Seizure Disorders: Clonazepam is useful alone or as an adjunct in the treatment of the Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (petit mal variant), akinetic and myoclonic seizures. In patients with absence seizures (petit mal) who have failed to respond to succinimides, clonazepam may be useful. In some studies, up to 30% of patients have shown a loss of anticonvulsant activity, often within three months of administration. In som...
Clonazepam is available as a tablet. The tablets should be administered with water by swallowing the tablet whole. Adults: The initial dose for adults with seizure disorders should not exceed 1.5 mg/day divided into three doses. Dosage may be increased in increments of 0.5 to 1 mg every 3 days until seizures are adequately controlled or until side effects preclude any further increase. Maintenance dosage must be i...
Clonazepam Tablets USP, a benzodiazepine for oral administration, contain 0.5 mg, 1 mg or 2 mg clonazepam. In addition each tablet contains the following inactive ingredients: docusate sodium, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium benzoate, and sodium starch glycolate. The 0.5 mg tablets also contain D&C yellow #10 aluminum lake. The 1 mg tablets also contain: D&C yellow #10 aluminum lake and FD&C blue #1 aluminum lake.
Chemically, clonazepam is 5-(o-Chlorophenyl)-1,3-dihydro-7-nitro-2 H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one. It is a light yellow crystalline powder. It has the following structural formula:
The precise mechanism by which clonazepam exerts its antiseizure and antipanic effects is unknown, although it is believed to be related to its ability to enhance the activity of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. Convulsions produced in rodents by pentylenetetrazol or, to a lesser extent, electrical stimulation are antagonized, as are convulsions produced by photic stimulation in susceptible baboons. A taming effect in aggressive primates, muscle weakness and hypnosis are also produced. In humans, clonazepam is capable of suppressing the spike and wave discharge in absence seizures (petit mal) and decreasing the frequency, amplitude, duration and spread of discharge in minor motor seizures.
Clonazepam is rapidly and completely absorbed after oral administration. The absolute bioavailability of clonazepam is about 90%. Maximum plasma concentrations of clonazepam are reached within 1 to 4 hours after oral administration. Clonazepam is approximately 85% bound to plasma proteins. Clonazepam is highly metabolized, with less than 2% unchanged clonazepam being excreted in the urine. Biotransformation occurs mainly by reduction of the 7-nitro group to the 4-amino derivative. This derivative can be acetylated, hydroxylated, and glucuronidated. Cytochrome P-450 including CYP3A, may play an important role in clonazepam reduction and oxidation. The elimination half-life of clonazepam is typically 30 to 40 hours. Clonazepam pharmacokinetics are dose-independent throughout the dosing range. There is no evidence that clonazepam induces its own metabolism or that of other drugs in humans.
Pharmacokinetics in Demographic Subpopulations and in Disease States
Controlled studies examining the influence of gender and age on clonazepam pharmacokinetics have not been conducted, nor have the effects of renal or liver disease on clonazepam pharmacokinetics been studied. Because clonazepam undergoes hepatic metabolism, it is possible that liver disease will impair clonazepam elimination. Thus, caution should be exercised when administering clonazepam to these patients.
Panic Disorder: The effectiveness of clonazepam in the treatment of panic disorder was demonstrated in two double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of adult outpatients who had a primary diagnosis of panic disorder (DSM-lllR) with or without agoraphobia. In these studies, clonazepam was shown to be significantly more effective than placebo in treating panic disorder on change from baseline in panic attack frequency, the Clinician’s Global Impression Severity of Illness Score and the Clinician’s Global Impression Improvement Score.
Study 1 was a 9-week, fixed-dose study involving clonazepam doses of 0.5, 1, 2, 3, or 4 mg/day or placebo. This study was conducted in four phases: a 1-week placebo lead-in, a 3-week upward titration, a 6-week fixed dose and a 7-week discontinuance phase. A significant difference from placebo was observed consistently only for the 1 mg/day group. The difference between the 1 mg dose group and placebo in reduction from baseline in the number of full panic attacks was approximately 1 panic attack per week. At endpoint, 74% of patients receiving clonazepam 1 mg/day were free of full panic attacks, compared to 56% of placebo-treated patients.
Study 2 was a 6-week, flexible-dose study involving clonazepam in a dose range of 0.5 to 4 mg/day or placebo. This study was conducted in three phases: a 1-week placebo lead-in, a 6-week optimal-dose and a 6-week discontinuance phase. The mean clonazepam dose during the optimal dosing period was 2.3 mg/day. The difference between clonazepam and placebo in reduction from baseline in the number of full panic attacks was approximately 1 panic attack per week. At endpoint, 62% of patients receiving clonazepam were free of full panic attacks, compared to 37% of placebo-treated patients.
Subgroup analyses did not indicate that there were any differences in treatment outcomes as a function of race or gender.
Seizure Disorders: Clonazepam is useful alone or as an adjunct in the treatment of the Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (petit mal variant), akinetic and myoclonic seizures. In patients with absence seizures (petit mal) who have failed to respond to succinimides, clonazepam may be useful.
In some studies, up to 30% of patients have shown a loss of anticonvulsant activity, often within three months of administration. In some cases, dosage adjustment may re-establish efficacy.
Panic Disorder: Clonazepam is indicated for the treatment of panic disorder, with or without agoraphobia, as defined in DSM-IV. Panic disorder is characterized by the occurrence of unexpected panic attacks and associated concern about having additional attacks, worry about the implications or consequences of the attacks, and/or a significant change in behavior related to the attacks.
The efficacy of clonazepam was established in two 6- to 9-week trials in panic disorder patients whose diagnoses corresponded to the DSM-lllR category of panic disorder (seeCLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY: Clinical Trials).
