Switching From Clonazepam To Xanax? For Social Anxiety...

I've been taking Clonazepam for about 15 years. At first, I was prescribed .25 mg twice a day. Over the years, the doses kept increasing. Now I'm at 2mg. 3x/day. Though I've been taking it as needed, like depending on what I'm doing each day. For the last couple of years, I'd take half a pill in the morning and maybe another later on. But only if I'm not doing anything important. Other days, with social activities, I'd take another dose like 2 mg. or more. And there are other meds I take like Adderall generic, Gabapentin and also in the process of quitting Suboxone; I'm down to 1 mg. about every other day. And Bupropion as well.

My issue is that I don't think the Clonazepam (from Accord) is working anymore. About 11 years ago, my doctor recommended that I switch to Xanax. But I said no, because at that time I was working full time and couldn't afford to be tired all the time. Back then I was only on the Adderall and Clonazepam and Lexapro. I've been diagnosed with ADHD and social phobia with panic attacks and anxiety with major depression. And now despite all these meds, I still have a hard time getting things done. As if I'm stuck, or afraid maybe of what I'm not sure. I'm not working and have no source of income besides medicaid & EBT. I feel hopeless and alone. I can't even get a part-time job. I'm just a few steps to being homeless; I can't keep crashing on my mother's futon in her tiny apt. plus she wants me out (so she can enjoy her privacy). I've been homeless before and it sucks. I need SSI/SSD, but I keep getting denied. I have other medical issues that effect my immune system and more. But it's my mind I'm concerned about and just getting through the day. Sorry for the long post, I have a lot to talk about, too many issues piling on top of each other. Any suggestions and/or questions? I'm 43, but if you've met me, you'd think I was younger by ten years. The way I act and look (good genes). I'm 6'4, 190 lbs. and I used to self medicate before getting medicaid in 2005 off and on. I should be dead, like most of my old friends, who've overdosed. I guess I'm the lucky one.

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Hello,

If you don’t want to fall asleep at work, or be able to drive, don’t switch to Xanax. It works the best and fastest but it’s Russian roulette with it.. trust me. I’d ask about lorazepam aka Ativan. Long lasting, and doesn’t make you feel messed up. I was prescribed Xanax for years, I’m 29. It is by far the worst medication to ever get off of and the withdrawals are absolutely the hardest withdrawals of life. If you’re on Suboxone I take it you had dependency on some other medication or drug so I would stay AWAY from Xanax. I hope you take my advice, PS Bupropion causes anxiety. I’m on it too, but I take Trintellix to keep the anxiety away. Also on Vyvanse.

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Dear Charlie, are meds are made in China now they only have to have one 20th of the active ingredient and sometimes they don't even have that. This is just my opinion, but I believe you are on too much medication. I believe you should check yourself into a hospital and try to detox yourself. Please understand I am not judging you, I myself take clonazepam when taba made it it was a good medicine it is no longer that case, I have torsion dystonia and the mother who is 88 years old and is getting dementia, I receive no help from my brothers or sister to help with my mother, she is mean and combative, which makes my anxiety go through the roof. I had to go to the ortho because have two herniated disc in my neck that are inoperable, this gives me very little use of my left arm because of nerve damage and then add the dystonia on top of that the pain is unbearable at times. He prescribed meloxicam and Gabapentin I thought I was coming out of my skin. One causes hives one relieves hives and I suffer from chronic urticaria hives, I broke out in hives for over a month, he also prescribed it to my mother as I earlier said suffers from early stages of dementia it causes dementia. Dear Charlie I wish you well on your road to recovery.

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Re: Mm (# 1)

Thanks for your reply. I agree with your thoughts on Xanax, I decided to not switch.

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Re: Suzie (# 2)

Thanks for your reply. I agree with your thoughts overall. Honestly, recovery & a drug free life is not for me. I fear that I'll always need something, after all, my chemical brain imbalance won't fix itself. I can chat forever about these topics.... forgive me, I tend to be brutally honest.

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Re: charlie brown (# 4)

Dear Charlie, I hope you are doing well today.My brain does not run on all cylinders also,I know I will have to be on some meds the rest of my life, if you can call it that.I agree with the person who stated that Xanax is poison and can be abused too easily ,that one took the edge off maybe another will ease my worried mind,kinda thing.I know,because that is what I would do.It is no fun waking up on the kitchen floor with a half eaten raw hotdog in one hand
and half a gallon of melted ice cream all over you and not remembering any of it.Anyway, I hear you brother ,you are not alone.I wish you well.

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