klonopin side effect and substitute

[Foreigngirl]

My aunt has been taken klonopin (clonozepam) for few year now for panic attacs at night (1mg) She has been tolerating the medication well and it helped her. Recently she started heart palpitations and I understand it can be a side effect of this medication. Has anyone experienced heart palpitations while taking klonopin? What other medications can she consider that may provide the same benefit but not this side effect?

Sincerely,

Foreign girl

[Paxiled]

Klonopin is usually dosed twice a day, but it's also often dosed as needed.  Seems to depend on the shrink.  One thing about any med, they can stop working, so it might not be causing the palpitations, but it might be wearing off in effectiveness.  Lots of possibilities.

[abby10]

See site benzo.org.uk (Ashton Manual)

abby

[cj29]

You don't have to take it twice a day for the 'full effect' of this medication.  It can be taken once a day and it does have a long half life and is often prescribed more long term than the other shorter acting benzos, but we are not doctors and the only person to adjust here meds should be her doctor....keep us posted!

[nora006]

MrGreen is on to something when he mentions the way of dosing the medication. Clonazepam is a potent CNS depressant, and it should ,theoretically, rather suppress autonomic symtoms like heart palpitations than enhance them, but benzodiazepines can also cause paradoxical reactions, especially in elderly persons.

Hope someone here with better knowledge of this substance can give you more spesific information. In any case the issue should be discussed with the doctor who prescribed the med.

Best regards,
Nora

[MrGreen]

Maybe the dose is not enough. Normally is it dosed out twice a day. To cover the whole day/night. By just taken it at night it would have worn off by the time she woke up. Thus she is most probably just feeling normal anxiety. She might need something to take in the morning to see her through till night.