What is the difference between Xanax and Klonopin?
Xanax and Klonopin are brand names for substances known as alprazolam and clonazepam respectively. Both of them are benzodiazepines equal in strength which are used for treatment of moderate to severe panic attacks, anxiety disorders and depression. But Xanax (alprazolam) is a short-acting medicaction, while the effects of Klonopin (clonazepam) are experienced for a longer period.
The effects of Xanax can be felt almost immediately after the dose is taken but they wear off quite soon. To achieve a prolonged sedative effect, one has to repeat Xanax doses during the day.
Xanax half-life average is about 11 hours, ranging from 6 to 27 hours in healthy adults. Klonopin has a longer half-life (from 18 up to 50 hours), so, a single Klonopin dose can be enough to last during a day or even two days, depending on the individual.
Both Xanax and Klonopin have their advantages and disadvantages.
With Xanax, you have to be careful because repeated doses may cause addiction very soon.
With Klonopin, when doses of it are taken on a regular basis, the medication accumulates in the body, affecting the user to a greater extent.
Xanax is not advisable for more than eight weeks of usage because the medication is habit-forming and its efficacy is not proved after that period of time - the body becomes quickly tolerant to the drug's effects with the increasing risk of heavier withdrawal symptoms (especially when doses of more than 4 mg per day are taken on a regular basis).
Klonopin is normally administered for a period of 6 to 9 weeks. The effectiveness of Klonopin in long-term use (for more than 9 weeks) has not been systematically studied in controlled clinical trials.
Both Xanax and Klonopin can be habit-forming and may cause very unpleasant withdrawal symptoms after a period of using them. If you get accustomed to any of them it may take quite a lot of time to get back to normal. Both Xanax and Klonopin should be discontinued very slowly, by gradually reducing the doses over a prolonged period of time after having been taken regularly for any length of time. Abrupt cessation may cause heavy withdrawal syndrome.
Due to the fact that alprazolam and clonazepam have a high potential for abuse, in the USA, Xanax and Klonopin are listed by the FDA as a schedule IV controlled substance. The United Nations place them among psychotropic substances. In the UK, both medications are classified as Class C drugs (clonazepam is mainly distributed in the UK under the brand name Rivotril, not Klonopin).