Ambien + Klonopin Anyone?

I take ambien 12.5 for sleep at 9 pm. My anxiety gets worse everyday after 8 pm. My doc says i can take klonopin along with ambien if needed. My anxiety makes me paranoid. See i read about how heath ledger died from drug interaction, and one of the statement from a consulting doctor was, that's why we dont put patients on two different benzo at the same time. I know ambien and klonopin are not exactly the same. One is a non-benzo and the other is a benzo.

It would really help me ease my nerves on this one if i could just
hear from anyone else who takes a non-benzo and a benzo together ?

Almost anyone who is on a benzo is on other psych meds as well. The doctor said it was ok, also the pharmacy would have talked to you if there was an interaction with the 2 meds.

Also Keith ledger died of a drug interacting true, but had also taken a HUGE amount of drugs.

you're probably right, but i live in india. The doctors are lax, careless and less vigilant when it comes to writing prescription or even with the diagnosis. You wouldn't believe the stories we hear out here in the news everyday. So I always double check things on my part. and its served me pretty well to be proactive like that.

I take ambien and Ativan without any trouble.

I take two benzo's no issues at all.

At the same time?

At the same time?

Yup. No issues.

Yup no issues

I used to take Klonopin and Ambien - and a couple of other meds.

I believe you guys. Thank you so much for pacifying my fear.

#strongertogether

Your welcome. I could not sleep at all last night so I took xanax and restoril to fall asleep.

Both act on the GABAa receptors, hence the concern as to whether or not to use them simultaneously.
Ambien produces weak anxiolytic and anticonvulsant properties.
Klonopin has anxiolytic and anticonvulsant properties, working at relatively low dosages. (0.5 = 10 mg diazepam)

In the case that both taken at night, before bed, these two shouldn't cause any noticeable negative effect. If one were to take both sometime in the day, the sedative effect could be more.

I hear you. I've been having trouble sleeping as well. I've been taking ambien for a while now, and i seem to have developed tolerability for it. Been thinking about asking my doc to add another med along with ambien.

I'd prefer another benzo, given their more favorable side effect profile. Then there are stronger meds for sleep like trazadone, doxepin, seroquel, and a few others. I know a lot of people take a combo of an antidepressant/antipshychotic and a benzo for chronic insomnia.

Ah, the good old days when sleep came naturally, with the quieting darkness of night.

But non benzo's or as they call them Z-drugs, they were made specifically to aid in sleep. they target different receptors than the regular benzo's, which are primarily used for anxiety, but also as a sleep aid. But your argument is valid, we (as a patient) dont know how many similar receptors are targeted by both if taken simultaneously, and this was my concern as well.

I've taken both together with no problems. Of course I slept. I was in 1mh klonopin and 10 mg ambien

hi. i think its safe, but...klonopin isn't the best for sleep. it takes a while to work, plus its high potency, so it really is better for agitation, anxiety, (hypo)mania (oh, and seizures, at high doses...). Maybe the Klonopin could calm you down a bit and then the Ambien would lull you to sleep?

Personally, I'd ask about a switch to Restoril (temazepam). I don't know if they have it where you are, but its very effective. 15mgs worked for me, but I could go up to 30 when needed. Its a benzodiazepine, but its specifically designed as a sleeping pill.

Klonopin takes a while to kick in, it lasts a long time, its not very sedating, tapering can be a bother, and it seems to cause more drug-induced depressin than many other benzodiazepines (I think all of the benzodiazepines can cause depression or lower mood, but Klonopin is the worst offender).

hope this helps.

Didn't read the other posts but ambien and klonopin are very closely related. Both attach to different GABA receptors/subreceptors and both should be used cautiously as tolerance usually increases unless used for a week or very strict prns.
Benzodazepines will eventually start to kill off GABA receptors and ambien uses similar subreceptors.
Hence increase in tolerance over time if used daily. It reduces the release of glutamate. Which is an excitatory transmitter. If tolerance/addiction occurs and higher needs of any GABA reinforcing drug continues a slow taper need to be administered by your pdoc. Other wise your brain will overcompensate and itself by releasing to much glutamate to restore homeostasis.
Tons of links on this and references:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2453238/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4553644/
A very good pubmed paper on anxiety with lots of references:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3628173/
Z drugs with benzodazepines-
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4491204/

Just go on pubmed and it's endless. Even a google search will explain it without so much text and figures on specific studies. I did forget to mention to talk to your pdoc and all your health providers about the topic and concerns!

As Shazerac said, Heath Ledger took many pills all at the same time.

"Mr. Heath Ledger died as the result of acute intoxication by the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam, and doxylamine"

Don't do that.