Clonazepam

Description

Side effects

(Don't be unduly alarmed. All drugs cause side effects for some patients)

Warnings

(These are standard cautions but may not apply in your case)

Comments

Remember - RSD/CRPS is rooted in the nervous system. The discovery that epilepsy drugs may have beneficial effects for RSD patients does not imply that they have epilepsy.

I started taking Clonazepam about two weeks ago (1mg at night). Results truly amazing - slept only waking a couple of times each night and being able to go back to sleep soon after - BONUS! Shooting Pains less at night - GREAT.
PROBLEM!
After two weeks I became an emotional sobbing wreck. Has the RSD got
the better of me OR has anyone else had this side effect - I would be
interested to hear. I've stopped it for the mo and alas NOT Sleeping, Pain worse at night also, so definitely works. Not sure if I like the side effect. ML (a member of RSD_UK Group)
PS Following some helpful replies, and after four sleepless and painful nights I have restarted and will see how I come through the other side of emotion.

I have been taking 1800 mg of Neurontin for three years now. However following surgery (thoracotomy) to remove a tumour which proved benign the RSD/CRPS spread. I now have difficulty lying downeither on my back, sides or front due to pain. However I have now been prescribed Clonazepam! I am supposed to take 2mg 3 X daily but due to the soporific effects I restrict it to 1 at night before going to bed.
I find the side effects, - if that is what they are - rather disturbing. My depression seems to have deepened and I have a distinct lack of motivation. Also I found myself in a mess the other day that I ended by crying in my wife's arms whilst she tried to bathe me. I don't like feeling sorry for myself and I don't like looking backwards at what I have lost through RSD/CRPS.
I have a question for which I would appreciate an informed answer, 'should Clonazepam and Neurontin be combined?' Does anyone else feel like me that we are taking drugs to combat the RSD/CRPS and then other drugs to counter the side effects, which in turn require other medications to neutralise their adverse impacts. Martin - Northwich, Cheshire, UK

Clonazepam and Neurontin combination. I have been taking Clonazepam and I am begining to take higher does of Neurontin. I have been a little more confrontational lately and extremely constipated. Otherwise I am sleeping (a major plus) and though I am having to take less meds for breakthrough pain, I find that my rsd is spreading to areas that were not originally affected. Jenne - Anchorage, Alaska, USA

Over the past several months I have been reducing my medication, Clonozapam being one of them. I found it to be a total nightmare trying to come off this medication. It has taken 3 attempts over the past 12 months and I have finally succeeded to get off it. It has been very hard. I became very irritable,impatient, stressed and sleep has been a problem.
Over the past 3 weeks I have finally stopped the withdrawal symptoms above aside from the change to my sleep behaviour. I still can't sleep most nights. My doctor has tried me on a newish drug Melatonin which is the same as the chemical produced naturally by the pituitary gland in our body, which enables us to sleep. This has been mildly affective but still not good enough. While on clonozapam I had good sleep and hope to oneday be able to do so again. I will not go back onto this drug as it is too hard to come off. Wendy - Wellington, New Zealand