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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Sarah T. on March 29, 2005, at 18:51:24
Do you find that Klonopin helps you sleep or does it impede your ability to get a good, refreshing, restorative sleep? I take Klonopin only very rarely, perhaps a few times a year. Some years ago, when I was having some drug-induced panic attacks, I took more Klonopin. Eventually, I was able to get the panic attacks under control, and I tapered off the Klonopin. Now, I am going through a rough stretch, with lots of stress and anxiety in my life. Most of the time, I've had some limited success with using magnesium at night, to relax me and help me sleep. Sometimes, like last night, the magnesium was not enough. I have thought of trying a tiny chip of Klonopin to help me sleep; however, the few times I've done this, I find that, although I am able to relax on Klonopin while awake, my sleep is not a good, restorative sleep. When I wake up, I feel as if my eyes have been closed, and I haven't been awake, but it doesn't feel as if I've slept either. I thought that Klonopin is probably interfering with some stages of sleep that are important to my body chemistry. There is certainly enough written in the medical literature about benzodiazapines' ability to disrupt sleep, impair memory, etc. etc. I'd like to hear from anyone who has had experience with using Klonopin for sleep. Does it help you sleep? Do you feel well rested and refreshed when you wake up? Do you have confusion and memory problems from Klonopin?
Posted by Maxime on March 29, 2005, at 19:59:32
In reply to Question about Klonopin and sleep, posted by Sarah T. on March 29, 2005, at 18:51:24
Hi. I take 4 mg of Klonopin before bed but as a mood stabiliser. I've always had trouble with sleep even as a young child. For me a full nights sleep is 4 hours. But if you are only having trouble short-term, it would be best to use something like Ambien. You eventually build up a tolerance to Ambien but since you won't be using it much that shouldn't happen. I think Ativan is the benzo that people use to help with sleep problems.
Bonne Nuit.
Maxime
> Do you find that Klonopin helps you sleep or does it impede your ability to get a good, refreshing, restorative sleep? I take Klonopin only very rarely, perhaps a few times a year. Some years ago, when I was having some drug-induced panic attacks, I took more Klonopin. Eventually, I was able to get the panic attacks under control, and I tapered off the Klonopin. Now, I am going through a rough stretch, with lots of stress and anxiety in my life. Most of the time, I've had some limited success with using magnesium at night, to relax me and help me sleep. Sometimes, like last night, the magnesium was not enough. I have thought of trying a tiny chip of Klonopin to help me sleep; however, the few times I've done this, I find that, although I am able to relax on Klonopin while awake, my sleep is not a good, restorative sleep. When I wake up, I feel as if my eyes have been closed, and I haven't been awake, but it doesn't feel as if I've slept either. I thought that Klonopin is probably interfering with some stages of sleep that are important to my body chemistry. There is certainly enough written in the medical literature about benzodiazapines' ability to disrupt sleep, impair memory, etc. etc. I'd like to hear from anyone who has had experience with using Klonopin for sleep. Does it help you sleep? Do you feel well rested and refreshed when you wake up? Do you have confusion and memory problems from Klonopin?
Posted by stresser on March 29, 2005, at 20:06:00
In reply to Question about Klonopin and sleep, posted by Sarah T. on March 29, 2005, at 18:51:24
I take Klonopin at night, for Restless Leg Syndrom. I take .5mg, sometimes a little more if I feel I need it. I have been taking it for around six years or so, and have found it to be one of the few medications to give me a full nights sleep. I was waking up constantly when my legs would jerk, and couldn't get any sleep for a couple of months, before I realized what was going on (in the beginning). I know EXACTLY how you are feeling, it's exhausting, and hard to function on a daily basis. It does work, and works so well that when I forget to fill my perscription....I panic. I know I won't be sleeping. Neither will my husband! As for memory problems? I'm 43, and probably no more than anyone else my age! Confunsed????? I was born that way.
As for rested and refreshed? Yes, I certainly do, and it's wonderful! I did try to cut back on the Klonopin a few weeks ago, just to see if I could get along with a lower dosage, and found myself tired and sluggish. I'm back up to my normal dose and I feel energetic and myself again.
