Posted by utopizen on November 8, 2003, at 18:46:38
In reply to important, posted by zeugma on November 8, 2003, at 17:03:23
> I just typed in 'clonazepam and hallucinations' on Google, and this was listed as a 'rare' s/e, and warned 'stop taking and see physician NOW." The dream/hypnagogic experience felt more hallucinatory than usual but does it count as an actual hallucination? Does one actually have halluciantions at the border of sleep? Please, can someone with medical knowledge advise?
>It is always possible that a medication can cause a new problem as a side-effect.
BUT DO NOT STOP TAKING KLONOPIN AS PRESCRIBED UNTIL SPEAKING WITH YOUR DOCTOR. Klonopin requires weaning off of it, ESPECIALLY if you have any potential of seizures to start with. Even if you don't, there is no less risk with it.
DO NOT DISCONTINUE your medication until your doctor instructs you, if he or she decides to. It requires a weaning period, where you slowly come down off of it. Klonopin can cause seizures, and both of my psychiatrists have seen it happen many times, they prescribed it to me knowing this because they know how to properly take me off it.
YOU NEED TO SEE A NEUROLOGIST, one who is board certified in sleep medicine. Ask your physician for a board-certified sleep neurologist. NOT every neurologist who specializes in sleep is board certified, ask this before you see him or her.
YOU MAY BE PRONE TO SEIZURES. You'll likely have a neuro exam, and have a sleep-deprived EEG ordered to determine your likeliness of seizure.
YOU MAY (VERY LIKELY) HAVE CATAPLEXY. Cataplexy is a sudden loss of control in one's muscles, and varies in its extent and frequency. It is VERY closely associated to sleep, since it's a sleeping disorder.
If your doctor determines that you do have narcolepsy, he or she is likely to prescribe you Xyrem (Sodium Oxybate). More info on cataplexy and Xyrem is at
www.Xyrem.com
Hang in there, it's rough, but you need to see a sleep doctor, a neurologist. Your psychiatrist is unlikely to understand sleep medicine enough to diagnose you correctly. Cataplexy is a rare disorder, so it's less understood outside of the sleep field.
poster:utopizen
thread:277778
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031105/msgs/277805.html