Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) Discussion Board

Has anyone else found this to be true?

Yes!!! In fact, I went back on Clonazepam because my RLS was so bad. I've been on it for over ten years and, frankly, I couldn't stand it. Maybe if I didn't have the added problem of my back--even though I'm doing great, I'm still very much in the recuperation stage and don't sleep well because of it.

So, some may consider me a whimp, but that's what I did. Good luck, Emily. Maybe because you haven't been on it for as long as I have, you'll have success.

Hugs
Jan

I discontinued my clonazapem the first time and my rls went completely bonkers. Was up everynight walking the floors and my rls was raging 24/7 and very painful.

I am now back on clonazapem and will not go off of it. I know that it is a control substance, but if this is helping me I will continue it.

Jan and Em hope the both of you are doing much better.

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When I quit Xanax 0.50mg Retard cold turkey my RLS was very, very bad for about 10 days.

Corrie

Why do all the experts say that the benzos don't help RLS, they just help people sleep? Even Dr. B says that.

My experience with having been on Valium for 10 years is that it helped with the creepy crawly sensations, and it helped a lot, long after the sleepiness side effect wore off.

They seem to help a lot of other people as well. Should someone be telling the doctors about this?

Susan

I don't think they say it doesn't help at all, do they? They say there are more effective drugs and others with fewer potential problems based on its performance. The few studies that have been done have shown that it helps a lot less people than the other drugs. There are many people on this and other boards who have stated it helped very little to none. It certainly did not help me - or any other of my family members who need medication for their RLS.

The recent studies have shown that the benzos are most likely to benefit because the make you sleep - you sleep through the RLS and the PLMD - it doesn't stop the movements for many people.

In addition, Klonopin has such a long half-life, that many people can't function the next day. If someone wants a benzo, it'd be much better to start with something else, like Restoril (temazepam). I knew it affected me, but really didn't realize how much until I was off of it. My brain fog is still around, but nothing like when I was on that (or Neurontin, which was similar in terms of screwing up my brain the next day).

I am happy it helps some people - and it does help many on this board. I hope that everyone that uses it successfully continues to get good results, too. I just can't but agree that Klonopin (or any benzo, I suppose) is a good choice for daily use until several other drugs were tried first. Of course, just my opinion and I'm not a doc.

Go to benzo.org.uk

for benzo withdrawal

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Hey Emily

Thought I'd answer since we have been been trying to get off of Klonopin (Clonazepam) and I just went back on it. I don't know if I was going through withdrawal or if it was helping my RLS more than I thought, either. I DO know that my RLS is completely under control now. As you know, I take Clonazepam along with Mirapex.

Maybe the fact that I tapered off so much has effected how much it's helping me now that I've gone back on it.

It's a good question, isn't it?

Good luck, Honey.

Jan

Well! I'm in the same boat as you.

As said before I've been fighting to get off for months and I realize that when I hit the 0.75 mark last April is the period when my legs started to bother me.

So clonazepam might be the way to go since I cant stand drugs like mirapex or they cant stand me lol.

Also with Multiple sclerosis the part of my brain that is affected causes mood swings and clnazepam is used for that purpose.

So My goal is to get off as my symptoms might be caused by it and if I'M still the same well I'M going back on.

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Per the Klonopin, I've been saying for a long time that there it does help some people. Just not as many people or as much as some other drugs. It can be very worth it for some. Maybe it is helping you some, Em. The withdrawal can be confusing your body, too. You really have no way of knowing. I can't say for sure, but if you read the benzo board, there are people who had crappy symptoms for a LONG time after the finished.

I literally had to take months to stop it, reducing it by 1/10th of a dose at a time. The last few cuts were made by shaving a small amount off my dose with a razor blade. Cuts larger than that put me back into severe withdrawal symptoms. That last cut just may have been too much for your body to handle. If you still have symptoms after three or four weeks, you may have to go back on the lowest dose and then continue to make smaller reductions than you had been. It's hard to know you are cutting the right amount without a super sensitive scale.

Oh, the last few weeks, I went every other day, then every three days. That really helped, I think. By that time, I was taking a literal sliver of it each dose.

Hi Em I did take clonazapem in 2005 and took myself off without knowing that it was addictive. Anyways, I weaned myself off of it before starting another med. Do not know if this is the answer you are looking for, but hope that it helps you.

I am now back on clonazapem as it does help me also am now taking mirapex and will see how I do with both.

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