I hope this information helps you, because it sounds as if Klonopin may be the medication you should try at night. -L
Posted by Phillipa on March 29, 2005, at 21:50:12
In reply to Re: Question about Klonopin and sleep » Sarah T., posted by stresser on March 29, 2005, at 20:06:00
As my new pdoc says "whatever works for you". Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Sarah T. on March 29, 2005, at 23:20:20
In reply to Re: Question about Klonopin and sleep, posted by Maxime on March 29, 2005, at 19:59:32
Hi Maxime. Thanks for your reply. Can you tell me a little more about how you feel when you wake up? Do you still get only 4 hours sleep, even on Klonopin? Do you sleep straight through, or do you wake up one or more times? Does the Klonopin cause problems for you, such as confusion, memory-impairment, etc.?
As for the Ambien, have you used it? If so, what was that like for you? And what about Ativan? Why is that used for sleep? Is it considered a "hypnotic" while the others are just for relieving anxiety while awake? Many years ago, I took an old benzodiazapine hypnotic known as "Dalmane." It did help me sleep, I suppose, but I think I was a space cadet the entire time I was on it. I had severe memory impairment from the Dalmane, and no matter how long I took it, my mouth always tasted like the drug.
I'm sorry for bombarding you with so many questions. I'm having a tough time, and if I could sleep well, I'd still be having a tough time, but I'd be better able to cope with the stress.
Posted by Sarah T. on March 29, 2005, at 23:24:28
In reply to Re: Question about Klonopin and sleep » Sarah T., posted by stresser on March 29, 2005, at 20:06:00
Hi Stresser. Thanks for your help. After reading your post, I wondered whether I'm not taking enough. I am very wary of taking more than the little chip of Klonopin because its effects linger for many hours after I take it. I tend to feel confused and groggy. May I ask what other medcines you take?
Posted by Sarah T. on March 29, 2005, at 23:26:01
In reply to Re: Question about Klonopin and sleep, posted by Phillipa on March 29, 2005, at 21:50:12
Hello Phillippa. I wish it would work for me!
Posted by Maxime on March 30, 2005, at 0:01:49
In reply to Re: Question about Klonopin and sleep » Maxime, posted by Sarah T. on March 29, 2005, at 23:20:20
I wake up feeling a little tired, but not hungover. Once I have had my shower I am fine. I still only get 4 hours sleep on Klonopin. I sleep straight through. I have no cognitive impairment from it. When I have insomnia, I don't sleep at all.
However now I am in one of my worst depressive states and I am sleeping longer (6 hours) and I sleep during the day. This sleeping pattern started in November after I was laid off from a job. I still take the Klonopin because I am using it as a mood stabiliser. Besides I would go through withdrawal. I have been on 4 mg since 1996.
Ambien is good if you have 8 hours to devote to sleeping. I took it for 3 nights and then after that it didn't work on me. However, I woke up feeling really well rested and I didn't have any weird dreams.
Ativan. Ativan is the only benzo indicated for insomnia. It made me feel kind of drunk and I didn't sleep very well. I had weird dreams. But it might work for you!
Now I use Nozinan, an old neuroleptic(antipsychotic) to knock me out. I don't feel rested when I wake up but I sleep like a rock.
When I was in the psych ward I would barely sleep and every time they did their "checks" I would wave to the nurse ... it would piss them off. They tried different things but nothing "took".
I hope this helps and I hope you get some sleep soon.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
MAxime
> Hi Maxime. Thanks for your reply. Can you tell me a little more about how you feel when you wake up? Do you still get only 4 hours sleep, even on Klonopin? Do you sleep straight through, or do you wake up one or more times? Does the Klonopin cause problems for you, such as confusion, memory-impairment, etc.?
>
> As for the Ambien, have you used it? If so, what was that like for you? And what about Ativan? Why is that used for sleep? Is it considered a "hypnotic" while the others are just for relieving anxiety while awake? Many years ago, I took an old benzodiazapine hypnotic known as "Dalmane." It did help me sleep, I suppose, but I think I was a space cadet the entire time I was on it. I had severe memory impairment from the Dalmane, and no matter how long I took it, my mouth always tasted like the drug.
>
> I'm sorry for bombarding you with so many questions. I'm having a tough time, and if I could sleep well, I'd still be having a tough time, but I'd be better able to cope with the stress.