Panic disorder (DSM-IV) is characterized by recurrent unexpected panic attacks, i.e., a discrete period of intense fear or discomfort in which four (or more) of the following symptoms develop abruptly and reach a peak within 10 minutes: (1) palpitations, pounding heart or accelerated heart rate; (2) sweating; (3) trembling or shaking; (4) sensations of shortness of breath or smothering; (5) feeling of choking; (6) chest pain or discomfort; (7) nausea or abdominal distress; (8) feeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded or faint; (9) derealization (feelings of unreality) or depersonalization (being detached from oneself); (10) fear of losing control; (11) fear of dying; (12) paresthesias (numbness or tingling sensations); (13) chills or hot flushes.
The effectiveness of clonazepam in long-term use, that is, for more than 9 weeks, has not been systematically studied in controlled clinical trials. The physician who elects to use clonazepam for extended periods should periodically re-evaluate the long-term usefulness of the drug for the individual patient (seeDOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION).
Clonazepam should not be used in patients with a history of sensitivity to benzodiazepines, nor in patients with clinical or biochemical evidence of significant liver disease. It may be used in patients with open angle glaucoma who are receiving appropriate therapy but is contraindicated in acute narrow angle glaucoma.
Since clonazepam produces CNS depression, patients receiving this drug should be cautioned against engaging in hazardous occupations requiring mental alertness, such as operating machinery or driving a motor vehicle. They should also be warned about the concomitant use of alcohol or other CNS-depressant drugs during clonazepam therapy (seePRECAUTIONS: Drug Interactions andInformation for Patients).
Data from several sources raise concerns about the use of clonazepam during pregnancy.
In three studies in which clonazepam was administered orally to pregnant rabbits at doses of 0.2, 1, 5, or 10 mg/kg/day (low dose approximately 0.2 times the maximum recommended human dose of 20 mg/day for seizure disorders and equivalent to the maximum dose of 4 mg/day for panic disorder, on a mg/m2 basis) during the period of organogenesis, a similar pattern of malformations (cleft palate, open eyelid, fused sternebrae and limb defects) was observed in a low, non-dose-related incidence in exposed litters from all dosage groups. Reductions in maternal weight gain occurred at dosages of 5 mg/kg/day or greater and reduction in embryo-fetal growth occurred in one study at a dosage of 10 mg/kg/day. No adverse maternal or embryo-fetal effects were observed in mice and rats following administration during organogenesis of oral doses up to 15 mg/kg/day or 40 mg/kg/day, respectively (4 and 20 times the maximum recommended human dose of 20 mg/day for seizure disorders and 20 and 100 times the maximum dose of 4 mg/day for panic disorder, respectively, on a mg/m2 basis).
Recent reports suggest an association between the use of anticonvulsant drugs by women with epilepsy and an elevated incidence of birth defects in children born to these women. Data are more extensive with respect to diphenylhydantoin and phenobarbital, but these are also the most commonly prescribed anticonvulsants; less systematic or anecdotal reports suggest a possible similar association with the use of all known anticonvulsant drugs.
In children of women treated with drugs for epilepsy, reports suggesting an elevated incidence of birth defects cannot be regarded as adequate to prove a definite cause and effect relationship. There are intrinsic methodologic problems in obtaining adequate data on drug teratogenicity in humans; the possibility also exists that other factors, (e.g., genetic factors or the epileptic condition itself), may be more important than drug therapy in leading to birth defects. The great majority of mothers on anticonvulsant medication deliver normal infants. It is important to note that anticonvulsant drugs should not be discontinued in patients in whom the drug is administered to prevent seizures because of the strong possibility of precipitating status epilepticus with attendant hypoxia and threat to life. In individual cases where the severity and frequency of the seizure disorder are such that the removal of medication does not pose a serious threat to the patient, discontinuation of the drug may be considered prior to and during pregnancy; however, it cannot be said with any confidence that even mild seizures do not pose some hazards to the developing embryo or fetus.
An increased risk of congenital malformations associated with the use of benzodiazepine drugs has been suggested in several studies.
There may also be non-teratogenic risks associated with the use of benzodiazepines during pregnancy. There have been reports of neonatal flaccidity, respiratory and feeding difficulties, and hypothermia in children born to mothers who have been receiving benzodiazepines late in pregnancy. In addition, children born to mothers receiving benzodiazepines late in pregnancy may be at some risk of experiencing withdrawal symptoms during the postnatal period.
In general, the use of clonazepam in women of childbearing potential, and more specifically during known pregnancy, should be considered only when the clinical situation warrants the risk to the fetus.
The specific considerations addressed above regarding the use of anticonvulsants for epilepsy in women of childbearing potential should be weighed in treating or counseling these women.
Because of experience with other members of the benzodiazepine class, clonazepam is assumed to be capable of causing an increased risk of congenital abnormalities when administered to a pregnant woman during the first trimester. Because use of these drugs is rarely a matter of urgency in the treatment of panic disorder, their use during the first trimester should almost always be avoided. The possibility that a woman of childbearing potential may be pregnant at the time of institution of therapy should be considered. If this drug is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus. Patients should also be advised that if they become pregnant during therapy or intend to become pregnant, they should communicate with their physician about the desirability of discontinuing the drug.
Withdrawal symptoms of the barbiturate type have occurred after the discontinuation of benzodiazepines (seeDRUG ABUSE AND DEPENDENCE).
When used in patients in whom several different types of seizure disorders coexist, clonazepam may increase the incidence or precipitate the onset of generalized tonic-clonic seizures (grand mal). This may require the addition of appropriate anticonvulsants or an increase in their dosages. The concomitant use of valproic acid and clonazepam may produce absence status.
Periodic blood counts and liver function tests are advisable during long-term therapy with clonazepam.
