Clonazepam

[Keith1231]

My GP has prescribed Clonazepam for RLS, can you give me your thoughts on this medication please?

[SueJohnson]

The problem with clonazepam is it has a long half life of 40 hours and can cause sleepiness the next day.

If you find you can't live with this ask for zopiclone

[Keith1231 in reply to SueJohnson]

I already have Zopiclone but cant get on with it as it makes me so sleepy the next day and doesn't help with RLS. Is Clonazepam worse than that?

[SueJohnson in reply to Keith1231]

Yep or the same. Zopiclone only has a half life of 3 1/2 to 6 1/2 hours.

[Keith1231 in reply to SueJohnson]

I have just had an on line appointment for medical cannabis. I am going to try oil that I take in a drink in the evening. Its very expensive so do I really want it to work, I don't know. lol. What are your thoughts?

[SueJohnson in reply to Keith1231]

Worth a try.

[Highlighters in reply to Keith1231]

Make sure it is thc

[Keith1231 in reply to Highlighters]

It is and is all above board however, the price is substantial which I cant afford but wil try. Thanks for your advice.

[violetta254]

Run, don't walk, in the other direction from clonazepam. It only may work for a short time and then it is hell to get off (IMO, 10 times worse than getting off of pramipexole) and may damage dopamine receptors permanently. I know because I was prescribed this about 20 years ago and it took 6 months to recover. It is sometimes prescribed for PLMD but is not longer a recommended drug for RLS. First line drug treatment should be gabapentin or pregabalin. If those are not effective, opioids are the next line. There are also lots of other posts on effective remedies and changes you can make that have worked for some.

[Keith1231 in reply to violetta254]

Thanks but I think I had figured that.

[DesertOasis in reply to violetta254]

Hi Violetta, what was your approximate dosage of the clonazepam?

[Bernaldi in reply to violetta254]

Totally agreed. I was prescribed this and noted that almost immediately I started having to raise the dose, within just a couple of days. I realized I was headed for addiction and stopped taking it immediately. So you are right: run away before it is too late.

[violetta254]

I have no idea, it was so long ago.

[Birdland]

I don’t think I’ve ever heard of someone saying Clonazepam helped their RLS. I think doctors believe something that induces sleep will cause a person to sleep through RLS. This I’ve never found to be the case.

[Cowbsky in reply to Birdland]

it might sounds strange, but not for me, my doctor , Keith 's doctor...L

Love It. Using for some decades , never more than 0.6 mg; no side effects...40 hr half life It would be an upside for me

nonetheless, you know, everyone have their believes (the true medication, afterall)

all the best

[amrob123 in reply to Birdland]

It helps my PLMD, not sure if it reduces my limb movements or just helps me stay asleep - or both.

[YoginiDancer in reply to amrob123]

There has been a suggestion that I might try this too for PLMS instead of Gabapentin (if my cardiologist won't agree to the latter as I have Left Bundle Branch Block). Are you active during the day on it? I'm a fitness instructor so I'm worried I won't have the wakefullnes for high impact or teaching work...

[amrob123 in reply to YoginiDancer]

I do find it sedating however I also take pregabalin which is also sedating. I'd give it a go, starting small. Even 0.125mg helps me. Just remember to maintain a consistent and regular dose.

[YoginiDancer in reply to amrob123]

Thanks Amrob xxx