Does Clonazepam affect thyroid medication absorption?

[Arkenstone]

I have suffered from chronic insomnia from the time I was given Tyrosine Kinase inhibitors for my CML. I tried to use every natural remedy possible to cure/reduce my insomnia. Sadly nothing worked. Now I sleep less than 3 hours some days. I am also suffering from micro sleep. The Sleep specialist has said that I have to take Clonazepam 0.5 mgs. I tried taking half a tablet with no effect. What do I do? I am afraid of its effect on my thyroid meds etc. i understand it is addictive as well.

[SarahJane1471]

have you tried Zopiclone? All the benzodiazepines are addictive and are the “Z” drugs. But I have a sleep disorder and have taken Zopiclone for 25 yrs. it’s a necessary evil for me 🤷‍♀️. I take my Levo in the mornings.

[Arkenstone in reply to SarahJane1471]

Thank you. This is the first time I am trying something for sleep.

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to Arkenstone]

I was prescribed Clonazepam as I suffer from vestibular migraines and when my dizziness and balance were very bad it was a lifesaver. It allowed me to function. That said I only take them very sparingly as a last resort. Clonazepam is a very effective vestibular suppressant. Its estimated that 23% of users will become either physically or psychologically dependant on them after 3 months of use. So yes, for some they can be highly addictive. And difficult to wean off them. Benzodiazepines arent really intended for long term use.

I'm surprised that other less addictive drugs havent been suggested. I have Fibro and poor sleep quality goes with the territory. I've tried most of the sedating medications in my time, Amytriptyline in low doses is very effective. Its a tricyclic antidepressant.

Or I get a sedating antihistamine on prescription. Promethazine. Again I dont take it every night but if I have a run of bad sleep I take 1 or 2 tablets before bed and it works well for me with no risk of addiction. Some GP's can prescribe melatonin as well. I had mixed results but it works well for some. Its a natural hormone that your body makes.

[Star13]

Many years ago I went to a talk by a USA specialist on pain management who said sleep was the main driver of most cases. He quoted a very well known and old study of students being put in a Lab and being sleep deprived for a certain period and they produced chronic pain symptoms quite quickly.

He was a firm advocate of Clonazepam. He said he wanted his patients to get to a state where the bed covers did not move all night. He would start his patients off on a certain dose and once settled get them to reduce it until they had the same quality of sleep on the lowest dose. He said it was surprising how low they could maintain a dose once they got settled.

My advice to you is keep going. They said Zopiclone was addictive and it was terrible to get off etc etc. I just stopped it without any issues. Everyone is different so not everyone will react the same way.

I will be giving Clonazipam a go soon because of another problem and I will go about it as above. I hope it works for you.

[Arkenstone in reply to Star13]

Thank you for your very prompt support. I will continue with trepidation

[waveylines in reply to Arkenstone]

Can't comment on the meds but I do feel for you. Less than 3 hrs sleep oer night is serious deprivation. Hope the sleep specialist can help you to sort it out.

[Luna2024]

As someone who takes Clonazepam for nearly 2 years now, I currently are on 4mg a night due to having Secondary Narcolepsy caused by another neurological illness. Can I ask have you now been sorted out as this is nine months past?

If you have not please reply and I can give you some insight to how this changed my life for the better. This is not a medicine to be scared about if that is a worry taking it? Your body is a unique individual I call the Trinity. The brain and spinal area are completely separate from the body, this is the shell for the host to reside in, our soul is the third if you believe that or not.

Anyway your body will not suffer any side effects on medicine your body needs as this is processed in the way it is binded for the way you absorb it. The damage comes from taking any medication your brain cannot understand why it's there, this causes the problems it's not the medicine.

Do you suffer any day time somnolence with finding it hard to stay awake?

Getting proper sleep pattern is important otherwise anyone will start to feel the effects from this quickly. This is so damaging I hope your sorted by now? Your body does most of repair work at night when we sleep. Pain illness etc. all takes its toll on you, and thinking about sleep drives the cycle.