Talking with the mommy

[brightrosefox]

I just had a very interesting phone conversation with my mother. She called up to ask if I knew anything about treating Restless Leg Syndrome with Klonopin. My father has been getting worse, and for the first time in his 65 years, he is willing to take a long-term prescription drug for a medical condition. Mom and Dad have always relied on vitamins and herbs and such, unless it was something that required antibiotics or inhalers. This feels so weird. Dad had already tried everything natural, nothing worked, so they're finally giving a drug from traditional medicine a go.
Good for them, I say. That's why it's there.

We got to talking about life; she asked about my friends. And when she asked about certain friends, I realized that I had never told her that that whole vicious rumor mess from my wedding day had been cleared up months ago! Whoops! She didn't know that everything was fine and we were all friends again, that it had all been an awful lie and one of the most horrible rumors I had ever heard of. She was still assuming that Beca and I weren't speaking to each other, she didn't know that Jenn and Beca were now friends. I quickly set her straight. She was shocked and saddened to learn the truth, but admitted that she'd had her suspicions about what had really been going on. She is very glad that I am no longer in contact with the responsible party. She warned me to stay away from "a mind that sick and troubled." She is very, very grateful that I have my girls back in my life, that they had never left my heart. *squishes Beca and Beth*
I could have sworn I had told her. Ooops! Sorry, Mom! Now you know.

Mom and I had a good laugh over the fallacies of many prescription drugs, after discussing the Klonopin. About how many drugs listed side effects that were worse than the problem being treated. Like that new drug Requip, for RLS. It apparently can cause hallucinations, severe dizziness, sleepiness, nausea, and will basically knock you out so that you not only not notice the restless leg, you can't even move. We joked about the absurdity, but she agreed with me when I pointed out that Western medicine certainly has many advantages when your condition has gotten as serious as Daddy's. I still find it extraordinary, though, that he is in his sixties, in excellent physical shape, near perfect health, and has never been on any long term prescription in his life. He must be doing something right. So must she. My mother is fifty-six and is beautiful as she was at twenty-six.

Comments

[scattermew.livejournal.com]

I just had a very interesting phone conversation with my mother. She called up to ask if I knew anything about treating Restless Leg Syndrome with Klonopin.

I've never been diagnosed with Restless Legs Syndrome (http://www.restlesslegs.com/), but I was on Klonopin for a long time to deal with other symptoms of anxiety and depression and other things. Recently I started to come off of it with a whole host of possible withdrawal symptoms and one that really stuck out for me happened to be Restless Legs. It is so annoying, though usually I'm able to fall asleep; it's worst when I'm sitting at my computer, like, err, now...¬.¬;; Klonopin can have nasty withdrawal symptoms - it doesn't hit everyone, and I figure most only have it for a week or two (whatever their withdrawal effect is), but it's something to keep in mind. :) If you have any questions for me, feel free to contact me. I don't mean to try and warn you away from Klonopin or anything - it worked really well for all my problems. I just found it ironic your dad was taking it for one of the things that hit me as a withdrawal symptom.. ^^'

Good luck!
*hugs*
Rynnie

[brightrosefox.livejournal.com]

Wow, really? I will pass this on to my mom and see what she says.
Maybe Xanax would work...

[scattermew.livejournal.com]

Well, most drugs like Klonopin and Xanax are part of a class of drugs called benzodiazepines, and most, if not all, have the same problem. They're either not approved for long-term use or the effects of that use hasn't been fully researched. Some people coming off them will have lots of withdrawal symptoms, whereas a lot of people won't. I guess it's just something to be aware of if you're going to be taking it for a long period of time. My only real advice to you and your family would just be to do as much research as possible and talk a lot to your doctor (or even get a second opinion if you want to). Knowledge is power, to rip off an old phrase. :)

*hugs*
Rynnie

[brightrosefox.livejournal.com]

Yeah, he says that his doctor recommended the Klonopin... I know he and mom will be fully researching it. And since they don't use computers, they will be asking me for internet help. :)

[ronin-lethe.livejournal.com]

klonopin makes me sleeeeeeeeepy.
xanax is bad and your dad shouldn't take it cause it is highly addictive. klonopin has a more cumulitive effect and so is much safer.

