Dr. Matt May

Klonopin or Klonazepam?

Klonopin or Klonazepam?

I was kind of spaced out there for a second.

I was kind of spaced out there for a second.

Not at all. No, you're describing a very typical experience with benzodiazepines, often prescribed for sleep or for anxiety.

Not at all. No, you're describing a very typical experience with benzodiazepines, often prescribed for sleep or for anxiety.

Yeah, I love what both of you are saying. I really appreciate the personal experiences, David, that you're sharing, that oftentimes people are prescribed a benzodiazepine for sleep or anxiety. Frequently, I see people who have gone to their emergency department, with a panic attack, thinking that they're having a heart attack. They're given some Ativan. They feel better.

Yeah, I love what both of you are saying. I really appreciate the personal experiences, David, that you're sharing, that oftentimes people are prescribed a benzodiazepine for sleep or anxiety. Frequently, I see people who have gone to their emergency department, with a panic attack, thinking that they're having a heart attack. They're given some Ativan. They feel better.

Maybe they're prescribed 30 days of Ativan. And then they leave the hospital feeling temporarily a lot better. But then they get hooked on the benzodiazepine. A lot of people don't know what a benzodiazepine is. And so I think it's helpful to just describe that. What is that?

Maybe they're prescribed 30 days of Ativan. And then they leave the hospital feeling temporarily a lot better. But then they get hooked on the benzodiazepine. A lot of people don't know what a benzodiazepine is. And so I think it's helpful to just describe that. What is that?

It's a drug that affects the GABA chloride channel ion in the brain, meaning that there's a natural substance in the brain called GABA and that binds to a chloride ion channel and it opens the channel up. Chloride comes into the neuron and it basically depolarizes that neuron and it ceases to function. The result of that is that you can start to feel a number of things.

It's a drug that affects the GABA chloride channel ion in the brain, meaning that there's a natural substance in the brain called GABA and that binds to a chloride ion channel and it opens the channel up. Chloride comes into the neuron and it basically depolarizes that neuron and it ceases to function. The result of that is that you can start to feel a number of things.

You can feel extremely relaxed, calm, and at peace. It can address anxiety symptoms acutely. You can even feel a little bit high because it releases, it takes the break off of the dopamine receptors in the brain. So it's a very addictive drug because it affects dopamine

You can feel extremely relaxed, calm, and at peace. It can address anxiety symptoms acutely. You can even feel a little bit high because it releases, it takes the break off of the dopamine receptors in the brain. So it's a very addictive drug because it affects dopamine

And in the long term, there's a rapid tolerance that develops where you need more and more of the drug to achieve the same amount of reduction of anxiety. So I'm frequently seeing patients who come in after being seen in the emergency department, prescribed a month-long course of benzodiazepine. that works the same way as alcohol. It binds to the same receptor as alcohol, the GABA receptor.

And in the long term, there's a rapid tolerance that develops where you need more and more of the drug to achieve the same amount of reduction of anxiety. So I'm frequently seeing patients who come in after being seen in the emergency department, prescribed a month-long course of benzodiazepine. that works the same way as alcohol. It binds to the same receptor as alcohol, the GABA receptor.

And now they've gotten a little bit hooked on it. They've still got the same problem that they came to the emergency department with. They've still got their anxiety, but now they've got a new problem. They're hooked on Ativan or Klonopin.

And now they've gotten a little bit hooked on it. They've still got the same problem that they came to the emergency department with. They've still got their anxiety, but now they've got a new problem. They're hooked on Ativan or Klonopin.

Or Xanax or some other medication like that. And so they still need the treatment for the initial problem that they presented with, whether it was anxiety or panic attacks. But they also need strategies for how to get off of a medication that they've become addicted to, physiologically addicted to. Yeah.

Or Xanax or some other medication like that. And so they still need the treatment for the initial problem that they presented with, whether it was anxiety or panic attacks. But they also need strategies for how to get off of a medication that they've become addicted to, physiologically addicted to. Yeah.