Starting Klonopin

Andreadrea · Post by **Andreadrea** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 5:14 am

I had put this off as long as I could, and I've been off all meds for a couple months. But my RLS is back with a vengeance, in my legs, arms, and sometimes even my torso. I want to jump out of my skin all the time. I'm going to take a really small dose to start, and see how it affects me. I worry about addiction, as I see patients who are hooked on Klonopin all the time. But I'm at the end of my rope here, I need to try something, and the Mirapex and Requip caused augmentation. Wish me luck!

Andreadrea · Post by **Andreadrea** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 5:16 am

Oh, and I wake up every morning with sore legs, perhaps because I"m kicking so much all night!

Post by **ViewsAskew** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 10:11 am

Some people do get addicted, but seems that it's more likely to become dependent physically - about 50% chance if what I've read is accurate.

That does suck - depending on your level of dependence, it can take from a few weeks to many many months to get off of it.

Is there nothing else to try? I can't remember your history this morning - shame on me. Because of the difficulty with dependence, the possibility of addiction, and that it doesn't work nearly as well as other things, it's not a first choice drug for the specialists. Of course, you may already have tried other things or have a reason you have to go this route.

I hope it works for you.

You can, if you can deal with it, take it one week on and then take a week off. Or, try a shorter acting benzo; Restoril worked just as well for me (neither worked that well, but they did help me sleep) and it has a much, much shorter half-life. You could probably take that a week, then only take 3-4 days off before starting again.

sleepdancer · Post by **sleepdancer** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 3:54 pm

Do you have a diagnosis of PLMD as well as RLS? So often I read descriptions of symptoms that sound more like PLMD than RLS (or maybe a combo of both). I have found use of a TENS Unit at night very helpful. Some nights are better than others, but last night I slept about 8 hours with two potty breaks. Needless to say, I woke up very grateful. I too had augmentation with the dopamine agonists, and tried the TENS in an attempt to avoid going to potentially problematic meds. So far so good.

Andreadrea · Post by **Andreadrea** » Tue Feb 01, 2011 1:03 am

ViewsAskew- I tried Mirapex but augmented after 1 month. I tried Requip and my symptoms worsened. The neurologist said Klonopin was the next thing to try. I probably should have looked at the algorithm first... I'll look at that now.

I took 1/4 of a pill last night, so my total dose was 1/8 of a mg of Klonopin, or 0.125 mg. I am a total lightweight. I fell asleep an hour later, and my symptoms are better today, but I was also groggy today. So I'm debating whether I should take it tonight, or wait until my 4-day weekend when I can not worry about work the next day. I figure I'll get used to it in a while.

Post by **badnights** » Tue Feb 01, 2011 5:17 am

The next thing to try is anti-convulsants, then opiods. The hypnotics are used to supplement the other drugs and not recommended to be used on their own; they aid sleep but don't deal with the RLS symptoms. That's according to the Mayo algorithm and the RLS Foundation medical bulletin, which your doctor should have read by now. Gee. Maybe a handy print-out to point him/her in the right direction?

I imagine you could end up on a nasty high dose of clonazepam just to get sleepy enough to sleep through the symptoms, and even then ...

Andreadrea · Post by **Andreadrea** » Tue Feb 01, 2011 6:11 am

See, the problem is that I never had RLS until I started Gabapentin. So obviously we can't treat it with that, and my psychiatrist REALLY does not want me to go off the Gabapentin because it is really helpful for my psych symptoms. The neurologist offered me Klonopin or Vicodin, I chose Klonopin but maybe I should've tried vicodin. I know it works. Both make me drowsy as hell though.

Post by **ViewsAskew** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 6:35 am

If the clonazepam works, consider temazepam or one of the benzos with a much shorter half life. That should help considerably with the grogginess.

doety · Post by **doety** » Thu Feb 10, 2011 4:12 am

Some will probably disagree with me violently -- but I do believe those of us with RLS know as much about RLS (especialy medications to take) as any doctors. When I first was diagnosed, I would go in a medical office with a stack of research -- usually the docs asked that I leave it for them. Now, it's often introduced in med school. But the last young doc I talked to said they recommended Klonopin as the first drug of choice. We have moved on from there. It's an anti-anxiety drug -- and that's not what we have (well, except that some of us go crazy from no relief). I think it gets down to: it doesn't work and getting addicted (and trying to stop it) is horrible. The drugs we take are often worse than the problem we have. 17 years after being diagnosed, I'm still trying different solutions.
One of my recent ones: As soon as I feel RLS coming on, I grab a sponge and bucket and start cleaning my floor. Think of the benefits! But whatever happens, it gets my mind off my problem and the RLS stops. Can't explain it, but it's worth exploring every possible angle, especially if you can avoid drugs.l
Good luck to you in your search!

Betty/WV · Post by **Betty/WV** » Thu Feb 10, 2011 9:34 am

Doety: Strange, about you scrubbing your floors stopping the RLS. I am on meds, but sometimes have RLS anyhow. I have found that if I go to my desk and start writting out checks for my bills or balancing my checkbook, the RLS usually stops. Notice I said "usually". It doesn't work all the time. We are an odd bunch, aren't we??

BETTY/WV

Betty/WV · Post by **Betty/WV** » Thu Feb 10, 2011 9:36 am

Also, doety, a lot of the time, sitting at my computer makes the RLS worse. I can't figure that one out.

Post by **ViewsAskew** » Thu Feb 10, 2011 9:51 am

Attending to something and having RLS stop is a hallmark of RLS. Scrubbing floors is a great example of activity with attending together. You're focused, busy, and moving = No RLS.

The computer can be too passive. My RLS is almost always gone if I'm cleaning, cooking, baking, etc. Reading? You're attending, but not moving, so it often isn't enough. But doing math equations and sitting? Almost guaranteed to stop it.

I use plants to keep it at bay. Watering, counting, repotting, trimming, grooming - I'm attending and moving and I have no RLS. They are my sanity at 3 or 4 AM.

It's a bizarre disease, isn't it?

doety · Post by **doety** » Thu Feb 10, 2011 2:57 pm

I want SO much to read, and work on my computer, but I have to save those for the cluster of hours when I don't have RLS. Yesterday, it was all day. I was allowed (by my body) to take yoga. Then it started up. So I walked, danced, cleaned, went swimming, etc. What on earth is going on.
Yes, it's so strange.

Post by **Polar Bear** » Thu Feb 10, 2011 3:02 pm

Attending to something isn't sufficient for me, I need the movement. As Ann says, the computer can be too passive, as is reading etc. But up and about will eventually have an effect.

Betty/WV · Post by **Betty/WV** » Thu Feb 10, 2011 3:14 pm

I was always an avid reader. Would be reading something each day, and if I found a really interesting book I would read late into the night. Then when the RLS monster starting taking over, I found I couldn't read hardly at all. Maybe a short article. And I really miss reading. Just one of the many debilitating aspects of RLS. And people think "RLS, no big deaL".

BETTY/EV

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) Discussion Board

Starting Klonopin

Starting Klonopin

Sore legs in morning

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Hi Ann