Clonazepam is a medication that is sometimes prescribed for people with Parkinson's to help manage REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) — a condition where a person physically acts out their dreams by talking, yelling, or moving suddenly during sleep. It can raise safety concerns for both the person with Parkinson's and anyone Show Full Answer
Clonazepam is a medication that is sometimes prescribed for people with Parkinson's to help manage REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) — a condition where a person physically acts out their dreams by talking, yelling, or moving suddenly during sleep. It can raise safety concerns for both the person with Parkinson's and anyone sharing their bed.
Rather than interrupting sleep, Clonazepam is generally intended to reduce those disruptive nighttime movements and help make sleep safer and more restful. That said, all sleep medications come with potential considerations worth discussing with your neurologist, including:
- Tolerance — the body can adjust over time, making the medication less effective
- Daytime drowsiness — some sleep aids can leave you feeling groggy the next day
- Interaction with other Parkinson's medications — your doctor will want to review your full medication list
It's always a good idea to bring up any sleep concerns with your neurologist, who can help figure out what's driving the problem and whether Clonazepam or another approach is the right fit for you.
August 13