Klonopin (clonazepam) is in a class of medicines called benzodiazepines, which slow nerve messages in the central nervous system (CNS). Its mechanism of action is not well understood, but it is believed that Klonopin has the capacity to enhance the activity of the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, slowing it down.
Klonopin’s main use is for seizures and panic attacks, but it is sometimes used to treat tremors and is occasionally used to manage pain or spasticity in diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) when other medicines don’t work.
Some of Klonopin’s possible side effects drowsiness, problems with walking and coordination, dizziness, depression, fatigue and problems with memory.
Klonopin has a black box warning (information that appears on a prescription drug’s label and is designed to call attention to serious or life-threatening risks) concerning concomitant use of clonazepam with opioids, which may result in profound sedation, breathing difficulties, coma, and death.
Klonopin is also available as a generic medicine.
Pain can have a major impact on the quality of life of people with MS. A combination of positive attitudes (exercising and staying active, massages, chiropractic treatments, hydrotherapy, acupuncture) and medications can reduce the effect that MS has on the quality of life of those with the disease.
The usual analgesics are usually not enough to ease the pain from nerve damage in the central nervous system, so drugs that treat seizures (phenytoin, gabapentin, carbamazepine) along with antidepressants (amitriptyline, nortriptyline) and some benzodiazepines (clonazepam) are generally the first choices for pain management among physicians.
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