The abrupt withdrawal of clonazepam, particularly in those patients on long-term, high-dose therapy, may precipitate status epilepticus. Therefore, when discontinuing clonazepam, gradual withdrawal is essential. While clonazepam is being gradually withdrawn, the simultaneous substitution of another anticonvulsant may be indicated.
Metabolites of clonazepam are excreted by the kidneys; to avoid their excess accumulation, caution should be exercised in the administration of the drug to patients with impaired renal function.
Clonazepam may produce an increase in salivation. This should be considered before giving the drug to patients who have difficulty handling secretions. Because of this and the possibility of respiratory depression, clonazepam should be used with caution in patients with chronic respiratory diseases.
Physicians are advised to discuss the following issues with patients for whom they prescribe clonazepam:
To assure the safe and effective use of benzodiazepines, patients should be informed that, since benzodiazepines may produce psychological and physical dependence, it is advisable that they consult with their physician before either increasing the dose or abruptly discontinuing this drug.
Because benzodiazepines have the potential to impair judgment, thinking or motor skills, patients should be cautioned about operating hazardous machinery, including automobiles, until they are reasonably certain that clonazepam therapy does not affect them adversely.
Patients should be advised to notify their physician if they become pregnant or intend to become pregnant during therapy with clonazepam (seeWARNINGS).
Patients should be advised not to breastfeed an infant if they are taking clonazepam.
Patients should be advised to inform their physicians if they are taking, or plan to take, any prescription or over-the-counter drugs, since there is a potential for interactions.
Patients should be advised to avoid alcohol while taking clonazepam.
Clonazepam does not appear to alter the pharmacokinetics of phenytoin, carbamazepine, or phenobarbital. The effect of clonazepam on the metabolism of other drugs has not been investigated.
Literature reports suggest that ranitidine, an agent that decreases stomach acidity, does not greatly alter clonazepam pharmacokinetics.
Fluoxetine does not affect the pharmacokinetics of clonazepam. Cytochrome P-450 inducers, such as phenytoin, carbamazepine, and phenobarbital, induce clonazepam metabolism, causing an approximately 30% decrease in plasma clonazepam levels. Although clinical studies have not been performed, based on the involvement of the cytochrome P-450 3A family in clonazepam metabolism, inhibitors of this enzyme system, notably oral antifungal agents, should be used cautiously in patients receiving clonazepam.
The CNS-depressant action of the benzodiazepine class of drugs may be potentiated by alcohol, narcotics, barbiturates, nonbarbiturate hypnotics, antianxiety agents, the phenothiazines, thioxanthene and butyrophenone classes of antipsychotic agents, monoamine oxidase inhibitors and the tricyclic antidepressants, and by other anticonvulsant drugs.
Carcinogenicity studies have not been conducted with clonazepam.
The data currently available are not sufficient to determine the genotoxic potential of clonazepam.
In a two-generation fertility study in which clonazepam was given orally to rats at 10 and 100 mg/kg/day (low dose approximately 5 times and 24 times the maximum recommended human dose of 20 mg/day for seizure disorder and 4 mg/day for panic disorder, respectively, on a mg/m2 basis), there was a decrease in the number of pregnancies and in the number of offspring surviving until weaning.
Pregnancy Category D (seeWARNINGS).
The effect of clonazepam on labor and delivery in humans has not been specifically studied; however, perinatal complications have been reported in children born to mothers who have been receiving benzodiazepines late in pregnancy, including findings suggestive of either excess benzodiazepine exposure or of withdrawal phenomena (seeWARNINGS: Pregnancy Risks).
Mothers receiving clonazepam should not breastfeed their infants.
Because of the possibility that adverse effects on physical or mental development could become apparent only after many years, a benefit-risk consideration of the long-term use of clonazepam is important in pediatric patients being treated for seizure disorder (seeINDICATIONS AND USAGE andDOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION sections).
Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients with panic disorder below the age of 18 have not been established.
Clinical studies of clonazepam did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects. Other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients. In general, dose selection for an elderly patient should be cautious, usually starting at the low end of the dosing range, reflecting the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function, and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy.
Because clonazepam undergoes hepatic metabolism, it is possible that liver disease will impair clonazepam elimination. Metabolites of clonazepam are excreted by kidneys; to avoid their excess accumulation, caution should be excercised in the administration of the drug to patients with impaired renal function. Because elderly patients are more likely to have decreased hepatic and/or renal function, care should be taken in dose selection, and it may be useful to assess hepatic and/or renal functions at the time of dose selection.
Sedating drugs may cause confusion and over-sedation in the elderly; elderly patients generally should be started on low doses of clonazepam and observed closely.
The adverse experiences for clonazepam are provided separately for patients with seizure disorders and with panic disorder.
The most frequently occurring side effects of clonazepam are referable to CNS depression. Experience in treatment of seizures has shown that drowsiness has occurred in approximately 50% of patients and ataxia in approximately 30%. In some cases, these may diminish with time; behavior problems have been noted in approximately 25% of patients. Others, listed by system, are:
Neurologic: Abnormal eye movements, aphonia, choreiform movements, coma, diplopia, dysarthria, dysdiadochokinesis, “glassy-eyed” appearance, headache, hemiparesis, hypotonia, nystagmus, respiratory depression, slurred speech, tremor, vertigo.
Psychiatric: Confusion, depression, amnesia, hallucinations, hysteria, increased libido, insomnia, psychosis, suicidal attempt (the behavior effects are more likely to occur in patients with a history of psychiatric disturbances). The following paradoxical reactions have been observed: excitability, irritability, aggressive behavior, agitation, nervousness, hostility, anxiety, sleep disturbances, nightmares and vivid dreams.
Respiratory: Chest congestion, rhinorrhea, shortness of breath, hypersecretion in upper respiratory passages.
