Clonazepam (
Klonopin®) is a prescription medicine licensed to treat
panic disorder and certain types of epileptic
seizures. It is a benzodiazepine medication that can cause psychological and physical dependence. If you abruptly stop taking it, withdrawal symptoms could occur.
Stopping clonazepam too quickly (especially if you have been taking high doses of the drug) can lead to withdrawal symptoms such as:
- Numbness or tingling
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- A rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)
- Heart palpitations
- Hallucinations
- Memory loss
- Panic attacks
- Dizziness
- Personality changes
- Sensitivity to sound or light
- Fever
- Headaches
- Anxiety
- Tension
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Restlessness or irritability
- Confusion
- Sweating.
To avoid severe symptoms of clonazepam withdrawal, your healthcare provider may decide to slowly wean you off the medication (although this may not be necessary in all situations). If you are taking clonazepam for
epilepsy, your healthcare provider will likely recommend starting a new
epilepsy medication while stopping clonazepam to help prevent
seizures.
(Click Clonazepam Withdrawal for more information on what may happen if you stop taking clonazepam too abruptly and to find out what else your healthcare provider may recommend in order to help prevent withdrawal symptoms.)
