clonazepam at a glance
Medicine class
Benzodiazepine antiepileptic.
Main licensed role
Control of epileptic seizures; licensed ages and seizure types vary by product.
Administration
Tablets and oral liquid can be taken with or without food. Measure liquid with the supplied device, not a kitchen teaspoon.
Driving
Clonazepam can impair alertness and coordination. Do not drive if affected, and follow UK drug-driving rules.
What is clonazepam used for?
Selected UK products are licensed for epilepsy. Product-specific age limits and indications must be checked.
Tablets: multiple forms of epilepsy and seizures in infants, children and adults, including absence, generalised tonic-clonic, focal and myoclonic seizures.
Rosemont oral solutions: multiple forms of epilepsy and seizures in adults; these ethanol-containing products are not indicated for children.
Injection or infusion concentrate: various forms of epilepsy, including status epilepticus, in adults and adolescents from 12 years.
UK patient information also describes non-licensed use for panic disorder, involuntary muscle spasms and sometimes restless legs syndrome.
How does clonazepam work?
Clonazepam strengthens the effect of GABA, the brain's main inhibitory chemical messenger. This reduces excessive neuronal firing and produces anticonvulsant effects.
clonazepam preparations and strengths
Oral solution
Route: Oral
Strengths: 0.5 mg/5 mL, 2 mg/5 mL
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 2 mg
How to take clonazepam
Take clonazepam exactly as directed. Do not stop it suddenly because withdrawal can occur and seizures may worsen.
Swallow tablets with water; tablets or liquid may be taken with or without food.
Measure liquid with the supplied spoon, syringe or other approved device. Do not use a kitchen teaspoon.
Rosemont oral solution is oily and incompatible with polystyrene and PVC. Follow product instructions carefully with an enteral feeding tube.
Avoid alcohol because it can increase sedation, impair breathing and make clonazepam's effects unpredictable.
clonazepam side effects
Common or expected effects
- Daytime sleepiness or fatigue
- Dizziness, light-headedness or unsteadiness
- Muscle weakness
- Disturbed sleep or vivid dreams
- Reduced coordination or slower reactions
Get urgent medical advice
- Slow, difficult or changed breathing
- Severe allergic reaction, including facial or throat swelling
- Marked agitation, aggression, hallucinations or unusual behavioural changes
- Yellow skin or eyes, unusual bruising or bleeding
- Severe loss of coordination, collapse or inability to wake
clonazepam in pregnancy
Clonazepam may be continued during pregnancy when seizure control makes it necessary, but treatment should be reviewed before conception or as soon as pregnancy is known. Late-pregnancy exposure can cause newborn drowsiness, low muscle tone, feeding or breathing problems, or withdrawal. Do not stop abruptly because uncontrolled epilepsy also presents risks.
clonazepam while breastfeeding
Product information advises against breastfeeding during treatment. UK specialist guidance says clonazepam may sometimes be used cautiously while breastfeeding a healthy, full-term infant, with monitoring for unusual sleepiness, slow breathing, poor feeding and inadequate weight gain. Individual specialist assessment is important because its long half-life creates an accumulation risk.
clonazepam interactions
Clonazepam has additive sedative effects and can be affected by medicines that alter hepatic metabolism. Disclose prescription, non-prescription and herbal products.
Opioids, including codeine, morphine, methadone, oxycodone and tramadol
Increased risk of profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma and death.
Alcohol
May markedly increase drowsiness and breathing impairment and make treatment effects unpredictable.
Common questions about clonazepam
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is clonazepam licensed for anxiety in the UK?
Not in the selected product licences, which cover epilepsy. UK patient information describes use for panic disorder, but this is non-licensed for these products.
Can clonazepam make me sleepy?
Yes. Daytime drowsiness is common. Do not drive or operate machinery if affected.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.