Can anybody tel me what dose of clonazepam they are on ?

[bambisoloved]

I am on 3 mgs taken at night to help me sleep as i suffer from insomnia this is a sideffect of Pramipexole but this only gives me about an exra 1 hours sleep

As Clonazepam is used primarily as an anti-epileptic drug there are no guidlines on dose for RLS. My Gp having looked it up on their BNF [ Drs bible on drugs ] for dose just gessed what dose to give me because the dose for epileptics is mush higher.

[jumpylegs]

If clonazepam is an anti epileptic drug then it should help your rls symptoms as well as helping you to sleep.

I don't use it myself, I use zopiclone.

[Hidden]

Klonopin/ Rivotril (Clonazepam)

Klonopin comes in 0.5 mg, 1 mg, and 2 mg tablets. The usual dose range is 0.5 to 2 mg. This was the first drug used for RLS and PLMD. This is due to its previous use in myoclonic seizures. PLMD used to be called nocturnal myoclonus and thus this drug was tried for RLS/PLMD with great success.

The drug has a rapid onset of action (less than 30 min) but it has a very long half-life (30-40 hours) causing a duration of action of 8-12 hours or longer. Daytime sleepiness can be a problem in a large percentage of patients on Klonopin. We therefore do not recommend this drug for most patients with RLS. It is, however, very commonly prescribed for RLS due to its early association with the treatment of RLS. It may work well in patients who do have morning RLS and do not get drowsy or sleepy due to the long lasting nature of this drug (which may persist at high levels in the morning causing daytime sleepiness).

Many physicians prescribe Klonopin, as this is the original drug used for RLS and is recommended by all the general medical textbooks that discuss RLS. Some sleep specialists (and patients) prefer to use this drug for RLS, but our experience has been that the shorter acting sedatives work better for most RLS sufferers.

I FOUND THIS ON THE RLSHELP.ORG WEBSITE....GIVING THE DOSAGE RECOMMENDED......BUT OTHERS ON THE HERE USE DIFFERENT DOSAGE'S

[Hidden]

TUT,,, that should read, others on here may use different dosage....

[Doversoul]

I take 2mg Clonazepam - 1 tab in the morning 1 at night. The big plus for me of taking is that I don't suffer RLS when driving - I have a Motorhome and often have 4hr stints at the wheel and this drug has made a big difference to me. I also PLMD and my main med is 3mg of Adartrel which I find is superior to generic prescribed ropinerol .

[magggzzz]

I have the 0.5 clonazepam tablets for RLS. The trouble with them is that you have to take them more and more to have the same effect. 3mg would still knock me out but sometimes I've had to take as much as 5 to stop the RLS. This is my primary drug for RLS as the dopamine agonists don't work for me. I take it with a side order of gabapentin and it seems to do the trick most nights. However with me once I'm asleep I'm OK even if I wake up. I find though like you said the sleep effects of the clonazepam don't last through the night no matter what anyone says.I've read up about it and it seems like a fairly harmless drug that is almost impossible to overdose on. The problems only start if you drink a lot.

[Peterpillpopper]

I have been taking Clonazepam for about five years now. I started on 1.5 mg at night and have been up to 5mg but i have managed to get down to 2mg.

[bambisoloved]

Hello

Yes I am having the same problem. I am on 8 mgs of clonazepam and have been on this amount for 1 yr and as you probable know you get used to it and is less effective. My RLS specialist at Gay`s Hospital says 8 mgs is the most I can take, but like you I have a BNF and know different.

I think because its not licenced for insomnia Gp`s are unsure what to do. But that does not help us.

I am also seeing an Insomnia specialist in London and on the waiting list for CBT But

in the meantime I think I will ask him as I have got used to this dose of clonazepam what does he suggest now.

bambisoloved

[SUTHERNREDD]

Klonopin IS NOT a epileptic drug it is given for ANXIETY it is a benzodiazepine.

[SUTHERNREDD in reply to SUTHERNREDD]

I will add....I take Klonopin and have for 12 years of a mental health diagnosis of which Anxiety is a part of my illness.