Avoid drinking alcohol and using illegal drugs while you are taking clonazepam. They may decrease the benefits e. Alcohol increases the risk of accidental overdose with medications like clonazepam. If an overdose occurs call your doctor or You may need urgent medical care. You may also contact the poison control center at A specific treatment to reverse the effects of clonazepam does exist. This medicine, called flumazenil, can reverse the effects of clonazepam but must be given through an IV at a hospital.
Only a doctor can decide if you need this medication. If you experience these side effects after starting clonazepam they will often improve over the first week or two as you continue to take the medication. Clonazepam is a safe and effective medication when used as directed. Physical dependence may develop after 2 or more weeks of daily use. The risk of withdrawal reactions when stopping therapy with clonazepam is increased with prolonged us of the medication.
Clonazepam may cause drowsiness, so caution should be used when combining it with other medications that cause drowsiness. These could include:. When starting clonazepam, anxiety or insomnia may improve rapidly or over a period of days or within hours of the first dose of medication. The FDA has found that benzodiazepine drugs, such as clonazepam, when used in combination with opioid medications or other sedating medications can result in serious adverse reactions including slowed or difficult breathing and death.
Patients taking opioids with benzodiazepines, other sedating medications, or alcohol, and caregivers of these patients, should seek immediate medical attention if that start to experience unusual dizziness or lightheadedness, extreme sleepiness, slow or difficulty breathing, or unresponsiveness. As a benzodiazepine, clonazepam comes with the risk of abuse, misuse, and addiction to the medication.
Physical dependence to clonazepam can occur with prolonged use of the medication. A withdrawal reaction may occur when stopping clonazepam, but this risk can be reduced by slowly reducing the dose of clonazepam when stopping. Do not stop taking clonazepam abruptly, and do not make any changes to therapy without consulting your health care provider. Last Updated: January This information is being provided as a community outreach effort of the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists.
This information is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. This information contains a summary of important points and is not an exhaustive review of information about the medication.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. While you're taking Klonopin, it's important to be aware of its risks. For example, it can be addictive and has potential for misuse, which is why it's classified as a controlled substance. In , the FDA updated the black box warning on benzodiazepines to call out their potential for addiction , dependence, abuse, and withdrawal.
In addition, if you take other medications besides Klonopin, you should be aware of how these medications could affect one another. Interactions between medications can be mild, moderate, or severe, and they are not limited to prescription medications.
You also need to be aware of any over-the-counter products, herbs, or supplements that are not safe to take with Klonopin. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure if it is safe to take your medications or supplements with Klonopin.
Klonopin poses a serious risk of misuse, abuse, and addiction. This can lead to overdose and even death—particularly when other substances are used at the same time, such as opioids or alcohol. There is also risk of physical and psychological dependence when you are taking Klonopin. Taking the medication daily for longer than two weeks increases your risk of developing physical dependence.
Stopping Klonopin suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms , such as seizures, which can be life-threatening. If you want to reduce or stop your dose, talk to your doctor.
They can guide you to slowly take less of the medication over time, an approach known as tapering. Never stop taking Klonopin abruptly without talking to your doctor, even if you are experiencing side effects. People who are older might be more likely to experience medication side effects, including those that commonly occur with benzodiazepine use. Older people have also had increased risks of falling and negative cognitive effects. When you start taking Klonopin, avoid activities that could be dangerous to you or others until you have adjusted to the medication.
Wait until you know how you feel taking it and how it affects your body before you:. There are several types, or classes, of prescription drugs that should be used with significant caution when combined with Klonopin. These include:. Several specific prescription medications are known to interact with Klonopin.
These medications can change how much Klonopin is in your body as well as how well the drug works. Medications that may increase the levels and effects of Klonopin include:. Medications that may decrease the levels and effects of Klonopin include:. Some people with social anxiety disorder also take an antidepressant. The effects of Klonopin may be intensified if they are combined with other drugs or alcohol. Make sure that you tell your doctor about all the medications you take as well as any substances you use—including any over-the-counter products, herbal remedies, and supplements.
