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• Would Valium or Klonopin affect RP?
• Posted: 2008-02-26 04:21:05 By Patrick C
• I may have to get on one of these drugs to sleep disorder (which I won't get into). Does anybody know if either of those could affect my RP?

• Re: Would Valium or Klonopin affect RP?
• Posted: 2008-02-26 04:21:53 By Patrick C
• I mean because of a sleep disorder.

• Re: Re: Would Valium or Klonopin affect RP?
• Posted: 2008-02-26 12:59:54 By Darran Z
• There is a registry on drug-induced occular side effects. You may want to research into this. But most likely, no. But they do affect people differently and thus any side effect you have may be different than someone who is taking them.
  
  Ask a pharmacist if there are any side effects on vision with these medications. I don't think Klonopin does.
  
  Darran

• Re: Re: Would Valium or Klonopin affect RP?
• Posted: 2008-02-26 13:17:18 By Darran Z
• Patrick,
  
  out of curiosity, and not to be nosey, but the name of these drugs are often used to treat anxiety as an underlining cuase of sleep interuption.
  
  My question to you is, are you experiencing anxiety due to RP? Many people do. There was a whole thread of this discussion not too long ago (not sure if it was this particular RP Board or the other one under Community-Message Boards and the RP board there, this site has 2 different RP boards).
  
  But it is important to understand where your anxiety is coming from before jumping into medications.
  
  Darran

• Re: Re: Re: Would Valium or Klonopin affect RP?
• Posted: 2008-03-05 00:19:32 By Patrick C
• Thanks for the reply. I can't say that I do or don't have anxiety due to RP. I do have some sort of anxiety which make be rooted because of my RP. I do struggle with alot of things which can make me anxious. I'm not depressed or anything because of my condition, just the things I have trouble with due to it, if that makes any sense. For example, I've been trying to get into school, and there are obstacles which can make me anxious. Obstacle obviously because of my low vision. But there are other factors going on in my life that causes anxiety that has nothing at all to do with RP.
  
  But, I guess my question is now invalid since I won't be on those drugs. I talked to the Dr. more, and she found out that what I talked to her about isn't as uncommon as one would think and from what I've experienced so far isn't dangerous. Thank you again for the reply.

• Re: Re: Re: Re: Would Valium or Klonopin affect RP?
• Posted: 2008-03-05 09:37:36 By Darran Z
• There are two things I would respond to.
  
  1. School: Are you in a Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program? If not, I would suggest that as they can help overcome many obstacles with schooling, including paying for education, any assistive technology you may need. Also they can provide mobility training so you are safe while traveling and not feel the anxiety. I would contact them through the agency that services the blind in your State.
  
  2. Adjustment to Blindness. It sounds like that anxiety is being in part of several factors. It might be worth your while to speak to a counselor. Many agencies that service the blind have counselors, many who are blind/Visually Impaired themselves so they can easily relate to you. It might do you some good to speak with someone and learn some coping techniques associated with RP.
  
  I think if you address these two areas, you'd likely see a reduction of anxiety. It's quite normal for someone with RP to have anxiety as this is an adjustment to life. The "unknown" or "uncertainy" certainly doesn't help.
  
  You might want to ask questions how people here deal with certain situations. Many are eager to help others.
  
  Darran

• Re: Would Valium or Klonopin affect RP?
• Posted: 2008-02-26 15:19:44 By carolina s
• As a matter of fact I knew someone with rp that had been on valium to ease the onset of flashes common with rp and he swore by it.....be carefull
  it can be addictive and doses need to be increased for effect
  carolina

• Re: Re: Would Valium or Klonopin affect RP?
• Posted: 2008-02-27 08:35:19 By nancy j
• I'm a psycologist, not a psychiatrist, so please take what I say with a grain of salt, but I don't believe that Klonopin is addictive. You can check a PDR or any other book on psychotropic medication for the answer.

• Re: Re: Re: Would Valium or Klonopin affect RP?
• Posted: 2008-02-27 09:29:02 By Darran Z
• Nancy,
  
  I'm in the same field as you. And depending upon who you talk to, Klonopin can be addictive. I've had a friend who was on it and she was advised to be careful. She lost it one time (she had but they wouldn't permit her to get another Rx until the end of the 30 days.
  
  Darran

• Re: Re: Re: Re: Would Valium or Klonopin affect RP?
• Posted: 2008-02-27 09:44:29 By nancy j
• Darran: Thanks for the information, as I was not aware of this. I will do some research. I have a private practice in Blue Bell. Do you work in Phila?

• Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Would Valium or Klonopin affect RP?
• Posted: 2008-02-27 09:55:16 By Darran Z
• No, I'm out West. I'm still making my way through school. But here's a little link you may be interested in since these are controlled substances.
  
  http://www.aafp.org/afp/20000401/2121.html
  
  Darran

• Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Would Valium or Klonopin affect RP?
• Posted: 2008-02-27 11:07:48 By nancy j
• thanks for the link