hi
Ive been taking clonazepam for almost two years it was prescribed by a consultant neurologist who specialises in movement disorders to manage my cervical dystonia and dystonic tremor. I will have to take it for life.
it works to reduce my symptoms in combination with propranolol.
However Quite randomly my GP tested my memory and I failed part of it so she referred me to a memory clinic. I went yesterday and again failed to recall certain information I had been given such as a name and address.
i have noticed certain changes such as:
i do sometimes become overwhelmed and disorientated if put under pressure
i do have memory and concentration lapses
i can't multi-think
i can't manage stressful situations
i am sometimes unsteady on my feet
i am intolerant of noise
i often feel that I just want to be left alone or just sit quietly in a corner in a cafe etc
i am wondering if these changes are caused by clonazepam or dystonia
is there anyone out there with similar problems ??
Hi Tezes,
I'm so sorry to hear about your condition.
Yes - memory loss, confusion, lack of interest and depression can all be side-effects of clonazepam. (And, to a lesser extent, propranolol incidentally.) However, I suspect clonazepam is more likely to be the culprit.
Dystonia itself can also result in fatigue and poor concentration, both of which can affect memory.
It's my understanding that clonazepam is not the only muscle relaxant that can be prescribed for dystonia. Have you told your neurologist about this? Alternatively, you could try discussing it with your GP, to see whether she could contact the neurologist and get an authorisation to try something else.
I hope you can find a way to lessen the side-effects of your treatment.
Many physicians do prescribe clonazepam for longer than 9 weeks.We worry that many doctors fail to warn their patients that clonazepam can interfere with mental alertness. Please talk to your specialist about how serious this is for you.
Many physicians do prescribe clonazepam for longer than 9 weeks.We worry that many doctors fail to warn their patients that clonazepam can interfere with mental alertness. Please talk to your specialist about how serious this is for you.
Thank you Lily for your input, I have been discharged from my neurologist but I may ask my GP, don't know whether any other muscle relaxant will have the same side effects ? It is a mind field changing drugs, I've just weaned myself off sertraline after being on that two years, I did it because it was the only drug that I knew I could stop and I don't like having to be reliant on drugs. I didn't get off Scott free even though I came off very very slowly over 6 months. All these drugs can have nasty withdrawals, I'm guessing it wouldn't be easy to come off/change clonazepam either.
would be glad if anyone has experience of doing this ??
How is coming off clonazepam if you was taking for 10 years