Xanax Withdrawal -----> Switch to Klonopin?

[WhoWants2Know]

So here you goes:

I've been taking Xanax on and off for about 6 months now as prescribed by my psychiatrist.  After running the gamut and going from the lowest benzo to the highest benzo (xanax) they put me on it.  2 mg x 4 a day.  6 mg.  Okay, but now I don't like the effects and to make matters worse - the insurance company was changed at my company and my psychiatrist was therefore dropped because they were out of network.  No more consultations and I therefore ran out of medicine and have no way of obtaining counseling until finding another psychiatrist after the Holiday season.  

I therefore went to my regular doctor today and asked if I could be prescribed Klonopin, to gradually wean off the effects of the Xanax.  Right now this is day 4 of not taking the Xanax and it's been disaster, as I knew it would be.  I've been jumpy, blurred vison in my right eye, dry mouth, decrease in appetite, constipation, headaches, tired, slight physical shaking, hot flashes, cold flashes, loss of memory, mental detachment and fogginess:  it's complete hell right now.  I never expected it to be this way but now that I have nobody to consult so I've taken to the boards for help.  

I've seen messages on here that someone said to match the Klonopin equally in the amt of the xanax so does that mean the same amount or should I decrease to the .5 mg of klonopin and twice daily reducing in 1/4 amounts until completely gone.  

At this point I'm just confused - I thought it was going to help me but in the end it really overtook me.  I'm not a drug user by any means but I just feel like I've been cheated by my doctors and the people who were supposed to help me.  

So anyone out there want to help me?  Any advice would be greatly appreciated - I will hopefully feel better when I have the prescription for my Klonopin filled tonight.  I just need to get off of it asap so that I can feel normal and not detached again.  

Thanks.

[WhoWants2Know]

I started on the Klonopin last night, and all of the horrible withdrawal symptoms went away.  I read a post on here about the gradual decrease to get off of klonopin after getting off of Xanax.  Although a long process, I believe it'll work.  I'm just glad to be feeling "normal" today and not the crazy way i felt yesterday.  

[avisg]

worse part is the klonopin is just as addicting and just as bad ...talk to your doctor about valium its by far the safest benzo .I would suggest you go to dr heather Ashton's site .It has tons of info If you want the exact