Posted by meds4life on March 30, 2005, at 13:33:08
In reply to Re: Question about Klonopin and sleep » Sarah T., posted by Maxime on March 30, 2005, at 0:01:49
I take Klonopin at night for anxiety and it does help me sleep. However, I've been waking up early 3-4 a.m. and can't get back to sleep. I did just add Lexapro and think that might be the culprit. If I don't take Klonopin, I don't sleep since I added Lexapro. I've also used Ambien-very effective. But the presciption I have is very expensive to fill, so I'm waiting until desperate. Good luck!
Posted by Sarah T. on March 31, 2005, at 23:49:55
In reply to Re: Question about Klonopin and sleep » Sarah T., posted by Maxime on March 30, 2005, at 0:01:49
Hi Maxime.
Thanks again for your reply. Your comment about waving to the nurses made me giggle. That reminds me, when I was in my teens, I went to sleep-away camp. I ended up catching infectious mononucleosis and had to spend about a week in the camp infirmary. The head nurse was a witch -- and whacky, too. She would wake us up in the middle of the night and say, "Here's a little something to help you sleep." She woke us up to give us our sleeping pills or tranquilizers -- or something! I haven't the slightest idea what she was giving us. For all I know, it could have been quaaludes. Years later, I saw a humorous greeting card with a drawing of a wicked-looking nurse on the front. Inside the card, it said something about "Nursey waking you up to take your sleeping pill." I couldn't believe it. I had actually experienced someone like that in real life.Anyway, I slept a lot better in those days and didn't need any sleeping pills. I wonder why I can't do that now!
Posted by Sarah T. on March 31, 2005, at 23:53:03
In reply to Re: Question about Klonopin and sleep, posted by meds4life on March 30, 2005, at 13:33:08
Hi meds4life. What time do you take the Lexapro? Do you take it right before you go to bed? Aside from the possibility that it might be causing you to wake up too early, how is it? Do you feel that the antidepressant effects are starting to work? Have you ever taken Celexa?
Thanks for the information about Klonopin and Ambien. Ambien seems to be a very popular sleeping medicine.
Posted by Phillipa on April 1, 2005, at 11:02:46
In reply to Re: Question about Klonopin and sleep » Maxime, posted by Sarah T. on March 31, 2005, at 23:49:55
It's true! When I first was a new Nurse the docs used to write orders to give a sleeping pill at a certain time and you had to ask the pt whether they wanted it even if they were asleep. Boy was that dumb! Anyway now they write the sleeping pills for only as needed. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Maxime on April 1, 2005, at 17:46:16
In reply to Re: Question about Klonopin and sleep » Maxime, posted by Sarah T. on March 31, 2005, at 23:49:55
Oh god, if I had seen that card I would have bought ten of them! Too funny!
Maxime
> Hi Maxime.
> Thanks again for your reply. Your comment about waving to the nurses made me giggle. That reminds me, when I was in my teens, I went to sleep-away camp. I ended up catching infectious mononucleosis and had to spend about a week in the camp infirmary. The head nurse was a witch -- and whacky, too. She would wake us up in the middle of the night and say, "Here's a little something to help you sleep." She woke us up to give us our sleeping pills or tranquilizers -- or something! I haven't the slightest idea what she was giving us. For all I know, it could have been quaaludes. Years later, I saw a humorous greeting card with a drawing of a wicked-looking nurse on the front. Inside the card, it said something about "Nursey waking you up to take your sleeping pill." I couldn't believe it. I had actually experienced someone like that in real life.
>
> Anyway, I slept a lot better in those days and didn't need any sleeping pills. I wonder why I can't do that now!
Posted by meds4life on April 9, 2005, at 11:10:14
In reply to Re: Question about Klonopin and sleep » meds4life, posted by Sarah T. on March 31, 2005, at 23:53:03
I filled my Ambien prescription and just slept 10 hours. It was wonderful. The lexapro does seem to be helping with the depression. I take it in the a.m. with 150 mg of Wellbutrin. I had to start by cutting it into quarters because even 1/2 of a pill created unbearable anxiety even with klonopin. I have never tried Celexa, but have tried Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac, Effexor. Effexor and Paxil worked,but with much weight gain.
Posted by kriskraft on April 15, 2005, at 12:46:59
In reply to Re: Question about Klonopin and sleep » Sarah T., posted by Maxime on April 1, 2005, at 17:46:16
I'm trying to get off a klonopin adition that started three years ago while taking it for sleep. I am very resentful that I was not warned of the long term effects of the drug. The current withdrawal is unbelieveable. Any suggestions?
This is the end of the thread.
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