Doctors tend to prescribe these to treat anxiety and panic disorders. The most common use of Xanax is as an antianxiety medication. Pharmaceutical company Upjohn created this drug in , and doctors now write more than 50 million prescriptions for Xanax each year. Clonazepam can help treat seizure disorders, among other things.
It is an anticonvulsant and antiepileptic medication. Doctors may also prescribe clonazepam for panic disorder. Xanax and clonazepam both affect the CNS and have the potential for misuse, with some people becoming dependent on them.
Xanax is a useful medication for people who experience panic attacks. The drug helps relieve the symptoms and reduce the frequency of attacks. Some doctors prescribe Xanax for depression , but there is limited evidence to suggest that it is effective unless the person also has anxiety. Clonazepam is also a benzodiazepine. Doctors use it to treat seizure disorders in both adults and children. It can help address chemical imbalances in the brain and reduce the number of panic attacks.
A lack of GABA activity can cause people to become excitable and may lead to panic attacks or seizures. Having more GABA activity in the body helps reduce instances of panic attacks and seizures. At first glance, Xanax and clonazepam are very similar.
Both medications are benzodiazepines, CNS depressants, and ways of treating anxiety or panic attacks. Both are short acting drugs, but clonazepam stays in the body for longer than Xanax. The half-life of Xanax is 6—25 hours , while for clonazepam, it is 22—54 hours. Clonazepam can also treat seizures, whereas Xanax does not. Both drugs have their different off-label uses, which the sections below will look at in more detail.
Dosages usually differ depending on the individual and the condition that a doctor is trying to treat. For panic and anxiety, the dosage for adults is 0.
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Know the warning signs Learn the common signs of mental illness in adults and adolescents. Mental health conditions Learn more about common mental health conditions that affect millions. When starting clonazepam, anxiety or insomnia may improve rapidly or over a period of days. Avoid alcohol while taking this medication. Regarding breastfeeding, caution is advised since clonazepam does pass into breast milk. Symptoms of your condition that bother you the most If you have thoughts of suicide or harming yourself Medications you have taken in the past for your condition, whether they were effective or caused any adverse effects If you experience side effects from your medications, discuss them with your health care provider.
Some side effects may pass with time, but others may require changes in the medication. Any other psychiatric or medical problems you have including obstructive sleep apnea All other medications you are currently taking including over the counter products and herbal and nutritional supplements and any medication allergies you have Other non-medication treatment you are receiving such as talk therapy or substance abuse treatment.
Your provider can explain how these different treatments work with the medication If you are elderly or are prone to falls If you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding If you have acute narrow-angle glaucoma or untreated open-angle glaucoma If you have liver disease If you have phenylketonuria PKU If you drink alcohol or use drugs How Should I Take Clonazepam?
Clonazepam may be taken with or without food. Take with food if you experience an upset stomach. Symptoms of overdose include confusion, impaired coordination, slow reflexes, coma, and death. It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location — one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach.
Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them.
However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program.
In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory.
Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your response to clonazepam. Do not let anyone else take your medication. Clonazepam is a controlled substance. Prescriptions may be refilled only a limited number of times; ask your pharmacist if you have any questions. It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription over-the-counter medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements.
You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies. Clonazepam pronounced as kloe na' ze pam. Why is this medication prescribed? How should this medicine be used?
Other uses for this medicine What special precautions should I follow? What special dietary instructions should I follow? What should I do if I forget a dose?
What side effects can this medication cause? For people with liver disease: If a person has liver problems, their body may not be able to clear this drug well.
This can cause the drug to build up in the body. This puts them at a higher risk for side effects. For pregnant women: Clonazepam is a category D pregnancy drug. That means two things:. A person should talk to their doctor if they are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
This drug should be used only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. A person should call their doctor right away if they become pregnant while taking this drug.
For women who are breastfeeding: Clonazepam passes into breast milk and causes side effects in a child who is breastfed. A person should talk to their doctor if they breastfeed their child. They may need to decide whether to stop breastfeeding or stop taking this medication.
For seniors: The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. Clonazepam can interact with several other medications. Different interactions can cause different effects. For instance, some can interfere with how well a drug works, while others can cause increased side effects.
Below is a list of medications that can interact with Clonazepam. This list does not contain all drugs that may interact with Clonazepam. Before taking Clonazepam, a person should be sure to tell their doctor and pharmacist about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs they take. They should also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements they use.
Sharing this information can help avoid potential interactions. If a person has questions about drug interactions that may affect them, they should ask their doctor or pharmacist. Taking clonazepam with certain other medications may cause more side effects. Examples of these drugs include:. A prescription for this medication is refillable. However, clonazepam is a schedule IV controlled substance. Therefore, a prescription for this drug may be refilled no more than five times.
Also, a person can only get refills for six months after the date their doctor wrote the original prescription. After that time, they will need a new prescription. A person and their doctor should monitor certain health issues. This can help make sure they stay safe while they take this drug.
These issues include:.
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