Clonazepam (Klonopin)

Watson Pills Containing Clonazepam

What sort of medication is Clonazepam?

Clonazepam is a highly potent anticonvulsant, amnestic, anxiolytic and muscle relaxant. 1mg of Clonazepam is approximately equal in effect to 20mg of Diazepam.

In the United States, Clonazepam is better known under the trade name Klonopin. In Europe, Canada, Australia, South America and India it is distributed under the brand name Rivotril.

Clonazepam is one of the benzodiazepines. Like other benzodiazepines, Clonazepam acts on our benzodiazepine receptors, performing an inhibitory effects on the central nervous system. It is used as an anticonvulsant, amnestic, anxiolytic and muscle relaxant. The medication may be used to treat anxiety disorders and panic attacks. It is also used in cases of amphetamine overdose in order to reverse some of the adverse effects.

In adults, Clonazepam is sometimes used in the short-term treatment of refractory epilepsies. It has also been used in the management of seizure disorders in children and for infantile spasms. However, long-term efficacy of the medication is not proved because the body quickly develops tolerance or even physical dependence to it. Clonazepam also has a deleterious effect on neurological function, especially a negative effect on cognition.

Clonazepam is sometimes used to help with Methadone withdrawal symptoms.

The half-life of the medication is from 18 up to 50 hours. The long-lasting effects of Clonazepam makes it hardly advisable for the treatment of insomnia.

Long-term use of the medication (more than 2–4 weeks) can lead to developing a withdrawal syndrome upon discontinuation. Abrupt discontinuation of Clonazepam may cause unpleasant symptoms (like anxiety, insomnia, depression, numbness in limbs, tremor, cramps and weakness), so the doses of the medication have to be reduced gradually. From 10% to 15% of patients develop a protracted withdrawal syndrome which can last for months, years, or a lifetime.

Clonazepam should be administered to patients under 18 years and to the elderly with great caution. Clonazepam usage in little children may be especially hazardous.

Clonazepam was approved in the United States as a generic drug in 1997 and is now manufactured and marketed by several companies, including Watson Pharmaceuticals and Roche.

In the USA, Clonazepam (Klonopin) is a Schedule IV controlled substance, available under prescription only.

In Watson products, Clonazepam is found in dosages of: