Klonopin (clonazepam) is a benzodiazepine medication approved 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).1
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 Buy Clonazepam Online if it's the right anxiety treatment for you. Here we cover all of these and more.
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.
How is klonopin used
Verywell / JR Bee
How Klonopin Treats Anxiety
Benzodiazepines such as Klonopin slow electrical activity in the brain.2 This slowed activity helps ease feelings of anxiousness.
It's not clear exactly how Klonopin reduces panic, but its effects are thought to be related to the activation of the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Benzodiazepines calm the brain by binding to GABA receptors.3
In the treatment of SAD, benzodiazepines are often taken with an antidepressant such as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).4 These antidepressants are considered first-line treatments for SAD.1 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 when performance anxiety hits, before giving a big presentation, or meeting a lot of new people.5 Because anti-anxiety medications such as benzodiazepines run the risk of dependence, they may only be prescribed short term.6
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.7 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:
Have a sensitivity to benzodiazepines (such as Ativan, Xanax, or Valium)
Have significant liver disease
Have been diagnosed with acute narrow-angle glaucoma
Precautions should be taken if you've been prescribed Klonopin and:
Have a respiratory disease or any lung issues
Have depression or a history of depression
Have suicidal thoughts or behaviors, or you've had them in the past
Are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding or planning to start
Have any kidney or liver issues
Have been diagnosed with porphyria
Are younger than 18 or older than 64
Klonopin can increase symptoms of depression in some people.7 If you have a history of depression, you will need to be closely monitored by your care providers.
Klonopin Side Effects
Some people experience side effects when taking Klonopin. Some Klonopin side effects are common and mild. Others are more severe, requiring medical attention.
Common Side Effects
The most common adverse effects when taking Klonopin include:
Dizziness
Drowsiness or fatigue
Feeling lightheaded
Trouble concentrating
Impaired coordination
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 a different 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.5
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.2
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.2
If someone taking Klonopin exhibits the following symptoms, seek immediate medical care:
Extreme sleepiness, loss of consciousness, or unresponsiveness. These can be signs that someone has taken too much Klonopin or mixed it with another medication or substance that is causing a reaction.
Trouble breathing, rashes, hives, and swelling of the face, throat, and eyes. These can be signs of an allergic reaction.
While not common, Klonopin can also cause suicidal thoughts and ideations. Contact your care provider immediately if you experience any changes in your behavior or mood, such as:
Problems sleeping or insomnia
New or worsening anxiety or depression
Thinking about dying
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 for 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 our National 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 a controlled 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.3
There is also a risk of dependence when taking Klonopin. Taking the medication daily for longer than two weeks increases your risk of physical dependence.
Due to this dependence, stopping Klonopin suddenly can cause withdrawal 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:
Antipsychotic agents (thioxanthene and butyrophenone classes)
Barbiturates and nonbarbiturate hypnotics
Narcotics
Other anti-anxiety drugs
Phenothiazines (such as Thorazine)
Some prescription medications can change how much Klonopin is in your body, as well as how well the drug works. Medications that may increase the levels and effects of Klonopin include:
Ketoconazole
Luvox (fluvoxamine)
Sporanox (itraconazole)
Nefazodone
Medications that can decrease the levels and effects of Klonopin include:
Dilantin (phenytoin)
Phenobarbital
Tegretol (carbamazepine)
Some people with anxiety disorders also take an antidepressant. You should know that monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) can enhance the 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:
Antihistamines
Cold, cough, and flu symptom relief remedies, especially those that contain certain ingredients, such as dextromethorphan
Kava kava
Magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts)
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)
St. John's wort
Sleep aids, including alternative remedies that contain valerian
Tagamet HB (cimetidine)
Drinking grapefruit juice may also pose a risk because grapefruit contains compounds that can change how certain medications work.8 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.9
When medications are disposed of improperly, they can harm people, animals, and the environment. For example, drugs that are flushed down the toilet end up in the local water supply, and when medications are thrown out in the garbage, they could find their way to a person who would be harmed by taking them or end up on the street where they could be sold illegally.
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.
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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.
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