LYCOS RETRIEVER
Clonazepam
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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. Store clonazepam at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
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Clonazepam is in the class of medications known as benzodiazepines. This medication is most often indicated for patients who have seizures. Additionally, it is prescribed for patients who suffer from other conditions such as panic attacks, anxiety, depression and even cancer. It is a widely used medication. Benzodiazepine medications are a group of medicines that are used because of their sedative qualities. They can encourage sleep, relieve anxiety and muscle spasms, and even put a stop to the occurrence of different types of seizures.
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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 ... 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.
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Clonazepam is a long half-life benzodiazepine. Duration of action after a single dose is determined by redistribution rather than metabolism. Tolerance develops to the sedative, hypnotic, and anticonvulsant effects. It does not develop to the anxiolytic or skeletal muscle relaxing effects. Psychological and physical dependence may occur with prolonged use of benzodiazepines. The onset of withdrawal symptoms is usually seen on the first day without drug and lasts 5-7 days in patients receiving short half-life benzodiazepines, whereas, the onset occurs after 5 days with a duration of 10-14 days after abrupt discontinuance of long half-life benzodiazepines.
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Taking Serzone with Clonazepam can be done, but the Serzone does interfere with the metabolism of the Clonazepam. Therefore, you should use lower doses of Clonazepam to avoid oversedation. For the techies out there - Serzone inhibits cytochrome P450-3A3/4 (CYP-3A3/4) decreasing the amount of hepatic (liver) enzyme available to metabolize the Clonazepam. Thus, Clonazepam is cleared more slowly from the body, resulting in higher blood levels. Therefore, if you take the Clonazepam for sleep you may be running the risk of "hangover effect" (you will be still groggy in the morning). Perhaps Zopiclone would be a better choice as it is metabolized by 3 different pathways, decreasing the chance of build-up.
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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.
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