What is the best Benzo for long term use?

With sustained levels of anxiety, long-acting benzodiazepines such as diazepam and clorazepate are usually preferred, while episodic anxiety normally responds best to shorter-acting drugs such as oxazepam or lorazepam.

Can you take benzos for life?

Although it is advised to use benzodiazepines for only a short period, it appears that one of three users takes benzodiazepines chronically. 3–5 Long-term use is not desirable because of the risk of dependence, a higher risk of accidents and falls especially in the elderly and cognitive impairment.

What is the best benzodiazepine for severe anxiety?

What Is the Strongest Benzodiazepine for Anxiety? Clonazepam, the most potent benzodiazepine, is used to treat seizures and anxiety disorders. Xanax can be considered the most potent benzodiazepine to treat anxiety.

Can benzodiazepines be prescribed long-term?

The risk of overdose is particularly great when combined with sedative drugs such as opioids or alcohol. For these reasons, if used, benzodiazepines generally should not be prescribed continuously for more than one month.

What is the most prescribed benzo?

Alprazolam (e.g., Xanax), lorazepam (e.g., Ativan), clonazepam (e.g., Klonopin), diazepam (e.g., Valium), and temazepam (e.g., Restoril) are the five most prescribed, as well as the most frequently encountered benzodiazepines on the illicit market.

Comparing Benzodiazepines to Alcohol: Hazards of Long-Term Use—Psychiatrist Allen Frances, M.D.

Is Ativan or Klonopin better?

Is Klonopin better than Ativan? Klonopin may be preferred for its longer-lasting effects depending on the condition being treated. Klonopin may also be preferred for certain seizures. It is approved to treat akinetic and myoclonic seizures whereas Ativan is FDA approved to treat status epilepticus.

Is lorazepam stronger than clonazepam?

Clonazepam is a long-acting benzodiazepine, while lorazepam is an intermediate-acting benzo. The body develops a faster tolerance to lorazepam than to clonazepam, although both have similar potential for misuse. Clonazepam is usually sold under the brand name Klonopin, while lorazepam is sold as Ativan.

Can you take Klonopin for life?

Klonopin can be a short-term or long-term treatment. Keep in mind that the long-term effectiveness of Klonopin hasn't been studied for longer than 9 weeks. Because of this, it's important that you and your doctor discuss from time to time whether you need to continue Klonopin treatment.

Is Xanax or Ativan more addictive?

The properties of each drug play a role in how common and severe the withdrawal symptoms are and the drugs' potential for misuse. In general, Ativan causes fewer withdrawal symptoms and has less potential for misuse than Xanax.

What is a long-term treatment for anxiety?

Psychotherapy. Also known as talk therapy or psychological counseling, psychotherapy involves working with a therapist to reduce your anxiety symptoms. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most effective form of psychotherapy for generalized anxiety disorder.

Which benzo should be avoided in anxiety treatment?

Long acting drugs such as diazepam or chlordiazepoxide should be avoided.

What is the safest anti anxiety drug?

What is the drug of choice for anxiety?

Benzodiazepines (also known as tranquilizers) are the most widely prescribed type of medication for anxiety. Drugs such as Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam), Valium (diazepam), and Ativan (lorazepam) work quickly, typically bringing relief within 30 minutes to an hour.

How long can you safely take benzodiazepines?

You should only be prescribed benzodiazepines for the shortest amount of time possible. Taking benzodiazepines regularly for a few weeks or more can lead to addiction. Doctors recommend that you only take them for 2-4 weeks. Intermittent use may help to avoid addiction.

Can clonazepam be taken long-term?

Clonazepam is not generally recommended for long-term use because it is known to be a habit-forming substance. Over time, the patient's body tends to build a tolerance to clonazepam.

Do benzos damage your brain?

But when benzodiazepines are consumed for long periods of time, they can actually harm the brain. Taking benzodiazepines recreationally or in larger doses than prescribed can cause mental confusion, memory issues, permanent brain changes, and an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

What is better than Ativan for anxiety?

Ativan and Xanax are both benzodiazepines used for the treatment of anxiety, and both are equally effective for this use. The differences are: Xanax has a quicker onset of effect, but a shorter duration of action (4 to 6 hours) compared with Ativan's 8 hours.

Why is lorazepam preferred diazepam?

Abstract. Background: Previous trials have suggested lorazepam may be superior to diazepam as first-line treatment of convulsive status epilepticus (CSE), with improved seizure outcome, and a lower incidence of side-effects. Many published guidelines however still recommend diazepam.

Is lorazepam stronger than diazepam?

The clinical effect and amnesia begin more rapidly with diazepam, but last longer following lorazepam. Lorazepam is more effective than diazepam in blocking the emergence sequelae from ketamine.

What happens if you take clonazepam everyday?

Benzodiazepines may produce emotional and/or physical dependence (addiction) even when used as recommended. Physical dependence may develop after 2 or more weeks of daily use. The risk of withdrawal reactions when stopping therapy with clonazepam is increased with prolonged use of the medication.

Does long term use of Klonopin cause dementia?

Even for younger people, benzodiazepines cause acute cognitive impairment, among other risks. Increased risk of dementia is another major concern with long-term use of benzodiazepines. In a meta-analysis, heavy cumulative doses of benzodiazepines were associated with a risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Is Klonopin hard to get off of?

Withdrawal symptoms start to fade in three to four weeks. It is still common to have symptoms like anxiety during this time. Some days may be harder than others, but the worst of Withdrawal is usually over at this point. Mild withdrawal symptoms are still possible up to three months after quitting Klonopin.

What can I substitute for Ativan?

Is clonazepam and Klonopin the same thing?

Clonazepam is a generic drug. It's also sold as the brand-name drug Klonopin. Xanax, on the other hand, is a brand-name version of the drug alprazolam. Both clonazepam and Xanax are central nervous system (CNS) depressants and are classified as benzodiazepines.