What’s with Clonazepam(Klonipin) for Parkinson’s?:A different kind of therapy.
The characteristic "K" for Klonipin, Roche's version of clonazepam.
The characteristic "K" for Klonipin, Roche's version of clonazepam.
Clonazepam (Klonipin) is a benzodiazepine (class of sedatives like Valium and Xanax) originally intended for children with atypical seizures. Why use it in Parkinson’s? 10 good reasons (NOTE: not an endorsement, we receive no direct or indirect benefit from Roche or any other marketer of clonazepam):
Agreed, this drug, originally developed for seizures in kids, has no theoretical reason to share anyone’s Parkinson medicine-chest with the likes of dopamine boosters like levodopa, dopamine agonists like Mirapax–heck, not even anticholinergics like Artane. So why has it found so much use as an adjunct treatment for Parkinson’s?
Here are 10 reasons why clonazepam (Klonipin) has become a popular adjunctive (in addition to some major dopamine-based drug like levodopa or ropinirole) treatment in Parkinson’s:
1. It’s highly effective against the sleep disorders of Parkinson’s, particularly nightmares, night terrors and rem behavioral disorder where people can dangerously act out in their sleep.
2. It’s the least-sedating of this class of drugs, the benzodiazepines. While it effectively does its job against motor and nonmotor symptoms, unlike all the other drugs in its class like Valium, Ativan, Versed and Xanax, it’s very non-sedating.
4. It’s highly effective in treating anxiety so common as a NMS(non-motor symptom) of Parkinson’s–and without the sedation and amnesia of other anti-anxiety drugs.
5. It reduces tremor and rigidity in some people. For me personally, it has allowed me to use my right arm for typing and even relearning piano (in baby steps of course) but which was otherwise fairly useless for anything because of severe rigidity.
6. It’s a great muscle relaxant. Many PwP’s complain of severe muscle stiffness often associated with significant pain. Clonazepam is an effective therapy with less sedation than other muscle relaxants.
7. It reduces embarassing ticks and twitches.
8. It is inexpensive in its generic form.
9. For severely depressed and suicidal it has a high safety index for overdose. Though a member of a sedative class of drugs, the lethal dose is far beyond other drugs in its class.
10. Having been around for over two decades it has a long safety record. There are no weird unexpected side effects that have reared their head over its years of use.
Just one warning: for any drugs in this class, if you’ve been on them for a month or more NEVER suddenly stop. You can develop severe insomnia, anxiety and possibly even a seizure. It must be tapered under a doctor’s supervision.
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