Klonopin: Drug Information

Generic name: Clonazepam

Brand Name: Clonex

Other names: Clonotril, Convaclon, Epacon, Epitril, Epizam, Lona, Lonazep, Lonin, Melzap, Ozepam, Petril, Petril-3, Rivotril, Sezolep, Zee

Drug Class: Anticonvulsant

Uses of Klonopin:

Klonopin belongs to the family of anticonvulsant drugs and is used to treat convulsions, atonic seizures, myoclonic seizures, absence seizures, infantile spasms, temporal lobe epilepsy and tonic-clonic seizures. Klonopin is a benzodiazepine also known as Clonazepam and works by raising the threshold for transmission of seizure activity. Klonopin is also used for the treatment of panic disorder with or without agoraphobia. Patients on this medicine tend to show significant improvement within 3 months of administration of the drug.

Dosage:

Klonopin is available in the form of tablets and must be taken as directed by your doctor. You can take the medicine with or without food at regular intervals. DO NOT stop taking the medicine abruptly even if you feel that you are getting better or your symptoms might worsen.

Warning and Precautions:

Klonopin should not be given to patients who are hypersensitive to benzodiazepines.

Avoid administering Klonopin to patients suffering fromacute pulmonary insufficiency and respiratory depression.

This drug is not meant for pregnant or lactating women. Thus, you must notify your doctor if you are pregnant of lactating.

Caution is advised when administering the medicine to neonates and the elderly.

Patients with chronic pulmonary insufficiency, impaired renal or hepatic function and poryphyria must tell their doctor before taking this medicine.

Drug Interactions:

Klonopin should not be co-administered with hydantoins and phenobarbitone as it may aggravate the side effects of these drugs.

It may accentuate the effects of CNS depressants. Therefore, alcohol should not be consumed when taking Klonopin.

Side Effects of Klonopin:

The most common side effects of Clonazepam include drowsiness, somnolence, fatigue, muscular hyptonia, vertigo, dyspepsia, abnormal thirst, sleep disturbances, disturbances in co-ordination, dizziness, loss of sex drive, impotence, skin rashes, flushing of the face, skin pigmentation, dehydration and facial edema. Other side effects that are rare though, life threatening include hypotension, apnea (when combined with alcohol) and blood dyscrasias or thrombocytopenia.