canadiangirleh
07-12-2007, 07:29 PM
Hi everyone,
Just came from my neuro visit and he prescribed Clonazepam for stiffness in legs and arms, 0.5 mg in am and 1.0 at bedtime (first suggested baclophen, but my body was not able to handle it. It made me sick to my stomach and really dizzy, already have problems with that:dizzy: :p ) can anyone share their experience or knowledge with this drug? Good and Bad? I'm trying to do my homework before starting a new drug. He wants to see me again in late September early October to see how I'm doing. My seventeen year old son said I should ask my neuro for happy drugs, so I did. He smiled and said he might consider trying me on Sativex in the fall. Anyone know anything on this spray drug? He said spray it into a glass of milk because it tastes aweful.
Thx for any feedback
Just came from my neuro visit and he prescribed Clonazepam for stiffness in legs and arms, 0.5 mg in am and 1.0 at bedtime (first suggested baclophen, but my body was not able to handle it. It made me sick to my stomach and really dizzy, already have problems with that:dizzy: :p ) can anyone share their experience or knowledge with this drug? Good and Bad? I'm trying to do my homework before starting a new drug. He wants to see me again in late September early October to see how I'm doing. My seventeen year old son said I should ask my neuro for happy drugs, so I did. He smiled and said he might consider trying me on Sativex in the fall. Anyone know anything on this spray drug? He said spray it into a glass of milk because it tastes aweful.
Thx for any feedback
Sponsor
Weasel64
07-12-2007, 07:33 PM
Clonazepam (or Klonopin) is a tranquilizer as well as an anti-seizure medication. It is habit forming, and the feeling resembles what you might expect from a benzodiazepine. Most people do well on it. :)
--Weasel
(Sorry about posting a commercial website. I was only trying to suggest where to get more info and did not recall that it's a no-no to do so.)
--Weasel
(Sorry about posting a commercial website. I was only trying to suggest where to get more info and did not recall that it's a no-no to do so.)
Lisa'65
07-12-2007, 08:52 PM
Last year I was placed on this medication by my neuro (0.5mg - taken only at bedtime). It did wonders for my muscle spasms and random jerking, making it so I could sleep at night. After a couple of weeks of being on it, I started having heart problems due to it. It was causing me to have a racing heart along with 3-5 second pauses, which landed me in the hospital. Within 48 hrs of coming off the med, I was fine. But...my heart is very sensitive to anti-seizure meds and antidepressants. Doesn't mean you'll have the same reaction. Hope you find a med that will help your muscle stiffness. I can totally relate to that problem!
Lisa
Lisa
MSNik
07-12-2007, 09:52 PM
Similarly to Lisa's story, I also experinced racing heart and massive anxiety while on that drug. I wound up in the ER, thinking I was having a heart attack...this was almost a year ago. This drug is HIGHLY addictive, and is also used for Psychiatric patients to basically control them....read up on it, make an informed decision. I hate when docs are quick to think that because it will help ONE symptom, it is the answer...the long term reality of Clonzapam is that it can cause long term problems.....Good luck with your decision.
CJRT
07-13-2007, 09:45 AM
I have been on it for 3 years and have had NO problems. My dosage hasn't even been upped like everyone keeps telling me will happen as you get "immune" to it.
It gives me a great deal of relief from spasms, tremors and helps me sleep. I also have anxiety and it helps with that. The best thing is I get a great nights sleep again. I had gotten to where I couldn't sleep and the dose before bedtime gives me a great 7-8 hours of sleep.
It is also prescribed a lot for restless leg syndrome.
I know that when I don't take it, my arm and hand tremors get much, much worse.
I have not experienced any side effects other than it can make me sleepy during the day.
I have to say that it does wonders for me. I had to go off of it recently because I had surgery and they did not want me to take it with the pain medication. I noticed that my tremors got much worse while off of it and so I got off the pain meds and on Aleve so I could go back to the klonipin and have my hands quit shaking and jerking.
It gives me a great deal of relief from spasms, tremors and helps me sleep. I also have anxiety and it helps with that. The best thing is I get a great nights sleep again. I had gotten to where I couldn't sleep and the dose before bedtime gives me a great 7-8 hours of sleep.
It is also prescribed a lot for restless leg syndrome.
I know that when I don't take it, my arm and hand tremors get much, much worse.
I have not experienced any side effects other than it can make me sleepy during the day.
I have to say that it does wonders for me. I had to go off of it recently because I had surgery and they did not want me to take it with the pain medication. I noticed that my tremors got much worse while off of it and so I got off the pain meds and on Aleve so I could go back to the klonipin and have my hands quit shaking and jerking.
canadiangirleh
07-13-2007, 12:20 PM
Thankyou so much for the great feedback everyone. I want to trust my neuro, but I'm scared of the side effects and the withdrawal effects. (We need a chicken icon) I was on Effexor 75 mg a couple of years ago for about a year, starting that drug was yucky for a couple of weeks then I started feeling pretty level, then started to gain weight, sex drive went from 10 to 0:(after that I decided with my doctor to taper off slowly. Weaning off this drug was he** not my cup of tea at all. So here I am again facing a difficult decision, what to do! what to do!:confused: :confused:
Have a great weekend and thanks again, your all :angel:
Have a great weekend and thanks again, your all :angel:
hayshe
07-14-2007, 08:14 AM
I too take Clonazepam for spasms in my legs at bedtime. I have taken this 1 mg for about a year and have had no side effects at all. It does give me a definite good nights sleep. However, I see the people who are having the side effects are taking much larger dosages then I am. Take care everyone and have a Great weekend.
canadiangirleh
07-14-2007, 10:41 AM
Hi Hayshe,
Thats great news that you get a good sleep. I was just wondering if you are sleepy through the day and if the stiffness and spasms are also gone through the day? At what time do you take your pill? Look forward to your reply.
Thats great news that you get a good sleep. I was just wondering if you are sleepy through the day and if the stiffness and spasms are also gone through the day? At what time do you take your pill? Look forward to your reply.
CJRT
07-14-2007, 12:38 PM
Hi Hayshe,
Thats great news that you get a good sleep. I was just wondering if you are sleepy through the day and if the stiffness and spasms are also gone through the day? At what time do you take your pill? Look forward to your reply.
When I take mine at night (2mg) and don't have to take any during the day, I am not sleepy through the day. I usually wake up feeling refreshed and not all "drugy" hangover type thing. And it has been keeping the tremors and spasms down without having to take more during the day. But in the last couple months, I'm noticing my tremors and spasms do flare up during the day and I sometimes have to take half a pill (1mg). Bur for a couple years, I wasn't having to take it during the day at all.
Thats great news that you get a good sleep. I was just wondering if you are sleepy through the day and if the stiffness and spasms are also gone through the day? At what time do you take your pill? Look forward to your reply.
When I take mine at night (2mg) and don't have to take any during the day, I am not sleepy through the day. I usually wake up feeling refreshed and not all "drugy" hangover type thing. And it has been keeping the tremors and spasms down without having to take more during the day. But in the last couple months, I'm noticing my tremors and spasms do flare up during the day and I sometimes have to take half a pill (1mg). Bur for a couple years, I wasn't having to take it during the day at all.
canadiangirleh
07-14-2007, 03:59 PM
Hi CJRT,
Thanks for the info. that is wonderful no sleepiness through the day.
Take Care!
Thanks for the info. that is wonderful no sleepiness through the day.
Take Care!
hayshe
07-15-2007, 10:33 AM
Hi, No I am not sleepy at all during the day after I wake up. I take it about 1 hour before bedtime. It seems to take affect about that time. Just recently, I have had a minor tremor or so in the daytime and the spasms once in a while in the legs, depending on how far I push myself, like cleaning the house, or in this hot heat if I am outside, it happens but that is MS I can live with the daytime problems, it is the nightime that was really bad for me before taking this medication. I have not thought of trying 1/2 pill during the day, maybe I will try that. Take Care
hayshe
07-15-2007, 10:34 AM
Hi, thanks for your info on the half pill, I think I will try that when I had the daytime problems. Take care and have a wonderful day.