Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow It WorksWho Shouldn’t Take ItPotential Side EffectsWarnings and InteractionsProper Disposal
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
How It Works
Who Shouldn’t Take It
Potential Side Effects
Warnings and Interactions
Proper Disposal
Close
Klonopin (clonazepam) is abenzodiazepine medicationapproved to treat seizure and panic disorders. It’s also sometimes used for other mental health disorders that involve feelings of anxiousness, such as being a second-line treatment for social anxiety disorder (SAD).
If you’ve been prescribed Klonopin for anxiety, it’s helpful to understand how this medication works. It’s also important to know Klonopin’s risks, precautions, warnings, and potential drug interactions so you know how to use this drug safely—and to determine if it’s the rightanxiety treatmentfor you. Here we cover all of these and more.
Most Important Information to Know About KlonopinThis drug is addictive, potentially leading to misuse or overdose.Klonopin isn’t recommended if you are sensitive or allergic to benzodiazepines, or if you have a significant liver disease.Serious side effects can occur with Klonopin, especially when combined with opioids.Stopping this medication suddenly can result in withdrawal and lead to a worsening of your condition.
Most Important Information to Know About Klonopin
This drug is addictive, potentially leading to misuse or overdose.Klonopin isn’t recommended if you are sensitive or allergic to benzodiazepines, or if you have a significant liver disease.Serious side effects can occur with Klonopin, especially when combined with opioids.Stopping this medication suddenly can result in withdrawal and lead to a worsening of your condition.
Verywell / JR Bee
How Klonopin Treats Anxiety
Benzodiazepines such as Klonopin slow electrical activity in the brain.This slowed activity helps ease feelings of anxiousness.
In the treatment of SAD, benzodiazepines are often taken with an antidepressant such as aselective serotonin reuptake inhibitor(SSRI).These antidepressants are considered first-line treatments for SAD.However, Klonopin may be added if the person hasn’t responded well to an SSRI alone.
Since it acts quickly, Klonopin can be used when needed, like whenperformance anxietyhits, before giving a big presentation, or meeting a lot of new people.Because anti-anxiety medications such as benzodiazepines run the risk of dependence, they may only be prescribed short term.
RecapKlonopin may help reduce anxiety in a few different ways. Like other benzodiazepines, it causes slowed electrical activity in the brain, which may improve some anxiety symptoms. It also binds to GABA receptors, which can have a calming effect.
Recap
Klonopin may help reduce anxiety in a few different ways. Like other benzodiazepines, it causes slowed electrical activity in the brain, which may improve some anxiety symptoms. It also binds to GABA receptors, which can have a calming effect.
Symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder
Klonopin Dosage
Klonopin comes in tablet form, some of which are orally disintegrating, and available in strengths of 0.5 mg, 1 mg, and 2 mg. A low dose is typically prescribed at first. If this doesn’t relieve symptoms sufficiently, the dosage may be increased. Because benzodiazepines can be habit-forming, Klonopin is usually a short-term treatment.
Who Shouldn’t Take Klonopin
People with certain medical conditions or in specific circumstances that affect their health might not be able to take Klonopin or need to take precautions.This makes it important to tell your care provider about your medical history and work with them to find an anxiety treatment that’s right for you.
Klonopin is not recommended for people who:
Precautions should be taken if you’ve been prescribed Klonopin and:
Klonopin Side Effects
Some people experience side effects when taking Klonopin. SomeKlonopin side effectsare common and mild. Others are more severe, requiring medical attention.
Common Side Effects
The most common adverse effects when taking Klonopin include:
These effects will often go away within a couple of weeks of starting the drug. If they don’t go away or become bothersome, tell your healthcare provider. They may adjust your dosage to relieve the effects or switch you to adifferent anti-anxiety medication.
When you first start taking Klonopin, avoid activities that could be dangerous to you or others until you have adjusted to the medication. Wait until you know how you feel after taking it and how it affects you before you drive, operate heavy machinery, or participate in potentially hazardous activities.
People who are older might be more likely to experience medication side effects, including those that commonly occur with benzodiazepine use. Older people also have an increased risk of falling and negative cognitive effects.