Cardiovascular: Palpitations.
Dermatologic: Hair loss, hirsutism, skin rash, ankle and facial edema.
Gastrointestinal: Anorexia, coated tongue, constipation, diarrhea, dry mouth, encopresis, gastritis, increased appetite, nausea, sore gums.
Genitourinary: Dysuria, enuresis, nocturia, urinary retention.
Musculoskeletal: Muscle weakness, pains.
Miscellaneous: Dehydration, general deterioration, fever, lymphadenopathy, weight loss or gain.
Hematopoietic: Anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, eosinophilia.
Hepatic: Hepatomegaly, transient elevations of serum transaminases and alkaline phosphatase.
Adverse events during exposure to clonazepam were obtained by spontaneous report and recorded by clinical investigators using terminology of their own choosing. Consequently, it is not possible to provide a meaningful estimate of the proportion of individuals experiencing adverse events without first grouping similar types of events into a smaller number of standardized event categories. In the tables and tabulations that follow, CIGY dictionary terminology has been used to classify reported adverse events, except in certain cases in which redundant terms were collapsed into more meaningful terms, as noted below.
The stated frequencies of adverse events represent the proportion of individuals who experienced, at least once, a treatment-emergent adverse event of the type listed. An event was considered treatment-emergent if it occurred for the first time or worsened while receiving therapy following baseline evaluation.
Overall, the incidence of discontinuation due to adverse events was 17% in clonazepam compared to 9% for placebo in the combined data of two 6- to 9-week trials. The most common events (≥1%) associated with discontinuation and a dropout rate twice or greater for clonazepam than that of placebo included the following:
| Adverse Event | Clonazepam (N=574) | Placebo (N=294) |
| Somnolence | 7% | 1% |
| Depression | 4% | 1% |
| Dizziness | 1% | <1% |
| Nervousness | 1% | 0% |
| Ataxia | 1% | 0% |
| Intellectual Ability Reduced | 1% | 0% |
Table 1 enumerates the incidence, rounded to the nearest percent, of treatment-emergent adverse events that occurred during acute therapy of panic disorder from a pool of two 6- to 9-week trials. Events reported in 1% or more of patients treated with clonazepam (doses ranging from 0.5 to 4 mg/day) and for which the incidence was greater than that in placebo-treated patients are included.
The prescriber should be aware that the figures in Table 1 cannot be used to predict the incidence of side effects in the course of usual medical practice where patient characteristics and other factors differ from those that prevailed in the clinical trials. Similarly, the cited frequencies cannot be compared with figures obtained from other clinical investigations involving different treatments, uses and investigators. The cited figures, however, do provide the prescribing physician with some basis for estimating the relative contribution of drug and nondrug factors to the side effect incidence in the population studied.
| Clonazepam Maximum Daily Dose | ||||||
| * Events reported by at least 1% of patients treated with clonazepam and for which the incidence was greater than that for placebo. | ||||||
| † Indicates that the p-value for the dose-trend test (Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel) for adverse event incidence was ≤0.1. | ||||||
| ‡ Denominators for events in gender-specific systems are n=240 (clonazepam), 102 (placebo) for male, and 334 (clonazepam), 192 (placebo) for female. | ||||||
| All | ||||||
| Clonazepam | ||||||
| <1 mg | 1-<2 mg | 2-<3 mg | ≥ 3 mg | Groups | Placebo | |
| n=96 | n=129 | n=113 | n=235 | N=574 | N=294 | |
| Adverse Event by Body System | % | % | % | % | % | % |
| Central & Peripheral Nervous System | ||||||
| Somnolence† | 26 | 35 | 50 | 36 | 37 | 10 |
| Dizziness | 5 | 5 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 4 |
| Coordination Abnormal† | 1 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 0 |
| Ataxia† | 2 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 0 |
| Dysarthria† | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Psychiatric | ||||||
| Depression | 7 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 1 |
| Memory Disturbance | 2 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 2 |
| Nervousness | 1 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Intellectual Ability Reduced | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Emotional Lability | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Libido Decreased | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Confusion | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Respiratory System | ||||||
| Upper RespiratoryTract Infection† | 10 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 4 |
| Sinusitis | 4 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Rhinitis | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Coughing | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Pharyngitis | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Bronchitis | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Gastrointestinal System | ||||||
| Constipation† | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Appetite Decreased | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Abdominal Pain† | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Body as a Whole | ||||||
| Fatigue | 9 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 4 |
| Allergic Reaction | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Musculoskeletal | ||||||
| Myalgia | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Resistance Mechanism Disorders | ||||||
| Influenza | 3 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| Urinary System | ||||||
| Micturition Frequency | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Urinary Tract Infection† | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Vision Disorders | ||||||
| Blurred Vision | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Reproductive Disorders‡ | ||||||
| Female | ||||||
| Dysmenorrhea | 0 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Colpitis | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Male | ||||||
| Ejaculation Delayed | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Impotence | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Adverse Event | Clonazepam | Placebo |
| (N=574) | (N=294) | |
| * Treatment-emergent events for which the incidence in the clonazepam patients was ≥5% and at least twice that in the placebo patients. | ||
| Somnolence | 37% | 10% |
| Depression | 7% | 1% |
| Coordination Abnormal | 6% | 0% |
| Ataxia | 5% | 0% |
In the pool of two short-term placebo-controlled trials, adverse events classified under the preferred term “depression” were reported in 7% of clonazepam-treated patients compared to 1% of placebo-treated patients, without any clear pattern of dose relatedness. In these same trials, adverse events classified under the preferred term “depression” were reported as leading to discontinuation in 4% of clonazepam-treated patients compared to 1% of placebo-treated patients. While these findings are noteworthy, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) data collected in these trials revealed a larger decline in HAM-D scores in the clonazepam group than the placebo group suggesting that clonazepam-treated patients were not experiencing a worsening or emergence of clinical depression.
