TREATMENT DATABASE
Klonopin (clonazepam) is a benzodiazepine that acts directly on the limbic system, thalamus, and hypothalamus to produce anticonvulsant effects. It has been used since the late 1970s to control seizures. Klonopin is easily absorbed through the digestive tract and has a half-life of 24 to 72 hours. Effects are noticeable within 20 minutes and can last for 12 hours.
USES IN ME/CFS: Klonopin is the most widely recommended benzodiazepine for patients with ME/CFS. Dr. Cheney, a long-time proponent of the benefits of Klonopin, prescribes it to protect the brain against what he calls “excitatory neurotoxicity.” Many ME/CFS patients have excess amounts of neuroexcitatory neurotransmitters in their nervous systems, resulting in a brain which is overstimulated. The “tired and wired” feeling ME/CFS patients so often describe is the result of this excess stimulation. Because Klonopin is so long-acting, it serves to down regulate the nervous system.
Klonopin is also beneficial for treating insomnia, especially if taken in conjunction with Sinequan. A number of patients have reported that Klonopin helps improve cognitive symptoms, particularly poor concentration and “brain fog.” Some patients also report that Klonopin helps alleviate flu-like achiness.
All benzodiazepines wave the potential of being habit-forming.
| Rating | Side Effects | Reason for Treatment | Dosage / Duration | Age | Sex M/F | # of years Ill | Additional Comments | Illness Severity | Date Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Drowsiness. | Excellent for anxiety, sleep aid and calming down your body from sensory overload. | 6 year .50mg 1X day | 32 | Male | 6 | Moderate | 10/29/17 | |
| 5 | Sleepiness | Helps with sleeping; still able to get up and take care of whatever woke me up (temp regulation issues usually) and go back to sleep most of the time. I take it 1 to 1-1/2 hours before planning on going to sleep. | 14 year 0.5 1X day | 67 | Female | 44 | Due to age, medical community insisted I stop. Weaning myself off was okay but I was back to not sleeping along with increased pain awareness. Received okay to resume since low dose and no other side effects. **I can't work, but marked Moderate as I can do a 30 min. outing once a week, otherwise housebound). | Moderate | 09/13/19 |
| 5 | It is physically addicting, you can't just stop it cold turkey. But it still works and I would say no side effects for me. | Could not fall asleep and couldn't stay asleep. | 10 year 1 mg 1X day | 41 | Female | 20 | This medication, for me, was a lifesaver. I could not sleep. For me, my ME/CFS symptoms are only worse from poor sleep. I still don't sleep perfectly, and used to actually be on 2 mg, but tapered down to 1 mg over a period of more than a year. It's a serious drug if you become physically dependent, which I am. But being able to finally be able to sleep did indeed save my life. | Moderate/Severe | 09/20/19 |