Over-the-counter OTC medicines or herbal supplements or remedies could interact with Klonopin. Examples include:. Also, grapefruit juice may pose a risk. Grapefruit contains compounds that can change how certain medications work. You might not have to give it up completely, but your doctor might advise you to limit how much you have. Check in with them to see if you should avoid it while taking Klonopin.
If you have medication that you do not need, make sure you know how to dispose of it properly. Clonazepam may cause a physical dependence a condition in which unpleasant physical symptoms occur if a medication is suddenly stopped or taken in smaller doses , especially if you take it for several days to several weeks. Do not stop taking this medication or take fewer doses without talking to your doctor. Stopping clonazepam suddenly can worsen your condition and cause withdrawal symptoms that may last for several weeks to more than 12 months.
Your doctor probably will decrease your clonazepam dose gradually. Call your doctor or get emergency medical treatment if you experience any of the following symptoms: unusual movements; ringing in your ears; anxiety; memory problems; difficulty concentrating; sleep problems; seizures; shaking; muscle twitching; changes in mental health; depression; burning or prickling feeling in your hands, arms, legs or feet; seeing or hearing things that others do not see or hear; thoughts of harming or killing yourself or others; overexcitement; or losing touch with reality.
Clonazepam is used alone or in combination with other medications to control certain types of seizures. It is also used to relieve panic attacks sudden, unexpected attacks of extreme fear and worry about these attacks. Clonazepam is in a class of medications called benzodiazepines. It works by decreasing abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
Clonazepam comes as a tablet and an orally disintegrating tablet tablet that dissolves quickly in the mouth to take by mouth. It usually is taken one to three times a day with or without food.
Take clonazepam at around the same time s every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Do not try to push the orally disintegrating tablet through the foil.
Instead, use dry hands to peel back the foil packaging. Immediately take out the tablet and place it in your mouth. The tablet will quickly dissolve and can be swallowed with or without liquid. Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of clonazepam and gradually increase your dose, not more often than once every 3 days.
Clonazepam may help control your condition, but will not cure it. It may take a few weeks or longer before you feel the full benefit of clonazepam. Continue to take clonazepam even if you feel well. Do not stop taking clonazepam without talking to your doctor, even if you experience side effects such as unusual changes in behavior or mood, If you suddenly stop taking clonazepam, you may experience withdrawal symptoms such as new or worsening seizures, hallucinating seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist , changes in behavior, sweating, uncontrollable shaking of a part of your body, stomach or muscle cramps, anxiety, or difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.
Doctors may also prescribe clonazepam for panic disorder. Xanax and clonazepam both affect the CNS and have the potential for misuse, with some people becoming dependent on them. Xanax is a useful medication for people who experience panic attacks.
The drug helps relieve the symptoms and reduce the frequency of attacks. Some doctors prescribe Xanax for depression , but there is limited evidence to suggest that it is effective unless the person also has anxiety. Clonazepam is also a benzodiazepine. Doctors use it to treat seizure disorders in both adults and children. It can help address chemical imbalances in the brain and reduce the number of panic attacks. A lack of GABA activity can cause people to become excitable and may lead to panic attacks or seizures.
Having more GABA activity in the body helps reduce instances of panic attacks and seizures. At first glance, Xanax and clonazepam are very similar. Both medications are benzodiazepines, CNS depressants, and ways of treating anxiety or panic attacks. Both are short acting drugs, but clonazepam stays in the body for longer than Xanax. The half-life of Xanax is 6—25 hours , while for clonazepam, it is 22—54 hours.
Clonazepam can also treat seizures, whereas Xanax does not. Both drugs have their different off-label uses, which the sections below will look at in more detail. Dosages usually differ depending on the individual and the condition that a doctor is trying to treat. For panic and anxiety, the dosage for adults is 0. A doctor can increase the dosage in increments of 0.
However, the maximum dosage does not usually exceed 4 mg per day. For seizures, the dosage for adults is 0. The maximum dosage should not exceed 20 mg per day. For anxiety disorders, the dosage for adults typically starts at 0.
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