Following is a list of modified CIGY terms that reflect treatment-emergent adverse events reported by patients treated with clonazepam at multiple doses during clinical trials. All reported events are included except those already listed in Table 1 or elsewhere in labeling, those events for which a drug cause was remote, those event terms which were so general as to be uninformative, and events reported only once and which did not have a substantial probability of being acutely life-threatening. It is important to emphasize that, although the events occurred during treatment with clonazepam, they were not necessarily caused by it.
Events are further categorized by body system and listed in order of decreasing frequency. These adverse events were reported infrequently, which is defined as occurring in 1/100 to 1/1000 patients.
Body as a Whole: weight increase, accident, weight decrease, wound, edema, fever, shivering, abrasions, ankle edema, edema foot, edema periorbital, injury, malaise, pain, cellulitis, inflammation localized
Cardiovascular Disorders: chest pain, hypotension postural
Central and Peripheral Nervous System Disorders: migraine, paresthesia, drunkenness, feeling of enuresis, paresis, tremor, burning skin, falling, head fullness, hoarseness, hyperactivity, hypoesthesia, tongue thick, twitching
Gastrointestinal System Disorders: abdominal discomfort, gastrointestinal inflammation, stomach upset, toothache, flatulence, pyrosis, saliva increased, tooth disorder, bowel movements frequent, pain pelvic, dyspepsia, hemorrhoids
Hearing and Vestibular Disorders: vertigo, otitis, earache, motion sickness
Heart Rate and Rhythm Disorders: palpitation
Metabolic and Nutritional Disorders: thirst, gout
Musculoskeletal System Disorders: back pain, fracture traumatic, sprains and strains, pain leg, pain nape, cramps muscle, cramps leg, pain ankle, pain shoulder, tendinitis, arthralgia, hypertonia, lumbago, pain feet, pain jaw, pain knee, swelling knee
Platelet, Bleeding and Clotting Disorders: bleeding dermal
Psychiatric Disorders: insomnia, organic disinhibition, anxiety, depersonalization, dreaming excessive, libido loss, appetite increased, libido increased, reactions decreased, aggressive reaction, apathy, attention lack, excitement, feeling mad, hunger abnormal, illusion, nightmares, sleep disorder, suicide ideation, yawning
Reproductive Disorders, Female: breast pain, menstrual irregularity
Reproductive Disorders, Male: ejaculation decreased
Resistance Mechanism Disorders: infection mycotic, infection viral, infection streptococcal, herpes simplex infection, infectious mononucleosis, moniliasis
Respiratory System Disorders: sneezing excessive, asthmatic attack, dyspnea, nosebleed, pneumonia, pleurisy
Skin and Appendages Disorders: acne flare, alopecia, xeroderma, dermatitis contact, flushing, pruritus, pustular reaction, skin burns, skin disorder
Special Senses Other, Disorders: taste loss
Urinary System Disorders: dysuria, cystitis, polyuria, urinary incontinence, bladder dysfunction, urinary retention, urinary tract bleeding, urine discoloration
Vascular (Extracardiac) Disorders: thrombophlebitis leg
Vision Disorders: eye irritation, visual disturbance, diplopia, eye twitching, styes, visual field defect, xerophthalmia
Clonazepam is a Schedule IV controlled substance.
Withdrawal symptoms, similar in character to those noted with barbiturates and alcohol (e.g., convulsions, psychosis, hallucinations, behavioral disorder, tremor, abdominal and muscle cramps) have occurred following abrupt discontinuance of clonazepam. The more severe withdrawal symptoms have usually been limited to those patients who received excessive doses over an extended period of time. Generally milder withdrawal symptoms (e.g., dysphoria and insomnia) have been reported following abrupt discontinuance of benzodiazepines taken continuously at therapeutic levels for several months. Consequently, after extended therapy, abrupt discontinuation should generally be avoided and a gradual dosage tapering schedule followed (seeDOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION). Addiction-prone individuals (such as drug addicts or alcoholics) should be under careful surveillance when receiving clonazepam or other psychotropic agents because of the predisposition of such patients to habituation and dependence.
Following the short-term treatment of patients with panic disorder in Studies 1 and 2 (seeCLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY: Clinical Trials), patients were gradually withdrawn during a 7-week downward-titration (discontinuance) period. Overall, the discontinuance period was associated with good tolerability and a very modest clinical deterioration, without evidence of a significant rebound phenomenon. However, there are not sufficient data from adequate and well-controlled long-term clonazepam studies in patients with panic disorder to accurately estimate the risks of withdrawal symptoms and dependence that may be associated with such use.
Symptoms of clonazepam overdosage, like those produced by other CNS depressants, include somnolence, confusion, coma and diminished reflexes.
Treatment includes monitoring of respiration, pulse and blood pressure, general supportive measures and immediate gastric lavage. Intravenous fluids should be administered and an adequate airway maintained. Hypotension may be combated by the use of levarterenol or metaraminol. Dialysis is of no known value.
Flumazenil, a specific benzodiazepine-receptor antagonist, is indicated for the complete or partial reversal of the sedative effects of benzodiazepines and may be used in situations when an overdose with a benzodiazepine is known or suspected. Prior to the administration of flumazenil, necessary measures should be instituted to secure airway, ventilation and intravenous access. Flumazenil is intended as an adjunct to, not as a substitute for, proper management of benzodiazepine overdose. Patients treated with flumazenil should be monitored for resedation, respiratory depression and other residual benzodiazepine effects for an appropriate period after treatment. The prescriber should be aware of a risk of seizure in association with flumazenil treatment, particularly in long-term benzodiazepine users and in cyclic antidepressant overdose. The complete flumazenil package insert, includingCONTRAINDICATIONS,WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS, should be consulted prior to use.
