clobazam at a glance
Medicine class
A long-acting 1,5-benzodiazepine with anticonvulsant, anxiety-relieving and sedative effects.
Food
Tablets and suspension may be taken with or without food.
Alertness
Sleepiness, dizziness, poor concentration and slowed reactions can affect driving or machinery use.
What is clobazam used for?
Selected products are licensed for:
Add-on treatment for epilepsy. The oral suspensions specifically cover adults and children over 2 years when standard antiseizure treatment has not provided adequate control.
Symptomatic relief of severe, disabling or unacceptably distressing anxiety in adults.
Adjunctive management of hyperarousal or agitation associated with psychotic illness. Clobazam does not treat the underlying psychosis.
How does clobazam work?
Clobazam enhances GABA-A receptor signalling, reducing neuronal excitability. This produces anticonvulsant and anxiety-relieving effects but can also cause sedation, impaired coordination and memory effects.
clobazam preparations and strengths
Oral suspension
Route: Oral
Strengths: 1 mg/mL, 2 mg/mL, 5 mg/5 mL, 10 mg/5 mL
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 10 mg, 20 mg
How to take clobazam
Take clobazam exactly as prescribed. It may be taken with or without food. Avoid alcohol.
Shake oral suspension thoroughly before every use because it can settle during storage.
Measure suspension with the device specified for that product, not a household spoon.
Selected tablets may be swallowed whole or crushed and mixed with apple sauce; the score permits division into equal halves.
Check with the prescriber or pharmacist before changing products or formulations because exposure and measuring instructions can differ.
clobazam side effects
Common or expected effects
- Sleepiness, fatigue or sedation
- Dizziness, headache or reduced attention
- Slurred speech, tremor or unsteady movement
- Irritability, restlessness, agitation or aggression
- Reduced appetite, nausea, dry mouth or constipation
Get urgent medical advice
- Slow or difficult breathing, particularly with opioids or other sedatives
- Severe blistering, peeling or widespread rash
- Marked confusion, hallucinations or unusual behaviour
- New suicidal or self-harm thoughts
- Severe allergic reaction with facial or throat swelling
clobazam in pregnancy
Clobazam is not generally recommended during pregnancy, but treatment—especially for epilepsy—should not be stopped suddenly. Later exposure may affect fetal movement and cause newborn sedation, poor feeding, low muscle tone, breathing problems or withdrawal. Contact the prescribing specialist promptly when planning pregnancy or after becoming pregnant.
clobazam while breastfeeding
Selected product information advises against breastfeeding during treatment. Specialist guidance says cautious use may sometimes be considered for a healthy, full-term infant after individual assessment, with monitoring for drowsiness, slow breathing, poor feeding and inadequate weight gain.
clobazam interactions
Important interactions include:
Alcohol
Increases clobazam exposure and can worsen sleepiness and impaired coordination; avoid alcohol.
Opioids
Additive sedation and respiratory depression can lead to coma or death.
Cannabidiol
Can increase exposure to clobazam’s active metabolite and increase sedation. Do not combine non-medicinal cannabidiol products with clobazam.
Common questions about clobazam
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Can clobazam cause dependence?
Yes. Dependence, addiction and tolerance can occur during prescribed use. Risk is higher with prolonged exposure or a history of substance misuse.
Can clobazam be stopped suddenly?
Usually not. Abrupt stopping can cause withdrawal, rebound symptoms and seizures. Follow an individual prescriber-led plan.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.