Klonopin Quick Facts
Klonopin belongs to the benzodiazepine family of pharmaceuticals (other examples include Xanax, Rohypnol, and Valium, to name a few). Klonopin works as an anxiolytic (antianxiety) drug, typically used in the treatment of anxiety and panic disorders.
Generic Name: Clonazepam
Other Brand Names: Rivotril, Iktorivil, Paxam
Primary Uses:
- Antianxiety
- Seizure Control
Other Uses:
- Restless Limb Syndrome (often caused by antipsychotics)
- Catatonic States
Availability:
- Tablets
- Orally Disintegrating Tablets
- Oral Solution
- Injectable Solution
Contraindications:
- Allergies to any benzodiazepine
- If you are or may be pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or breast feeding
- Children under 18 (particularly very young children), and the elderly
Interactions:
- Klonopin can interact with a variety of medications and supplements, as well as alcohol and illicit/recreational drugs. All drug, alcohol, and supplement use, including topical antifungals should be discussed in detail with your doctor prior to starting Klonopin.
Side Effects:
Common side effects include:
- Drowsiness
- Motor impairment
Less common:
- Confusion
- Irritability
- Demotivation
- Lowered Sex Drive
- Cognitive Impairment
- Hallucinations
- Short term memory loss
- Anterograde amnesia
- New or worsening depression
Uncommon:
- Serious dysphoria
- Low blood platelet count (Thrombocytopenia)
- Increased psychiatric side effects
- New or increasing numbers of seizures
- Personality Changes
- Behavioral Disturbances
- Loss of motor control and coordination (Ataxia)
Rare:
- Psychosis
- Incontinence
- Liver damage
- Paradoxical Behavioral Disinhibition
- Rage
- Excitement
- Impuslivity
Withdrawal Symptoms:
- Anxiety, irritability, insomnia, tremors
- Exacerbated panic disorder
- Seizures (associated with long term exposure to high doses)
Additional Information:
As with ALL controlled substances, especially benzodiazepines, follow your doctor’s instructions carefully. Overdoses or sudden stoppages can create serious side effects, including comas and organ damage. Klonopin interacts with a high number of medications and over the counter remedies, it is important to note everything you may be taking to your doctor.
Sources:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000635/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clonazepam
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_benzodiazepines
About Author
Katie Bongiorno
Katie is a self identified out and proud transsexual woman, and a lesbian. She currently resides in Westchester, north of NYC, working for a major hospital in New York City as a Junior System Administrator. In her "spare" time, she likes to rebuild old computer systems and give them to friends and acquaintances (mostly other trans women) who lack a computer, as well as road bicycling, and daydreaming about building all manner of mildly complex items from kayaks to bows. When not doing these particular things, she often can be found taking apart just about anything she thinks she can get away with destroying for the sake of hacking, modifying, and tinkering. The most frequent victim of these assaults is usually her car. Often, she is wearing a dress or skirt far too nice (and possibly short) for the job on a mechanic's creeper, sticking halfway out from under the car like the Wicked Witch of the East. I mean, really now, how many girls do you know who change their oil in a Michael Kors dress?