xanax or klonipin?

[starlight]

hi shelley,

i've been taking xanax for about a year and a half now, only when i really need it, not two times a day whether i need it or not. But, now , my dr. wants to do the klonipin thing, and i've read up on this product, ... it says it affects the white blood cells! You are supposed to get a bloodtest evry three months to determine if it's affecting your liver and kidneys, AND your white blood cell count! Holy moly! ok, so i brought this up to him when i saw him last which was back in Jan...he leaned over to me, and laughed, and told me that in medical school, when they were studying diff. drugs and whatever, on the "klonipin" page, was a little footnote at the bottom of the page, which stated that klonipin can affect the liver, kidneys, AND harm the white blood cells....he then, proceeded to wave his hand as if to dismiss that, and laughed, and said, he has all his patients on it, and there's no trouble, so i shouldn't worry! Now, that didn't sit well with me. He did compliment me for doing my "homework" on the product, but again, reassured me, it's no biggie. Well, to me, if it's going to affect my liver, kidney and white blood cell count TO SUCH A DEGREE that you have to take a blood test every three mos. to see if you're still ok....I DON'T THINK SO! Xanax, is just fine, thank you. It helps me much faster, and honestly, takes away all the anxiety, and any symptoms associated with it. He's just getting hung up on the "addictive" factor, but you see, i don't take it everyday, just "in case".....i only take it when needed. So, I'm trying to tell him, i only want the xanax.

I wasn't surprised at all, at his dismissal of the warning on klonipin, dr.'s are taught in med school by drug companies, and of course, they push their drugs, and advise them to do the same with their patients.

OK, now, i've been researching on the net, and yes, there are many diff. sites out there about both drugs, but i'd really like YOUR opionion on klonipin and the white blood cell thingy.

thanks shelley!

[shelley]

I think any time you're taking any sort of pharmeceuticals, and some herbs, that you should get tests every three months no matter what. You never know how your body is going to react. Xanax is very addictive, klonopin is supposedly not as addictive.