Can these drugs be used interchangably?

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francispoon - 30 Dec 2003 02:10 GMT

I am living in China and find it difficult to obtain ATIVAN(lorazepam)
without having to go to Hong Kong. On the other hand, plenty of
alprazolam drugs are available.

Could these 3 categories of drugs, clonazepam, lorazepam or aprazolam
be used interchangably without any adverse effect? Or are these the
same kind of drugs? Pardon my ignorance, please.

Thanks,

FP

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BilZ0r - 30 Dec 2003 05:24 GMT

Not completely interchangably. They require different dosages, and may
cause slightly different effects. Consult a doctor.

> I am living in China and find it difficult to obtain ATIVAN(lorazepam)
> without having to go to Hong Kong. On the other hand, plenty of
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> FP

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William Nunn - 30 Dec 2003 20:21 GMT

I am not a doctor, but what I can say is Clonazepam is thought to be the
most potent benzo with the most difficulty in withdrawing and pronounced
severe withdrawal. Xanax is a bit more potent than Ativan, and slightly
shorter acting I think.

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PaulS - 31 Dec 2003 00:46 GMT

> I am not a doctor, but what I can say is Clonazepam is thought to be the
> most potent benzo with the most difficulty in withdrawing and pronounced
> severe withdrawal. Xanax is a bit more potent than Ativan, and slightly
> shorter acting I think.

A good rule of "thumb" is that the shorter-acting (i.e., acts quickly and is
cleared from the body quickly) drug in this category is the most difficult
to withdraw from. Often, a doc will help someone w/d from xanax by
substituting a longer acting benzo.

PaulS

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francispoon - 31 Dec 2003 05:31 GMT

It depends on the dosage, I suppose. I would not want to go over
anything more than 0.5 mg. With 0.5 mg, it enables me to sleep until
about 2-3am in the morning and then the noise comes. I supplement
this 0.5 mg of ATIVAN with 3 herb capsules. The latter make my sleep
a bit longer and sweeter.

FP

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francispoon - 31 Dec 2003 05:28 GMT

> Not completely interchangably. They require different dosages, and may
> cause slightly different effects. Consult a doctor.

My two doctors said it is ok to use a sub=branch of Aprazolam as a
substitute. By the way, I was unable to sleep even with 0.5 ATIVAN
last night, but i am feeling fine today in day time. Wonder why?

FP
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> > I am living in China and find it difficult to obtain ATIVAN(lorazepam)
> > without having to go to Hong Kong. On the other hand, plenty of
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> >
> > FP

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