Comparing Klonopin vs Ativan: Which Will Be Effective For Your Anxiety?

Benzodiazepines are a class of drugs that help in the treatment of anxiety by slowing down the brain’s activity. This ultimately improves the body’s activity and provides relaxation. This is the reason why most people primarily use them as anti-anxiety medications. Klonopin and Ativan belong to the same group of benzodiazepines and serve the same purpose in the body of an individual. They have been one of the popular options for treating various anxiety issues in patients. Both these drugs are quite similar to each other and almost appear to be similar from the surface, but this is not the case. This blog focuses on Klonopin vs Ativan to give you details regarding how these drugs differ.

Moving forward, we will look into certain aspects that make the drug stand out, like its dosage, formulations, side effects, potency, and what happens to the body if someone is taking Klonopin and Ativan together.

Differentiating Klonopin and Ativan: Formulations, Dosages, Risks, & Alternatives

What is Klonopin?

Klonopin is the brand name for Clonazepam and belongs to the class of benzodiazepines. This drug is widely prescribed for the treatment of anxiety, such as panic disorder. Klonopin can either be mixed with other drugs or taken alone for the treatment of seizures. It provides a sedative effect to the body, which helps to calm down and feel relaxed. Klonopin comes under the category of a Schedule II drug and therefore has a low risk of dependence. But continuous exposure to the drug can result in dependency. Klonopin can be taken with or without food and water.

Klonopin is often sold illegally by dealers under various street names to avoid getting caught by the law. The street names of Klonopin are:

• K-Pins
• K-Cuts
• super Valium
• tranks
• benzos
• downers
• nerve pills

What is Ativan?

Ativan is the brand name for Lorazepam and belongs to the group of benzodiazepines. This drug is primarily used for the treatment of anxiety disorders because it provides calming effects to the brain. In some cases, Ativan is also used for other purposes, like alcohol withdrawal, insomnia, and to help prevent vomiting during chemotherapy. This belongs to the category of Schedule IV drugs and has, therefore, a comparatively lower risk of addiction and dependency than Schedule I and II drugs. People having continuous exposure can develop dependency on Ativan.

Drug dealers sell Ativan under various street names to avoid suspicion and run their illegal business smoothly. The street names for Ativan are:

• candy
• control
• downers
• silence
• sleeping pills
• tranks

Is Klonopin and Ativan The Same Thing?

People can be confused between Klonopin and Ativan, and may end up taking the wrong drug because these appear to be similar on the surface. Both of them belong to the same class of drugs and even fall under the same Schedule category. But despite al if studied in detail, Klonopin and Ativan can be quite apart from each other in various ways. They can vary in their composition, available formulation, recommended dosages, and various other factors, which will be discussed further.

What is The Difference Between Klonopin and Ativan?

As we discussed, Klonopin and Ativan are not similar to each other, and they vary in certain aspects. Now, we will look into those aspects in more detail and discuss why they are responsible for creating differences.

Available Formulations

Klonopin and Ativan are available for use in various forms. Each of their forms has its own way of usage and administration. Klonopin is available in oral tablet, which comes in three strengths: 0.5 mg, 1 mg, and 2 mg. This tablet must be taken as a whole with water and must not be chewed or crushed. Similarly, the available forms of Ativan are pills, capsules, and liquid. Ativan is mostly used in the form of pills, which are taken directly with water, but some misuse it by crushing it to snort it.

Onset of Action and Half-Life

The half-life of a drug is said to be the amount of time it takes to be reduced to half its quantity in the body, and the onset is the amount of time it takes to show its full effect on the body.

Klonopin

• Klonopin starts to show its effects of calming the body within 1 to 4 hours of intake.
• The half-life of this drug is 30 to 40 hours, and it can be detected in a drug test during this time.
• This drug can be detected in urine for up to one month after your last dose.

Ativan

• Ativan starts to show its effects after 2 hours of intake.
• This drug can last in the body for around 6 to 8 hours.

Dosages of Klonopin vs Ativan

The doctor may recommend a different dose of Klonopin and Ativan for different people based on their conditions and requirements. These dosages are highly subjective and must not be altered without consulting a doctor.

Klonopin Dosages

• For panic disorder: The initial dose is 0.25 mg twice per day, which is the lowest dose given to help the body adjust. The doctor can change your dose after observing for 3 days.
• For seizure disorder: The starting dose is 0.5 mg three times per day. This dose can rise to 20 mg per day, divided into multiple doses.
• For children: Children weighing less than 30 kg and under 10 years, the initial dose is between 0.01 and 0.03 mg per kg. For children above 10 years and weighing at least 30 kg, the doses can be the same as those for adults.

Ativan Dosages

• For sleep: The initial doses of Ativan for sleep problems caused due to anxiety and stress are 2-4 mg once before bedtime.
• For seizures: It is advised to take 4 mg slowly over 10 minutes, and if the seizure continues, take another 4 mg.
• For anxiety: The recommended dose for anxiety is 2-4 mg per day.

Side Effects

There are several risks associated with the patient taking Klonopin and Ativan. These side effects arise when the medicine starts to work in the body. Some of them can also occur because the body does not accept the drug.

Klonopin Side Effects:

• drowsiness
• dizziness
• Unsteadiness
• Muscle pain
• Blurred vision
• Frequent urination
• Coordination problem
• rash
• Hives
• hoarseness
• difficulty breathing

Ativan Side Effects:

• Drowsiness
• Restlessness
• Confusion
• Insomnia
• Jaundice
• Sedation
• Weakness
• Hallucinations

Drug Interactions

An interaction can occur if you take the drug in combination with other drugs. It’s better not to combine any medicines on your own to prevent harmful interactions between them.

Klonopin Interactions

• Abilify
• Ambien
• Baclofen
• Cymbalta
• Flexeril
• Gabapentin
• Hydroxyzine
• Lamictal
• Lexapro
• Lyrica
• Neurontin
• Propranolol
• Prozac
• Tramadol
• Xanax

Ativan Interactions

• Abilify
• Ambien
• Benadryl
• Cymbalta
• Flexeril
• Gabapentin
• Lamictal
• Lexapro
• Melatonin
• Oxycodone
• Tramadol
• Xanax
• Zoloft

Which is Stronger, Klonopin or Ativan?

In general, Klonopin is considered to be more potent than Ativan, which is primarily due to the duration of action of the drug. It is difficult to decide which is stronger between Klonopin and Ativan because they are quite similar, and each patient has different reactions to the drug. The number of doses recommended to individuals varies for and the drug potency can also vary from individual to individual.

Can You Take Klonopin and Ativan Together In The Same Day?

It is never advisable to take Klonopin and Ativan on the same day due to various reasons. Combining the drugs can increase the sedation and can therefore harm the daily life of an individual. Since both the drugs work by affecting the central nervous system, combining them can affect the brain and would lead to issues like:

• Respiratory depression
• Extreme sedation
• Cognitive issues
• Overdose and Coma

Alternatives To Klonopin and Ativan

Alternatives are options for people who cannot be given the same drugs due to certain underlying conditions. These alternatives can come in handy in an urgent situation.

Klonopin Alternatives

• Buspar
• Lyrica
• Circadin
• Diphenhydramine
• Melatonin

Ativan alternatives

• Klonopin
• Valium
• Xanax
• Midazolam
• Remeron
• Seroquel
• Zyprexa
• Zoloft
• Prozac
• Lexapro
• Buspirone
• Vistaril
• Benadryl
• Gabapentin
• Pregabalin

Conclusion

Thus, we can conclude that Klonopin and Ativan are very effective Benzodiazepines. They can work wonders for the body if taken in prescribed amounts and doses. You should never try to take the combination of the drugs or increase the dose as you wish. Ask your physician to change your doses or prescribe you the alternatives if you feel discomfort. Take your medicine on time and follow a healthy lifestyle to get rid of your anxiety soon.