Benzodiazepines also help to treat insomnia, which is another symptom of fibromyalgia. The tranquilizing effect of the medication help to improve your sleep and alleviate fatigue.
In addition, Benzodiazepines help treat other specific sleep disorders. Studies are still ongoing to fully understand the use of Benzodiazepines in managing pain. A few of these medicines such as the Lorazepam and Clonazepam have been shown to help with chronic pain, including fibromyalgia.
However, Benzodiazepines is a controversial medication due to its side effects. Hence, it is best to discuss with your doctor before you start on using this medication in your fibromyalgia treatment. Here are some of the side effects and precautions that you should take note:
- long term usage can cause reliance and resistance
- may affect coordination
- may cause amnesia
- cause sleepiness and lost of concentration
- should not be used when patient needs to carry out task which requires focus e.g. driving
- pregnant women should not use the drug as it may cause birth defects
- can lead to hostile and aggressive behavior
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My sister got me on clonazepam 10 years ago. It saved my sanity. I was shaking so bad from the fibro.still on it..
This information is not true and can cause serious injury to people. No one should be on benzodiazepines for more than 2to4 weeks and this drug does NOT help fibromyalgia! Funny thing, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia years ago and it only got worse once I started taking benzodiazepines. I’m now 18 months off Klonopin and i no longer suffer with debilitating fibromyalgia or interstitial cystitis. The benzos made and kept me sick! It’s poison!
Please remember we are all different and can react differently to the same medication. Just as what works for one person may not work for the next. We all need to find what works us individually. I’ve had Fibro for over 20yrs and my treatments have changed as my symptoms have. Personally I won’t use benzodiazepines as I need to be able to drive but I wouldn’t discount them if my anxiety became unmanageable and wouldn’t tell anyone a drug doesn’t work as I’ve had no success as it may work brilliantly for someone else!
Hi Ashlee,
You mentioned that you were diagnosed with fibro and it got worse once you started taking benzodiazepines. That sounds like they didn’t cause the fibro as you said at the end of your comment, something else must have. I certainly wouldn’t argue that they didn’t make you feel worse, as another person pointed out that we are all different and respond/react differently to medication. I have been on Xanax for many years, and it’s been a lifesaver for me. I suffered from anxiety and depression so bad that I couldn’t eat or sleep and got down to 93 lbs. Thank God for Xanax as it allowed me to keep food down and allowed me a few hours of sleep during the worst of my issues.
This explains why I feel so much better after taking my clonazepam. I have always said if I had to choose between pain and anxiety medications, I would definitely choose anxiety medication! It seems like my whole body is pain free and at ease from the fibromyalgia after I take my dose.
I was given a benzo in the 80’s & told to take 3-4 a day as only 1mg. Later go sent me to psychologist who told me I was taking 30-40mg/equivalent in Valium & harder to come off that heroin. Took me 3 years & was unable to form a sentence, rigid & panicky ever since. Dangerous drug!!!!!! Cbd oil helps my fibro + anxiety, panic etc. NO!!!
How I long for the days when my treatment plan included Vicodin and Xanax. I had so much better pain control. I was doing great then the medical community decided you couldn’t take the 2 meds together (I’d been on them over 5 years and was coping). I’m on a much stronger pain med and I don’t get the relief I did with the combo. Why can’t they leave it alone if it works.
Deb, what state are you in? Is that a law there or just your medical group’s opinion/rule? Asking because my primary care doc didn’t want me on both, but my pain doctor out me on both anyway. He actually gives me oxycodone, soma and xanax with no issues at all. He’s an addiction specialist/pain doc, so I feel safe. It works brilliantly! Xanax was the key for me. Hope you find relief!
OMG I’m with you 100% pain mgmt did want me to take a benzo and opioid which I have been doing for yrs well my Dr agreed and now I’m suffer bcuz it kept me in check I wasn’t just jumping down ppls throats I was in their throats… My next appt with both Dr’s I’m going to explain to them that this isn’t working I’m hiding out in my room only go out if I have to otherwise I’m here… What one medication does to another doesn’t mean that it’s the same as the other