Author: Alex Thompson

Klonopin: Dosage, side effects, how it works, and more

But if Klonopin makes you sleepy, you may be able to take just one dose at bedtime. However, be sure to follow your medical professional’s instructions about when to take Klonopin. If you feel that the medicine is not working as well, do not use more than your prescribed dose. If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible.

Medical Professionals

Some people may experience the following symptoms of a withdrawal reaction that can last for several weeks to more than 12 months. Clonazepam may also be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider. Other drugs may interact with clonazepam, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Clonazepam can slow or stop your breathing, especially if you have recently used an opioid medication or alcohol.

Other warnings

To learn more about how long you can expect Klonopin to stay in your system, you can talk with your medical professional or pharmacist. This means it takes about 30 to 40 hours for your body to get rid of half of a dose of Klonopin. And it usually takes four to five half-lives for a drug to leave your system entirely. Klonopin isn’t typically prescribed to treat depression. We encourage you to tell your medical professional about any sexual side effects you have while taking Klonopin.

For details, see the “Side effect specifics” section above. Nausea wasn’t a common side effect in clinical trials of Klonopin. In fact, nausea was only reported in people taking Klonopin for seizure disorders. This side effect was not seen in studies of people taking Klonopin for panic disorder. Klonopin is FDA-approved to treat certain seizure disorders in children of all ages.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Below, we describe the conditions that Klonopin is prescribed to treat. Working with your healthcare team may help you stay on track with your treatment. If you find that you’re not getting answers to your questions or receiving the care you deserve, you can consider seeking a second opinion.

Clonazepam: Serious side effects

Klonopin contains the active drug clonazepam, while Xanax contains the active drug alprazolam. If you do take Klonopin during pregnancy, you might want to consider enrolling in the North American Antiepileptic Drug Pregnancy Registry. This registry collects information about the effects of Klonopin when taken during pregnancy. A dose of Klonopin usually stays in your system for about 6 to 8 days (about 150 to 200 hours).

The concomitant use of valproic acid and Klonopin may produce absence status. The risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior was generally consistent among drugs in the data analyzed. The finding of increased risk with AEDs of varying mechanisms of action and across a range of indications suggests that the risk applies to all AEDs used for any indication. The risk did not vary substantially by age (5–100 years) in the clinical trials analyzed. Because most trials included in the analysis did not extend beyond 24 weeks, the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior beyond 24 weeks could not be assessed. The concomitant use of benzodiazepines and opioids increases the risk of respiratory depression because of actions at different receptor sites in the CNS that control respiration.

  1. If your seizures are not well managed after 3 days, your doctor may increase your dose by 0.5 mg to 1 mg.
  2. So there is no approved children’s dosage for this use.
  3. The usual dosage range of Klonopin for panic disorder (a type of anxiety disorder) is 0.5 mg to 4 mg per day.
  4. Clonazepam can worsen symptoms of an eye condition called glaucoma.
  5. Misusing a medication can increase your risk of overdose or other serious side effects.

Ask a pharmacist

Taking Klonopin can also lead to misuse, which may increase the risk of overdose and, in some cases, death. A boxed warning is the most serious type of warning from the FDA. It alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous. Clonazepam may reduce seizure frequency in specific seizure disorders and can be used short-term for panic disorder, to relieve anxiety, or to sedate. When used long-term it can cause dependence and withdrawal symptoms on discontinuation. It’s possible for any benzodiazepine, including Klonopin, to increase the risk of misuse or addiction.

So, before you start taking Klonopin, talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Some side effects of clonazepam may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine.

In order to help prevent withdrawal symptoms, talk with your doctor before stopping treatment with Klonopin. They will likely recommend slowly decreasing your dose of the drug over time. This can reduce your risk of developing withdrawal symptoms.