Never stop taking Klonopin abruptly without talking to your care provider, even if you are experiencing side effects. This is because suddenly stopping this medication can worsen your condition or lead to withdrawal symptoms.
While less common, tell your care provider if you experience any of the following effects and they are bothersome or don’t go away: increased saliva, joint or muscle pain, frequent urination, blurry vision, changes in sexual desire, or sexual dysfunction.
Potential Side Effects of Klonopin
Severe Side Effects
Some potential side effects of Klonopin are serious—even life-threatening. If you take Klonopin with alcohol, illicit drugs, or certain other medications (such as opioid painkillers), it increases your risk of serious side effects.
If someone taking Klonopin exhibits the following symptoms, seek immediate medical care:
While not common, Klonopin can also causesuicidal thoughts and ideations. Contact your care provider immediately if you experience any changes in your behavior or mood, such as:
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
Warnings and Interactions for Klonopin
Before taking Klonopin, it’s important to be aware of its risks. Here are some to consider.
Risk of Addition and Misuse
One risk associated with Klonopin is its potential for addiction and misuse, which is why it’s classified as acontrolled substance. This can lead to overdose and even death—particularly when other substances are used at the same time, such as opioids or alcohol.
In 2020, the FDA updated the black box warning on benzodiazepines to call out their potential for addiction, dependence, abuse, and withdrawal.
There is also a risk of dependence when taking Klonopin. Taking the medication daily for longer than two weeks increases your risk ofphysical dependence.
Due to this dependence, stopping Klonopin suddenly can causewithdrawal symptoms, such as seizures, which can be life-threatening. If you want to reduce or stop your dose, talk to your care provider. They can reduce your dosage slowly over time, an approach known as tapering.
Drug Interactions
If you take other medications besides Klonopin, you should be aware of how these medications could affect one another. There are several types, or classes, of prescription drugs that should be used with significant caution when combined with Klonopin. These include:
Some prescription medications can change how much Klonopin is in your body, as well as how well the drug works. Medications that mayincreasethe levels and effects of Klonopin include:
Medications that candecreasethe levels and effects of Klonopin include:
Some people with anxiety disorders also take an antidepressant. You should know thatmonoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)andtricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)canenhancethe depressant or sedative effects of Klonopin.
The effects of Klonopin may be reduced or intensified if it is combined with certain other prescription drugs.
OTC Medications and Supplements
Additionally, some over-the-counter products, herbs, and supplements are not safe to take with Klonopin. That’s why it’s important to tell your physician and/or pharmacist about all medications and substances you use. This includes:
Drinking grapefruit juicemay also pose a risk because grapefruit contains compounds that can change how certain medications work.You might not have to give it up completely, but you might be advised to limit how much you have. Ask your physician if you should avoid it while taking Klonopin.
Proper Disposal of Klonopin
If you have some of this medication that you no longer need, it’s important to dispose of it properly. Prescription medications cannot necessarily be tossed in your trash or flushed down the drain.
To help prevent these outcomes, many hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and other community organizations offer take-back programs for unused or expired medications. If your physician has not given you instructions about what to do with unused Klonopin, ask a pharmacist. They can tell you how to properly dispose of unused medications.
How to Dispose of Unused or Expired Medications
Summary
If you are prescribed Klonopin for anxiety, your physician has decided that this medicine’s benefits outweigh the risks. If you don’t feel that Klonopin is helping you with your symptoms or are experiencing intolerable side effects, there are other medications and treatment options you can try.
In addition to medication, your care provider might recommend engaging in therapy to help ease your anxiety. For example,cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), during which you work with a therapist to learn how to change your thought patterns and behaviors to better handle anxiety-provoking situations, has been found effective for people with anxiety disorders.