Flumazenil is not indicated in patients with epilepsy who have been treated with benzodiazepines. Antagonism of the benzodiazepine effect in such patients may provoke seizures.
Serious sequelae are rare unless other drugs or alcohol have been taken concomitantly.
Clonazepam is available as a tablet. The tablets should be administered with water by swallowing the tablet whole.
Adults: The initial dose for adults with seizure disorders should not exceed 1.5 mg/day divided into three doses. Dosage may be increased in increments of 0.5 to 1 mg every 3 days until seizures are adequately controlled or until side effects preclude any further increase. Maintenance dosage must be individualized for each patient depending upon response. Maximum recommended daily dose is 20 mg.
The use of multiple anticonvulsants may result in an increase of depressant adverse effects. This should be considered before adding clonazepam to an existing anticonvulsant regimen.
Pediatric Patients: Clonazepam is administered orally. In order to minimize drowsiness, the initial dose for infants and children (up to 10 years of age or 30 kg of body weight) should be between 0.01 and 0.03 mg/kg/day but not to exceed 0.05 mg/kg/day given in two or three divided doses. Dosage should be increased by no more than 0.25 to 0.5 mg every third day until a daily maintenance dose of 0.1 to 0.2 mg/kg of body weight has been reached, unless seizures are controlled or side effects preclude further increase. Whenever possible, the daily dose should be divided into three equal doses. If doses are not equally divided, the largest dose should be given before retiring.
Geriatric Patients: There is no clinical trial experience with clonazepam in seizure disorder patients 65 years of age and older. In general, elderly patients should be started on low doses of clonazepam and observed closely (seePRECAUTIONS: Geriatric Use).
Adults: The initial dose for adults with panic disorder is 0.25 mg bid. An increase to the target dose for most patients of 1 mg/day may be made after 3 days. The recommended dose of 1 mg/day is based on the results from a fixed dose study in which the optimal effect was seen at 1 mg/day. Higher doses of 2, 3 and 4 mg/day in that study were less effective than the 1 mg/day dose and were associated with more adverse effects. Nevertheless, it is possible that some individual patients may benefit from doses of up to a maximum dose of 4 mg/day, and in those instances, the dose may be increased in increments of 0.125 to 0.25 mg bid every 3 days until panic disorder is controlled or until side effects make further increases undesired. To reduce the inconvenience of somnolence, administration of one dose at bedtime may be desirable.
Treatment should be discontinued gradually, with a decrease of 0.125 mg bid every 3 days, until the drug is completely withdrawn.
There is no body of evidence available to answer the question of how long the patient treated with clonazepam should remain on it. Therefore, the physician who elects to use clonazepam for extended periods should periodically re-evaluate the long-term usefulness of the drug for the individual patient.
Pediatric Patients: There is no clinical trial experience with clonazepam in panic disorder patients under 18 years of age.
Geriatric Patients: There is no clinical trial experience with clonazepam in panic disorder patients 65 years of age and older. In general, elderly patients should be started on low doses of clonazepam and observed closely (seePRECAUTIONS: Geriatric Use).
Clonazepam Tablets USP, 0.5 mg, are yellow, round, biconvex scored tablets, debossed with WATSON 746 on one side and scored on the other side supplied in bottles of 100, 500, and 1000.
Clonazepam Tablets USP, 1 mg, are aqua colored, round, biconvex scored tablets, debossed with WATSON 747 on one side and scored on the other side supplied in bottles of 100, 500, and 1000.
Clonazepam Tablets USP, 2 mg, are white, round, biconvex scored tablets, debossed with WATSON 748 on one side and scored on the other side supplied in bottles of 100, 500, and 1000.
Bulk package - Not Intended for Dispensing.
Dispense in a tight, light-resistant container as defined in the USP.
Store at 20°-25°C (68°-77°F). [see USP controlled room temperature..]
Watson Laboratories, Inc.
Corona, CA 92880 USA
| Product concept | Relation | Version | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|
| f8e2a02d-e7b1-29aa-eb39-98a679441d91 | Product name | 3 | 20190927 |
| dc4336d1-53d4-d410-38d3-71aa2ce4749b | Product name | 1 | 20140508 |
| Package NDC | Product | Description | Form | Quantity | Strength | SPL version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0591-0746-01 | Clonazepam | 100 in 1 BOTTLE | TABLET | 100 | 1 | |
| 0591-0746-05 | Clonazepam | 500 in 1 BOTTLE | TABLET | 500 | 1 | |
| 0591-0746-10 | Clonazepam | 1000 in 1 BOTTLE | TABLET | 1000 | 1 | |
| 0591-0747-01 | Clonazepam | 100 in 1 BOTTLE | TABLET | 100 | 1 | |
| 0591-0747-05 | Clonazepam | 500 in 1 BOTTLE | TABLET | 500 | 1 | |
| 0591-0747-10 | Clonazepam | 1000 in 1 BOTTLE | TABLET | 1000 | 1 | |
| 0591-0748-01 | Clonazepam | 100 in 1 BOTTLE | TABLET | 100 | 1 | |
| 0591-0748-05 | Clonazepam | 500 in 1 BOTTLE | TABLET | 500 | 1 | |
| 0591-0748-10 | Clonazepam | 1000 in 1 BOTTLE | TABLET | 1000 | 1 |
| NDC | Dashboard title | SPL version | Validation | Dashboard ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0591-0746 | CLONAZEPAM (CLONAZEPAM) TABLET [WATSON LABORATORIES, INC.] | 1 | 3 package rows | 20080521_ACBCE0E8-5098-4785-943B-8BDB5FF17FAB.zip |
| 0591-0747 | CLONAZEPAM (CLONAZEPAM) TABLET [WATSON LABORATORIES, INC.] | 1 | 3 package rows | 20080521_ACBCE0E8-5098-4785-943B-8BDB5FF17FAB.zip |
| 0591-0748 | CLONAZEPAM (CLONAZEPAM) TABLET [WATSON LABORATORIES, INC.] | 1 | 3 package rows | 20080521_ACBCE0E8-5098-4785-943B-8BDB5FF17FAB.zip |
| Ingredient | Type | UNII | SPL version | Uploaded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clonazepam | ACTIVE INGREDIENT | 5PE9FDE8GB | 1 | |
| Clonazepam | ACTIVE MOIETY | 5PE9FDE8GB | 1 | |
| D & C yellow #10 aluminum lake | INACTIVE INGREDIENT | 1 | ||
| docusate sodium | INACTIVE INGREDIENT | F05Q2T2JA0 | 1 | |
| FD & C blue #1 aluminum lake | INACTIVE INGREDIENT | 1 | ||
| lactose monohydrate | INACTIVE INGREDIENT | EWQ57Q8I5X | 1 | |
| magnesium stearate | INACTIVE INGREDIENT | 70097M6I30 | 1 | |
| microcrystalline cellulose | INACTIVE INGREDIENT | 1 | ||
| sodium benzoate | INACTIVE INGREDIENT | OJ245FE5EU | 1 | |
| sodium starch glycolate | INACTIVE INGREDIENT | 1 |
Every source-derived product name is available through these pages.