[saighin.livejournal.com]

Xanax is indeed to be avoided unless absolutely necessary. Lemme put it this way, Jo; I knew several psuedo-in-recovery herion addicts who used to take it recreationally when off their smack, it's that damn "nodding" and addictive, even moreso than high-dose valium.

[brightrosefox.livejournal.com]

Yeesh. Ugly. I took half of one once, felt like a fucking zombie for a couple of hours.

[brightrosefox.livejournal.com]

Very good to know. Thank you. How long were you on Klonopin (or are you still on it)?

[ronin-lethe.livejournal.com]

still prescribed, take it as needed before bed. i've never had any problems except the sleepiness.

[brightrosefox.livejournal.com]

Good to know. I guess it is best taken before bed, then.

[ronin-lethe.livejournal.com]

for me, yes. i have a friend who can take it during the day and be fine. my sister has a friend who takes it and it makes his muscles all wobbly...which, i suppose, is why your dad's doc would look into it for RLS.

[brightrosefox.livejournal.com]

Ahh. So I guess the only thing is to see how Dad reacts to it.

[unico-love.livejournal.com]

It really does all depend on the individual for how one will react. I was on Klonopin for a number of months with no withdrawal or side-effects(I was actually tried on tons of medications due to the fact that I was so overwhelmed and anxious I couldn't speak sensically, couldn't think straight, and sometimes couldn't read words). Psychiatric mediations are scary, but some are worse than others and it is a risk some people have to take if their condition is severe enough and nothing else helps. Klonopin is not nearly as dangerous as most of them and far less addictive than Xanax. You and your family seem smart about these things, I'm sure you'll deal with the situation well.

[unico-love.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, and if you ever are looking into psychiatric medications for whatever reason Crazy Meds (http://www.crazymeds.org/contents.htm) is a good site that straightforwardly says all the possible negative/positive effects the medications can have.

[brightrosefox.livejournal.com]

Oooh, neat!! Thanks!

[brightrosefox.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I was genuinely surprised that Dad was willing to try. Then again, his condition has really gotten bad.

[ncalrod.livejournal.com]

I take 3 doses of 0.5mg Klonopin every day to help control my G.A.D. It's been working pretty well for me. It didn't make me sleepy except for the week I first started takeing it. After that it was just calming.

[brightrosefox.livejournal.com]

Mom says that Dad would be on the lowest dose possible -- I suppose you can't get much smaller than 0.5 mg. Since Daddy has never been on these kinds of drugs before, Mom will be monitoring all his reactions and any side effects. It should be okay.

How has it been for you with GAD?

[ncalrod.livejournal.com]

Its been working fairly well. It takes 30 mins for me to start feeling it after I've taken it, 1 hour before I feel its full effects and it lasts around 5 hours total with maximum effectiveness for the first 3 hours.

It creates a kind of still, tranquil calm. Its worked pretty well for me.

[saighin.livejournal.com]

A) Glad your Mom knows the real story about the rumor, now. Glad we all know the real story about the rumor now for that matter. *hugz to you and Jinx*
B) Regarding the Klonopin, my experience with it was limited (only because I found I didn't actually need it for what I was given it for, as I ended up not having the horrendous & dreaded anxiety reaction to a situation that was initially anticipated), but I didn't experience any real side effects. And the only time it made me sleepy was the first couple doses, as my body wasn't used to it at all. Definitely I would second at least giving it a shot starting with the lowest dose and see if it helps.
Actually, now that I think about it, I don't remember having an issue with my RLS at all the few days I took it, perhaps when I have med insurace again I'll ask a doc about that :-) Mine leg issues have been getting bad again the past couple weeks as well.

[brightrosefox.livejournal.com]

A) *breathes a huge, huge sigh of relief* Yeah, no shit...
B) Well, that's always a good thing. I will let Mom know about your experiences and give the thumbs up for Klonopin -- I know she and Dad are still very iffy, but he is getting desperate.
How long have you had RLS? I didn't know.

[(Anonymous)]

i mean, truthfully, it isn't a BAD medication. as long as he has a good doctor i would say go for it.