Generic name: clonazepam [ kloe-NAZ-e-pam ]
Brand names: KlonoPIN, KlonoPIN Wafer
Dosage forms: oral tablet (0.5 mg; 1 mg; 2 mg), oral tablet, disintegrating (0.125 mg; 0.25 mg; 0.5 mg; 1 mg; 2 mg)
Drug classes: Benzodiazepine anticonvulsants, Benzodiazepines

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.

Warnings

Clonazepam can slow or stop your breathing, especially if you have recently used an opioid medication, alcohol, or other drugs that can slow your breathing.

MISUSE OF CLONAZEPAM CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH. Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it. Never share clonazepam with another person. Selling or giving away this medicine is against the law.

Some people have thoughts about suicide while taking clonazepam. Tell your doctor right away if you have any sudden changes in mood or behavior, or thoughts about suicide.

Get medical help right away if you stop using clonazepam and have symptoms such as: unusual muscle movements, being more active or talkative, sudden and severe changes in mood or behavior, confusion, hallucinations, seizures, or thoughts about suicide.

Do not stop using clonazepam without asking your doctor. You may have life-threatening withdrawal symptoms if you stop using the medicine suddenly after long-term use. Some withdrawal symptoms may last up to 12 months or longer.

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. Buy clonazepam in Scotland Online

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.

Ask a doctor if it is safe to breastfeed while using this medicine.

Do not give this medicine to a child without medical advice. Clonazepam is not approved to treat panic disorder in anyone younger than 18 years old.

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. clonazepam for sale in England Online

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.

Remove an orally disintegrating tablet from the package only when you are ready to take the medicine. Place the tablet in your mouth and allow it to dissolve, without chewing. Swallow several times as the tablet dissolves.

Your doctor will need to check your progress on a regular basis.

Call your doctor if this medicine seems to stop working as well in treating your seizures or panic attacks.

Seizures are often treated with a combination of drugs. Use all medications as directed by your doctor. Read the medication guide or patient instructions provided with each medication. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without your doctor’s advice.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Keep track of your medicine. You should be aware if anyone is using it improperly or without a prescription.

What happens if I miss a dose?

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. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect clonazepam?

Using clonazepam with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can cause dangerous side effects or death. Ask your doctor before using opioid medication, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety or seizures.

Other drugs may interact with clonazepam, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use.

Popular FAQ

Is clonazepam a controlled substance?

Clonazepam is a benzodiazepine prescription medicine and is a Schedule IV controlled substance in the United States under the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA). It has accepted medical uses but can be misused and can cause physical dependence, withdrawal symptoms, and, in some cases, addiction if not used as directed.

What is a controlled substance?

A controlled substance is a drug that the U.S. government regulates because it can be misused or lead to dependence. The CSA places these drugs into “schedules” (Schedule I through V) based on their medical use and their potential for abuse and dependence. Schedule I has the highest risk and no accepted medical use; Schedule V has the lowest risk.

Clonazepam is listed as a Schedule IV controlled substance along with other benzodiazepines. Schedule IV medicines have a lower risk of abuse than Schedule II and III drugs, but they can still be misused and cause dependence if not taken as prescribed.

Examples of Schedule IV benzodiazepines include:

• alprazolam (Xanax)
• clonazepam (Klonopin)
• clorazepate (Tranxene)
• diazepam (Valium)
• lorazepam (Ativan)
• midazolam (Versed, brand discontinued)
• temazepam (Restoril)
• triazolam (Halcion)

What is clonazepam used for?

Clonazepam has accepted medical uses in the U.S. and is approved by the FDA to treat:

• seizures in some types of epilepsy in adults and children (Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, akinetic and myoclonic seizures, absence seizures).
• panic disorder (with or without agoraphobia, an overwhelming feeling of anxiety and panic) in adults.

It is available as a generic oral tablet and orally-disintegrating tablet, or as a brand name tablet known as Klonopin.

Why is clonazepam a controlled substance?

Clonazepam is controlled because it affects chemicals in the brain that make you feel calm or sleepy. This action can help with seizures and panic disorder, but it also creates risks:

• People may misuse clonazepam to feel relaxed, “high,” or to improve sleep.
• Over time, your body can get used to the drug (tolerance), so the same dose may feel weaker.
• Physical dependence can develop, meaning your body expects the drug and you may have withdrawal symptoms if you stop suddenly.
• Some people develop compulsive use or addiction, especially if they have a history of substance misuse.

Because of these risks, clonazepam should be stored in a safe place, out of reach of children, teens, and visitors. Never sell, trade, or share your clonazepam with anyone else; this is illegal and may cause serious harm.

When did clonazepam become a controlled substance?

Clonazepam was first approved by the FDA in June of 1975. At that time, the DEA assigned it as a controlled substance based on the rules of the Controlled Substances Act. The Controlled Substances Act became effective on May 1, 1971.

Is clonazepam a narcotic or an opioid?

No. Clonazepam is not a narcotic or an opioid. It belongs to a different drug group called benzodiazepines, which are medicines that calm brain activity and are used mainly for seizure disorders and anxiety conditions.

Opioids (such as oxycodone or hydrocodone) act on opioid receptors and are usually used to treat pain. Clonazepam does not work this way. However, both benzodiazepines and opioids are controlled substances because they can be misused and can cause dependence. Using clonazepam and opioids together can be especially dangerous (see “Safety and interactions” below).

Does clonazepam cause withdrawal symptoms?

Yes, clonazepam can cause withdrawal symptoms that can range from mild to serious. Gradual withdrawal is essential when discontinuing clonazepam.

Rapid withdrawal may lead to the occurrence of severe seizures. Other severe withdrawal symptoms can include psychosis, hallucinations, behavioral disorder, tremor, abdominal and muscle cramps.

Generally milder withdrawal symptoms such as dysphoria (a extreme sense of unease or discontent) and insomnia (trouble sleeping) may occur when benzodiazepines are taken at therapeutic doses for several months.

Your doctor should develop a slow tapering schedule over a period of time if you stop treatment to help prevent side effects from benzodiazepine withdrawal. Do not stop treatment without speaking to your healthcare provider first.

Safety and interactions (including opioids and alcohol)

Clonazepam slows brain and nervous system activity. This effect can be dangerous when combined with other substances that also slow the brain, such as:

• Opioid pain medicines (for example, oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine).
• Other benzodiazepines.
• Sleep medicines.
• Alcohol.
• Certain muscle relaxants and other sedating drugs.

Taking clonazepam together with these substances may cause:

• Extreme sleepiness.
• Confusion.
• Trouble breathing.
• Coma or, rarely, death.

Do not drink alcohol while taking clonazepam. Do not take clonazepam with opioids or other sedating medicines unless your doctor has told you to do so and is closely monitoring you. Call emergency services (911 in the U.S.) right away if you or someone else has trouble breathing, cannot stay awake, or does not respond.

This is not all the information you need to know about clonazepam (Klonopin) for safe and effective use and does not take the place of your doctor’s directions. Review the full product information and discuss any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.