This works for me!

[anibail9]

I have had restlessly leg syndrome for 50 years, since I was 15. I am almost 65.In 1993 I saw an article in a Star magazine where someone was asking for help with this condition. The Dr suggested klonopin. I ask my Neurosurgeon if he would try me on this and he did. 1mg Klonopin. That was the first time I got a restful nights sleep. I have been on it for 30 years and I am so thankful that I saw that article!

[Hidden]

That is truly amazing!

Thanks for sharing that

[ziggypiggy]

That's awesome. Love to hear success stories. Send that doc a gift basket for being open minded.We mostly hear about the the problems people have with potentially addictive medicines, which is real, but there are lots of people like you that benefit greatly. I wish more people like you would share positive outcomes. My theory is most are afraid of the stigma attached to certain medicines. I know that's true in my case being on opiods. I feel comfortable sharing here in this community but am very guarded otherwise

Yeah for you

[Covenant1962 in reply to ziggypiggy]

Hi ziggypiggy, I have been taking 50mg of Tramadol everyday once a day for about 3 months. It is fantastic for restless legs and sleep but has been causing me mood issues particularly anxiety. So I’m now coming off it. 2 days into withdrawal. Can you share your experience with opioids please? I feel like i may have been missing something and that one day I will have to return to them.

[Jphickory]

My dad suffered from RLS and also took Klonopin. It worked for him also

[danamias]

Thanks for this. Do you use it just at night or during the day too, assuming you have symptoms during the day?

[shellbell987]

I have taken Klonopin for 20 years for anxiety and NOTHING helps my RLS. I have tried EVERYTHING under the sun. I am now down to maybe 2-3 hours a sleep a night. I don't know how I even function or capable of running a business. I have no motivation or energy. I know I'm not alone but this is just devastating so many people suffer this way. This is no way to live.

[grandpianoman in reply to shellbell987]

Please try buprenorphine (here in US, brand name Belbuca buccal). It is a quasi-opioid, applied as a film on the inner cheek. For me it works 24/7. I can take naps, sit in a chair to read, drive for hours without having to stop and walk around and stretch, etc. And I can sleep through the night. All this is new to me, and it's like I don't even have RLS--unless I forget to take it.

[intermk in reply to shellbell987]

Ask your doctor for Buprenorphine. After 35 years of trying everything, this came along as a referral from a woman that was using it successfully. It works well for me.

[Felicity21]

I have been on Clonazepam, at first on half 0.5 mg tablet, but now on 0.5 mg for many years and was prescribed it by my Neurologist to help me to sleep. It works very well. Your 1mg dose sounds a lot more but great to hear it helps. My SEVERE RLS is now more or less under control by a combination of the Clonazepam plus 0.26 mg of Prolonged Release (PR) Mirapex (I think the PR is a good idea because I stay on same dose and there is much less chance of augmentation). I also take 2 co-dydramol (10/500) plus 1 high strength Senokot to help prevent constipation. The beauty of the Co-dydramol (which is a combination of Paracetamol and Codeine) is that the Paracetamol restricts the codeine which means I stay on a low dose morphine equivalent.

I have been on this combination for 15 months (taking it at 9.30 pm) and it works really well. Apart from a little RLS in the evening, I am fine during the day and sleep very well at night.

[Gemimablackvelvet]

That’s interesting. The same thing happened to me. I’d had restless legs for many years. My neurologist eventually prescribed Clonazapan. One 0.05 mg per night about 7 years ago. I haven’t had restless legs since. Angela

[Beckonwood]

I was on klonopin for a number of years and finally found it didn't work. Then I went to mirapex and finally after having rebound effects found that percocet worked for me and now see a pain management doctor for the percocet. It works

[lorrinet]

I see that this is an epilepsy drug. Many years ago (before anybody'd heard of RLS, it seems, including me)I was on another epilepsy drug, Tegretol, which was wonderful for about four years, then it stopped working. There is epilepsy in my family and I've often wondered if there is a connection to RLS.

It's very interesting that you've been on Klonopin for 30 years. Are there any side effects? I've been on Dihydrocodeine for over 20 years and, given the current climate, although it does mess my system up a bit if I don't take enough care with fibre in my diet, I'm afraid to ask to change it in case a different drug doesn't work and another GP who doesn't know me won't reinstate the opiates.

[DicCarlson]

I thought I would add this link - comments from patients who use klonopin for various reasons - mostly good. When you can't breathe - nothing else matters. When you can't sleep is a close second!

reviews.everydayhealth.com/...

[involuntarydancer]

Thanks for posting this. It is great to feel there are further options out there. The use of clonazepam to treat rls is not much commented on but the odd person reports that they are using it to good effect.

[doodlelove]

Hi all. I too was prescribed clonazepam over 20 years ago. I take .75 mg at night and if I get woken up with it during the night, which is maybe a few times a month, I’ll take an additional .25mg. Keeps my RLS under control.

[intermk]

I've had RLS for 36 yrs and was on Klonopin for about 20 yrs but it didn't help at all for my RLS. It's just a benzodiazepine that can help you sleep through mild episodes of RLS. One of 3 sleep studies they did with me showed that on 3 mg Klonopin my RLS continued to flare up while I was asleep. They also found that that I never got into deep REM sleep. A big problem with Klonopin for me was day after drowsiness. I would take it around 2100 hrs every night but not be able to get to sleep until the following morning at about 0700. And I was in and out of sleep all day every day. So we moved the dosage regimen back to around 1500. That allowed me to get some nighttime sleep but still it kept me groggy all day long. I was never wide awake while on Klonopin no matter how much sleep I had gotten. I also took Klonopin with others drugs to help control the RLS symptoms. There were many but the one I can remember most was Nortriptyline. I's an anti depressive drug which seemed to work for the first few months then it abruptly stopped working. So it was on to another drug. But the Klonopin stayed on for 20 yrs and by the time I stopped taking it I was on 5 mg per night. Never stop Klonopin cold turkey because the withdrawal symptoms are horrible. Again, Klonopin is just a sleep aid and over time you're likely to need more and more and more.