Klonopin (clonazepam) and Ativan (lorazepam) are similar benzodiazepines used to treat anxiety disorders and other mental disorders. But Ativan vs. Klonopin which is better for anxiety? And what are the differences between Ativan and Klonopin?

In this article, we will go through Ativan vs. Klonopin in terms of their differences and similarities in terms of side effects, withdrawal symptoms, length of time it takes them to work for anxiety, dosage per day, and other general uses. We will also look at the differences in half-life and their ability to be abused.

In our previous article, we went through the severe side effects and treatment of taking Trazodone and Xanax together. However, today, let’s start off with their usage in anxiety treatment.

Ativan vs. Klonopin. Which is better for anxiety?

Klonopin (clonazepam) and Ativan (lorazepam) are benzodiazepines that can be used for the immediate treatment of anxiety disorders and panic attacks in addition to seizures. Still, they have differences in how long they work. Ativan is very effective for emotional and physical symptoms of anxiety and thus can be used as a preoperative medicine. Klonopin is one of the most potent benzos in terms of high potency and long-lasting effects.

 Lorazepam tablets and liquid work in approximately 20 to 30 minutes while Clonazepam takes approximately 20-60 minutes to start working.

On the other hand, Klonopin typically produces a calming effect (peak effects) within one to four hours after administration while Ativan takes approximately one to two hours to take full effect with 2 hours following administration being when the peak effects are felt.

Klonopin’s effects last longer than some other benzodiazepines. The half-life of Klonopin is 30 to 40 hours while Ativan’s half-life is 12 hours with the range being 10 and 20 hours for most individuals.

Lorazepam vs clonazepam strength

Clonazepam is an excellent Benzo that can be used for short-term management of panic disorder, anxiety disorder, and sedation for insomnia and during surgery. It is one of the drugs that effectively reduces the frequency of seizures in some specific seizure disorders.

Klonopin is thus benzo which is very effective in managing anxiety disorders. Compared to lorazepam, Clonazepam stays in the system longer since it has a half-life of 30 hours compared to 12 hours for lorazepam.

The start dose of Klonopin for anxiety is 0.25 mg given twice a day while the Ativan prescription is 2 to 3 mg/day given twice a day or thrice a day.

Is 1mg of Ativan equal to 1mg of Klonopin?

No, 1 mg of Ativan is not equal to 1 mg of Klonopin even though both active ingredients are equally effective for treating anxiety disorders and insomnia.

For anxiety disorders, a typical dose of Ativan is 2 mg to 6 mg per day while Klonopin dosage for anxiety can range from 0.5 mg per day to 4 mg per day.

The starting dose is different too. The start dose for clonazepam is 0.25 mg taken two times per day to give you 0.5 mg per day. On the other hand, the starting dose of lorazepam is 1 mg given twice a day to make it 2 mg per day.

Drugs interact with Klonopin vs Ativan

Some of the medications listed above react with both Ativan and Klonopin. They have the risk of serious side effects including severe drowsiness or dizziness, or slow/shallow breathing. Taking the medication with the substances listed above may potentiate the side effects.

You should also not use these medications with other antidepressants. This is because they can potentiate the effects of antidepressants.

Moreover, it is not recommended that you take either Ativan or Klonopin sedative antihistamines or narcotic analgesics. They may also interact with alcohol, cold or allergy medicines, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, medicine for seizures, and anti-anxiety medications among the others listed above.

Switching from Ativan to Klonopin

Switching from Ativan to Klonopin is possible but should only be done with guidance from a doctor. This is because both medications work in a similar way since they are benzodiazepines. Moreover, they are both used for the management of anxiety disorders, seizures, and other conditions.

The longer-acting clonazepam is excellent if you are working on tapering from short-acting benzo such as lorazepam. For the tapering process, you need to switch from lorazepam to clonazepam, and upon initiation of taper reduce the calculated dose by 25–50% to adjust for possible metabolic variance. This is followed by a weekly reduction of the clonazepam doses by 5- 10% in divided doses as calculated by your doctor.

However, even if it is not for the tapering process but to switch to the longer-acting Benzo, you can work with your doctor on the tapering procedure for Ativan while slowly increasing the dose of Klonopin.

What happens if I take Klonopin (clonazepam) and Ativan (lorazepam) on the same day?

Several people in our clinic always ask if you can take Klonopin and Ativan on the same day. If it is not under the doctor’s recommendation especially as you taper Ativan as you introduce Klonopin, we do not recommend it.

Taking Klonopin (clonazepam) and Ativan (lorazepam) on the same day may increase the side effects of either medication such as confusion, difficulty concentrating, dizziness, drowsiness, and sedation among others. Some people also experience shallow breathing, low blood pressure, weak pulse, and incoordination when they take Klonopin and Ativan together. In the elderly and other persons, taking these two medications on the same day may lead to impairment in thinking, judgment, and motor coordination.

Moreover, both medications are processed by the liver. The liver function should be monitored if the two medications are not taken as guided by a doctor. Concomitant use of more than one benzodiazepine at the same time is not recommended unless advised so by your doctor for such uses as tapering one to introduce the other one.

Side effects of Ativan vs Klonopin

Conclusion

Both Ativan and Klonopin are effective medications for the immediate treatment of seizures, anxiety disorders, and panic attacks. However, they differ in their half-life meaning one is longer acting compared to the other.

The two medications also react with almost the same substances in the market today. The substances that interact with Ativan and Klonopin include alcohol, cold or allergy medicines (sedative antihistamines), muscle relaxers narcotics (narcotic analgesics), sleeping pills, seizure medications, MAO inhibitors, anti-anxiety medications, barbiturates, antipsychotics, sedative/hypnotics, anxiolytics, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and anesthetics.

Sources

https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-920-6006/klonopin-oral/clonazepam-oral/details

https://www.drugs.com/ativan.html