| Product NDC | Package NDC |
|---|---|
| 0591-0746 | 0591-0746-01, 0591-0746-05, 0591-0746-10 |
| 0591-0747 | 0591-0747-01, 0591-0747-05, 0591-0747-10 |
| 0591-0748 | 0591-0748-01, 0591-0748-05, 0591-0748-10 |
Inactive Ingredient Database values describe FDA-listed use contexts. The match method and ambiguity count are shown because ingredient names, routes, and dosage forms are not always unique. Browse recovered IID releases and source provenance.
| DailyMed ingredient | IID ingredient | UNII | Dosage form / route | Potency | Maximum daily exposure | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| sodium benzoate | SODIUM BENZOATE | OJ245FE5EU | PASTE, DENTIFRICE / DENTAL | 0.5 %w/w | ||
| microcrystalline cellulose | MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE | OP1R32D61U | SUSPENSION / ORAL | 1600 mg | ||
| magnesium stearate | MAGNESIUM STEARATE | 70097M6I30 | LOZENGE / TRANSMUCOSAL | 100 mg | ||
| sodium benzoate | SODIUM BENZOATE | OJ245FE5EU | POWDER, FOR SOLUTION / ORAL | 98 mg | ||
| lactose monohydrate | LACTOSE MONOHYDRATE | EWQ57Q8I5X | TABLET / BUCCAL | 43 mg | ||
| magnesium stearate | MAGNESIUM STEARATE | 70097M6I30 | TABLET, DELAYED RELEASE / ORAL | 144 mg | ||
| magnesium stearate | MAGNESIUM STEARATE | 70097M6I30 | CAPSULE, COATED, EXTENDED RELEASE / ORAL | NA | ||
| magnesium stearate | MAGNESIUM STEARATE | 70097M6I30 | POWDER, FOR SUSPENSION / ORAL | 120 mg | ||
| sodium benzoate | SODIUM BENZOATE | OJ245FE5EU | SYSTEM / TOPICAL | 2 mg | ||
| sodium benzoate | SODIUM BENZOATE | OJ245FE5EU | PASTE / ORAL | 28 mg | ||
| sodium benzoate | SODIUM BENZOATE | OJ245FE5EU | TABLET, FILM COATED / ORAL | 1 mg | ||
| docusate sodium | DOCUSATE SODIUM | F05Q2T2JA0 | SUSPENSION / ORAL | 48 mg | ||
| microcrystalline cellulose | MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE | OP1R32D61U | TABLET, CHEWABLE, EXTENDED RELEASE / ORAL | 144 mg | ||
| lactose monohydrate | LACTOSE MONOHYDRATE | EWQ57Q8I5X | INHALANT / ORAL | NA | ||
| lactose monohydrate | LACTOSE MONOHYDRATE | EWQ57Q8I5X | INJECTION, POWDER, FOR SOLUTION / SUBCUTANEOUS | 214 mg | ||
| microcrystalline cellulose | MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE | OP1R32D61U | CAPSULE, COATED PELLETS / ORAL | 456 mg | ||
| magnesium stearate | MAGNESIUM STEARATE | 70097M6I30 | CREAM / TOPICAL | NA | ||
| magnesium stearate | MAGNESIUM STEARATE | 70097M6I30 | INHALANT / ORAL | 0.08 mg | ||
| microcrystalline cellulose | MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE | OP1R32D61U | TABLET, FILM COATED, EXTENDED RELEASE / ORAL | 615 mg | ||
| lactose monohydrate | LACTOSE MONOHYDRATE | EWQ57Q8I5X | GRANULE / ORAL | 8946 mg | ||
| microcrystalline cellulose | MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE | OP1R32D61U | CAPSULE / ORAL | 2169 mg | ||
| sodium benzoate | SODIUM BENZOATE | OJ245FE5EU | FILM, SOLUBLE / BUCCAL | 3 mg | ||
| microcrystalline cellulose | MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE | OP1R32D61U | TABLET / BUCCAL | 18 mg | ||
| lactose monohydrate | LACTOSE MONOHYDRATE | EWQ57Q8I5X | INSERT / VAGINAL | 2282 mg | ||
| microcrystalline cellulose | MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE | OP1R32D61U | GRANULE, FOR SUSPENSION / ORAL | 278 mg | ||
| sodium benzoate | SODIUM BENZOATE | OJ245FE5EU | GRANULE, FOR SUSPENSION / ORAL | 120 mg | ||
| sodium benzoate | SODIUM BENZOATE | OJ245FE5EU | SOLUTION / TOPICAL | 0.1 %w/v | ||
| lactose monohydrate | LACTOSE MONOHYDRATE | EWQ57Q8I5X | INJECTION / INTRAMUSCULAR | 150 mg | ||
| lactose monohydrate | LACTOSE MONOHYDRATE | EWQ57Q8I5X | CREAM / VAGINAL | 586 mg | ||
| lactose monohydrate | LACTOSE MONOHYDRATE | EWQ57Q8I5X | GRANULE, FOR SUSPENSION / ORAL | NA | ||
