Klonopin

Medically Reviewed by Harshi Dhingra, M.D.

Last Reviewed: Jun 23, 2022

Warnings

What are the risks of taking Klonopin (clonazepam)?

Klonopin can cause serious health problems, especially in certain high-risk groups. Some of the potential dangers of Klonopin use include:

Interaction with opioid drugs and alcohol: When Klonopin is taken with opioid drugs, it can lead to severe drowsiness, difficulty breathing, and even death. The risk is also present in people who take Klonopin with alcohol, especially at higher doses or for a longer duration. If you develop breathing problems or trouble staying awake, please seek medical attention immediately.
Habit-forming and withdrawal: Taking Klonopin at a high dose or for a long time and then abruptly stopping it can lead to withdrawal symptoms, including worsening seizures. Do not stop taking Klonopin without talking to the prescribing doctor first. Also, Klonopin can be habit-forming. Make sure you take this medication exactly as prescribed to lower the risk of dependence.
Suicidal ideation: There can be unexpected changes in mental health while on Klonopin. A small number of people can become suicidal on this medicine with thoughts about harming or killing themselves. These suicidal thoughts and behaviors can occur as early as one week after starting Klonopin. Talk to your doctor and decide whether the risk of taking Klonopin is greater than the risk of not taking this medication. Call your doctor right away if you experience symptoms such as agitation, restlessness, irritability, aggressiveness, anger, violent behavior, mania (abnormally excited mood), panic attacks, anxiety, depression, dangerous impulses, sleep problems, or thoughts about hurting yourself or ending your life. Make sure that your family members know which symptoms can be serious so that they can call your doctor if you cannot do so yourself.
Drowsiness: One of the common side effects of Klonopin is that it can make you sleepy and affect your ability to concentrate. Do not drive or do anything that requires you to be alert if you are feeling sleepy. Instead, wait to see how this medicine affects you. The risk of drowsiness is higher in people who are on other drugs that cause drowsiness and those using alcohol or illicit drugs.
Pregnancy risks: Taking clonazepam (Klonopin) during pregnancy can be harmful to the unborn baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about other treatment options for your condition if you are pregnant, could be pregnant, or plan to become pregnant.

Your doctor can prescribe other medications to treat panic disorder or seizure disorder if you are at high risk of these complications.

What should I tell my doctor before starting Klonopin (clonazepam)?

Tell your doctor if you have an allergy to clonazepam, any of the active or inactive ingredients in Klonopin, another benzodiazepine drug, or any other medication. Your pharmacy can provide you with a list of ingredients.

Be sure to tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions. Klonopin may not be suitable for people with certain medical conditions like lung disease, kidney disease, or liver disease. Tell your doctor if you have glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye). Your doctor may decide Klonopin is not right for you.

Give your doctor a complete list of your current medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, dietary supplements, and natural products, especially products containing St. John’s Wort. This can help avoid serious drug interactions and side effects.

If you are over 65 years of age, talk to your doctor about the risks of being on Klonopin. Older individuals may need to be placed on a lower dose of this medicine because higher doses can cause serious side effects.

Klonopin is not safe for use during pregnancy. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, could be pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.

What precautions should I take while on Klonopin (clonazepam)?

Keep all your healthcare appointments while on Klonopin treatment to ensure proper medical care is provided. Your doctor may change your dose based on response and monitor you carefully for side effects.

Klonopin can make you drowsy and dizzy. Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do anything that requires attention and focus before knowing how this medicine affects you.

Remember that drinking alcohol while on Klonopin is not advisable. This can increase your risk of serious and potentially life-threatening side effects.

Call your doctor if you become pregnant while on Klonopin treatment. This medicine can cause harm to an unborn baby.

Tell your healthcare providers you are on Klonopin before undergoing any surgery, including dental surgery.

Get medical help immediately if you experience symptoms such as mental health changes, suicidal thoughts or behaviors, difficulty breathing, severe rash, confusion, hallucinations, new or worsening seizures, or problems with balance and coordination.

What are Klonopin (clonazepam) interactions?

Taking Klonopin with certain other medications can affect how well this medicine works. Drug interactions can also increase the risk of serious adverse effects. Your physician may choose a different medication for you, change the dose or frequency of your medicines, and/or monitor you carefully for side effects if there are known interactions between Klonopin and any of your other medicines.

There can be interactions between Klonopin and medicines such as:

certain heart medications (Cordarone, Nexterone, Pacerone)
certain antifungal medications
certain antibiotics
certain calcium channel blockers
antihistamines, cold and allergy medications
certain antacids such as cimetidine (Tagamet)
certain HIV medications
medications used to treat anxiety, other mental illness medications
medications used to treat seizures
certain muscle relaxants
rifampin
nefazodone
certain selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
sedatives, sleeping pills, and tranquilizers

This list does not describe all possible Klonopin drug interactions. Give your healthcare provider a complete list of your medications, including prescription and non-prescription drugs, vitamins and dietary supplements, and herbal remedies. Also, tell your healthcare provider if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use recreational drugs because some of these substances can cause serious health complications when used with Klonopin.

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