What is clonazepam?
clonazepam is a benzodiazepine (ben-zoe-dye-AZE-eh-peen). It is thought that benzodiazepines work by enhancing the activity of certain neurotransmitters in the brain.
Clonazepam is used to treat certain seizure disorders (including absence seizures or Lennox-Gastaut syndrome) in adults and children.
Clonazepam is also used to treat panic disorder (including agoraphobia) in adults.
Before taking this medicine
You should not take clonazepam if you allergic to it or if you have:
- narrow-angle glaucoma;
- severe liver disease; or
- a history of allergic reaction to any benzodiazepine (including alprazolam, diazepam, lorazepam, Valium, Xanax, Versed, and others).
To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- kidney or liver disease;
- breathing problems;
- depression, mood problems, or suicidal thoughts or behavior; or
- porphyria (a genetic enzyme disorder that causes symptoms affecting the skin or nervous system).
Some people have thoughts about suicide while taking clonazepam. Stay alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Your family or caregivers should also watch for sudden changes in your behavior.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you use clonazepam during pregnancy, your baby could be born with life-threatening withdrawal symptoms, and may need medical treatment for several weeks.
Do not start or stop seizure medication during pregnancy without your doctor’s advice. Clonazepam may harm an unborn baby, but having a seizure during pregnancy could harm both mother and baby. Preventing seizures may outweigh these risks. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant.
If you become pregnant while taking clonazepam, talk to your doctor about registering with the North American Antiepileptic Drug Pregnancy Registry. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the safety of antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy.
Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Clonazepam can pass into breast milk and may cause sleepiness, feeding problems, and decreased weight gain in a nursing baby. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby while you take this medicine.
Do not give this medicine to a child without medical advice.
How should I take clonazepam?
Take clonazepam exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Never use this medicine in larger amounts, or for longer than prescribed. Tell your doctor if you feel an increased urge to use more of this medicine.
Never share this medicine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction. MISUSE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it. Selling or giving away this medicine is against the law.
Read and carefully follow any Instructions for Use provided with your medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you do not understand these instructions.
You will need frequent medical tests.
Do not stop using clonazepam suddenly, even if you feel fine. Stopping suddenly may cause increased seizures or unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Follow your doctor’s instructions about tapering your dose.
Swallow the regular tablet whole, with a full glass of water.
Clonazepam doses are based on weight in children. Your child’s dose needs may change if the child gains or loses weight.clonazepam side effects
What happens if I miss clonazepam
Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of clonazepam can be fatal if you take it with alcohol, opioid medicine, or other drugs that cause drowsiness or slow your breathing.
Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness, confusion, muscle weakness, or coma.
What should I avoid while taking clonazepam?
Do not drink alcohol. Dangerous side effects or death could occur.
Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how clonazepam will affect you. Dizziness or drowsiness can cause falls, accidents, or severe injuries.
Clonazepam side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to clonazepam: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Clonazepam can slow or stop your breathing, especially if you have recently used an opioid medication or alcohol. A person caring for you should seek emergency medical attention if you have slow breathing with long pauses, blue colored lips, or if you are hard to wake up.
Tell your doctor right away if you have new or sudden changes in mood or behavior, including new or worse depression or anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, more active or talkative, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- new or worsening seizures;
- severe drowsiness;
- weak or shallow breathing;
- unusual changes in mood or behavior;
- confusion, paranoia, nightmares, hallucinations;
- thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself;
- unusual or involuntary eye movements.
Drowsiness or dizziness may last longer in older adults. Use caution to avoid falling or accidental injury.
Common clonazepam side effects may include:
- drowsiness, dizziness;
- feeling tired or depressed;
- memory problems; or
- problems with walking or coordination.
After you stop using clonazepam, get medical help right away if you have symptoms such as: unusual muscle movements, being more active or talkative, sudden and severe changes in mood or behavior, confusion, hallucinations, seizures, suicidal thoughts or actions.
Some withdrawal symptoms may last up to 12 months or longer after stopping this medicine suddenly. Tell your doctor if you have ongoing anxiety, depression, problems with memory or thinking, trouble sleeping, ringing in your ears, a burning or prickly feeling, or a crawling sensation under your skin.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur.