| lactose monohydrate | LACTOSE MONOHYDRATE | EWQ57Q8I5X | CAPSULE, COATED / ORAL | 300 mg | ||
| docusate sodium | DOCUSATE SODIUM | F05Q2T2JA0 | TABLET, COATED / ORAL | 1 mg | ||
| microcrystalline cellulose | MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE | OP1R32D61U | TABLET / ORAL | 6184 mg | ||
| lactose monohydrate | LACTOSE MONOHYDRATE | EWQ57Q8I5X | PELLET / ORAL | 640 mg | ||
| microcrystalline cellulose | MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE | OP1R32D61U | TABLET, EXTENDED RELEASE / ORAL | 5119 mg | ||
| lactose monohydrate | LACTOSE MONOHYDRATE | EWQ57Q8I5X | TABLET, FILM COATED, EXTENDED RELEASE / ORAL | 520 mg | ||
| magnesium stearate | MAGNESIUM STEARATE | 70097M6I30 | TABLET, FOR SUSPENSION / ORAL | 131 mg | ||
| sodium benzoate | SODIUM BENZOATE | OJ245FE5EU | SPONGE / TOPICAL | NA | ||
| lactose monohydrate | LACTOSE MONOHYDRATE | EWQ57Q8I5X | TABLET / SUBLINGUAL | 505 mg | ||
| sodium benzoate | SODIUM BENZOATE | OJ245FE5EU | INJECTION, EMULSION / INTRAVENOUS | 0.1 %w/v | ||
| sodium benzoate | SODIUM BENZOATE | OJ245FE5EU | INJECTION, SOLUTION / INTRAMUSCULAR | 4.8 %w/v | ||
| magnesium stearate | MAGNESIUM STEARATE | 70097M6I30 | TABLET, CHEWABLE / ORAL | 127 mg | ||
| sodium benzoate | SODIUM BENZOATE | OJ245FE5EU | TABLET, EXTENDED RELEASE / ORAL | NA | ||
| magnesium stearate | MAGNESIUM STEARATE | 70097M6I30 | TROCHE / ORAL | 315 mg | ||
| sodium benzoate | SODIUM BENZOATE | OJ245FE5EU | ENEMA / RECTAL | 60 mg | ||
| microcrystalline cellulose | MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE | OP1R32D61U | TABLET, FOR SUSPENSION / ORAL | 20100 mg | ||
| sodium benzoate | SODIUM BENZOATE | OJ245FE5EU | CONCENTRATE / ORAL | 20 mg | ||
| magnesium stearate | MAGNESIUM STEARATE | 70097M6I30 | PELLET / ORAL | 24 mg | ||
| microcrystalline cellulose | MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE | OP1R32D61U | TABLET, COATED / ORAL | 920 mg | ||
| sodium benzoate | SODIUM BENZOATE | OJ245FE5EU | SUSPENSION / ORAL | 320 mg | ||
| docusate sodium | DOCUSATE SODIUM | F05Q2T2JA0 | GEL / TOPICAL | 6 mg | ||
| docusate sodium | DOCUSATE SODIUM | F05Q2T2JA0 | SHAMPOO / TOPICAL | 2 %w/w | ||
| sodium benzoate | SODIUM BENZOATE | OJ245FE5EU | TABLET, COATED / ORAL | 0.2 mg | ||
| lactose monohydrate | LACTOSE MONOHYDRATE | EWQ57Q8I5X | INJECTION / SUBCUTANEOUS | 98 mg | ||
| microcrystalline cellulose | MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE | OP1R32D61U | TROCHE / ORAL | 300 mg | ||
| microcrystalline cellulose | MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE | OP1R32D61U | TABLET, ORALLY DISINTEGRATING / ORAL | 1800 mg | ||
| microcrystalline cellulose | MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE | OP1R32D61U | TABLET / SUBLINGUAL | 43.2 mg | ||
| sodium benzoate | SODIUM BENZOATE | OJ245FE5EU | GEL / RECTAL | 406 mg | ||
| magnesium stearate | MAGNESIUM STEARATE | 70097M6I30 | TABLET, CHEWABLE, EXTENDED RELEASE / ORAL | 9 mg | ||
| sodium benzoate | SODIUM BENZOATE | OJ245FE5EU | CAPSULE / ORAL | 8.5 mg |
OpenFDA label data provides additional search and identifier links. DailyMed’s Structured Product Label is the canonical label on FDA.report. Matching records are deduplicated before they are shown below.
| Brand | Generic | Manufacturer | SPL set ID | Effective date | Available safety fields | Join |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 017D1C86-4A12-AE64-8A8F-FAF6C0005DA2 | ACBCE0E8-5098-4785-943B-8BDB5FF17FAB | 2008-03-18 | Warnings, Adverse reactions | 017D1C86-4A12-AE64-8A8F-FAF6C0005DA2 ACBCE0E8-5098-4785-943B-8BDB5FF17FAB |
Adverse event summaries are temporarily unavailable. Other product information remains available.