Author: Charles Frank
Clonazepam: Drug Uses, Dosage, Side Effects
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. Clonazepam can increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior (thoughts or actions of harming oneself). A person should tell their doctor if they have worsening depression, suicidal thoughts or behavior, or any unusual changes in mood or behavior. Clonazepam belongs to a class of drugs called benzodiazepines. A class of drugs is a group of medications that work in a similar way.
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. Never share this medicine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abuse or addiction.
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Clonazepam may be used as part of a combination therapy. This means a person may need to take it with other medications. Clonazepam comes as both an oral tablet and an oral disintegrating (dissolving) tablet. A graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, Long has been a writer for Landmark Recovery since 2021. He specializes in research and writing about substance abuse from a scientific and social perspective. The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records.
The use of drinks that contain alcohol can increase a person’s risk of sedative effects from clonazepam. A person may have slowed reflexes, poor judgment, and sleepiness. If a person drinks alcohol, they should talk to their doctor. Clonazepam is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant. This type of drug can slow down the brain’s activity and interfere with a person’s judgment, thinking, and reaction time. A person should not drink alcohol or use other drugs that can also slow down their brain’s activity while they are taking this medication.
- Clonazepam can increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior (thoughts or actions of harming oneself).
- If they’re more severe or don’t go away, a person should talk to their doctor or pharmacist.
- A doctor will determine the best dosage to suit a person’s needs.
- Like other benzodiazepines, sudden discontinuation of this drug can lead to fatal seizures that must be managed through tapered doses.
Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it. Selling or giving away this medicine is against the law. Some people have thoughts about suicide while taking clonazepam.
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This drug should be used only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. A person should call their doctor right away if they become pregnant while taking this drug. Clonazepam oral tablet is a prescription drug that’s available as the brand-name drug Klonopin. In some cases, they may not be available in every strength or form as the brand-name version.
Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. You should be aware if anyone is using it improperly or without a prescription. Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your response to clonazepam. Talk to your doctor about eating grapefruit and drinking grapefruit juice while taking this medicine. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks.
This is a chemical that sends signals throughout a person’s nervous system. If a person does not have enough GABA, their body may be in an excited state. When a person takes this drug, they will have more GABA in their body. This will help them have fewer panic attacks and seizures.
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Clonazepam side effects
They’ll ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect. Your child’s dose needs may change if the child gains or loses weight. MISUSE OF CLONAZEPAM CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH. 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. Do not try to push the orally disintegrating tablet through the foil.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use clonazepam only for the indication prescribed. This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
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 was approved in the United States as a generic drug in 1997 and is now manufactured and marketed by several companies. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
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. 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.
Drinking alcohol or using street drugs during your treatment with clonazepam also increases the risk that you will experience these serious, life-threatening side effects. Also tell your doctor if you have or have ever had depression or another mental illness. Clonazepam is used alone or together with other medicines to treat certain seizure disorders (eg, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, akinetic, myoclonic, and absence seizures). Clonazepam is a benzodiazepine that works in the brain to prevent seizures.
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. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand.
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. This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription.