Has anyone ever tried this for MAV I think it is also called Clonazepam, is it just for anxiety or used for MAV? What were your experiences with it?
Klonopin is used as a vestibular suppressant. Iāve been taking a very low dose and it is effective, although temporarily. Read some of Kiraās recent posts - she gives a very good description of her experience with Klonopin.
It is a benzo, so you need to keep issues of tolerance in mind.
Julie
So it is not used for MAV and preventing migraines?? I am on diazepam for anxiety just hoping to go to MAV drug that is as similar as possible
It is on the list that Jenny provided of 100+ drugs being trialed for MAV. Iām not sure why itās on the list and why itās the only benzo on the list - it does have the highest anti-seizure properties of any of the benzos, besides Tranxene. But as far as I know, my doc is giving it to me to use as a suppressant, not a preventative.
Yes, itās also used for panic, and then it would be an anxiolytic. And itās used for seizures, then it would be an anticonvulsant. What itās called depends on what itās being used for.
Iāve been on diazepam also. clonazepam feels really different. For me, it calms down the dizziness without making me feel dopey.
As Julie said, Iāve been on klonopināreluctantlyāfor about 5 years. Since I personally think MAV and mal de disembarkment are relatedāand I definitely have both (mal de disembarkment is when you get dizzy after motionācars, boats, elevators, eliptical machinesā¦), klonopin is the primary treatment for mal de disembarkment. It is a vestibular suppressant and not considered as a migraine preventive. I found the Johns Hopkins Vestibular site listed it as a drug they commonly use. There is often concern that if you suppress, you wonāt compensate. Well, all of my doctors believe Iāve given compensation a good effortālots of attempts at rehab, and that at this point the goal is function. Klonopin allows me to work, go to concerts. I donāt like it, because of the dependency issues, and while I donāt find it sedating, I think itās mildly depressing. Iām currently at 1 mg twice a day. A common dose, proposed by Dr. Hain at Northwestern, for mal de disembarkment, and for Meniereās is .5 mg twice a dayāitās a dose Iām trying to slowly wean down to. Every one of my doctors: otologist, ENT, primaryāall tell me to get over my dislike for the drug and focus on the fact that I can actually go to workāalthough I have my limitsāand live a fairly normal life, which was not the case when I had a terrible bout of BPPV in 2003 that brought my vestibular function in my damaged ear to new low. The real irony here is that my own, head banging attempts to reposition that pesky otolith did a lot of the final damage. I was convinced that one more Epley, one more Semont maneuverāand Iād feel better. I literally banged my head into a state of horrible vertigo. So, no more vigourous attempts at rehab and repositioning for me.
As Iāve said before: I have a bunch of ear issuesāviral nerve damage, repeated BPPPV, MAV, mal de disembarkment. I should be glad thereās no Meniereās, although Iāve had tinnitus since the virus that caused the sudden nerve damage in 1975.
Hereās the link to Hopkins, note that they use klonopin to treat vestibular migraine.
hopkinsneuro.org/vestibular/ ā¦ r_Migraine
Anxiety and vertigo are linked.
Judy
Kira,
thanks for that link. Unless Iām not understanding something correctly, which could be, because Iām really tired, I see that the Hopkins link also lists Klonopin as a preventative. This is the second time Iāve seen it listed as one. Thatās got to be wrong, yea?
Happy Easter to you,
Julie
It can be used as a migraine preventative (with dizziness or otherwise) but its just not particularly effective. There are a few trials on pubmed from memory.
Adam
Julie,
While Iāve never seen klonopin listed as a first line migraine preventive, a lot of neuroleptics are preventives and klonopin is an anti-seizure drug. All sorts of drugs have been found to decrease migraineāACE inhibitorsālike lisinopril, there was one promising study of singulair and then one that didnāt show benefit.
I just appreciated that the Hopkins site actually admitted that they used klonopin for MAV, because Iām always being told that if you suppress the vestibular system, you delay compensation. Recently I got the speech from the audiologist who was doing my hearing test before I saw the ENT.
Itās hard enough to take a drug that I feel has a stigma attached to it (the pharmacy gave me grief that they always double count controlled substances) and then be told itās delaying your recovery. My otologist writes the script as āone twice a day for vertigoā.
I resisted starting it, and then resisted increasing the dose for months. The original neuro-otologistās notes express his frustration in my delay.
I canāt argue with the fact that it helps me function.
Recently, with all the weather and hormonal changes, I had a more unsteady week, so it reinforces the need for treatment.
Happy Easter to you.ā
Hereās a link to an older article on About.com, likely written by Teri Robert, who left the site, that lists klonopin under anti-seizure meds for migraine prevention
headaches.about.com/od/medsartic ā¦ e_meds.htm
Judy
Yep,
that looks like the list of 100 that Jenny provided in one of her posts, although I didnāt actually count them.
Thanks for that link.
Julie
Hi Julie (& all), just wanted to say how sorry I was to hear of your loss, life can be so cruel at times. Remember, time, friends and fond memories are the best salve for the soul, having lost my mum and dad in a car accident nearly three years now, I can certainly vouch for that. I wish you well throughout your grieving process. 
I replied to your post just the other evening but was just about to send it and accidently pressed the delete button! Oh well, this is now the very shortened version of that post.
Iāve been taking Klonopin (clonazepam; Rivotril) 1/2 tab in morning and 1/2 evening for the past 2 years. I also take Sandomigran 500mcg (pizotifen) 7 tabs per day. Iāve improved and am at 60% still, but canāt seem to push past that barrier. Just visited my neuro in Feb and he prescribed a beta-blocker, metaprolol 50mg and have just reached full strength after 4 weeks 1 tab morn & 1 tab evening. Canāt tell yet if itās worked, my son dislocated his shoulder in a soccer accident last week and the stress set me back, dizzy, nauseous, headaches for the past week, but certainly not bedridden. Feel better today so weāll see if thereās any results soon. Heās also given me a prescription to have filled if the metaprolol doesnāt do it for meā¦verapamil!! Iāve read so much about it on this board, so that experience will be very interesting, Iām hoping though that the med Iām on just might bring more improvement. Iām so confused with all these meds added to the Vitamin B, Magnesium, Feverfew & Gingerroot, that I donāt really know whatās doinā it for me and whatās not!! One thingās for sure, the Sandomigran is really bad for increasing appetite and Iāve now gained 10 kilos, so Iām going to get off them and slim down to the old self!
kind regards, Judy
Klonipin has anti-seizure properties as well as anti-anxiety. From what I have read about it, the anti-seizure properties are stronger than the anti-anxiety, and neuro-relaxant. Because of the anti-siezure properties, it can be used as a migraine preventative for some people.
For me, the Klonipin has done wonders for my headaches as the med I take for my balance and dizzies dose nothing for my headaches.
what med are you on for balance and dizzies??
Depakote
what have you felt on depakote?? any side effects at all?
ā Begin quote from āDesperatlyDizzyā
what have you felt on depakote?? any side effects at all?
ā End quote
Mostly gastro-intestrical (sp?) cramps, gas, etc. I also experienced one solid headache (sunrise to sunset everyday) until I started taking Klonipin.
Hi Kira! Why did you have to go up on your klonopin dose? I also have MAV. I hate being on it too. Also have you ever tried birth control?
Hi Sonu. Kira hasnāt been seen on here since 2009 so I doubt you will get a reply. However you should be able to find more information generally probably if you use the siteās Search facility. Or have a look through the āWomenās Bizā. The keyword āMirena coilā might bear fruit too. Give it a go,
Oh wow thank you so much for the info! Appreciate it
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