Re: Clonazepam
June,
I would think you should have noticed by now if the Clonazepam is helping your spasms. I usually can feel it take effect in 30 minutes or so. I am only taking .25 mg twice a day and have never gone over .5 mg twice a day. At my current dosage, I am not too sedated and the medication helps (particularly with meige). It doesn't eliminate the symptoms completely, but relegates them to the "mostly tolerable" range and allows me to stay alert until bedtime (when I sleep well).I recently quit taking it, so a neurologist could see me without medication, and my jaws tightened up so much that I was eating soup and yogurt for two days before my appointment. I don't like having to take it, but (like Shirley said to me) I don't like the symptoms that I have that cause me to need it either. I'm back on it and my jaw is slowly moving toward painless, but there was noticeable improvement within an hour after I took that first half tablet (I can eat normal food again). Only you know what benefit you are getting and whether it is worth it to you. Virginia in AL
--modified by Virginia at Mon, Jul 23, 2001, 09:09:50
Re: Clonazapan (Rivotril)/Klonopin
I have been on Klonopin for a little over a year now and does seem to help with my Meige symptoms. I only take max .5mg per day. It really made me drowsy in the beginning but after I adjusted it was better. I only take 1/4 tablet after lunch if needed (I can't nap with the kids and they don't nap anymore) and 1/2 tablet in the evenings before dinner. My eyes spasm when I chew now and that seems to help. When I first started taking it I do remember being very clumsy and dropping/spilling all the time. It scared me but my neuro said that was the med. Hopefully if this doesn't help you will find something that will.Kelly in Dallas where it it HOT!
Re: Clonazapan (Rivotril)/Klonopin
Hi June,
I also take Klonopin and have for over a year now. I adjust my dosage as I need to for my symptoms. Right now, I am taking .25 mg three times a day. I had decreased it to .25 mg once daily but my botox is wearing off and the spasms are coming back in my lower lids so I have increased the dosage. It is still much less than my MDS recommended. He wanted me to get up to 1mg three times a day. I don't need that much. It definitely helps with my spasms. When they aren't as bad (when the botox is working) I cut back on the dosage.
The Klonopin never did make me sleepy or dizzy. It did mess with my short term memory for a time but I don't notice that anymore.
Like Virginia, I could tell fairly quickly that it was going to help. If you are not obtaining any benefit from the drug, it may be one that just isn't going to work for you.Shirley in AR.
Re: Clonazapan (Rivotril)/Klonopin
My Dr. recommends clonazapam twice a day. .5gm each time. It certainly helps relax& the blinking is better. I also feel it helps with depression. Joann in hot Ft Smith, ARK. Record high forecast for today.
Re: Clonazapan (Rivotril)/Klonopin
June:This Rx is not working well for you if you've only taken 1/4 mg. twice a day and are this zonked out. If you upped the dosage as he has stated to the 1 1/2 mg. x 3 per day - I'd bet you would be in a state of suspended animation!!!! Each person has a different reaction to meds but a week is a pretty good trial. By the way, Klonopin @ .5 mg. once (or sometimes twice) a day helps me with my more obvious lower face and body spasms but does nothing for my BEB. Judy
Re: Clonazapan (Rivotril)/Klonopin
Thanks for all your replies. I didn't take the med this morning and went to exercise class (I couldn't last week whilst on the med) and only had to deal with the blurriness (which is always there) and the beb is better while I exercise anyway.I phoned the neuro today and was told that "this reaction was strange at such a low dosage and that I would most probably get over it with continued usage". I think I've decided to discontinue the med at this point in time. I didn't notice any positive difference whilst on it. Thanks, again, for all your replies. June in Toronto who is at least awake today!
Re: Clonazapan (Rivotril)/Klonopin
June, sorry to hear the Klonopin has not been working for you. This is
the med that seems to be a popular one--my neurologist refuses it before
he tries all other possibilities. My next stop is Neurontin which can
be a difficult one as well. Even though I don't take Klonopin, if you have a .5mg tablet and cut in in half and still has you knocked out,
maybe you could try 1/4 of a tablet once and day to see if there is
a reaction, then 1/4 tablet twice a day. I had that problem with
Elavil--got down so low but still had trouble. From my limited experiences with meds, this may be a no for you as mentioned in the other responses. This also relates to the question I posed a few
weeks ago regarding how long to take a medicine and in what dosages
before you give up. You might look up that post and the three responses
I received which were good. Take care. Joanne M. San Diego, CA
Re: Clonazapan (Rivotril)/Klonopin
I rechecked those posts you mentioned, Joanne, they contained good information - thanks. I did decide to continue to take 1/4 mg of the med in the evening only for a while, hoping that it would not make me dizzy but might help me get a good night's sleep. Here it is 11.45 pm and I'm wide awake.... Trial and error seems to be the name of the game!June in Toronto
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