Clonazepam 0.5 mg

Category- Allopathy

Medicine Highlights

Clonazepam Uses

Clonazepam 0.5 mg is an oral medicine belonging to the category of benzodiazepine drugs and is used for the following indications:

1. Seizures (complex partial seizures or absence seizures) 
2. Panic disorders 
3. Mania 

Clonazepam side effects 

More Common  

1. Body aches or pain 
2. Chills 
3. Cough 
4. Difficulty breathing 
5. Discouragement 
6. Dizziness 
7. Ear congestion 
8. Feeling sad or empty 
9. Fever 
10. Headache 
11. Irritability 
12. Lack of appetite 
13. Loss of interest or pleasure 
14. Loss of voice 
15. Poor coordination 
16. Runny or stuffy nose 
17. Shakiness and unsteady walk 
18. Sleepiness or unusual drowsiness 
19. Sneezing 
20. Sore throat 
21. Tiredness 
22. Trouble concentrating 
23. Trouble sleeping 
24. Unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination 
25. Unusual tiredness or weakness 

Less Common 

1. Being forgetful 
2. Bladder pain 
3. Bloody or cloudy urine 
4. Change in speech 
5. Decrease in frequency of urination 
6. Diarrhea 
7. Difficulty in passing urine 
8. Difficult, burning, or painful urination 
9. Frequent urge to urinate 
10. General feeling of discomfort or illness 
11. Joint pain 
12. Loss of appetite 
13. Lower back or side pain 
14. Mood or mental changes 
15. Muscle aches and pains 
16. Nausea 
17. Nervousness 
18. Problems in urination or increase in the amount of urine 
19. Shivering 
20. Slurred speech 
21. Sore throat 
22. Sweating 
23. trouble speaking 
24. vomiting 

How Clonazepam works 

Clonazepam is used when seizures last too long, and the brain’s natural calming system can’t control them. It works by strengthening the brain’s own “firefighters” (calming signals) so they can spray more water through cell windows and stop the raging fire of a seizure.

Safety Measures and Warning 

Pregnancy

The safety of clonazepam in pregnancy is not established. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to conceive.

Breastfeeding

Clonazepam passes into breast milk and can cause mental disturbances in children, like drowsiness and irritation. Inform your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

Kidney and Liver Problems

Clonazepam is known to be safe for use in liver and kidney disease patients.

Past Mental Health Issues

Clonazepam directly acts on the brain and causes different side effects like sedation, drowsiness, and suicidal thoughts. Inform the doctor about your past mental health issues before using clonazepam.

Clonazepam Interaction with Food Product 

Avoid consuming alcohol and smoking simultaneously, as it may affect the drug’s action and show an effect on the brain, leading to severe drowsiness, sedation, and coma in severe cases.

Clonazepam Interaction with Other Medicines  

Avoid taking Clonazepam 0.5 mg with the following medicines, as it may increase or decrease the desired effect, or in worse cases, it could be fatal:

Clonazepam Chemical Structure

IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry)/ Chemical name

5-(2-Chlorophenyl)-7-nitro-1,3-dihydro-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one.

Intake routine/cycle

Daily dose

Take Clonazepam exactly as your doctor recommends. The dose may change based on your condition and how well you respond. Do not take more than prescribed without consulting your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you forget to take your medicine, take the medication as soon as you remember. If it’s nearly time for your next dose, skip the missed one and continue with your regular schedule. Always consult the doctor before making any changes to your dosage.

Overdose

It is not recommended to take more than 20 mg of Clonazepam per day, as it may cause severe overdosing effects like extreme drowsiness, confusion, unconsciousness, sweating, double vision, low blood pressure, and slurred speech. Immediately seek medical attention and meet the doctor if necessary.

Storage

1. Store the medicine at room temperature 
2. Keep away from sunlight and moisture 
3. Keep out of reach of children 

Directions for use 

1. Take Clonazepam exactly as prescribed by your doctor, at the same time each day. 
2. Do not stop taking Clonazepam without your doctor’s approval, even if you feel better. 
3. If you forget to take Clonazepam, take it as soon as you remember. If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. 

Clonazepam Summary 

Clonazepam is a long-acting benzodiazepine class of medicine used to treat Seizures (complex partial seizures or absence seizures), panic disorders, and mania. Off label uses include restless leg syndrome, anxiety, and uncontrolled muscle movements (tardive dyskinesia). It functions by calming the brain by boosting gamma amino butyric acid, a natural inhibitory chemical. Common side effects of clonazepam include drowsiness, dizziness, and muscle weakness. This medicine should not be consumed along with alcohol and sedatives, as it can dangerously increase their side effects, and there is evidence that antacids may reduce absorption of clonazepam. The medication should be stored at room temperature, away from moisture and heat. Always follow medical advice and avoid driving after consuming this medicine, as it causes sedation and may lead to accidents.

FAQ’s

What are the uses of clonazepam tablets?

Clonazepam is a long-acting benzodiazepine used to treat anxiety, seizures, muscle spasms, alcohol withdrawal, and sedation before surgical procedures.

What are the side effects of clonazepam tablets?

Common side effects of clonazepam use include drowsiness, dizziness, and muscle weakness.

What is the drug class of clonazepam?

Clonazepam belongs to the class of benzodiazepines and is commonly used for the management of anxiety, seizures, and alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

What is Clonazepam’s highest dose? 

It is not recommended to take more than 20 mg of Clonazepam per day, as it may cause severe overdosing effects like extreme drowsiness, irritation, confusion, unconsciousness, sweating, double vision, low blood pressure, and slurred speech. Immediately seek medical attention and meet the doctor.

What is the mechanism of action of clonazepam?

Clonazepam works by reinforcing the brain’s fire brigade during relentless seizures, sending extra hoses and water to quickly cool overheated neurons and restore calm.

Reference 

1. Katzung BG, Vanderah TW. Introduction to Pharmacology. In: Katzung BG, editor. Basic & Clinical Pharmacology. 15th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2021. Available from. 
2. Mayo Clinic. Clonazepam (oral route) [Internet]. Rochester (MN): Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2025 [cited 2025 Oct 18]. Available from. 
3. National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Summary for CID 2802, Clonazepam [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); [cited 2025 Oct 18]. Available from. 
4. Drugs.com. Clonazepam: Drug Uses, Dosage, Side Effects [Internet]. Drugs.com; 2024 Dec 3 [cited 2025 Oct 18]. Available from. 

Siva Krishna Adithya Bhumireddy

Siva Krishna Adithya Bhumireddy completed Bachelor of Pharmacy from GIET School of Pharmacy affiliated to Andhra University and from his 3rd year of graduation itself he was working as a freelance Medical and Publication writer and having expertise in Systematic reviews and clinical research. With his keen interest and skills in research and documentation practices he also reviewed more than 100 manuscripts from international journals like Elsevier, Springer Nature, Sage Journals and all the manuscripts were indexed and appeared in Pub Med, Scopus and Web of Science databases and received honorary recognition letters and certificates from all of them. Siva Krishna Adithya also published few systematic, narrative reviews and few chapters of international expertise.