So I am currently taking Nadolol 40mg and amitriptyline 20mg. I am functioning…some days very well, other days so so. I plan on asking the neuro for Klonopin to take as needed for my so so days. (last visit he was going to take me off ami and try klonopin twice daily) I think the ami has helped and would like to continue it. Do you guys know of any reasons I should choose Klonopin over Valium, or vice versa. I see that both drugs have helped so many of you. (I have never taken either one)
Thanks for your help!
They are both long acting benzos. I don’t think there’s a big reason to prefer one over another. For me, the klonopin works better. Your mileage may vary. There is so reason to take you off the ami in favor of the klonopin as they are totally different meds. Klonopin is a mild anticonvulsant (all benzos are) that raises GABA levels. Ami is an antidepressant that raises serotonin and norepinephrine. I find I do very well on the combination of cymbalta and klonopin.
Kelley
Jen are you in the UK? I just went to my GP to ask for Nadalol to add to an anti depressent and she said, no, she had never heard of that being used for migraine. Then I asked for Valium and she said, no because its addictive.
Looks like I am going to have to be referred by to the neurologist to get the meds I want. How do you find the Nadalol? Any side effects? I got insomnia and loose bowels on propanalol, read up, and thought Nadalol sounded a good idea, how much are you on?
Christine
I have taken both Valium and Klonopin to treat this disorder, always at a low dose and always at night, not during the day. My doctors gave me both and told me I could take either one.
I currently take a little over 1/4 of a 0.5 klonopin at night before bed. I hate taking a daily benzo. But it has given me some relief and a sense that I can control the spinning that used to make my nights absolute hell. Previously to taking the Klonopin, I was taking 1/2 of a 5mg valium every couple of days. On days when I fly, or have extreme stress, I take double the dose.
They are similar drugs, but I observed the following differences:
–Valium hits faster and harder, it takes effect in 15 or 20 minutes whereas Klonopin takes an hour to get kicking;
–Valium is more sedating, you feel like, “Wow, I feel a sense of being tired and ready to lay down” whereas Klonopin is less sedating;
–Klonopin has an initial period about for about 20 to 30 minutes where you feel more dizzy, then you switch to feeling less dizzy;
–Valium doesn’t linger into the next day like Klonopin does, even though technically it has a longer half life;
For me, I have found that Klonopin is smoother, longer lasting, and less likely to just make me crash out, and I can function better on it, for example, if I get a work assignment suddenly at night after taking the drug (I do a lot of work on Asian hours). I think it is mildly depressing but this can function as a kind of smoothness which is rather pleasant.
However, I think that Valium would be more effective at immediately stopping a vertigo attack.
Hope that helps.
Thanks! I think I will try the klonopin. Considering he was going to put me on a dose to take daily, I don’t think he will mind prescribing it PRN. Wish I could get it this week…feel like I need it!!! This MAV crap gets old. Just when you think you are doing well, and making progress…BAM…you feel similar to way you did when this all started.
Christine,
I am in the US. The ENT had me on propanolol…I only took it a few days before neuro switched me to Nadolol. There is not as much studies proving the efficacy of Nadolol for migraines, but it migranie is still listed as an “unlabled” use when I looked it up. I think the docs at Jonhs Hopkins are using it as well, saying that it is as effective and carries a bit less side effects. I take 40mg daily but you can take up to 80mg daily for migraines. I don’t seem to have any side effects from either med that I am on,thankfully, bc the MAV effects are enough to handle!
Jen
— Begin quote from “jenh21”
Thanks! I think I will try the klonopin. Considering he was going to put me on a dose to take daily, I don’t think he will mind prescribing it PRN. Wish I could get it this week…feel like I need it!!! This MAV crap gets old. Just when you think you are doing well, and making progress…BAM…you feel similar to way you did when this all started.
— End quote
I hate that the most. I was doing pretty well these past couple of weeks and now I’m feeling like horse shit all over again. This is so annoying.
Klonopin is great though, and Doug gave a great explanation of it. I haven’t had a severe vertigo attack for awhile, but this time I’m armed and ready 8)
Definitely something worth trying!