Medications work differently in everyone, so there is really no one medication that is "better" than another. That said, there are medications that are "better" at keeping panic attacks away--klonopin is one of those. Ativan can be helpful for many people, but it is usually not the first choice given here in the US. Most psychiatrists will prescribe an SSRI along with the Ativan first, and if that doesn't work they will try medications like klonopin or in other cases, drugs like imipramine.

Klonopin does not cause seizures unless you are on it for a while and suddenly stop taking it. As long as you maintain your dosage and take it every day, most people have no problems with it causing a seizure. If you have to go off klonopin, you have to slowly wean off the drug to prevent a seizure.

If the Ativan doesn't work for you, see another practitioner willing to try the klonopin or an SSRI.

reply #1 is right.

all you can know is that klonopin can be shorter acting than ativan (longer acting)..this means you have less a 'rebound' effect so soon.

personally unless you are in a state of panic or near panic, avoid these types of meds (benzos)...because they always leave you feeling worse than before if you take more than you should. always take the least effective dose..never more. 1mg ativan sounds like too much to start.

coming off of these drugs is utter hell if you take them on a regular basis then find yourself without any. so i would never ever advise someone with panic attacks to take a three times daily regimen...you will so regret it when you have to come off of it..you'll be grinding your teeth and have all this nervous energy. it's awful.

i am on klonopin and haven' t had any fits yet... but there is always a possibility... hehehe, but the better thing about klonopin is that it has a longer life than the others... about 12 hours and it helps me lots with my panic/anxiety/agrophobia too... good luck...

I am 41 years old and if someone asked me 20 years ago what my life would be like --- it would have been a dismal outlook wrestled powerless by panic attacks ---- for 20 years a 20mg prozac and 1- 2 mg per day of Klonopin changed all that-- (no fits ?) sure , breakthrough panic attacks are occasional but as u age u realize just how irrational these thoughts are and TURN THEM OFF . im a big fan of Klonopin !

Actually, Klonopin is longer acting than Ativan....That's why my pdoc wants me to take it instead of Ativan, b/c it lasts in the body longer and therefore has a longer lasting effect.

all these valium type meds are much the same, some last longer than others, the dose is important

Sunny,

Thanks for correcting that mistake I made. You are right...Klonopin is longer than Ativan.

Be sure not to take these things (any benzo) before bed. They might seem to help you fall asleep, but actually it is like alcohol in that you do not get quality rest. This has been proven with EEG (brain wave) tests.
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.just a head's up.

i take klonopin and it really helps me calm down a lot. bt it can be very addicting, so you need to be careful. i don't know about Lorazepam, bt klonopin works great at calming me down and relaxing me.

As katieXbearO said, I haven't taken Lorezepam either but I take Klonopin as needed and it works wonderfully to calm me down. The only problem I have with it is it makes me sleepy, but I also have problems being sleepy all the time. I've never had any other problem with Klonopin. (BTW, I'm on 1mg, 1/2 to 1 pill as needed)