Does Klonopin REALLY help? Or...

Walking After Midnight · Sat May 06, 2006 2:17 pm

I can't give you any Rx Facts, just my personal experience, but Klonopin works very well at taking away my RLS sensations.
Klonopin helps me to get to sleep too, but I have never been "knocked out" by it.

Post by **ViewsAskew** » Sat May 06, 2006 5:50 pm

Em, studies show that for some people, the benzodiazepines like Klonopin don't so much prevent the sensations as promote sleep*. More doctors are starting to believe that it doesn't help that high of a percentage of people, however, and are not recommending it like they used to. Randy is one of the lucky ones.

edited to add: The items in bold imply that it does work for some people. This was never intended to say it didn't work for anyone, at all. It was itended to say that it doesn't work for everyone, and may (emphasis on may) not be as helpful as they originally thought.

*"No controlled trials have demonstrated that clonazepam or any other GABAergic sedative hypnotic actually reduces symptoms of RLS. Therapeutic benefit appears to arise from sleep-promoting properties such that patient continues to sleep despite disturbances from RLS symptoms." http://www.emedicine.com/neuro/topic509.htm

Walking After Midnight · Wed May 10, 2006 11:27 pm

ViewsAskew wrote:...studies show that for some people, the benzodiazepines like Klonopin don't so much prevent the sensations as promote sleep*. More doctors are starting to believe that it doesn't help that high of a percentage of people...Randy is one of the lucky ones.

Ann, I would argue with anyone who says Klonopin doesn't help with RLS symptoms.
One step further, it's worked for me, better than anything that the Dr. has prescribed up till now. That includes Mirapex, Cabatrol, Tegretol, Requip, Hydrocodone and a couple others that I'm forgetting.

I'm not arguing with you right now, I just don't want anyone who is suffering with RLS to cross Klonopin off the list without even trying it.

Randy

Rubyslipper · Post by **Rubyslipper** » Thu May 18, 2006 1:29 am

I take Mirapex and Klonopin both so I can't tell you if the Klonopin helps with the RLS or just my sleep. I also know that it is a drug that many doctors are now telling people to stay away from. But as long as my "cocktail" works for me, I think I will stay on it. Like WAM, I'm just presenting my viewpoint, not telling anyone what to do and DEFINATELY not arguing with anyone.

Orcaholic2001 · Post by **Orcaholic2001** » Mon May 29, 2006 11:42 pm

I been taking Klonopin for about 2 years now for panic disorder. I was diagnosed with RLS back in january. The klonopin has been helping me. But some nites the RLS is so bad I have to take a higher does for it to help which is only 0.50mg from my normal 0.25mg.

My doctor just recently gave me a sample trial pack of the Requip & said i can take that with klonopin as well. I took it for the first time 2 days ago & I had horrible reactions that im still recovering from. So im sticking with just the klonopin.

SweetAdeline · Post by **SweetAdeline** » Tue May 30, 2006 1:45 pm

Hi!
I'm very new to this board, and was just recently diagnosed with RLS after being checked for iron deficieny and pregnancy. I was already on Clonazepam (generic name for Klonopin) and Requip was added to my regime as Clonazepam didn't seem to work more than making me fall asleep and, it seemed, "forget" about my RLS.
Just my take!

ksxroads · Post by **ksxroads** » Tue May 30, 2006 11:52 pm

Thanks for the input! And welcome! I am so glad to see so many new people joining. It is very helpful to me to hear of others experiences with RLS. Hope to get to know you better. Hazel