Rivotril
Read more articles on Drugs.January 22, 2007
Posted by MarySmithCO
January 22, 2007
Posted by MarySmithCO
582 Views
You may not associate clinical anxiety with epilepsy, Tourette Syndrome and seizures in general, but it turns out they are related and can often be treated with a single family of drugs called benzodiazepines. Rivotril is one such benzodiazepine. Americans may know of Rivotril (as it’s known in Europe, Canada, Australia and South America) as Clonazepam or Klonopin. They are all the same drug marketed by Roche Pharmaceticals. Regardless of the name on the bottle, Rivotril is a potent anticonvulsant, amnestic and anxiolytic benzodiazepine derivative. Benzodiazepine have been proven to be very effective against anxiety disorders, panic attacks, chronic fatigue, mania, even Tourette Syndrome and schizophrenia. They are not without side effects and risks, however.
The risk of addiction is of greatest concern - one milligram of Rivotril has the effect of about twenty milligrams of diazepam. The tranquilizing effect of Rivotril is weaker than many other benzodiazepines so it is typically not the drug of choice if insomnia occurs along with anxiety. Rivotril’s real benefits come from its anxiolytic and anticonvulsant properties coupled with its slight sedative effect. Rivotril is commonly prescribed in 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, and 2mg tablets. It is also available as 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 mg oral wafers, 2.5mg per ml oral liquid and 1mg per ml injection. Rivotril is available as a generic, though typically only in tablet form.
When used to treat an epileptic seizure, 1mg of Rivotril is given every 10 to 20 minutes intravenously. When used preventatively for epilepsy, Rivotril is typically prescribed in oral doses anywhere from 1mg to 20mg per day. To control anxiety disorders, Rivotril is often prescribed from 0.5mg to 10mg orally each day. Mania, Tourette Syndrome and schizophrenia are usually treated with between 10mg and 20mg daily. Doses are usually but not always divided throughout the day. Side effects are few and usually not too troublesome. Drowsiness, which can be severe enough to impair motor function, coordination and balance, is most common. Dizziness may also occur. Patients on higher doses have also reported slight amnesia. Rare side effects include excitability, irritability and rage.
Because many patients can build up a high tolerance to the anticonvulsant property of Rivotril, chronic patients may be required to withdraw from Rivotril and begin taking a new drug to control their ailment. During withdrawal anxiety and insomnia may occur and are most common. Panic attacks and night terrors may occur during withdrawal along with seizures and deliria, though they are rare. Patients taking Rivotril are urged to discontinue use only under the supervision of a doctor. As with all drugs that effect brain chemistry, patients taking Rivotril should avoid alcohol, drugs not prescribed by your doctor and anything with psychoactive effects. Those with deficiencies of the liver, especially severe deficiencies, should also avoid using Rivotril. Dosing instructions should be followed to the letter, as overdose is possible and dangerous. Overdose symptoms include confusion, disorientation, loss of balance and can cause patients to go into a coma state. Only take Rivotril under the guidance of a qualified physician.
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