What is Klonopin?
Klonopin is a benzodiazepine (ben-zoe-dye-AZ-eh-peen). It is believed that benzodiazepines increase the neurotransmitters that are active within the brain.
Klonopin can be used to treat a variety of seizures (including absent seizures or Lennox-Gastaut disorder) in adults as well as children. Klonopin can also be employed to treat anxiety disorders (including agoraphobia) in adults.
Warnings
Klonopin can cause breathing to slow or stop, particularly if you've recently consumed an opioid or alcohol, a prescription substance that could reduce your breathing.
Place the medication in a safe place that is secure and where no one else can access it. Do not share Klonopin with someone else. Selling or giving away the drug is a violation of the law. Certain people are prone to thoughts of suicide when taking Klonopin. Inform your doctor immediately if you notice any sudden changes in your mood and behavior or if you are having thoughts about suicide.
Seek medical attention immediately when you stop taking Klonopin or experience any of the symptoms such as abnormal muscle movements, becoming more talkative or active, abrupt and extreme changes in your mood or behavior such as hallucinations, confusion, seizures, or thoughts of suicide.
Don't stop taking Klonopin without consulting your physician. There is a risk of dangerous withdrawal symptoms if you suddenly stop using the medication after long-term usage. The withdrawal symptoms can last for 12 months or more.
Before you Take this Drug
It is best not to consume Klonopin if you suffer from:
- Narrow-angle glaucoma;
- Liver disease that is severe or
- An allergy history with any of the benzodiazepines (clonazepam, diazepam, alprazolam, lorazepam, Valium, Xanax, Versed, and more). To ensure that Klonopin is safe for you, inform your doctor if you have previously had:
- The liver or kidneys are infected;
- Breathing issues;
- Depression mood issues suicidal thoughts, suicidal behaviors.
- Porphyria (a genetic disorder of enzymes that can cause symptoms in the nervous system or skin).
There are people who think about suicide when taking Klonopin. Keep an eye on shifts in mood or symptoms. Your caregivers or family members are also required to be on the lookout for abrupt changes in your behavior.
Inform your doctor if you're pregnant or planning to be pregnant. If you take Klonopin while pregnant, the baby may be born with withdrawal symptoms that could be life-threatening and could require medical attention for a few weeks.
Do not take or stop medication for seizures during pregnancy without a physician's approval. Clonazepam may harm the unborn baby; however, experiencing a seizure during pregnancy could be harmful to both mom and child. The benefits of preventing seizures could outweigh the dangers. Inform your doctor as soon as you discover that you are pregnant.
Consult your doctor to determine whether it is safe to breastfeed while taking this medicine. Don't give the medication to a child unless you have medical guidance. Klonopin does not have approval for the treatment of panic disorder in anyone younger than 18.
How to Take Klonopin?
Use Klonopin exactly as directed by your physician. Follow the instructions on your prescription label and go through all the medication guides or instruction sheets. Do not take Klonopin in greater quantities or for a longer period than what is prescribed. Talk to your doctor if you have a strong urge to take the drug. Don't share this medicine with anyone else, particularly someone who has an addiction history. Misusing the medicine can lead to addiction, overdose, or even death. Place the medicine in a location where other people are not able to access it. Giving away or selling this medicine is against the law. Drink the tablet completely while drinking a full glass of water. Clonazepam dosages are based on the weight of children and teens.
The dose for your child could alter if your child weighs more or less.Your doctor should examine your health frequently.Consult your physician if the medicine isn't functioning as well when treating the seizures you experience as well as anxiety attacks.
Do not stop taking Klonopin without consulting with your physician. There is a risk of developing severe withdrawal symptoms that could be life-threatening if you suddenly quit using the medication after long-term usage. Seizures are usually treated with the help of several drugs. Follow all medications as recommended by your physician. Take note of the medication guide or patient's directions that are included with every medication. Don't change your dosages or schedule of medication without the advice of your physician. Place it in a cool, dry place far from heat, moisture, and light. Make sure you keep track of your medication. It is important to be aware if someone is taking it incorrectly or without a prescription.
What Happens If I Miss a Dose?
You should take the medication as quickly as you can. However, avoid any missed doses if it's close to the time of the next dose. Don't take two doses at a time.
What Happens If I Overdose?
For medical emergencies, seek immediate attention and make a call to emergency medical attention, or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. A clonazepam overdose can cause death when taken in combination with alcohol, opioid medications, or other substances that induce drowsiness or slow your breathing. The symptoms of an overdose can include extreme drowsiness and muscle weakness, confusion, or even coma.
Avoid this
Avoid drinking or consuming alcohol. Dangerous side effects or even death may occur. Avoid driving and other hazardous activities until you are aware of the effects of this medication. Dizziness or drowsiness may cause accidents, falls, or serious injuries.
Side Effects of Klonopin
Seek medical attention immediately. If you are experiencing symptoms of an allergy reaction with Klonopin, such as hives, breathing difficulties, or swelling of your lips, face, and throat,
Clonazepam can cause a slowing or stopping of breathing, particularly if you've recently consumed alcohol or an opioid. Someone who cares for you needs to seek urgent medical treatment if you suffer from prolonged breathing, pauses in your breathing, blue-colored lips, or if you find it difficult to get up. Inform your doctor immediately if you notice any recent or sudden changes in your mood or behavior, such as the onset of depression or, even worse, anxiety or panic attacks and trouble sleeping. Also, when you feel insanely angry, frustrated, or aggressive, anxious, more active, and talkative, or if you have thoughts of suicide or harming yourself.
Contact your doctor immediately if you are suffering from:
- New or worsening seizures;
- Severe drowsiness;
- Breathing that is shallow or weak;
- Strange shifts in mood or behavior;
- Confusion, paranoia, nightmares, and hallucinations;
- Thoughts of suicide or harming yourself
- Eye movements that are unusual or irregular
The symptoms of dizziness and drowsiness may persist for longer in older individuals. Be careful to stay away from falls or injuries that are accidental.
Common Klonopin side effects can include:
- Drowsiness, dizziness;
- Being depressed or tired;
- Memory issues memory issues
- Issues with walking or coordination.
When you have stopped using Klonopin, consult a doctor immediately if you notice symptoms that are unusual, such as muscle movements, becoming more talkative or active, or experiencing sudden and extreme changes in behavior or mood such as hallucinations, confusion, seizures, or suicidal thoughts or behavior. Certain withdrawal symptoms can last for a period of 12 months or more when you stop this medication abruptly. Consult your physician if you are suffering from ongoing depression, anxiety, and memory problems, as well as difficulty thinking, difficulty sleeping, ringing in your ears, or a burning or prickly feeling or sensation on your skin.
This is not a comprehensive list of all the side effects. Other side effects could occur. Consult your physician to seek medical advice on adverse effects. You can report any adverse reactions to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Interaction with Other Drugs
Utilizing Klonopin in conjunction with other medications that cause you to become restless or cause your breathing to slow down can result in dangerous negative side effects or even deaths. Ask your doctor prior to taking opioids, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, or medication to treat seizures or anxiety. Other medications can interfere with clonazepam. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Discuss with your physician all the other medications you take.
