Clonazepam : I am just about to start... - Restless Legs Syn...

Restless Legs Syndrome

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Clonazepam

soupersuzy profile image
24 Replies

I am just about to start this medication. Does anybody have any info they could share about Clonazepam such as side effects or successes maybe. I'm not quite sure what to expect.

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soupersuzy
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24 Replies
SueJohnson profile image
SueJohnson

It has a long half life of 40 hours so can make you sleepy the next day.

soupersuzy profile image
soupersuzy in reply toSueJohnson

Thank uou

Sunshine458 profile image
Sunshine458

What mg are you taking? I have been on and off of it for 20+ years I take 1mg at night now and I am taking gabapentin. I still have Restless legs but Clonzapam does help me sleep.

soupersuzy profile image
soupersuzy in reply toSunshine458

I do need something to help me sleep.

waltraud1 profile image
waltraud1 in reply toSunshine458

I was or still am on clonazepam.and lot of trouble now becouse trying to get of.I was on 1mg in the morning 1mg at night and still.Now my Dr wants me of.Im not young yes sleeping is better,But it scares me now to ween down on it.I tryed and I sweat .and you get looked at as a junkie I feel even from the Pharmacy.I was told he will not prescribe it .and I was to pick up my monthly tabletts last week and then called it will not be filled. Now what. if you don't need this please dont take it.i try to look for help now.have just so make it short while. I think why giving it to people.in the first place. Still me legs are the same yes you sleep better but

Zyxx profile image
Zyxx

Clonazepam is a benzodiazepine. I take a Valium (also a benzodiazepine) now and then to sleep through the night but I restrict it to very occasional ‘treats’. Benzos are highly addictive.

soupersuzy profile image
soupersuzy in reply toZyxx

Thanks for your reply I think I'll do the same and not take them regularly.

waltraud1 profile image
waltraud1 in reply tosoupersuzy

find a Dr to help you don't do it by yourself it can be dangerous for you I am looking now for help myself dont take then that way

waltraud1 profile image
waltraud1 in reply toZyxx

Valium is the same there all the same.

waltraud1 profile image
waltraud1 in reply toZyxx

is also Opioid all this is adictive

violetta254 profile image
violetta254

Why were you prescribed clonazepam.? Is if for RLS because it really doesn't work for long. It may help with sleep for a while but is highly addictive and stops working for RLS after a while if it helps at all. The effort it took to get off of it after it stopped working makes getting off pramipexole look easy. DAWs is no joke, look this up. It seemed like it took 6 months of hell. Where are you and maybe someone can find a doctor for you who has some sense of how to treat RLS? If it is for something else besides RLS, it may be a necessary evil but IMO not worth it for RLS. As per Sue, have you had ferritin and iron panel check and tried gabapentin or Lyrica?

soupersuzy profile image
soupersuzy in reply tovioletta254

I have RLS but worse myoclonus. What is DAWS? I really don't want to start something that is that difficult to stop.

sigurdur profile image
sigurdur in reply tosoupersuzy

DAWS is Dopamine Agonist Withdrawal Syndrome. Another thing to avoid. Dopamine Agonists. Quitting them can bring on this syndrome that can last from months to years.

soupersuzy profile image
soupersuzy in reply tosigurdur

Many thanks.

waltraud1 profile image
waltraud1 in reply tosigurdur

did you get them from a dr?

soupersuzy profile image
soupersuzy in reply towaltraud1

Thanks for all your input waltraud1. Have been taking clonazapam for a couple of weeks now, 0.5mg but not finding it much help. Will ask my doctor for something else I think.

amrob123 profile image
amrob123

I sometimes use it as a supplement to pregabalin. I sleep better when I take it however I do notice it contributes to daytime fatigue/lethargy, even at a low dose. My main concern is periodic limb movement disorder.

soupersuzy profile image
soupersuzy in reply toamrob123

Is your limb disorder the same as myoclonus?

amrob123 profile image
amrob123 in reply tosoupersuzy

Periodic limb movement disorder used to be called nocturnal myoclonus, however i have also read that periodic limb movements are not myoclonus.

soupersuzy profile image
soupersuzy in reply toamrob123

So confusing isn't it! Thanks for your reply.

Claire_lc profile image
Claire_lc

Hi Soupersuzy, I’ve been taking clonazepam (between 0.25mg and 1.5mg) for several years now, in an attempt to get some sleep because of RLS/insomnia. I found it does help sleep, but the RLS still breaks through and wakes you up. The clonazepam itself doesn’t affect the RLS one way or the other.

It does leave you a little drowsy the next day, but if you’re desperately sleep deprived it can be a price worth paying. Also bear in mind that you need to come off it VERY slowly.

If I’d known about Buprenorphine, I would never have needed clonazepam, so if your RLS is severe, I’d investigate this line of treatment before embarking on benzos.

soupersuzy profile image
soupersuzy in reply toClaire_lc

Thank you I keep hearing positive opinions on Buprenorphine so think I will talk to my neurologist about that first.

waltraud1 profile image
waltraud1 in reply toClaire_lc

Clair you right Clonazepam is bad to start but now what can you do slow to get of.a Clinc said 7000 to be in treatment in a clinic. Lot of Money.and who wants to go to florida now.I took 2 mg a day 1 in the mporning one at night after long tome sleeping is not the same anymore.i try now take 1/2 in the morning and 1/2 at night for few weeks,,,stay away from benzo never start i wish I never started

Claire_lc profile image
Claire_lc in reply towaltraud1

I'm trying to reduce very very slowly. By 0.125mg each month. Even if it takes a year, it's worth it if you get there in the end. Good luck!

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