Get Informed: Clonazepam
Active Ingredient(s)
Clonazepam
What does it do?
This product is primarily used for the treatment of seizures and panic disorders. It is a benzodiazepine medication, and works at multiple sites in the brain.
- Last Text Update:
- 2009-Nov-04 9:48 PM
- Last Data Update:
- 2009-Nov-04 6:26 AM
Other Names
- Clonazepam
- Klonopin
- Klonopin Wafers
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category:
- D
- Black Box Warning:
- No
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 04 Jun 1975
- Est US Patients*
- 3,009,000
- Generic Available
- Yes
- OTC Available
- No
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Clonazepam or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Recent alerts for Clonazepam
- Recall on Single lot of Klonopin Wafers (clonazepam orally disintegrating wafers)
- New FDA Warning on Seizure Medications
Clonazepam Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
- Please login or register (it's free) so iGuard can check how Clonazepam interacts with other drugs and diseases in your profile.
What is Clonazepam used for?
iGuard.org is currently tracking more than 17,300 patients that use Clonazepam (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Anxiety | 66% | 
|
| Panic Disorder | 30% |
|
| Insomnia | 18% |
|
| Depression | 15% |
|
| Restless Leg Syndrome | 14% |
|
| Bipolar Disorder | 9% |
|
| Epilepsy / Seizures | 3% |
|
| Post Traumatic Stress Disorder | 2% |
|
| Muscle Spasms | 2% |
|
| Multiple Sclerosis | 2% | 
|
| Other | 10% |
|
How well does Clonazepam work?
iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 17,300 users taking Clonazepam (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 79%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Clonazepam outweigh the bad things.
- 25%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Clonazepam.
Common Side Effects of Clonazepam
iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 17,300 users taking Clonazepam (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
38% of patients experience side-effects on Clonazepam
6% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Clonazepam
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Drowsiness
-
Fatigue
-
Grogginess/Confusion
-
Dizziness
-
Mental Haziness
-
Addiction
-
Memory/Speech Problems
-
= 10%
Less than 1%: Blurred Vision, Breathlessness, Depression, Dry Mouth, Elevated Heart Rate, Headache, Insomnia, Mood/Behavior Changes, Sexual Problems, Sleep Problems, Tremor, Weakness, Weight Gain
Medication Comments for Clonazepam
Question/Comment:
I have been on Clonzepam for about 4 years. I use it for most of what it is to be used for. Have decreased to .5mg twice daily. Tried to get off completely with a gradual decrease. Did not work, the drug seems to have an adictive quality to it. But it works.
66 year old Male
Posted: 2009-10-14 17:21:00
Question/Comment:
I have been on Clonazepam for almost 12months. I also take Citalaprom (anti-depressant) and 150mg Thyroxine. My condition came on suddenly one day. I was unable to put a drink to my mouth, it started with a tremor in my right hand, facial tics and within 4 days i was stuttering that bad i was unable to talk and the tremor became so bad i couldn't use a mouse or write. The doctors gave me a concotion of meds as they were unsure of what i had, Parkinsons, MS, Motor Neuron Disease and finally Tourettes. I am not confident in the diagnosis.
I am allways extremely tired to the point i don't feel like myself, my memory is affected, i walk into a room and don't know why i am there. I go to work and can't remember what i have done the previous day and have to double check everything. I am always bumping ito things and have bruises and i don't know how i got them.
The medication has helped with the tremor and the speech, however i have now been diagnosed with an iron defeciency and suffer from kidney infections and sever depression. I am considering going off of the clonazepam to help with the depression and fatigue.
38 year old Female
Posted: 2009-10-10 22:58:25
Answer/Reply:
Well anything the clonazepam should be helping with the facial tics and tremors because i had bad tremors and shaking in the right had, klonopin is a sedative that acts in the brain to relief stress and anxiety.
16 year old Male
Posted: 2009-11-02 17:46:02
Question/Comment:
This medication caused me to start having more panic attacks and (new to me) actual seizures. I thought I was just going crazy there for a while. I'm through with benzos and anti-psychotics though (which make me zombified)... I have found a homeopathic product called Calms Forte that does just as well as a benzo for my anxiety and just as well as an anti-depressant for my depression. I don't build a tolerance to it, either.
25 year old Female
Posted: 2009-09-21 23:10:52
Question/Comment:
I've only been takin Klonopin for 2 years and have noticed significant memory loss, can't remember ppls names sometimes (and I've known them for years) I stagger, and studder have lots of bruises from bumping into things and as a result of being so tired to even get up half the time, I have gained 50 lbs.
However, I do like that it has worked better for me than any other panic disorder medications. I really hate the tiredness though. My psychiatrist has cut me down on it and I've been very sick from the withdrawls even though she's cut me down only by a little bit, I see it's going to be a long hard road to get off of these, and even then I don't know what I'm going to do about my panic attacks. 30yr old female
30 year old Female
Posted: 2009-09-18 13:02:34
Answer/Reply:
i have been on klonopin for about a year now and i haven't had any memory loss or weight gain. my dosage is 1mg four times a day, however, i did notice that if i haven't taken it for a couple of days that i have moderate/severe panic attacks to the point that i think i am having a heart attack. due to that i had my doctor order blood work and chest x-rays, with the results of the tests all being normal. so, it was indeed panic attacks, now i am scared to ever try to reduce the dosage to eventually be able to discontinue the medication. :(
25 year old Female
Posted: 2009-09-28 15:51:42
Question/Comment:
Itake synthroid, maxcide baby aspirin cozaar, antenonol and clonazepan each day and a pain pill and ibuprofin on a off for a pinched nerve. Do these interact in a serious way.
Please let me know. I also take crestor and I have had charlie horses in my legs hands and fingers and toes often and muscle pain on and off with some weakness. Should this be discontinued. I am a bit concerned but my doctor is not and isnt worried about my symptoms.
JoAnn Z.
62 year old Female
Posted: 2009-09-18 10:29:01
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
The iGuard drug interaction did not find any serious interactions between your medications. Some of the medications have similar side effects, so when you use them together you are more likely to experience side effects. Crestor can cause some muscle and joint pain without being a serious side effect. It depends on how these symptoms affect your quality of life. If your blood work with electrolytes has not been checked recently, you could ask to have them checked to make sure there is not another underlying cause for your muscle pain or cramps.
Posted: 2009-09-26 00:33:12
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Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard.org user may post questions and reply.
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Patient Comments about
Clonazepam