Clonazepam - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

canadiangirleh · 07-12-2007, 04:29 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

) 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

Weasel64 · 07-12-2007, 04:33 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.)

Lisa'65 · 07-12-2007, 05:52 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

MSNik · 07-12-2007, 06:52 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, 06:45 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.