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What is the most important information I should know about
clonazepam?
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Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other
hazardous activities. Clonazepam will cause drowsiness and may cause
dizziness. If you experience drowsiness or dizziness, avoid these
activities. |
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Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and
dizziness while taking clonazepam. Alcohol may also increase the risk of
having a seizure. |
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Clonazepam may be habit forming. Physical and/ or psychological
dependence can occur, and withdrawal effects are possible if the
medication is stopped suddenly after prolonged or high-dose treatment.
Do not stop taking clonazepam suddenly without first talking to your
doctor if you have been taking it continuously for more than 5 to 7 days.
Your doctor may want to gradually reduce the dose. |
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Clonazepam is in a class of drugs called benzodiazepines. Clonazepam
affects chemicals in your brain that may become unbalanced and cause
seizures or symptoms of panic disorder. |
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Clonazepam is used to treat seizures and panic disorder. |
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Clonazepam may also be used for purposes other than those listed in
this medication guide. |
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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking
clonazepam?
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Do not take clonazepam if you have narrow-angle glaucoma. Clonazepam
may worsen this condition. |
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Before taking this medication, talk to your doctor if you |
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have asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, or another respiratory disease;
or |
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are depressed or have suicidal thoughts. |
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You may not be able to take clonazepam, or you may require a dosage
adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the
conditions listed above. |
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Clonazepam is in the FDA pregnancy category D. This means that it is
known to be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not take clonazepam
without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become
pregnant during treatment. |
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Breast-feeding is not recommended during treatment with clonazepam.
Do not take clonazepam without first talking to your doctor if you are
breast-feeding a baby. |
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How should I take clonazepam?
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Take clonazepam exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not
understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to
explain them to you. |
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Take each regular oral tablet with a full glass of water. Swallow
the tablet whole. |
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The clonazepam orally-disintegrating tablets (Klonopin Wafers) can
be taken without water. Using dry hands, peel back the foil on blister.
Do not push tablet through the foil as this may damage the tablet.
Immediately upon opening the blister, remove the tablet and place it on
the tongue. The tablet must be taken immediately after opening the
blister and not saved for later use. The tablet will disintegrate
rapidly in the mouth and can be easily swallowed with or without liquid. |
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It is important to take clonazepam regularly to get the most benefit. |
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Your doctor may want you to have blood tests or other medical
evaluations during treatment with clonazepam to monitor progress and
side effects. |
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Clonazepam may be habit forming. Physical and/ or psychological
dependence can occur, and withdrawal effects are possible if the
medication is stopped suddenly after prolonged or high-dose treatment.
Do not stop taking clonazepam suddenly without first talking to your
doctor if you have been taking it continuously for more than 5 to 7 days.
Your doctor may want to gradually reduce the dose. |
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Store clonazepam at room temperature away from moisture and heat. |
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What happens if I miss a dose?
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Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is
almost time for the next dose, skip the dose you missed and take only
the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of
this medication. |
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What happens if I overdose?
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Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected. |
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Symptoms of a clonazepam overdose may include drowsiness, dizziness,
confusion, a slow heart beat, difficulty breathing, difficulty walking
and talking, an appearance of being drunk, and unconsciousness. |
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What should I avoid while taking clonazepam?
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Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other
hazardous activities. Clonazepam will cause drowsiness and may cause
dizziness. If you experience drowsiness or dizziness, avoid these
activities. |
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• |
Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and
dizziness while taking clonazepam. Alcohol may also increase your risk
of having a seizure. |
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Clonazepam may increase the effects of other drugs that cause
drowsiness or dizziness, including antidepressants, alcohol, sedatives (used
to treat insomnia), other seizure medicines, pain relievers, anxiety
medicines, muscle relaxants, and antihistamines. Do not drink alcohol
and do not take any medicine without first talking to your doctor while
taking clonazepam. |
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What are the possible side effects of clonazepam?
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If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop
taking clonazepam and seek emergency medical attention or contact your
doctor immediately: |
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an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat;
swelling of the lips, face, or tongue; or hives); |
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yellowing of the skin or eyes; |
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hallucinations or severe confusion; or |
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Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur.
Continue to take clonazepam and talk to your doctor if you experience |
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drowsiness, or dizziness; |
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increased salivation (watering of the mouth); |
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Clonazepam may be habit forming. Physical and/ or psychological
dependence can occur, and withdrawal effects are possible if the
medication is stopped suddenly after prolonged or high-dose treatment.
Do not stop taking clonazepam suddenly without first talking to your
doctor if you have been taking it continuously for more than 5 to 7 days.
Your doctor may want to gradually reduce the dose. |
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Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to
your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is
especially bothersome. |
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What other drugs will affect clonazepam?
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Clonazepam may increase the effects of other drugs that cause
drowsiness or dizziness, including alcohol, sedatives (used to treat
insomnia), other seizure medicines, pain relievers, antidepressants,
anxiety medicines, muscle relaxants, antihistamines, and others. Do not
drink alcohol and do not take any medicine without first talking to your
doctor while taking clonazepam. |
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Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with clonazepam.
Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or
over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal
products. |
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Where can I get more information?
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Your pharmacist has additional information about clonazepam written
for health professionals that you may read. |
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Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of
children, never share your medicines with others, and use this
medication only for the indication prescribed. |
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Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided
by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete,
but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained
herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for
use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and
therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States
are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug
information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend
therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed
to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients
and/ or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and
not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of
healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or
drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug
or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given
patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of
healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The
information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses,
directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions,
or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking,
check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. |
Copyright 1996-2004 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 3.03. Revision date: 7/
29/ 04. |
