken together, their dosages should be monitored or adjusted to ensure safety. Those who have a history of substance abuse in the past may be at an increased risk of abuse and dependence with benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines are intended for short-term use and should not be discontinued abruptly. Stopping these medications without tapering its doses can lead to withdrawal symptoms. In severe cases, withdrawal symptoms can be life-threatening and include rebound anxiety, insomnia, and seizures.

Because of the short-acting nature of Xanax, withdrawal may be more likely to occur with Xanax compared to Klonopin. Klonopin is a long-acting benzodiazepine that is FDA approved to treat panic disorders and seizures. It is available in immediate-release and orally disintegrating tablets. Klonopin can be used for seizure disorders in adults aged 18 years and older as well as children up to 10 years of age. Xanax is a short-acting benzodiazepine that is used to treat anxiety disorders and panic disorders.

It comes as an oral tablet, orally disintegrating tablet, extended-release tablet , and oral liquid. Xanax is typically prescribed in adults aged 18 years and older. Klonopin and Xanax are not the same. Klonopin lasts longer in the body compared to Xanax. Klonopin can also be used to treat certain types of seizures in adults and children. Both Klonopin and Xanax are effective treatments for symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks. Klonopin can be taken once or twice daily in some cases while Xanax may need to be taken multiple times per day.

Withdrawal symptoms may be more likely to occur with Xanax. It does not take long for the effects of the drug to wear off. Inevitably, users want to increase the dosage so that they can keep experiencing the feeling. The only difference between Xanax and Klonopin is that Xanax gives you more of a buzz than an outright high. However, the buzz is short-lived. If you or a loved one has developed a dependency on either Klonopin or Xanax, treatment is available.

Northern Illinois Recovery Center offers comprehensive treatment for all kinds of substance use disorders. We provide Xanax addiction treatment and prescription drug addiction treatment for when individuals find themselves dependent upon medications like Klonopin. Some of the other substance abuse treatment programs we offer include:. To find out more about your treatment options and learn about Klonopin vs. Xanax, call us at We are here to help you get on the road to recovery.

Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Post comment. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Skip to content. The drug helps relieve the symptoms and reduce the frequency of attacks. Some doctors prescribe Xanax for depression , but there is limited evidence to suggest that it is effective unless the person also has anxiety.

Clonazepam is also a benzodiazepine. Doctors use it to treat seizure disorders in both adults and children. It can help address chemical imbalances in the brain and reduce the number of panic attacks.

A lack of GABA activity can cause people to become excitable and may lead to panic attacks or seizures. Having more GABA activity in the body helps reduce instances of panic attacks and seizures.

At first glance, Xanax and clonazepam are very similar. Both medications are benzodiazepines, CNS depressants, and ways of treating anxiety or panic attacks. Both are short acting drugs, but clonazepam stays in the body for longer than Xanax. The half-life of Xanax is 6—25 hours , while for clonazepam, it is 22—54 hours. Clonazepam can also treat seizures, whereas Xanax does not.

Both drugs have their different off-label uses, which the sections below will look at in more detail. Dosages usually differ depending on the individual and the condition that a doctor is trying to treat. For panic and anxiety, the dosage for adults is 0. A doctor can increase the dosage in increments of 0. However, the maximum dosage does not usually exceed 4 mg per day. For seizures, the dosage for adults is 0. The maximum dosage should not exceed 20 mg per day.

For anxiety disorders, the dosage for adults typically starts at 0. A doctor may incrementally increase the dosage to maximize the effect. Controlled trials involving 1, people found that Xanax worked for panic disorder when participants received 1—10 mg per day.

Whether prescribing clonazepam or Xanax, a doctor will usually start at the lowest possible dosage, regularly reassess the dosage, and consider reducing it, for example, if panic attacks stop. If a doctor advises reducing the dosage, they must ensure that a person does this slowly. If a person stops taking either drug abruptly, it could result in withdrawal symptoms. Both Xanax and clonazepam typically begin taking effect after a few hours or days of starting the medication.

A dose of Xanax will affect a person for a few hours. A dose of clonazepam can last around three times longer. Long-term use of benzodiazepines can lead to dependence on these drugs. Dependence can begin after using the drugs for as little as 1 month. As Xanax remains in the body for less time than clonazepam, it may carry a higher risk of overuse or misuse, which may lead to dependence.