Social Anxiety Disorder Treatments
10 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Garakani A, Murrough JW, Freire RC, et al.Pharmacotherapy of anxiety disorders: Current and emerging treatment options.Front Psychiatry. 2020;11. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.595584National Library of Medicine.Clonazepam.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA requiring Boxed Warning updated to improve safe use of benzodiazepine drug class.Roy-Byrne P.Treatment in nonresponsive patients with social anxiety: Back to the future with benzodiazepines.AJP. 2014;171(1):1-4. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2013.13101304Blanco C, Bragdon LB, Schneier FR, Liebowitz MR.The evidence-based pharmacotherapy of social anxiety disorder.Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2013;16(1):235-249. doi:10.1017/S1461145712000119National Institute of Mental Health.Social anxiety disorder: More than just shyness.Sperry L.Mental health and mental disorders: an encyclopedia of conditions, treatments, and well-being.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Grapefruit juice and some drugs don’t mix.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Safe disposal of medicines.Kaczkurkin AN, Foa EB.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders: An update on the empirical evidence.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2015;17(3):337-346. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2015.17.3/akaczkurkinAdditional ReadingNational Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).Clonazepam (Klonopin).U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Klonopin tablets (clonazepam) label.
10 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Garakani A, Murrough JW, Freire RC, et al.Pharmacotherapy of anxiety disorders: Current and emerging treatment options.Front Psychiatry. 2020;11. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.595584National Library of Medicine.Clonazepam.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA requiring Boxed Warning updated to improve safe use of benzodiazepine drug class.Roy-Byrne P.Treatment in nonresponsive patients with social anxiety: Back to the future with benzodiazepines.AJP. 2014;171(1):1-4. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2013.13101304Blanco C, Bragdon LB, Schneier FR, Liebowitz MR.The evidence-based pharmacotherapy of social anxiety disorder.Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2013;16(1):235-249. doi:10.1017/S1461145712000119National Institute of Mental Health.Social anxiety disorder: More than just shyness.Sperry L.Mental health and mental disorders: an encyclopedia of conditions, treatments, and well-being.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Grapefruit juice and some drugs don’t mix.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Safe disposal of medicines.Kaczkurkin AN, Foa EB.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders: An update on the empirical evidence.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2015;17(3):337-346. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2015.17.3/akaczkurkinAdditional ReadingNational Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).Clonazepam (Klonopin).U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Klonopin tablets (clonazepam) label.
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Garakani A, Murrough JW, Freire RC, et al.Pharmacotherapy of anxiety disorders: Current and emerging treatment options.Front Psychiatry. 2020;11. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.595584National Library of Medicine.Clonazepam.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA requiring Boxed Warning updated to improve safe use of benzodiazepine drug class.Roy-Byrne P.Treatment in nonresponsive patients with social anxiety: Back to the future with benzodiazepines.AJP. 2014;171(1):1-4. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2013.13101304Blanco C, Bragdon LB, Schneier FR, Liebowitz MR.The evidence-based pharmacotherapy of social anxiety disorder.Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2013;16(1):235-249. doi:10.1017/S1461145712000119National Institute of Mental Health.Social anxiety disorder: More than just shyness.Sperry L.Mental health and mental disorders: an encyclopedia of conditions, treatments, and well-being.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Grapefruit juice and some drugs don’t mix.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Safe disposal of medicines.Kaczkurkin AN, Foa EB.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders: An update on the empirical evidence.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2015;17(3):337-346. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2015.17.3/akaczkurkin
Garakani A, Murrough JW, Freire RC, et al.Pharmacotherapy of anxiety disorders: Current and emerging treatment options.Front Psychiatry. 2020;11. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.595584
National Library of Medicine.Clonazepam.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA requiring Boxed Warning updated to improve safe use of benzodiazepine drug class.
Roy-Byrne P.Treatment in nonresponsive patients with social anxiety: Back to the future with benzodiazepines.AJP. 2014;171(1):1-4. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2013.13101304
Blanco C, Bragdon LB, Schneier FR, Liebowitz MR.The evidence-based pharmacotherapy of social anxiety disorder.Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2013;16(1):235-249. doi:10.1017/S1461145712000119
National Institute of Mental Health.Social anxiety disorder: More than just shyness.
Sperry L.Mental health and mental disorders: an encyclopedia of conditions, treatments, and well-being.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Grapefruit juice and some drugs don’t mix.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Safe disposal of medicines.
Kaczkurkin AN, Foa EB.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders: An update on the empirical evidence.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2015;17(3):337-346. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2015.17.3/akaczkurkin
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).Clonazepam (Klonopin).U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Klonopin tablets (clonazepam) label.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).Clonazepam (Klonopin).
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Klonopin tablets (clonazepam) label.
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