Klonopin (clonazepam): To Swallow Or Dissolve?

[Olivia Felton]

Hi all, I suffer from PTSD and have pretty severe attacks that come out of the blue. My doctor told me that while dissolving under the tongue is an off label use, there are studies underway to determine the efficacy of that method of ingestion.

As a retired (medically) police officer, I am of course hesitant to use a method that was used by people who intentionally abused the drug in that manner. HOWEVER, I do notice a difference (perhaps psychosomatic?) when I tried this method in the middle of a crippling attack.

I still prefer to actually swallow the pill, but if my attack occurs in public or on a full stomach then I perceive a more immediate effect. Again, is the feeling of an easing of symptoms coming from knowing that help is coming quicker or is it actually working? I would love to volunteer for that research!

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Dissolving is usually done with the klonopin wafers which are designed to be put under the tongue. You can put the regular ones under your tongue but they're not designed to dissolve as easily so you won't get as much medication in your system.

 

[Olivia Felton]

Thanks for that info, Scaredoflonely. I will ask the doc about that.

 

[jarjar4evr]

I know this is an old post, but I still wanted to say that I think there's definitely some truth to this. I've been taking clonazepam for about 3 years and my girlfriend has been for about a year. We see the same psychiatrist and he's told us about the ability to dissolve the pill so that it will be more of a quick release.

But as many have already pointed out, it shouldn't be used all the time or even often. But there are situations where its more beneficial- such as a panic attack.

 

[pharmgirl]

Hi all, I felt as though I needed to chime in here...even though the thread seems a little old. I suffer from ptsd and also work in a pharmacy. I had been taking lexapro and Xanax(alprazolam) for years to help manage my anxiety and infrequent panic attacks. Over the summer though, I started noticing some rebound anxiety (which is typical with alpraz) and found myself taking it more often than just as needed due to a big increase of stress in my life ( which resulted in iincreased flashbacks,nightmares, irritability). I consulted with my MD and was recently switched over to clonazepam to help manage my anxiety during the day-it lasts much longer than alprazolam and doesn't have those rebound effects, but, as mentioned above in other posts, has a much slower onset. If you're on it along with an ssri/snri for maintenance type use, it should be swallowed whole and taken as prescribed. HOWEVER, if you're having a full on panic attack, you obviously can't wait the 40-45 mins for it to kick in. Clonazepam as well as Lorazepam (ativan) CAN be taken sublingually (under the tongue or even chewed...yuck) when necessary. It also can be broken in half if needed even though some of them aren't scored. It IS safe and the onset is similar to that of alprazolam... if not faster. So to sum up; swallow whole as prescribed if taking as part of a maintenence regemin or before an event where you know you're going to need the help. But if in the midst of a panic attack, it can safely be taken sublingually for faster onset :). PTSD is already hard enough to manage... so i really hope this helps!!! It's helped me tremendously. <3 good luck

 

[Guest on benzos]

After personally being on either alprazolam 0.5mg or 0.5 clonazepam three times Daily for the past 2 years , I can say with a decent amount of confidence that you will feel faster effects by dissolving the pill, but from my many experiences of chewing (almost a year consistantly) , the full amount of medication does not seem to take its proper effect. I've noticed that by swallowing, before each meal, and waiting for the effects produces much more effective relief of anxiety and keeps attacks far, far at bay. I cannot argue that chewing/dissolving will be much more effectve during said attack, however if you use your medication properly, not only will you be impervious to the steep come-down produced by altering the release of medication into your system, but it is much less likely that an anxiety attack will be an issue anyways. As someone who used to skip parties after chewing 4x my recommended dose with absolutely no relief by the time I reached the party , I would go as far as to say I'm sure anyone who simply takes their benzos orally on an empty stomach will be anxiety free.

 

[Kimi]

When you chew it, it has to go through your digestive system and that decreases the potency as well as how long it takes to kick in, sublingual (under the toungue) is the fastest way to absorb this Jed, I dint think this mentions will change the time length of its potency. It's meant to be swallowed but in an emergency it is faster absorbed into the blood stream under the tongue dissolved

 

[Mike Kay]

I've been taking Clonazapam for about 5 years. It does get in me faster when absorbed under the tongue, but it doesn't quite last as long. I also know, that for me, if I take it on a completely empty stomach it hits me almost twice as hard. Then I eat and rack out hard. Hope this helps!

 

[The Albatross]

It is my understanding that there is both, regular tablet and also dissolving Clonazapam. I stick with what mine says on the bottle, and double checked with the pharmacist which said do not dissolve or use sublingually as mine is the regular tablet... short term. Yeah this is an old conversation but a new med for me. Low dose short term.

 

[Mistyblue]

While I've been taking klonopin (clonazepam) for many years, I'm still undecided as to the best method of ingestion for p...

I disolved them because of the same reasons you do and I have found it much more effective. I do not find that swallowing them works at all. If I swallow them I have zero effect and have panic attacks and severe anxiety. I wish they'd prescribe me more than 2 a day but I make it work by keeping busy.

 

[Bleski12401]

If you take klonopin on a regimented schedule the physicians reference insert says the maximum blood level is reached in 3.8 says. By then swallowing with a full glass of plain water which is important because your body will just absorb water but treat any other liquid with care as it has sugars proteins dyes or any other additives so that affects its absorption time. If you are taking it on an as needed basis you can buy orally dissolving tablets which your doctor can prescribe to you. I've tried both it depends what you're looking for the orally dissolving tablets definitely kick in faster but are not more potent but if you're using them for an as needed basis that may be the way to go. Not to be abrasive as I have PTSD also but doctors go to school for this and know their stuff so they don't have to ingest the pharmaceuticals that they are prescribing to know their effects. Also growing up as being a son of a doctor doctors aren't stupid they know when you are abusing them by the symptoms you present to them on your recurring visits after youre prescribed them. That's why they take progress noted. Just be honest with your doctor as because they know anyway.

 

[EmC]

When I was hospitalized, for a different matter, a nurse told me to split in half dissolve half under my tongue and swallow the other half about 20 min later. But to never chew. She said chewing destroys the chemical make up of the drug. My experience. EmC